Football

Sights & Sounds: Reporter Blake Hanson reports from the Bay area

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Reporter Blake Hanson is showing you the sights and sounds in California surrounding Super Bowl week.

San Francisco's terrain makes for tricky travel

Hanson learned first-hand just how challenging it can be to get around San Francisco and ran into some local Panthers fans along the way.

Imagine the slopes of the Carolina foothills and buildings crammed tighter than in uptown Charlotte, and that resembles the unique terrain that makes up the character of San Francisco.

Not everyone loves it.

"(It's) a heck of a fitness test," said Jack Cooke from Bristol, England.

Smart locals, like Matt Charles, find a way to get around. In his case, he uses a motorized board.

"So anyone with a non-motorized board is missing out in San Francisco?" Hanson asked.

For some, the cable car is exercise-free alternative. Other tourists just brave it.

"You might see people bending over with their hands on their knees a lot," said Bay area resident Matt Charles.
 
Nowhere is the unusual layout more obvious than Lombard Street.It's a precarious zig zag street that overlooks the city.

Hanson started up it and luckily found an excuse to stop halfway up after running into a couple guys from Lake Norman.

"You know what I can say is, I have not seen any Broncos fans tackling these stairs," Hanson asked.

"Yeah, that's true. We haven't seen any Broncos fans period," a resident said.

The sights this week have been something special, but for fans, it's a way to spend time before the sight they really came to see on Sunday.

"We actually went to the 2003, 2004 Super Bowl in Houston. So this is very meaningful to us," said Lake Norman resident Sal Cozza.

California olive oil, wine producer has ties to Carolinas
 
Petaluma, Ca. – Nestled in California's vast rolling hills are more than 500 acres of wine country with connections to the Carolinas.
 
McEvoy Ranch is a producer of organic olive oil, body products and wine.
 
While many farms in the area make wine, McEvoy Ranch started with olive oil, a decision made by the ranch founder, Nan McEvoy.
 
"Most people were planting wine grapes at the time, she wanted to do something a little different," said John Calmeyer, director of sales at McEvoy Ranch.
 
The ranch boasts 18,000 olive trees. It sells products nationwide through its website and the products can also be found in Charlotte, at stores including Dean & Deluca.
 
Calmeyer calls Chapel Hill, North Carolina, home.
 
He, along with farming manager Samantha Dorsey, are part of the team with Carolina connections. Dorsey's husband is a cousin with Charlotte Fire Capt. Tim Brown.
 
The company has recently branched out to produce wine as well.
 
California makes 90 percent of U.S. wine and brings in 21 million tourists to the state every year. McEvoy Ranch is among those that hosts tours and tastings.
 
More information the ranch can be found online at www.McEvoyRanch.com.

The Fisherman's Wharf experience

In the City by the Bay, people can't get much closer to an authentic San Francisco experience than historic Fisherman's Wharf.
 
"It's just different, something we hadn't seen before," said David Gill, a tourist visiting from New Zealand. "It's eclectic".
 
Shops, stores and restaurants are getting ready to welcome Super Bowl crowds this week. Even without the added event, it's a popular area.
 
People lined the piers and some casted a line Monday while others watched seals duke it out on blocks of wood suspended in the water.
 
Perhaps the biggest draw is the seafood.
 
"For me, calamari is my favorite," said Valerie Valente, visiting from within the state.
 
The buildings sit on the rubble of the old site that burned down in the fire and earthquake of 1906. However, the traditions were far from extinguished.

Chinatown 

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