Alpine Drive takes you on an awesome journey starting from Tuleta Drive near the zoo entrance, climbing up a steep incline along the old quarry wall above the Japanese Tea Garden. This road was originally made to give people a stunning view of the Tea Garden and the nearby Sunken Garden Theater. The drive eventually slopes down to meet North St. Mary’s Street just south of the theater. Along the way, you’ll find cool stacked stone pylons with lights—though many of them are in bad shape today, some still stand as a reminder of the past. The area above the Tea Garden and Theater was preserved and rebuilt as part of the US Highway 281 plan, but today, Alpine Drive is closed to cars. It’s a scenic spot that’s all about walking and soaking in the views!
