Originally posted by MichaelW
Try the route on a Sunday and see how it feels.
I found this to be very helpful. I made several trips, trying different routes on the weekends. What you are looking for is the most direct route that has sidestreets without all the heavy traffic. Streets with wide lanes and multiple lanes, that aren't heavy traffic routes. If possible, try to find some scenic areas on the way to make the trip interesting. Soon you will settle in on a path, or even several paths, that work for you.