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Maidu Indian Museum The Maidu Museum & Historic Site offers a unique cultural haven for families and individuals who want to experience the life ways and culture of the Nisenan Maidu who called this location home for tho...
A Day in Paradise—Paradise Beach Park Maps….I love maps! Maps can introduce you to a whole world just waiting to be explored. Don’t get me wrong, I do use Mapquest and my GPS unit when I have a solid destination in mind. But here it was a...
A Jewel Box Little Theater in Downtown Willits It’s quite possible nobody ever heard of Ashland before the Oregon Shakespeare Festival settled there. Exuberant fans of Community Theater will tell you a similar story about Willits, California. Fo...
About Yosemite National Park Here's a quick look at some of Yosemite's many attributes. It's a short introduction to one of America's most deservedly famous landmarks.
Afternoon Sail on the ALMA Way, Haul Away, We Haul Away Together…the sea shanties of long ago came alive as I boarded the ALMA at the Hyde Street Pier in San Francisco. A clear and perfect November afternoon with record tempera...
Ahwahnee Hotel Yosemite Presidents, potentates and Hollywood celebrities have long loved the Ahwahnee Hotel, and so will you whether you stay there or not. Take a look.
Alabama Hills Movie History See some of the most famous rocks in movie-making history. Thanks to hundreds of movies and TV shows, you’ll likely recognize it even if you’ve never been to California.
Alaska's Glacier Bay & Whale Display No place in North America is more grand, more awe inspiring or more captivating than Alaska...
Alaska's McNeil River Bears Watch our lottery-winning trip to the McNeil River Sanctuary. We got "zoo close" to big Alaskan brown bears with no barriers between us!
Alcatraz Tours Alcatraz Movie Tour: It may be the world's most famous prison. See the starring roles Alcatraz has played in seventy years of movie-making, and find out what’s fact and what’s fantasy on the Rock.
Almaden-Quicksilver's Mining Lore It took more than gold for the Rush of ’49 to be successful. Discover the value of mercury stashed in the hills near San Jose.
Amador's Gold Country Nuggets See the fabled Mother Lode from the inside out and from deep underground, and discover fine wines and a devotion to the past on the hills nearby.
Amazon Animal Orphanage The Amazon Animal Orphanage in Iquitos, Peru, was "discovered" in 2004 by my brother during a visit to South America. Through the years, we've grown fond of these exotic creatures through upda...
America's Northernmost Road, Part 1 The Dalton Highway is the only road in the United States that goes to the Arctic Ocean.
America's Northernmost Road, Part 2 The Dalton Highway journey is long and difficult but worth the reward of eventually reaching the Artic Sea.
Angel Island - San Francisco Angel Island - It’s so near the rush of modern life, yet so far away. Explore one square mile of natural beauty and human history floating in San Francisco Bay.
Ansel Adams Biography He made Yosemite more famous than ever with his black and white images and became a photographic legend. See the story of Ansel Adams and his family. Our beloved national park was their home.
Apple Hill Fruit, Wine and Families Apple Hill - You may not find gold in the Gold Country, but if you’re looking for fine wine, sumptuous fruit and family traditions you’ll strike it rich on Apple Hill.
Armstrong Redwoods Russian River Armstrong Redwoods & the Russian River Valley Tranquil, serene, and rejuvenating—it sounds like something out of a day spa brochure, but it’s even better. This experience is free! Armstrong Redwood...
Barbary Coast Trail Take a guided walking tour along San Francisco's Barbary Coast Trail from Market St. through Chinatown to a hill above Fisherman's Wharf and a view of the Golden Gate.
Bay Area Discovery Museum Looking for a really great place to take the kids in the San Francisco Bay Area? You might want to check out the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito. The mission of the Bay Area Discovery Museu...
Bay Area's Best Burritos Expert tips on finding the best burritos in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Bay Area's Indian Traditions Travel to India in search of religion, food, music and dance and never leave the Bay Area.
Bents' Old Fort The Mountain Men, who probably numbered fewer than a thousand all told and whose era lasted hardly more than a generation, were the source of more folklore, legend and real history than almost any c...
Berkeley's Urban Pathways Walk up Berkeley's most famous rock and down its most poetic street, venture into an outdoor gallery of weathered art by the Bay and visit Brazil along the way.
Beyond the Strip: Red Rock Canyon Saying you’re going to Las Vegas to go hiking is like claiming to read Playboy for the good stories. However, Vegas is more than just “The Strip,” and we went to hike. The last time I was in Las Vega...
Big Sur's Glorious Coast It’s one of the most scenic stretches of coastline in the world. Meet a woman who knows it well and describes it best without the benefit of sight.
Big Sur's Land Trust Legacy Explore the dramatic landscape protected forever by the Big Sur Land Trust.
Big Sur's Molera State Park See one of many state park gems along the Big Sur coast. For very personal reasons, it’s my favorite.
Big Sur's Roadside Jewels Take a short drive down spectacular Big Sur, past fabled parks, an historic home and California condors defying extinction.
Black Diamond Mines Black Diamond Mines - See the historic Appalachia of northern California, and find out that miners carved more than gold out of them ‘thar hills.
Bodie and the Wild West Bodie was once reputed to be the baddest burg in the Wild West. Now it survives in what’s called, arrested decay, as a ghost from a rough and bygone age.
