Doug McConnell’s OpenRoad.TV Tips

Lassen Volcanic National Park

06/28/08

Lassen Volcanic National Park

California is a lovely and serene piece of paradise between cataclysmic natural disasters.  Right now, fires are burning all over the northern and central parts of our state. Smoke chokes the air as I write this. Hundreds of fires, most caused by dry lightning strikes, burn through our overly dry landscape.  And it's only June!  Welcome to the world of global warming. It's real. It's with us. Now, we must act to minimize its impact for generations to come. But that's another story.

I'm actually filing this post to urge you to spend some gas dollars if you can to visit one of California's most beautiful but volatile natural treasures, Lassen Volcanic National Park.  Lassen is only about five hours northeast of San Francisco, but it's typically...

Posted at 06:20 PM in Doug McConnell’s OpenRoad.TV Travel Tips | Permalink | Comments

06/12/08

San Francisco By The Sea

It's getting awfully hot inland.  Time to head for the ocean. Along the coast of central and northern California the choices of where to go are almost endless and they're all terrific.  Sometimes, however, amidst them all we tend to forget about San Francisco. 

I love hiking around Land's End as it straddles the Golden Gate with fabulous views of the Marin Headlands, and then turns to face the open Pacific and views of the Farallones,  Seal Rock and the Cliff House.  This whole area is being substantially spruced-up these days thanks to the exceptional work of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy in association with the National Park Service.  Take a walk, breath the fresh and cooler air and then grab a bite to eat at Louie's or the Cliff...

Posted at 06:46 PM in Doug McConnell’s OpenRoad.TV Travel Tips | Permalink | Comments

05/30/08

North to Oregon

One of my favorite drive trips anywhere leads north from San Francisco along wild stretches of coastline, beneath towering groves of old growth redwoods, past dozens of state and national parks and protected open spaces, across serpentine-colored rivers and through the domain of elegant Roosevelt Elk liberated from the threat of extinction all the way to our state's border with Oregon. It's a trip most of us, unfortunately, never take. If you want to escape the madding crowd, I urge you to follow Highways 1 and 101 north to Oregon, and discover your own private California.

The drive north is worth as much time as you have to give. If you rush, you can reach the Oregon frontier in about 8 hours. But why rush? Just take a look at a map and you'll find more fabulous stops than...

Posted at 12:16 PM in Doug McConnell’s OpenRoad.TV Travel Tips | Permalink | Comments

05/19/08

Ferries Ahoy!

I recently reminded myself of how lucky we are to live near and around a beautiful bay plied by ferry boats traveling to and from some terrific communities.

My friends and I started a lovely day together at the historic and food-friendly Ferry Building in San Francisco. The sun was bright as we pulled away from from the pier on our way to Vallejo. The City's impressive skyline slowly disappeared in our wake as we cruised past Angel Island, under the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and almost within touch of the East Brother Light Station and its romantic bed and
breakfast. We were traveling in non-commute hours and had the boat almost entirely to ourselves. We sunned ourselves on the back deck as we slowly motored past Mare Island before making landfall and having lunch in...

Posted at 09:16 PM in Doug McConnell’s OpenRoad.TV Travel Tips | Permalink | Comments

04/25/08

Whale Tales

I picked up the newspaper this morning to see a photo of a whale in the bay near San Francisco's Crissy Field with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. People tell tales of seeing whales in the Bay, and they are often true, of course, but I've never been lucky enough to see one. I came close, though, one day. Very close.

It was a few years back, and I was shooting a story for Bay Area Backroads and OpenRoad.TV on and around Angel Island. By the way, if you haven't been to Angel Island, put this down and go right now! It's a one square mile State Park packed with layers of human history, fascinating and diverse natural environments and drop-dead gorgeous views of land and water in all directions. I urge you to ride the Tiburon...

Posted at 05:16 PM in Doug McConnell’s OpenRoad.TV Travel Tips | Permalink | Comments

04/11/08

Ferries and Food

I was just by the Ferry Building in San Francisco the other day, and was reminded of what a terrific culinary destination its become. The historic building itself has been beautifully restored and it's filled with all kinds of delightful tastes.....from cheese to chocolate....and caviar to coffee. The Ferry Building was once THE transportation hub of the Bay Area. For decades before the bridges were built, tens of thousands of people passed through every day as they shuttled by ferry between work and home. Fortunately, ferryboats still come and go, but many people stick around the Ferry Building these days instead of racing in and out. They're compelled to eat and to shop for fabulous food, and they're not disappointed.

Posted at 05:35 PM in Doug McConnell’s OpenRoad.TV Travel Tips | Permalink | Comments

03/28/08

Monterey Dreaming

Yesterday I shot a couple of terrific interviews for Bay Area Backroads and OpenRoad.TV with Kate Jessup, the food editor for Diablo magazine. Kate gave us some fabulous tips about where to find soul, Mexican and do-it-yourself food in the Bay Area. Stand by for more.

We shot our interviews in the Marin Headlands, but as she left, Kate told us she was headed to Pebble Beach for some kind of food fair extraordinaire. As I watched her drive away, I have to admit to some major jealousy.

I have a huge affection for the entire Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur region. I've explored many of its square feet over many decades and love getting back every chance I get. I always encourage people, if at all possible, to enjoy the...

Posted at 06:24 PM in Doug McConnell’s OpenRoad.TV Travel Tips | Permalink | Comments

03/14/08

Jack London Lives!

Not long ago, the delightful Scott Beale of Laughing Squid took me to see the birthplace of Jack London in San Francisco. I've been a Jack London fan for a very long time and have visited many of his haunts in the Bay Area and beyond. But I had never before been to the very spot near South Park where he was born in 1876. It was a surprising discovery for me and a reminder that Jack got around quite a bit in his short (forty years) but action-packed life.

Pieces of the London legacy are scattered hither and yon. Certainly, anyone interested in following in the footsteps of the famed journalist, novelist and adventurer needs to stop by Jack London Square in Oakland. But the best single place to get the full measure of the man is in...

Posted at 05:21 PM in Doug McConnell’s OpenRoad.TV Travel Tips | Permalink | Comments

02/26/08

East Bay by Tour Bus

I had a terrific experience the other day wandering around Berkeley, Oakland and Alameda. Usually, I do my own driving but this time, thankfully, I left the car behind and boarded an AC Transit bus with the fabulous and fun Ronda Robinson behind the wheel. We shot an episode for Bay Area Backroads on Channel 4 and will post it soon on my new website, www.OpenRoad.TV; The Traveler's Video Guide to the American West.

Ronda's won AC Transit's "Rider's Choice Award" and I can see why. She's warm engaging and perceptive, and she's got a great nose for fragrances and food.

We stopped at Berkeley's fabled Cheeseboard Collective for some morning bread and cheese and saw a huge line forming on the street for the Collective's...

Posted at 07:03 PM in Doug McConnell’s OpenRoad.TV Travel Tips | Permalink | Comments

02/08/08

Parks For The People

I'm producing a half-hour television special about the spectacular East Bay Regional Park District, the largest and most diverse local park system in the nation. I've visited the East Bay parks many times for personal and professional reasons over the years, and think I know them pretty well. However, working on this television project, I'm reminded of exactly how immense, complex and special the park system truly is. No matter where we live in the Bay Area, we're all very fortunate to have the East Bay parks in our backyard.

The East Bay park district was born during the depths of the Depression, and time and time again for many decades the voters of Alameda and Contra Costa counties have supported the growth and enhancement of the...

Posted at 12:02 PM in Doug McConnell’s OpenRoad.TV Travel Tips | Permalink | Comments