Fire and ice in Yellowstone

Your May/June cover story "Yellowstone 20 Years After the Fires" inspired us to visit the park. On our first day we took in the sights in our shorts. Day two? Snow—all day. The contrast of snow on trees blackened by the fires was breathtaking. Each day was an unexpected adventure.

PAMELA HETTICH
Elk Grove, California

Sign of the times

How can you call the Burma-Shave signs dangerous ("Hocus Focus")? Remember, they were perched along two-lane roads at a time when top speeds were no more than 50 mph. Kids like me—who got bored and obstreperous on long rides—loved them. Those pithy signs / recall memories / of simpler times.

IRVIN HERMAN
Oakland, California

Right up our alley

Thank you for shining a light on San Francisco’s Mission District in your last issue. The food there is amazing and affordable, but if you’re not hungry, take a detour down colorful Balmy Alley, located just off 24th Street, and experience a one-of-a-kind art walk. The alley is lined with dozens of the most beautiful murals you’ve ever seen. And it’s all free.

DAVID DRANITZKE
San Francisco, California

Biggest little bargain

Good for VIA for calling out my favorite hidden gem of a town: Reno
("Awful Fun, Awful Cheap"). Most people don’t realize how much there is to do in Reno, and you can do it all without paying too much for food, hotels, and recreation. I wrote Vegas off years ago. That place has gotten way too expensive.

LOUIE LEMAIRE
Winnemucca, Nevada

Forgo the foie gras

Since I live on the east side of Portland, I was excited to read your story about all the great affordable restaurants in my neighborhood
("Four-Star Food, Painless Prices"). However, my excitement turned to disappointment when I saw your picture of profiteroles stuffed with foie gras ice cream. Foie gras is made by force-feeding geese or ducks so that their livers enlarge to 10 times their normal size before the animals are slaughtered. I'm surprised VIA would condone a restaurant that serves meals derived from animal cruelty.

VALERIE YERGER
Portland, Oregon

Note from abroad

My husband and I just returned from our trip to Macedonia, the grand prize for the 2007 VIA Dream Vacation Contest. Our experience in the Balkans was better than I could ever have imagined. We indulged in the nightlife of Skopje, tasted wine in the Kavadarci region, ate copious amounts of skara ("barbecue"), and deepened our relationship with our foreign exchange student’s family. I cannot thank AAA and VIA enough for allowing us to learn more about this unique region.

CHONDRA WINGER
Rancho Murieta, California

To read Chondra's winning 2007 essay, click here. and search for "Chondra." To check out this year’s contest winner, click here. —Editor

What about the future?

Those of us who live and work in the Greater Yellowstone region are concerned about the next 20 years. At the current rate of habitat loss, the area’s extraordinary wildlife will not be maintained. Hardest hit by growth and development are the lower elevation valleys. Tools such as voluntary agreements with ranchers and other landowners can help protect at least 1 million acres of key wildlife habitat in the next decade, ensuring that future generations will enjoy Yellowstone much as we do today.

PAUL HANSEN
The Nature Conservancy
Jackson, Wyoming

More leading lemons

I got a kick out of your poll on the worst car of all time ("Your Turn"), but it surprised me that you didn’t include the Chevrolet Corvair, the car that made Ralph Nader famous. Also missing was the Humvee, a totally absurd vehicle.

DAVE PIERCE
Walnut Creek, California