Breaking The Ice in Little Norway After a 25-hour ride southbound from Juneau about the Alaska Marine Highway's ferry "Taku", we pulled into the "Norwegian" port of Petersburg right on time at 6:15 pm and were shuttled to our apt...
Bristlecone Pine Ancient Forest Bristlecone Pine - Walk among the oldest trees on earth, gnarled works of natural art surviving in raw conditions others cannot.
Cal Redwoods Samuel P. Taylor St Park In metropolitan areas throughout the world there are islands of calm amongst the traffic and hustle and bustle of a fast paced life. The Bay Area is no exception. But we do have something that is uniq...
California Avocado Festival Every year at the beginning of September, Carpenteria, California boasts a fun filled festival for those who love the green.. avocados, of course! This year I had the pleasure of visiting the 2007 Av...
California Girl Goes East California Girl Goes East---Then West Again… New York’s Finger Lakes Wine Country (Ok…this doesn’t qualify as Western travel, but Doug encouraged me to share this with all of you) Eleven glacia...
California's Lost Coast Discovered Explore the wildest and most rugged stretch of California’s grand shoreline. No wonder they call it the “Lost Coast.”
Camping and Calistoga I've been camping with my family in Bothe Napa Valley State Park since I was a little girl, and I’ve had some of my best summers there. The weather can get in the upper 90s and even 100s. For ...
Canyoneering Near Zion Park Rappel into narrow and beautifully sculpted slot canyons near Zion National Park, and discover extraordinary hidden worlds.
Carmel Valley with Leon Panetta See Carmel Valley in the company of its native son and highly respected public servent, Leon Panetta.
Carmel and Big Sur Diving See wild wonders by scuba diving the Carmel and Big Sur Coast.
Carmel's Canine Cordiality Carmel is known for its beauty, its art and its food and we're happy to show that it's also gone to the dogs.
Carmel-by-the-Sea Carmel by the Sea - When the sun sets in Carmel-By-The-Sea it doesn’t go unnoticed. People put their lives on hold for awhile, stroll down to the ocean—just a few blocks away from the center of town—and take time to obse...
Caspar, California's Coastside Heritage Visit a little town on California's Mendocino coast that is lost in the shadows of a famous neighbor. The Casparadoes like it that way.
Chief Drive-In's Burger Supreme If you’re headed up Highway 101 from the San Francisco Bay Area in search of the redwood country, you are likely to find yourself in a little twist in the road called Laytonville. Pull off the road for a memorable burger at the Chief Drive-In, 44400 Highway 101 just south of town.
Chinatown San Francisco Walking Tour with Chef Martin Yan Wander San Francisco's Chinatown and work up a big appetite with famed chef and fabulous guide Martin Yan. Martin knows everyone and everyone knows him.
City of Walnut Creek--Diablo Valley “If you build it, they will come”….remember this from the movie Field of Dreams? The same could be said of Walnut Creek, a lovely community just 24 miles east of San Francisco. Located at the intersec...
Climbing Mt. Rainier Climbing Mt. Rainier in Washington State is one of the most demanding and rewarding physical challenges you can take on. Doing this combines stamina, skill and teamwork.
Colorado River Rafting Colorado River Rafting video - Float the fabled Colorado River where the eagles are bald, the water is white and the history stretches back towards the beginning of time.
Crater Lake NP (Sunday, September 21). It's been 10 years since was last drove through Crater Lake National Park on our way to a lake near Bend due north from here, 16 years since we last stayed in the park, and 35...
Cruising Alaska's Inside Passage Doug McConnell cruises Alaska's Inside Passage...an inspiring world of water, mountains, glaciers and wildlife...and visits Ketchikan to explore the Tongass Forest and experience native Tlingit culture.
Dances with Orcas At noon on the third day of our 70-mile circumnavigation of the San Juan Islands, our group of six kayakers left a lagoon on Matia Island and set a course for Doe Bay on the east shore of Orca Island, thirteen miles away.
Danville, California Nestled in a narrow section of the San Ramon Valley between the Las Trampas Ridge and the Diablo Range, Danville is a small, scenic, upscale town that provides visitors with a myriad of pleasant ways ...
Death Valley Fun and Adventures Death Valley National is not just a big desert! Join us for a fun adventure where we play with the environment while exploring the gems of this incredible destination.
Death Valley Journey A casual drive through Death Valley National Park will enchant you. But to really see it, leave your car and head into the canyons, climb the dunes; hear your feet crunch as you walk on layers of salt...
Denali National Park Alaska Denali National Park is a glaciated wonderland of wild landscapes and wildlife. And it's home to North America's highest peak, 20,320 foot Mt. McKinley.
Desert Appeal Before air conditioning in cars, driving across the desert was miserable during the summer. It was hard to imagine that anything could survive in such a desolate wasteland. The desert experience to...
Dodge Ridge Snow Play Dodge Ridge Snow Play video - Ski, saucer and tube your way into downhill madness no matter what your age.
Dog Friendly Food and Wine in Napa Valley Find a winery, a restaurant and a geyser people and dogs just love.
Downieville History and Adventure What goes up must keep going up. Pedal to the top of the Gold Country, far above Mark Twain’s old town.
