The Twin Cities? They’re pure poetry in winter

In response to Catherine Watson’s Feb. 4 article on the Twin Cities area, “It’s Super Chill”:

If you like cold weather, then sure

You’ll find Minnesota the cure

For all of your blues —

But Super Bowl news

Is that old Jack Frost is a boor!

Tim Torkildson

Provo, Utah

(But born and raised in Minnesota)

Mammoth open for skiing

Chris Erskine’s Feb. 1 online article “Snow-Starved Mammoth Still Waiting for Winter. Conditions ‘Awful,’ One Skier Says” (lat.ms/mammothsnow) seems to indicate that Lake Tahoe is better off than Mammoth as Lake Tahoe received 20 inches last week to the 9 inches in Mammoth.

We are all hurting for snow, and this winter is definitely very dry. But because of some big storms in November and Mammoth’s elevation, which is 2,000 feet higher than that of Lake Tahoe, we have received 78 to 151 inches this season and still have a base of 40 to 84 inches.The mountain is 100% open.

Please let your readers know that although this winter is nothing like last year’s, there is still great skiing at Mammoth Mountain, with the most open terrain under that beautiful California sunshine.

Think snow!

J. Guillory

Mammoth Lakes

Free Vegas tips

Regarding Jay Jones’ Feb. 4 article on MGM-owned hotel properties (“Parking at MGM Hotels Rising for Visitors, Guests”), there are other non-MGM hotels where the price is right: free.

-- As a new Las Vegas local, my preferred place is the Palms Casino/Resort/Hotel on Flamingo Road. It’s close to the Strip and has a small, gorgeous movie theater (Brendan) with comfortable reclining seats. After the show, saunter over to the Palms spa for a relaxing massage.

-- Gold Coast, also on Flamingo just across the street from the Palms. Have the buffet lunch on a Wednesday, where two people can eat for the price of one, with the club card.

Finally, the South Point Hotel, just off Silverado Ranch Road.

All these properties offer excellent value in a normal-size space, unlike the behemoth hotels that now dot the Strip.

David Tulanian

Las Vegas

Hide that passport

Thanks for the very nice description about getting the new TSA-compliant driver’s license (“Should You Get a Real ID?” by Catharine Hamm, Jan. 28).

I’m glad to learn that I’m not the only one paranoid about carrying my passport unless I have to. When I travel, I wear Ex-Officio shirts with larger pockets, including a zippered one on travel days when I have to use a passport.

Daniel Fink

Beverly Hills

travel@latimes.com

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