Situated in central California on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Mammoth Mountain is actually a volcano that sits just west of the town of Mammoth Lakes, California. Mammoth Mountain remains to be one of the Golden State’s favorite mountain resorts for people of all walks of life and of all ages. Just a few hours drive from the grand metropolis of Los Angeles, it is a welcome reprieve for the “Angeleno” city dwellers in search of nature and more healthy alternatives. The winter months at Mammoth are particularly bustling and there is a myriad of activities to choose from, you may be happily stumped because of all the events and things to decide to do!

The snow of Mammoth is perfect for cross country and downhill skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, snow boarding, and how could we leave out snowman making! No matter what your level of athletic ability, you will always have several options. For example, if you feel that you’re a bit rusty with your skiing or you just don’t feel that confident getting into ski’s, you can take a lesson or more at the resort. Individual and group lessons are always available during snow months so you won’t have to worry because you’ll be in the hands of experts. If you don’t have your own ski’s and equipment, you can rent those on the site.

There are also ski tours given daily. The tours run about two and a half hours and is a guided ski tour designed to be entertaining, great exercise and an overall informative exploration. If you’re more of a hiker/snowshoer, pick up a trail map and off you go for one of the most amazing places for exploring scenic trails. Please be responsible and make sure to check the weather reports and most importantly, to know the rules and regulations, “the code” at Mammoth so you and those around you will be safe and sound while on vacation.

Because the X-Games roll around at the end of January, you’re bound to see world famous athletes training at Mammoth during the winter months. If you’re lucky and you keep your peepers open, you’ll run into the likes of champions like: Mason Aguirre, Tommy Czeschin, Hana Beaman, Kristi Leskinen, Danny Kass, Eddie Wall, Tara Dakides, and Mercedes Nicoll.

The summer months also offers incredible activities as well: mountain/trail biking, fishing, hiking, swimming in the Mammoth Lakes, bird watching (birding), golfing, shopping, scenic gondola rides, rock climbing, and sun worshipping. Summer months can be filled with vigorous activity or more geared toward relaxation, or a combination thereof.

for details contact: http://tourbuzz.biz

Chicago is famous for the Chicago Cubs; the Chicago Bears, Super Bowl Champs; the “EL,” fast transit elevated trains; the Art Institute; Lakeshore Drive, the Lake Michigan Shoreline Park and the Chicago Zoo. In addition, Chicago is home to Oprah Winfrey, Dr. Phil and President Barack Obama and his family. Perhaps you will be among those whose Activity Holidays will include the 2016 Olympic Games in Chicago.Chicago claims the title as the city with the best restaurant food in the land. It has always had the best ballpark hot dogs and is fast becoming the city with the best gourmet hot dogs. You can find great hot dogs at stands in downtown Chicago, the ballpark and local restaurants.Chicago has two main airports, O’Hare International Airport one the world’s busiest and Midway International Airport serving mainly domestic destinations. The Chicago Transit Authority provides buses, El trains, diesel electric buses, trolley cars, taxis and rental carsMaking travel arrangements Direct through Local Tour Operators, assures you get low airfares, accommodations and entrance tickets to events. Local Tour Operators plan Tours through groups and agencies charged with Direct planning of main events in the city. For travel arrangements contact Local Tour Operators. A 15.4%, hotel tax on accommodations maintains parks and public buildings while causing exorbitant prices in comparison to the rest of the country. Chicago is a convention town and convention goers receive reimbursement for expenses. There are owners in Chicago’s hospitality industry who believe cost is not important to visitors.Among the main attractions in Chicago are Sears Tower, the highest building in the world; Millennium Park; the Shedd Aquarium from 1930; Adler Planetarium; Astronomy Museum and Navy Pier. A Chicago CityPass lets you visit five different attractions including the Tommy Guns Garage Dinner, (a musical comedy including Gangsters, Flappers and you as participants); The Medieval Times Dinner with knights and a four- course meal; several bicycle Tours and trolley Hop on/Hop off Tours. You can attend the Oprah Winfrey show or visit Magnificent Mile, the high-end shopping district. Chicago offers Kid Friendly museums, Lincoln Park Zoo, Guy Getaways, festivals, parades, concerts and special events. Other attractions include Shoreline Drive; Boat Tours; Lakefront Cruises, the Wrigley Building, Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs and Harpo Studios. Visit the Museum of Contemporary Art; River North Gallery District; Oak Street Beach; The Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum and more.  Restaurants abound in Chicago and there is more than one to suit everyone’s taste. Fast food restaurants and sit down restaurants offering Mexican, Italian, French, Chinese, Cuban, American cuisine and more. Whether you want casual, romantic or elegance personified, you will find it all in Chicago. Economy Tours can be fun-filled Activity Holidays. Travel savings add up when booking Activity Holidays through Local Tour Operators.  Some Worldwide travelers suggest it is cheaper to book Tours through Local Tour Operators. Packaged Tours include the lowest airfares and accommodations for Activity Holidays. Chicago Tours offer fun-filled Activity Holidays visiting main attractions and events in Chicago.

Airports, bus and train stations, and other crowded areas where travelers are in close quarters are where pickpockets prefer to operate.  There are a number of dos and don’ts to avoid becoming victimized when you travel, most of which are common sense.  Here are some.

Don’t wear jewelry or an expensive looking watch as that is an invitation to be robbed.Wear a money belt under you shirt or blouse to help foil pickpockets as well as muggers.