Eastern Sierra Memories See the wonders of the Eastern Sierra with two of the most extraordinary people we’ve ever known.
Eco-touring the Yucatan It’s easy to arrange a do-it-yourself ecotourism trip. All it takes is a little research and finding the right guides. The Yucatán Peninsula is a prime place for nature-based travel where education ...
Elkhorn Slough's Wild Kingdom Elkhorn Slough - You'll discover more otters, harbor seals and birds in this one unlikely place than I bet you've ever seen. Frankly, I couldn't believe my eyes.
Exploring Pebble Beach Discover the sheer beauty and the golfing history of legendary Pebble Beach on the links, on the road and on horseback.
Exploring the Headlands of Marin One of my favorite landmarks is the Golden Gate Bridge and the views of it from the Marin Headlands are just stunning.
Farallon Islands' Sheer Nature Ride the high seas to the ends of the earth within sight of San Francisco. See a wilderness sanctuary few ever get to visit and watch the eternal struggle to survive.
Filoli Gardens and Estate Filoli Estate - See a little piece of royal Europe and a robust expression of California's first aristocrats in a magnificent home and exquisite gardens we commoners can all now enjoy.
Fine Food in San Francisco's Presidio Get great tips on places to eat in San Francisco's famous Presidio, now a national park.
Fisherman's Wharf - San Francisco Find authentic old San Francisco hidden among the crowds and tourist attractions along famous Fisherman's Wharf.
Flying Into The Mists of SE Alaska Ketchikan, the second largest city in Southeast Alaska after the state capitol, Juneau, is either the first or the last stop for most visitors to the Panhandle area. Annual rainfall here is measured ...
Free and Fun Things to do in San Francisco Bay Area Get some great tips on free and fun things to do in San Francisco from dog parks to brewery tours.
Gardner Lake - Beartooth Pass At nearly 11,000 feet there is little but sparse tundra vegetation clinging to fierce craggy soil and hard scrub bracken bordering the small glacial lakes. The Beartooth Pass offers but two seasons; w...
Geocaching in San Francisco Explore San Francisco on a geocaching adventure... kind of a hybrid scavenger hunt-roadtrip-discovery tour.
Giacomini Wetland Restoration Project The former Giacomini Dairy Ranch is now part of a wetland restoration project.
Glacier Bay Alaska Glacier Bay Alaska - An awe inspiring kingdom of ice. Voices lower to whispers when people enter what many consider a cathedral of nature.
Glacier National Park Going to the Sun Road is what they call it in Glacier National Park and indeed, you do feel like you have left the earth when you are there.
Glen Ellen's Heart and Wine Famed writer and adventurer Jack London made this his home here one hundred years ago. Meet some others who’ve followed his lead.
Gold Country RV Adventure This is the most authentic gold rush town, a remembrance of Jewish immigrants who helped shape modern California, and a cavernous creation of Mother Earth.
Gold Country Field Trip Those of you who have had a fourth grader in a Northern California school should recognize the title of this story. In fact, there's a good chance you've been along as a chaperone on this fun field trip...
Got Range Anxiety? Episode 1 of OpenRoad with Doug McConnell features Alaska's mountains, glaciers, whales and bears and some of Doug's favorite road trips in the American West.
Grand Island Wedding I attended a wedding in early June when the weather was perfect in the San Joaquin Delta. There were soothing breezes coming off the adjacent waterway as we sat under the tall trees on the lawn at the...
Grand Southwestern Road Trip Take one of America's most beautiful road trips across the legendary redrock desert of southern Utah and northern Arizona.
Grand Teton National Park Glide across glacial lakes beneath iconic granite peaks in search of moose and presidents.
Grassland's Haven for Birds What do hunters and conservationists have in common? Very often, quite a lot, including thriving wetlands and wildlife on the wing.
Grizzly Bears - San Francisco Zoo My wife and I took our 7 year old to the San Francisco Zoo on June 18th, 2008. We live in Marin County, so it is a quick half-hour drive over the Golden Gate Bridge, through...
Grizzly Island, Solano County Grizzly Island - The big bears are long gone, but Grizzly Island is alive with critters on the wing, in the water and on the run. They can all be seen easily from behind the wheel.
Haight-Ashbury - San Francisco This was ground-zero for the “Summer of Love”, a famous and historic San Francisco neighborhood where the sixties and many other decades can be found alive and well along city streets.
Hakone Gardens and Old Japan Step out of the 21st century rush and be restored by a traditional Japanese sanctuary near Silicon Valley, a garden of peace that barely survived a time of war.
Hawaii's Big Mystery Find a legend almost lost in the wilds and hike to the heated summit of Mauna Loa, the largest single object on earth.
Hawaii's Living Volcano Walk the Kilauea volcano and feel the heat of the earth under construction.
Hawaii's Ocean After Dark Mystery, majesty, manta rays (and a little mugging) in the nighttime sea.
Hawaii's Swift Tradition Reborn Fly down the steep, grassy slopes of the legendary Parker Ranch towards Hawaii's storied past.
Hawaii's Waipio Valley See why Hawaiian royalty revered the fertile Waipio Valley on the Big Island's dramatic North Coast and discover the intriguing Waipio Valley treehouse.
Hearst Castle and Ranch Hearst Castle - Visit a famous media mogul’s legendary castle high on a hill above the deep blue sea and a ranch he loved.
