Doug McConnell’s OpenRoad.TV Tips

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

01/25/08

Liking Livermore

I've been exploring the open road of the Livermore Valley lately, and have been reminded of all the special spots along the way. Many of us never get off I-580 to poke around, and that's a mistake.

First of all, this is wine country with, quite literally, deep roots. Wente Winery has been in the same family since 1883. Generation after generation, the descendants of C.H. Wente have been producing fine wine. Concannon has also been in the neighborhood since 1883, which, coincidentally, was the year my grandfather was born on the other side of Mt. Diablo in Brentwood as I mentioned in a previous blog. These days, I believe there are about 40 wineries around Livermore. After...

Posted at 05:24 PM in Doug McConnell’s OpenRoad.TV Travel Tips | Permalink | Comments

01/09/08

Wide Winter Vistas

OpenRoad.TV's Doug McConnell shares his thoughts about the wide winter vistas of Northern California

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

12/28/07

Doug's first D-blog

My mother's father, Ray Gregory, was born in Contra Costa's Brentwood in 1883. His father was busy multi-tasking in the nineteenth century setting up post offices and serving as a Methodist minister in post gold rush California. My grandfather was a terrific storyteller and he used to regale me with tales about the California he knew as a kid. I suspect some of his stories were even true.

I was hooked by history early on. The histories of California and the West especially grabbed my imagination and have never let go. These days, I enjoy visiting places my grandfather might have known. When he was a boy, John Muir lived nearby on his ranch in Martinez. Now the Muir home and some of its grounds are protected by our national park...

Posted at 07:12 PM in Doug McConnell’s OpenRoad.TV Travel Tips | Permalink | Comments