It is a good idea to put your things in a Ziploc type bag and then put the bag in your money belt.  The reason for this is that the money belt and the items in it will get soaked from your perspiration, especially in hot climates, and this will help keep them dry.  Do not open your money belt in public to take out credit cards, cash, or traveler’s checks

.It might be worth it before you leave on vacation to sew a few pockets on the inside of your slacks, skirts, or underclothing where you can stash some spare cash when you are out and about for the day.  If you are carrying credit cards, cash, or traveler’s checks on your person, you should divide them up and put them in different pockets.  Then, if a pickpocket is successful, he or she won’t steal everything.  It also makes sense to use a safety pin to make each pocket opening smaller so that a pickpocket will have difficulty pulling anything out of your pockets without you being aware of it.

If a number of children gather around you in the street and cause a commotion, you are likely being targeted by pickpockets who are using the children to distract you.  If a couple of locals start a yelling and shoving match near you, they could be a distraction for pickpockets.  Another method of distraction is to have someone collapse and fall down in front of you.  When you bend over to help them, the pickpocket goes into action.  A variation involves two thieves working together, one gently dropping some ice cream, ketchup or mustard on one of your shoulders and then distracting you by pointing to the mess and helping to wipe it off.  The other pickpocket will then go into action.

Pickpockets prefer to target men with their wallets invitingly exposed in their back pockets, and  obese people because they are less likely to feel their pockets being picked.  You must be especially vigilant in airports, bus and train stations and watch your luggage, camera, and laptop like a hawk as they can disappear in an instant.  Keep in mind that pickpockets love tourists, especially when they are in crowds.

Be vigilant when you are wearing a backpack.  Thieves may slash the bottom of it, spilling all the contents onto the street where he and his accomplices grab your possessions and run away in different directions. 

Usually muggings occur at night and not in a busy, bustling part of the city.  If you are accosted by an armed robber, do not argue or resist.  Give them what they want and be thankful that you don’t get hurt.  Whatever they take from you can be replaced and is not worth risking your life over.

After reading Bob Arno’s book on how people can avoid thefts, cons, and street scams, we felt that it would be a valuable book for anyone who goes on vacation, or travels for business, to also read.  It is full of information and photos that show you how many scams work.  There is no limit as to what criminals can think of to steal and rip-off from unsuspecting tourists. 

Bob is one of the world’s foremost experts on identity theft, street crime, and scams,   If  you want to find out how to protect yourself when on holidays as well as at home, you should read his book, “Travel Advisory! How to Avoid Thefts, Cons, and Street Scams While Traveling”.  You may be able to find it at your local library.  If not, it is available through his website, BobArno.com, or Amazon.com.

He has been interviewed on CNN, MSNBC, ABC’s 20/20, The Travel Channel, The Learning Channel, Discovery Channel, and has had articles written about him in USA Today, National Geographic Traveler, Fortune Magazine, The New York Times, and Time Magazine. 

His book is full of humor, true stories, as well as many photos of pickpockets and street scam artists in action.  In our opinion, his book is worth its weight in gold, and is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn how to protect themselves and their family when traveling, and even in their own home town.

Baltimore, Maryland is a vibrant city situated along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay about 180 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean. It is a major tourist destination in the Mid Atlantic region of USA near Washington, D.C. Named after Lord Baltimore in the Irish House of Lords, the city has a flourishing population of more than 650,000 with a rich cultural heritage.The major tourist attraction is the Inner harbor. This historic seaport is an iconic landmark and perfect blend of the old with the new. The breathtaking view of the waterfront is simply amazing and the docks and streets surrounding the inner harbor houses hotels, museums, restaurants, shops and entertainment venues.

The new Inner harbor is now home to the Harborplace, an entertainment center and the National Aquarium, one of the largest aquariums in the world. Port Discovery Children’s Museum, and the World Trade Center of Baltimore are also located around the basin.Baltimore is famous for its outstanding fresh seafood. From the nearby Chesapeake Bay come blue crabs, oysters, striped bass and other delicacies. Other Maryland seafood comes the Atlantic coast, including sea scallops, lobsters, sea bass and other fish.

Fishing is a popular pastime at Baltimore. Fishermen target striped bass, known in Maryland as “rockfish”, as well as fish such as croaker, spot, white perch, flounder and bluefish.Rockfish are the un-disputed icon of Chesapeake Bay fishing. Anglers chum, live bait, troll, jig, cast artificial lures and fly fish for rockfish. The beautiful fish range from schoolies of 16 inches to monster fish that may weigh 50 pounds are more. Croaker or “hardhead” are commonly caught in the bay waters near Annapolis. The fish get their names because of the “croaking” noise the make when removed from the water. Panfish such as Norfolk spot and white perch are caught near the city. Both species are fun to catch and suitable for anglers of all ages. These delicious fish are caught around the bay bridge, in creeks and around oyster beds.Anglers seeking spot or perch use standard 2 hook rigs, using small hooks and small pieces of bait. Popular baits include bloodworms, shrimp, clam and synthetic bloodworm type baits.Other water activities include crabbing. Enthusiasts use trotlines, traps or dipnets to catch blue crabs, which Baltimore and Maryland in general is famous for. The delicious shellfish are then steamed whole and the meat separated out. Crabmeat can be eaten as is or made into crabcakes, soups or other dishes.

Baltimore does not experience the extremes of weather change that occur in other parts of USA. The weather is relatively mild and the best time to visit is from April to November. The city is well connected by road, air and sea. From Washington DC it is less than one hour north on Route 95. Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI) is only a half-hour drive south of downtown.Moving inside the city is easy and loads of options like light rail system are available. Water taxis are a unique and interesting option. The taxis transit the harbor and offer unique views of the Baltimore skyline.