High Road to Taos An inriguing road trip through New Mexico's landscape, culture and heritage.
Highway 1: Golden Gate to Fort Ross See the first lovely stretch of a spectacular coastal road trip from the Golden Gate northward to an outpost of the old Russian Empire, with a bright light, shaky land and suberb beach in between.
Highway 1: Mostly Mendocino Coast Follow Highway 1 to the Mendocino Coast to meet a living legend and visit a town built by the great forests of northern California.
Highway 1: On to Oregon See elegant elk lounging right beside the road, follow one of my heroes on small wheels deep into the big trees and reach Oregon just in time for the rain.
Highway 395: Scenic Eastern Sierra Take a ride along one of the most scenic roadways in America. It passes by the deepest, the highest and the oldest superlatives in California.
Hiking Yosemite's Half Dome For some people, it's the hike of a lifetime. It's 5000 feet straight up to an unforgettable view of the legendary Yosemite Valley.
Honolulu's Landmark Volcano Explore famous Diamond Head from the inside up, through history to grand vistas.
Hoover Dam Inside Out Las Vegas thrives on superlatives, but its biggest monument is just outside of town and the concrete is still curing.
How to Hike Yosemite's Half Dome Half Dome hiking expert, Rick Deutsch, shares his tips on how to safetly hike to the top of one of Earth's most iconic rocks.
Idaho's Selway River Run River rafting in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness is a special and unforgettable trip.
Infineon Raceway - Sonoma Zoom your way around a world-class universe of speed and automotive history at Sonoma County's famous Infineon Raceway.
Jack London State Historic Park Take a stroll into the past and have a picnic at the Jack London State Historic Park in Glen Ellen, California.
John Muir National Historic Site Walk in the footsteps of legendary conservationist, John Muir, on protected land he knew and cherished.
Juneau, Alaska's Backyard Whales Get up close to whales, porpoises and eagles, just minutes from downtown Juneau, Alaska.
Juneau, Alaska's Mendenhall Glacier Helicopter above the glacier that marches right into the city limits of Juneau and set foot on this remarkable field of "blue ice."
Kalalau Trail to Hanakapi'ai Beach On the northern end of Kauai, west of Princeville and Hanalei, lies one of the most famously beautiful spots on Earth – the Na Pali coast. You can view the coast from boats or helicopters, but for my ...
Kali the Red-Tailed Hawk When I was 5 years old, my Grandma often took me to the WildCare Center in San Rafael, California. I went to the WildCare Center because Fred the Pelican was there, and I would go to watch him eat his...
Kauai Counter Clockwise Find a perfect paradise starting in a grand desert canyon and ending on a gorgeous tropical coast.
Kauai's Crystal Clear Niihau Dive Take a dive, savor the undersea scenery, and swim with sharks and dolphins off the island of Niihau.
Kauai's Garden of Delights Take a quick look at the Garden Island's many treasures.
Kauai's Multi-Sport Adventure Paddle, zip, hike, jump and plunge in a tropical paradise on the island of Kauai.
Kenai Fjords, Alaska A visit to Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska includes an opportunity to visit the ice age as well as observe a variety of wildlife.
Knut in Berlin We just returned from Berlin (sorry, not quite in California boundaries, but I thought someone would enjoy the pictures), where one of the highlights of the trip was to see Knut, the baby polar bear. ...
Lake County Wineries I was an avid watcher of Bay Area Backroads and sorry to see the show go away. I wanted to share with you a little know fact about Lake County. Lake County is producing some of the best wines from wel...
Lake Mead and Nevada's Desert Wander the shores of the largest lake in the nation created by human hands.
Lake Tahoe's Backcountry Adventures Trek into scenic, snowy and wild mountains just beyond the rush and rumble of Lake Tahoe's south shore. The weather up there can change faster than your luck in the casinos below.
Lanai's Lovely Land and Seascapes Explore the gentle wonders of Lanai where the crowds are few, the pace is slow and the scenery never disappoints.
Larkspur's Centennial Celebration Larkspur, California is celebrating its centennial in style......
Las Vegas Flexing Her Muscles After treating my wife to the Barry Manilow Music and Passion show on Friday night, she owed me one. So, on Saturday we went to see the Auto Collection at the Imperial Palace Hotel and Casino smack d...
Las Vegas Music and Passion My wife is a real "Fanilow" so I took her to Las Vegas this past weekend to see Barry Manilow's Music and Passion show at the Las Vegas Hilton. I got our tickets through one of the on-line seconda...
Las Vegas to the Snow Ski Las Vegas? Why not? On a real mountain and real snow no less. Who woulda thunk it?
Las Vegas with Elvis See the Strip from the backseat of a ’77 Caddy convertible, and ride back in time with the official Elvis of Las Vegas.
Las Vegas' Extreme Adventures Luge, leap and soar into some of the great adventures Las Vegas has to offer.
Lassen Volcanic National Park See the earth under construction on the steaming slopes of California's last active volcano.
Lawrence Ferlinghetti & City Lights San Francisco Wander the streets and alleyways of San Francisco's North Beach and aisles of City Lights Bookstore with the legendary poet, publisher and champion of free speech, Lawrence Ferlinghetti.
