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...]
By: Vern Hobbs
Article Category: Get Out Of Town
Be Afraid… It’s Good for You By Vern Hobbs Radio personality John Tesh recently reported that medical researchers have determined that the occasional frightening experience may provide certain health benefits. Specifically, being frightened releases adrenaline, increasing circulation and heightening alertness. So, if you haven’t had a good scare lately, what better time than now — Halloween — to enjoy the rejuvenation that only sheer terror provides? Now perhaps a... [Read more...]
Words and photos by L. Paul Mann
Article Category: Get Out Of Town
VENTURA, CALIFORNIA: Sun, Surf and Music Ventura has long been the blue collar, working class mecca of southern California. Founded on an oil industry boom, and rich farm and ranch lands, it’s always been a place where people work hard for a living and party even harder in their spare time. In the home of world-class surf breaks and the Hell’s Angels, outdoor activities are also an integral part of the Ventura lifestyle. Add to this an incredibly vibrant music and entertainment scenes... [Read more...]
By: Vern Hobbs
Article Category: Get Out Of Town
Tortuguero, my happy home… So goes the opening line of a song, seldom (if ever) heard beyond the banks of the Parisimina River in northeastern Costa Rica. Despite the tune’s anonymity, it holds a place in my heart. In contrast to the popular tourist destinations and expatriate havens of Tamarindo, Puntarenas, and Quepos, Tortuguero might be best described as “the Costa Rica less-traveled.” This village of 500 residents owes its relative obscurity to its relative remoteness.... [Read more...]
Words and photos by L. Paul Mann
Article Category: Get Out Of Town
Affluent international travelers have made Switzerland a top vacation destination for centuries. Jet setters fly in to some of the most exclusive ski resorts in the world — places like St. Moritz, Zermatt and Gstaad — and summer music fans swarm to the many music festivals, among them, the renowned Montreux Jazz Festival, the largest of its kind in the world. International backpackers flock to the Swiss Alps to hike in the serene countryside in picture postcard-perfect mountain villages... [Read more...]
By: Vern Hobbs
Article Category: Get Out Of Town
Our transatlantic flight arrived at Boston’s Logan Airport a bit late, resulting in a missed connection. The nice lady behind the airline counter informed us that although it was only 9 a.m., there were no available flights to our destination until 7 p.m. She assured us that our bags were in good hands, and presented us with meal vouchers, referring to us as “distressed passengers,” a title that left us feeling a little like unwanted refugees. The prospect of hanging around Logan... [Read more...]
