Expensive hillside homes line the lanes of Los Gatos and the quaint Old Town section has dozens of pricey boutiques. The town is really best appreci­ated without stopping, although if you are in the mood, the science and nature displays of Los Gatos Museum (http://www.numulosgatos.org), corner of Main and Tait streets, will pass an hour or so – as will bouncing along on the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad (http://bjwrr.org)in Oak Meadow Park, junction of University Avenue and Blossom Hill Road.

Detour – Villa Montalvo

Head west from Los Gatos along Hwy-9 into Saratoga and watch for signs for Villa Montalvo. Complete with terraced gardens, arboretum and bird sanctuary, the 19-room villa was the former home of James D. Phelan, one-time U.S. senator and three times mayor of San Francisco. Since Phelan’s death in 1930, the building has served as a home for the few writers and painters lucky enough to become the recipients of an arts endowment bequeathed by Phelan. Numerous cultural events take place in and around the villa’s buildings – and the grounds make a great picnic setting.