Leaving Las Vegas Introduction See the real Nevada just beyond the surreal Las Vegas strip.
Legend of Bigfoot Turns 50 Humboldt County is where the first Bigfoot was encountered back in 1958, which is not surprising considering that it has the largest and tallest redwood forests in the world. He's got plenty of room ...
Los Gatos Shakespeare Festival Oak Meadow Park is home to the most successful performing arts organization in town with audiences of over 2,000 theatre-goers enjoying great classical performances at the Los Gatos Shakespeare Festiv...
Marin Headlands' Natural Escape Explore history and see wild landscapes just across a legendary bridge from one of America’s most famous cities. There’s no place quite like it in the world.
Martin Yan on San Francisco's Clement St. Explore a world of food and culture with famed chef, Martin Yan, along one of San Francisco's most famous streets.
Maui's Mountaintop Moonscape Climb into the saddle and explore the unearthly landscape of Maui's landmark Haleakala Crater.
Meg Caldwell - Stanford Law School
Memorable Kona Coming to the end of the six tedious hours spent in the air begins as the disarming thirteen thousand foot Mauna Koa peak slowly creeps above the horizon, followed by it's close neighbor, Maui. H...
Mendocino County Triangle Tour When the Open Road leads across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco toward Mendocino County, choices unfold that offer a variety of memorable experiences, depending on which “fork in the road” y...
Mendocino's Beloved Protector Meet the man who guarded an irreplaceable wooden village from fire for more than fifty years. He never earned a dime for his efforts, but he accumulated affection beyond measure.
Mendocino's Many Charms You’ll need many trips to see and do all that the Mendocino coast has to offer. From horses to history to horticulture, with some parks thrown in, here are just a few.
Mendocino's Movie History Home movies of James Dean wowing the crowd, tales of Russians landing and fictitious crimes are all part of the movie-making lore of Mendocino’s celebrated little village.
Moab Motorcycle Touring Sweeping curves, twisting turns, and scenery that takes your breath away. Could you ask for more? If so Moab, Utah will deliver with arches, canyons, red rock formations, the Colorado River Gorge, petrogylphs, dinosaur tracks, a historical bridge, and the LaSal Mountains...
Moab Mountain Biking Slick rocks, knobby tires and miles to ride have put Moab on the global adventure map.
Modoc County's Living West In California, you can’t get more remote than this, the far northeastern corner of the state where locals say, “The West Still Lives.”
Modoc's High Country Wilderness Climb where few others go, into the spectacular South Warner Wilderness where the litter of ancient civilizations is scattered along the trail.
Modoc's Oregon Trail See the deep ruts left by thousands of wagons heading west a long time ago, and toast the end of the journey.
Modoc's Surprising Valley Wander the long and lovely Surprise Valley where saddle shops outnumber gas stations and ancient birds feel right at home.
Molokai Mo' Betta and More Quiet Surf the waves of a long reef almost alone and visit an island where nature provides the entertainment.
Molokai's Melancholy Paradise Visit a spectacular but haunted peninsula where generations of innocent victims were forcibly exiled beneath the tallest sea cliffs on earth.
Mono Lake Lives! Mark Twain apparently hated it and Los Angeles drained a lot of it, but determined people fought hard to save this salty treasure. Long live Mono Lake!
Montana Scenery and Wildlife Big sky, big mountains, big moose.......and more.....
Monterey Bay Aquarium Monterey Bay Aquarium - Go behind the scenes to see otters, penguins, sharks and jellies in one of the finest aquariums on earth.
Monterey Wildness Find out where sharks, otters and butterflies hang out in and around Monterey.
Monterey on Foot Discover the local flavor and side streets of historic Monterey with hometown boy made good, world-renowned chef, John Pisto.
Monterey's Fort Ord Treasures Explore Monterey's large and surprising Fort Ord open spaces.
Mt. Diablo State Park Rising 3849 feet, Mt. Diablo dominates the East Bay skyline. From the summit, on a clear day, you can see much of Northern California. The official Mount Diablo Guide claims that from the top, you can...
Mt. Hamilton's Galaxy Gateway Travel straight up to the border crossing between the earth and the stars and oldest observatory anywhere around.
Mt. Shasta on the Wing Fly around California’s highest volcano and find the headwaters of the state’s grandest river in the company of an old friend and the bearded bard of the outdoors.
Mt. Tamalpais' Land and Legends Many mountains are taller and grander, but few are more impressive and more beautiful than Marin County’s Mt. Tamalpais. And a few people still remember its unique railroading history.
Mt. Tamalpais' Land of Lakes Marin County's water supply is collected and stored in the lakes on Mt. Tamalpais where hikers and bikers can enjoy the many trails and fire roads.
Nailing Mother NAILING MOTHER It was Sunday, the second day of our two-day whitewater rafting trip organized by Rickey Wilson owner of Cache Canyon Whitewater River Trips in Rumsey. Pierre Fournier, a grizzled v...
Napa County Wine Country - diRosa Preserve Visit an artistic landmark in the lovely wine country of Napa County.
Napa Restaurants & Cheap Eats Meet a woman who knows all sorts of things about the Napa region, including where to get some good cheap eats.
Napa River Adventures Take a river ride and discover Napa's natural and historic heritage.
Napa Valley Wineries Discover some of the hidden wineries in and around Napa Valley.
