Jim Lasley
Article Category: Get Out Of Town
Disneyland, 1962 — New Mexico, 2009 — Wherever, 2010 By James Lasley http://www.jlasley.com/ Travel is the spice of life, they say. In the summer of 1962, my father and I hitchhiked 2,512 miles from North Carolina to Disneyland in Anaheim, California. The “spicy” mode of transportation was Dad’s idea. He could have said, “Son, we’lll fly to Disneyland on the back of a dairy cow” and in five minutes I’d have been packed and waiting at the door. You... [Read more...]
Vern Hobbs
Article Category: Get Out Of Town
Toronto • Words and photos by Vern Hobbs • “They walk among us, undetected,” warned the stoic TV reporter, thus inspiring Sheriff Bud Boomer’s ridiculous invasion of Canada. “Canadian Bacon,” the 1995 cinematic gaffe that might explain director Michael Moore’s switch from comedies to documentaries was not my reason for traveling to Canada, but it was on my mind as we descended toward Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson Airport. Pearson, like many metropolitan... [Read more...]
Word and photos by L Paul Mann
Article Category: Get Out Of Town
Jackson Hole, Wyoming • Word and photos by L Paul Mann • When you’ve grown weary of prepackaged theme park vacations, you may want to consider a family getaway to the gateway to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, well known as a skier and snowboarder’s dream destination in the snow-cached winter months, but recently coming into its own as a year-round adventure paradise. Its small, sleek airport, perfectly situated on a flat plain protected by towering mountains, allows virtually nonstop travel... [Read more...]
Laurie Bautz
Article Category: Get Out Of Town
Zulu Nyala, South Africa Story and photos by Laurie Bautz This past January, my husband and I went on vacation to South Africa. It was the trip of a lifetime; the kind many dream about, but never get the chance to take. We were able to make ours a reality thanks to our winning bid for a safari at a charity auction a few months prior. Our six-day safari at Zulu Nyala, located in the northeastern corner of South Africa, included two game drives a day and offered three types of accommodation: tents... [Read more...]
Vern Hobbs
Article Category: Get Out Of Town
HIKING TOWARD MY ROOTS: A Trek on Virginia’s Creeper Trail By Vern Hobbs The mountains and meadows were luminous with the emerald hue of the Appalachian spring. The excitement, especially mine, was palpable as we unpacked our gear at the Abingdon trailhead. Melodramatic as it might sound, I owe my very existence to this humble hiking trail, or at least to the railroad from which it takes its name. The Virginia Creeper National Recreation Trail stretches 34 miles through the Southwest Virginia... [Read more...]
L. Paul Mann
Article Category: Get Out Of Town
Mammoth Mountain, California: Four Seasons of Outdoor Fun About 110, 000 years ago, a series of volcanic eruptions created a massive lava dome known today as Mammoth Mountain. Towering above the Central California landscape, the mountain continues to be an active geological site. Best known as the tallest ski area in California, it is actually a gateway to outdoor adventures of all kind, throughout four distinct seasons. Centrally located no more than a seven-hour drive from almost every major... [Read more...]
By Vern Hobbs
Article Category: Get Out Of Town
Wilmington: The Overlooked Sister By Vern Hobbs Though often overshadowed by her flashier sisters, Charleston and Savannah, Wilmington, North Carolina is a sparkling jewel among the historic port cities of the American South. Located along the banks of the Cape Fear River, Wilmington beckons to the curious traveler with three centuries of history, vibrant nightlife, a robust arts community, and pristine beaches. “Historic,” has become an overworked adjective, too often used to embellish... [Read more...]
By: L. Paul Mann
Article Category: Get Out Of Town
Several years ago, a friend suggested we spend New Year’s Eve in Salt Lake City, Utah. My first concern was whether or not we’d be able to find a place to enjoy a glass or two of champagne to celebrate the occasion. I am not a heavy drinker, but I do enjoy a couple of cocktails once in a while, especially on New Year’s Eve. I was under the impression that the famously Mormon capital city was a dry town. But I was persuaded to go along with the idea after being informed of the terrific vacation... [Read more...]
By: Vern Hobbs
Article Category: Get Out Of Town
The Christmas trees had been on display at Merritt Square Mall since Halloween. My favorite radio station had been playing holiday music since Election Day. Nat King Cole was roasting chestnuts again, and I knew that before the hour was out Bing Crosby would be dreaming of another white Christmas. Despite being the happily sunburnt, contentedly salt-encrusted Florida beach bum that I am, I finally succumbed to this relentless onslaught of polished holiday imagery. I was longing for the perfect Christmas... [Read more...]
Words and photos by L. Paul Mann
Article Category: Get Out Of Town
The 2nd Annual Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco this past August benefited from a combination of improved planning and the luck of some of the nicest weather the city had seen all summer. The result was a far more pleasant and exciting experience for festivalgoers at this food, wine and music extravaganza. I started my first day at the festival early, as I was unsure how complicated using public transportation in a strange city would be. To my surprise, I was able to catch a single city bus... [Read more...]
