Indholdsfortegnelse for January 2021 i Country Extra

YEARS AGO I took a winter survival course in northern Arizona. This desert dweller learned all about dressing in layers, eating to stay warm (yes, chocolate will help keep your body temperature up), and the difference between a deer track and a bear paw print in freshly fallen snow. Layering definitely came in handy when I moved to Wisconsin, and I’ll take any reason to validate eating chocolate. Learning to pay attention to signs of nature in the snow took more time. The best way to learn this is to just go outside. And the easiest way to do that is to strap on a pair of snowshoes and venture out. As writer Joshua Berman notes in “Winter’s Quiet Sport,” on page 22, snowshoeing is an inexpensive way to explore…

Put an Oar In Book a kayak or canoe tour with TNT Hideaway to observe manatees up close in the Wakulla River or take a moonlight paddle. tnthideaway.com Wildlife Watching St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge covers more than 80,000 acres of coastal marshes, islands, tidal creeks and estuaries. See alligators sunning in the wetlands and eagles flying overhead as you hike the trails. Migratory birds stop over in winter, making the refuge a global birding hot spot. Hike to the beach and see St. Marks Lighthouse. fws.gov/refuge/St_Marks Rails to Trails The Tallahassee-St. Marks Historic Railroad State Trail is 16 miles of mostly paved path. Cyclists can follow it from the state capital to the beach in St. Marks. Plan your visit: floridastateparks.org/ WakullaSprings…

Hamilton, Missouri, is known as the Disneyland of quilting thanks to the Missouri Star Quilt Co. Founded about 10 years ago by Jenny Doan and her family, the store has a popular quilting channel on YouTube and helped turn the town into a tourist attraction. Today the company has 13 themed quilt shops along Main Street, a Sewing Center for group quilting retreats and an Education Center where quilters can take classes. Due to the pandemic, stores are temporarily closed, but they will reopen in the spring. Be sure to check the website for updates. visitmsqc.com…

Snowshoeing’s appeal comes from its low-tech, minimal-gear needs, and its price—usually free or around $10-12 for a pair of rentals—makes it even easier. You’ll need boots, layered wool or synthetic clothing, a hat, goggles and gloves. Always remember: • Lace your boots tightly and take time strapping in, making sure all buckles are secure and the shoes aren’t clacking into each other when you walk. • Bring water: Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean you don’t need to hydrate. A bladder on your back with a drinking hose is best, or keep a bottle within reach. Stop often for a drink. • Use trekking or ski poles for balance. • Consider taking a class to learn helpful techniques. Try REI’s “Introduction to Snowshoeing,” a two-hour, immersive crash course designed for…

CLEMENTINE HUNTER, one of the most important folk artists in America, was in her 50s back in 1939 when she picked up a paintbrush for the first time. Having lived most of her life in central Louisiana, she chose everyday life as her subject. Working by day and painting by night, Clementine painted her memories of harvests, weddings, baptisms, funerals, wash days and church services in vibrant hues on any surface she could find. Clementine crafted more than 5,000 paintings, some of which are on display at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. Learn more about her work at nmaahc.si.edu…

Our granddaughter, Gloria, was raised in Hawaii, and she made her first snowman with Grandpa on Mount Rainier. What a great memory for them, and it was only fitting that she wore her Olaf hat. HEATHER LAFI Graham, Washington My boys—Bruce, 6, and Walker, 9—were waging a good old-fashioned snowball fight near the fort my husband built for them. I love when they let loose and have fun outside—even when it’s cold, cold, cold! SHYLA WOLF Newton Falls, Ohio You can see on his face how much our husky-corgi mix, Skittles, loves the snow. When we take him for a walk, he bounds through the snowdrifts as powder flies everywhere. HEIDI MILLER Thornville, Ohio…

Country is written by readers for readers. It’s easy to share your stories and photos. Simply visit country-magazine.com and click Share Your Story. Give us your take on the topics below, and you might get published in a future issue: Road Trip Americans rediscovered the road trip this past summer. Tell us about the trips you took and memories you made along the way. What were your favorite stops? Be sure to send photos! Please label your submission “Road Trip.” Parks National, state and county parks are scenic destinations that offer plenty of recreational opportunities. Tell us about the parks you have visited and share a few photos with us. Label your submission “Parks.” Hidden Gems What off-the-beaten-path places do you enjoy exploring? Is there a destination close to home that…

JANUARY 1 POLAR BEAR PLUNGE Shiver into the new year by taking a dip in the frigid, icy waters of Lake Michigan during the Polar Bear Plunge at Bradford Beach in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. polarplungemilwaukee.com SNOW STATS QUESTION: WHAT EASTERN U.S. CITY HAS THE HIGHEST AVERAGE WINTER SNOWFALL? ANSWER: SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, WITH NEARLY 115 INCHES OF SNOW PER YEAR. JANUARY 18 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY Celebrate the birthday of the American clergyman and civil rights pioneer with a trip to The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta. While at the time of this writing in-person programs are postponed, most of the park is self-guided, and admission and parking are free. Visit the International World Peace Rose Garden, Eternal Flame, Freedom Walkway, Reflecting Pool and…

My 85-year-old dad, Terry Moore, has been on this ranch south of Vivian, South Dakota, since he was 5 years old. Here he is sharing his love of the land with three of his great-grandkids. CAROLYN JENSEN Sturgis, South Dakota I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED reading about the Sky Island Scenic Byway in the November issue of Country Extra (page 30). While in the U.S. Air Force, I was stationed in Tucson, Arizona. When my parents, Emily and O.A. Walker, came to visit me from Houston, Texas, in mid-April 1975 for my 21st birthday, I shared my favorite spots with them. Although not the best or most professional photo, here’s one that I snapped while we toured Mount Lemmon. On the day we drove up Mount Lemmon in my yellow Volkswagen Beetle,…

STAR-STRUCK Locals relish their town’s legacy as the place where the play Steel Magnolias was written and where its adapted movie was filmed. Folksy tours bring you to locations where memorable scenes took place. natchitoches.com INTO THE FOREST An easy daytrip from Natchitoches, the Kisatchie National Forest covers more than 600,000 acres of recreational land. Enjoy stunning hikes through longleaf pine forests, birding and other outdoor activities . fs.usda.gov/kisatchie DOWNTOWN NATCHITOCHES Stroll or relax in a horse-drawn carriage as you take in the sites and shops in the 33-block National Historic Landmark District. PRESERVING THE PAST At the Cane River National Historical Park, learn the stories of generations of families, both free and enslaved, who worked on two plantations—Oakland and Magnolia. Visitors can tour the grounds or take guided tours…

1. MUSH! We moved to Alaska and spent time in Fairbanks, where we went on a 5-mile dog sled ride in -35 degree weather. It was an experience we will always remember! KATHY CROSS Soldotna, Alaska 2. WINTRY WALK Snow doesn’t last long in our lower elevation, so on a winter day my daughter Amelia hiked up Viking Mountain, the tallest point in Greene County. KIM SHUMAKER Greeneville, Tennessee 3. SCENIC VIEW People travel from miles around to see winter’s blue ice in the Straits of Mackinac. The iconic Mackinac Bridge rising in the background made the scene even more breathtaking. GERRY BUCKEL Fostoria, Michigan 4. ON THE SLOPES I love skiing, so I planned a trip to Idaho to see my friend and his fiancee. We skied in the…

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