Napa Wineries See caves carved by nineteenth century Chinese laborers and the haunting remains of California’s first wine country. Ghost wineries are very much alive in the valley and hills of Napa.
New Mexico's Ancient & Atomic History A visit to Bandelier National Monument and Los Alamos National Laboratory provide two very different views into history.
Niles Historic Movies and Trains Niles, California.....the town that could have been Hollywood, where you can now ride the rails back in time to a community that was governed by a dog.
Nobody has to dine alone in Willits! For people headed north to the redwoods across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, Willits is a popular stopover – whether for the night or just for a bite to eat. Although it’s 135 miles away...
North Beach San Francisco - Food Tour Find some of the best food in San Francisco's North Beach on a tour with a woman in the know.
Oahu's Honolulu Hawaii's legendary entertainer Do Ho introduces us to Waikiki's legends of surfing.
Oahu's Wild North Shore Climb a Stairway to Heaven on Oahu's heavenly north shore.
Oakland Market's Fabulous Feasts San Francisco is famous for its food, but Oakland isn't bad either. Feast your eyes on a cornucopia of delights in and around the Old Oakland Market.
Old City Hall Arts Center, Redding, CA Truly a monument to the colorful history of Redding, Old City Hall Arts Center now serves as a central resource for the arts in Shasta County. The Shasta County Arts Council (SCAC) acts as steward ...
OpenRoad Episode 3
OpenRoad Television - Episode 101 Alaska's mountains, glaciers, whales and bears. 3 favorite western road trips. The king of the art cars. All part of episode 1 of OpenRoad with Doug McConnell.
OpenRoad Television - Episode 102 The Big Island of Hawaii. The remote island of Midway. And our favorite beahes on all the Hawaian islands.
OpenRoad Television - Episode 103 Check out Episode 3. Yosemite's famous and lesser-known treasures. Places to see wildlife. And a memorable Sebastopol artist.
OpenRoad Television - Episode 104 Tour Alcatraz at night. Explore Chinatown with the irrepressible Martin Yan. Adventures in Kauai, Moab and the Sierra Nevada. Hang out with the legendary Wavy Gravy.
OpenRoad Television - Episode 105 Discover the island of Catalina, intriguing roadside attractions in California and Hawaii and meet an amazing carver of stone.
OpenRoad Television - Episode 106 Explore colorful canyons in southern Utah, the wonder of Hoover Dam, and intriguing towns of the old west. Plus a taxi tour of San Francisco.
OpenRoad Television - Episode 107 The vibrant city of Vancouver. A thriving colony of Bald Eagles. Mt. St. Helens and great castles of the West. Unheard sounds of nature.
OpenRoad Television - Episode 108 Ride the Dalton Highway to the Artic Ocean. Explore caves in California. Dive with Manta Rays in Hawaii. And hang with Elvis on the Las Vegas Strip.
OpenRoad Television - Episode 109 Hawaii: diving at night with manta rays and the ancient art of grass sledding. Scenic views of the West. And the Grateful Dead's own State Park.
OpenRoad Television - Episode 110 Travel Highway 1 through the incomparable Big Sur and dive its coastal waters. And discover adventures throughout the West.
OpenRoad Television - Episode 111 Episode 111 debuts on KQED Moday, September 28, 2009 at 7:30 PM.
Oregon Coast Tide Pooling Last summer, I visited friends in Washington state, and we took an adventuresome road trip along the Oregon coast on Route 101. One of our goals was to go “tide pooling.” Tide pools are pools of s...
Ouray Ice Fest Ouray, Colorado is a beautiful little town in a bowl on the northern edge of the San Juan Mountains. It bills itself as "the Switzerland of America," and it's not an unreasonable choice. The town is reached by US-550, the "Million Dollar Highway,"
Parkfield, CA and the San Andreas Fault Trace California's famous San Andreas Fault and visit little Parkfield, Earthquake Central.
Picture Perfect Zion Park See one of nature's most exquisite masterpieces, Zion National Park in Utah, through the lens of one of its finest and most devoted photographers.
Pinnacles National Monument Explore vagabond volcano and see California condors on the wing in Pinnacles National Monument.
Placerville Ghosts and Gold They used to call this place Hangtown and some of its ghosts may still be hanging around ready to share a drink and a few of your gold nuggets. Watch your pockets.
Potomac's Presidential Past Spend time in the good company of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and cruise San Francisco Bay aboard the yacht that gave him great comfort in the darkest hours of the Depression.
Pt. Reyes Beauty and Birds From giant Elk to tiny birds, see a wonderland of wildlife, history and geology in, perhaps, my favorite natural place in the Bay Area.
Pt. Reyes Light and History See the natural and artistic wonders of Pt. Reyes National Seashore.
Queen Team's Kinetic Race Extreme Makeover Known as the original triathlon of the art world, the three-day contest pits ingeniously engineered, whimsically designed and manually powered contraptions against roads, dunes, water and each other.
Redwoods, Wine and the Sea Redwoods, Wine and the Sea There is something special about a place connected to your childhood. It becomes a part of your heart unlike anything else. I grew up camping throughout the west and one ...
Remote Arctic Eskimo Village Anaktuvak Pass is a very small town in a very large landscape.
