Northern California - Route for San Jose > Danville?

I'm heading to a family dinner in Danville on Saturday. My wife's family. So this provides the perfect opportunity to take a scenic one-way ride from San Jose on up to Danville.

I was thinking of taking Calaveras up to Pleasanton, but from there I'm looking for a few suggestions. I've got limited experience with the East Bay.

Ideas?

After Calaveras it gets pretty urban so there are limits to how scenic it'll be. But I'd take Pleasanton-Sunol Rd. north into Pleasanton, left on Neal, right on Main, left on St. Mary which turns into Hopyard, right on W. Las Positas, left on Willow, through the BART station (marked Busses only but they seem fine with bikes), and then continue on the Iron Horse trail all the way into Danville.

... then continue on the Iron Horse trail all the way into Danville.

ZZZzzzzzz.

Iron Horse is ok. Depending on what kind of ride you want, my suggestion would be once you get into Sunol, continue down Niles Canyon over to Palmares and make your way to San Ramon. Sure, your ride will have some hills, but isn't that what you want?

BR

So Palomares it is...depending on how I feel after the Calaveras wall....

If you do go over Palomares and then up Dublin Canyon I'd suggest you take the left under the freeway just before the top. That takes you up to the new Schaefer Ranch development and a great downhill run with nice views of the valley and connects to San Ramon Rd.

If you don't feel like doing the hills, the easiest way up to Danville is Foothill Blvd - the name changes and this becomes San Ramon then San Ramon Valley Blvd. From Main Street in downtown (such as it is) Sunol, just take one of the roads north (there's only two, one is by the train station) and then turn right onto Foothill. Only one wacky intersection (over I580), otherwise it's just a straight shot with good roads and mostly wide shoulders. Some folks don't like the narrow road as it winds through a couple of switchbacks at the top of the hill just outside Sunol, but as long as you don't hit it at rush hour it's fine and not very long. Getting to and throught the Pleasanton BART station can be frustrating, and is completely unnecessary. Plus, I really don't like riding the trail through San Ramon and Danville - too many intersections, too many people enjoying it to make it a worthwhile bike ride. IMHO.

For some parts of Danville, you'll be better off heading east on Crow Canyon towards Tassajara/Blackhawk rather than going into downtown, then back out on Sycamore Valley/Diablo/Tassajara.

JB