Roadside Elephant Seals Get as close to nature in the raw as humanely possible at perhaps the most convenient wildlife viewing spot in the American West.
Rock City on Mount Diablo Go Climb A Rock…..Explore Rock City on Mount Diablo. Mt. Diablo could have their own version of Yosemite Mountaineering School’s classic T Shirt. The other day I took my 15 year old son up Mt. Di...
Sacramento's Crown Jewel From rotundas to restaurants, see where the deals are done and the decisions are made that guide one of the largest governments in the world, and don’t forget the napkin.
Safari West African Adventure Safari West: Visit Africa in Santa Rosa, California, and see exotic wildlife at ease, on the loose and closer than ever.
San Francisco Aquatic Park Take a dip in San Francisco's chilly Aquatic Park and visit the historic athletic clubs that grace the Bay.
San Francisco Bay's Northern Wildness See a piece of San Francisco Bay's nature and beauty from the road, water and air.
San Francisco Ferry Building Food Tour Explore San Francisco's landmark Ferry Building and find great food on a very special tour.
San Francisco Food & Restaurants Stanley Roberts, friend and big-time food fan, introduces us to some eateries in San Francisco that make him swoon.
San Francisco Landmark Restaurants - Video Guide See why some San Francisco restaurants have become genuine landmarks serving satisfied customers for generations.
San Francisco Walking Tour - Mission District Explore the sights, sounds, food and spirit of San Francisco's diverse Mission District by foot.
San Francisco Walking Tours Find out what San Francisco's City Guides can show you in the City's famous downtown, at the Golden Gate Bridge and in Chinatown.
San Francisco's 49 Mile Drive Part 1 Travel from Japan to China to a piece of old Italy before stopping by a fabled wharf without ever leaving San Francisco.
San Francisco's 49 Mile Drive Part 2 See where loved ones of many species are laid to rest in a national park, where kites fill the sky and where a professional football team was born.
San Francisco's Finest Chocolates Discover the best places to get great chocolate in San Francisco and right nearby.
San Francisco's Historic Presidio Explore San Francisco's historic Presidio, now a national park, and discover its fascinating and complex archeological wonders.
San Francisco's Market St. Railway Explore San Francisco's famous Market Street and Embarcadero, from the Castro District to Fishermen's Wharf on an historic railway.
San Francisco's Presidio & George Lucas Explore San Francisco's fabled Presidio, now a national park, and go behind the scenes at George Lucas' spectacular Lucasfilm and LucasArts production facility.
San Jose's Historic Roots See what preceded the modern metropolis of San Jose in a park with stories from the past.
San Jose's Japantown Discover the long and rich heritage of Japanese Americans in San Jose.
San Mateo Coast is Saved Meet the determined woman whose extraordinary organization has helped to save the farms, open space and historic treasures of the spectacular San Mateo coast.
San Mateo Coast's Beach Gems They comprise a string of scenic and uncrowded jewels just over the hill from millions of people. Here are just a few of the quiet beaches along the San Mateo coast.
Santa Cruz Comes Back Visit a gorgeous town noted for its sensational seafront and a spirit of survival.
Santa Cruz by Historic Rail Steaming through the redwoods and screaming by the beach, it's all on the rails in and around Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz with Frans Lanting Join famed photographer Frans Lanting and explore his wild backyard in Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz's Stellar Parks Santa Cruz is surrounded by public parks. See some of the best.
Sebastopol's Hilarious Art Patrick Amiot’s works are big, funny and very creative. They also build a sense of community and raise lots of money for good causes, all from piles of junk.
Sequoia's Little Surprises Get some insider tips on a paper to read, a museum to visit and a waterfall to find in Sequoia, and be sure to meander in Crescent Meadow.
Sequoia's Most Famous Treasures See the biggest single living organism on earth and an underground cathedral more than a million years in the making in California’s first national park.
Sequoia's Wilderness Wonders See a Sierra wilderness Walt Disney could not tame and meet some cuddly and wild critters, as cute as Mickey Mouse, who just might eat your engine.
Shelter Cove - Lost Coast's Only Town Gimme shelter and a hole of golf and let me stay lost on the coast.
Silicon Valley's Sweet Traditions This is the birthplace of Silicon Valley, a little garage not far from an old soda shop where deals are done that will shape the twenty-first century.
Sitka, Alaska's Russian & Tlingit Heritage Sitka was once the most populated city on the Pacific Rim. Drop anchor and explore this village steeped in Russian and native Tlingit culture.
Six Steps to Kona Bliss A three-time Kona visitor recommends these steps to chilling out on Hawaii's famous South Coast. Step 1: Arrival Kona, Head South Don’t let the view from the air or the ride away from the airport...
Skagway, Alaska's Yukon Railroad Ride the rails of history to Alaska's gold rush on the White Pass Railroad's legendary Yukon Route.
Sonoma County's Sights and Sounds Enjoy the landscapes and soundscapes of Sonoma County with renowned acoustic naturalist, Bernie Krause.
Sonora, California's Movie Star Looks Hollywood discovered Sonora a long time ago and it still has a touch of charisma, a flair for showmanship and a rich vein of Gold Country history to show off.
Southeast Alaska's Bear Island It is an incredible thrill to see bears in the wild.
Southwest Adventures Introduction Las Vegas inspires risk-takers and a sense of adventure on the Strip and far beyond.
Spelunking in California's Gold Country When I’m not at the top of Half Dome (8,842’) I like to do other adventures. So Sunday the 26th was spelunking day. Caving. Journey to the Center of the Earth. Actually I went to California Cavern n...
St. Helena California - Wine Country Traditions Wander the beautiful and historic streets and surrounds of St. Helena in the Napa Valley, savor a little of its famous wine and visit California's oldest resort.
St. Helena, CA - End to End If you’ve ever been to St. Helena, you know how pleasant it can be to take a stroll along Main Street and enjoy the ambiance of this charming town with its historic architecture and special shops. I’...
Steep Ravine Cabins Just had to share this view and pictures of the Steep Ravine Cabins in Stinson Beach. ...
Suisun's Food, Wine and Art Travel with us through the rural charm of Suisun Valley and discover some of its artistic and agricultural treasures.
Superlative Santa Fe Explore the "Land of Enchantment" and discover Santa Fe, a cosmopolitan city with "dusty little town" roots.
Taxi Tour of San Francisco Take a taxi tour with Buzz Brooks of some of San Francisco's historic landmarks and neighborhoods and find some good places to eat along the way.
The Bloody Bozeman Trail The Yellowstone River originates in Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone Park. It runs roughly northeast to join the Missouri near the Montana/North Dakota border, or as is more important historically, nea...
The Castro in High Heels Explore and celebrate one of San Francisco’s most famous and colorful neighborhoods, the Castro District, in the elegant company of an Empress of the City.
The Great Sequoias In 2002 when Tony & I were traveling in the west we came upon the great giant redwoods. They are an important part of our landscape. I took lots of pictures and hope you enjoy the journey with us......
The Hidden Stanislaus River I’ve discovered a great benefit to having a friend who loves to fish. He knows secret, out of the way places only diehard fisherm…uh...fisherpersons ever see. For years, my friend Dennis, has been ...
The Jellyfish Gallery in Monterey The Monterey Bay Aquarium is an amazing resource and a must see if you’re in the area. The idea for my visit originated with a post by JimW here on Open Road, pl...
The Magic of Antelope Canyon While traveling with friends in Utah and northern Arizona in the spring of 2007, one of the "must see" destinations on our schedule was Antelope Canyon. Antelope Canyon is the most-photographed slot...
The Presidio in San Francisco San Francisco's beautiful Presidio, now a national park, is a surprising destination for adventures: fishing, windsurfing, canoeing, running, hiking and a whole lot more.
The Way to San Jose Enjoy the tranquility, history and childhood delights that can be found, among many other pleasures, in the Bay Area’s biggest city.
The Year of the Rooster This year on February 13th Carla and I celebrated my birthday by taking a tour of Chinatown. Even though I live next door on Russian Hill, it’s always great to sightsee in your own hometown, especially when that hometown is one of the world’s most desirable tourist destinations.
Tilden Regional Park - Berkeley, CA Tilden Regional Park has been called the jewel of the East Bay Regional Park system, and for good reason. If any single urban park has something for everyone, and a beautiful setting to boot, this is ...
Tom Smothers - Sonoma County Winery Visit one of Sonoma County's most famous wine makers and entertainers, Tom Smothers.
Tour of California Tour of California starts in downtown Sausalito.
Vikingsholm Castle - Tahoe's Scandinavian Retreat Vikingsholm Castle - Tahoe's Emerald Bay looks like a Norweigan fjord amidst the high Sierra. No wonder it inspired the building of this Scandanavian masterpiece.
Vineman Ironman 70.3 As the summer triathlon season draws to a close, 2,000 athletes plunge into the Russian River in one of California’s premier races. Pros and age-groupers alike race side by side for the same prize, 28...
Virginia Lakes and Me These are my very first memories of mountains. No wonder I fell in love.
Wetlands Part 2
Whales on the SF Bay Saw a whale this am. Right near your offices!
Willits -Just Soup & Sandwich? When you’re gliding along Highway 101 you’re never far from a fine meal. Still, there are times when all you want is something simple, like soup and a sandwich. Maybe a great salad too. Just because...
Wine, Redwoods & Seabiscuit! I wanted to tell everyone about the great trip from Hopland to Willits! Hopland is the start of the Mendocino County Wine Country and there are some really great wineries along the Hwy 101.
Winged Memories and Airborne Art Take a ride in an airborne convertible and fly back towards the romance of early aviation.
Yellowstone National Park and Wolves Yellowstone is a region of extraordinary landscapes, wildlife, and geothermal wonders. See it all on our trip to America's first national park.
Yosemite Aerials I just watched the Ansel Adams Video. I studied with Ansel in Yosemite in 1968 and we became friends. Ansel introduced me to William Garnet, the noted aerial photographer, and my path in life was set...
Yosemite Falls - Smart New Trail The water plunges from granite highlands in a freefall for thousands of feet to the Valley floor. Now we can feel its mist more easily than ever.
Yosemite Valley in Winter Yosemite Valley in the winter is a magical place--more wildlife than tourists, and dramatic cloudscapes in the sky. But best of all...
Yosemite View Lodge When you begin your search for lodging near Yosemite National Park you will probably find a ton of misinformation from hotel and motel operators, many toting the fact they are located at the gates to ...
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