Indholdsfortegnelse for June/July 2021 i Country

OUR FAMILY LOVES ROAD TRIPS. I normally plan an itinerary for each day that details where we will be and what we will do, but I always leave room to explore the unexpected. Well, while on a trip visiting Utah’s national parks, we came across the unexpected. Just before reaching the entrance to Canyonlands National Park, we spotted Moab Giants, a dinosaur theme park. Our children (Austin, 12; Dakota, 11; and Savannah, 8) begged us to stop. I’m glad we did, because they had a blast! We started our adventure on the Dinosaur Trail, a half-mile loop that winds past 100 life-size replicas. The kids stood close to these giants and let their imaginations run wild. Watching the kids get excited was so much fun for my husband, Michael, and…

On our 35th anniversary, my husband, Eric, and I wandered among fields of sunflowers at Dogwood Farms in Belews, North Carolina. Because it was our anniversary, we were trying new things and exploring our state. Though the farm sells pre-cut sunflowers and zinnias, we opted to cut the ones we liked (it was hard to stop at just one). At the farm stand, we purchased jam and honey. Going back is definitely on our to-do list because I adore flowers—they are love’s language and they just speak to me. dogwoodfarmsbelewscreek.com BELINDA WILE GREENSBORO, NC…

Museum of Chincoteague Island Celebrate the people, culture and heritage of the island, including the lighthouses, shipwrecks, fishing industry, and—of course—the world-famous ponies, with a trip to this fascinating museum. Whether participating in scavenger hunts for all ages or visiting an exhibit featuring the real Misty pony, this storehouse of historical island treasures is a must-see. Don’s Seafood Restaurant Dig in to a crab cake or clams on the shell at this local eatery, which has been serving fresh-caught fare since 1973. Flying Fish Gallery Step in this dream of a gift shop and discover beautiful projects from local artists who often use cast-off materials. Handmade soaps, jewelry, suncatchers and—my favorite—wind spinners for gardens, handcrafted out of tablespoons, make for great gifts or souvenirs. Island Creamery Serving up homemade ice…

I was settling in to read the February/March issue when I saw a mention of humpback whales in the article “A Day in the Wild” about the Channel Islands. I turned the page to 32 and the Anacapa Island Trail looks like a whale tail breech! Keep up the good work! Come to my state and you’ll fall in love! RENAE NEWMAN Gouldsboro, ME I’ve been a subscriber for between 20 and 30 years. I want you to know that this April/May issue is the best yet, as [the content] is fresh, current and interesting. I am 87 years old and have gotten to the point where I do not enjoy the heavy emphasis on nostalgia and the “long ago” articles. The photography has always been excellent and continues to…

IF YOU LOVE JAM, head to an idyllic spot known as Jampot in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. Run by monks from the Holy Protection Monastery on Lake Superior’s shore, this hidden gem is known for its preserves and jams made from thimbleberries. Transforming these wild berries into jam is difficult since they usually start breaking down as soon as they’re picked. If you’re in the area in early August, look for them growing wild in semi-shady areas along trails and roadsides. Once you taste the tart, sweet berry, you’ll want to bring home some of the monks’ preserves. Jampot is open May through mid-October. poorrockabbey.com MORE TO EXPLORE ON THE KEWEENAW BROCKWAY MOUNTAIN Drive up this 10-mile road to see a full 360-degree view of Lake Superior. Time it right for…

My sister and I didn’t know exactly what to expect as we ran ahead of our parents on the short trail that leads to Lake Itasca. It was a bright, hot summer day in Minnesota and we had been told that we would get to stick our feet in the water. As the path opened to a clearing by the lake, Joanna ran straight for the water, while I paused to read a sign carved from an old tree that had been there since the 1930s. The sign proudly stated, “Here 1,475 feet above the ocean, the mighty Mississippi begins to flow on its winding way 2,552 miles to the Gulf of Mexico.” Joanna and I joined a number of other adventurers stepping on the bridge of uneven stones to…

THE TINY TOWN of Elk, with a population just over 200, has the big distinction of having two names. And while you’d think the double designation comes from all the natural beauty—a secluded oceanside location with views of rock formations called sea stacks—the story is actually a historic one. Elk, which is approximately 150 miles north of San Francisco on Highway 1, started as Greenwood. But once it became a booming lumber port in the late 1800s and established a post office, the town discovered that another Greenwood already existed, so the name was changed to Elk. Both monikers are still used today. History is important to the current residents of Elk (or Greenwood!). You’ll see the past preserved in the town’s inns, shops and museum displays. Elk has a…

01 UTAH-COLORADO Hovenweep National Monument The sun close to setting and monsoonal clouds overhead add to the beauty of these ruins at Hovenweep National Monument, which is located on the Utah-Colorado border. Towers like these were built from A.D. 500 to 1300 by ancestral Puebloans and may have been used to communicate with other communities or as celestial observatories. To reach these ruins and the other prehistoric villages in the park, hike trails with names like Hovenweep Castle, Cutthroat Castle and Holly. It’s an absolutely fascinating place, and the best part is you can have the whole canyon to yourself because so few people visit. ALLEN LIVINGSTON / HUNTINGTON, UT PLAN AHEAD Moderate temperatures bring visitors in fall and spring. An added spring bonus: all the wildflowers. nps.gov/hove STARGAZING On…

In June 2018 I went on a trip out west with my sister Maureen and our favorite cousin, Betty. We booked a Caravan bus tour that took us to South Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Utah. The trip was absolutely outstanding. We got to visit Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Yellowstone National Park, Old Faithful and the breathtaking Grand Teton Mountain Range. One of the offerings on our Wyoming itinerary was a rafting trip down the swift, turbulent Snake River. Considering the rafting trip was on our schedule, we thought, How bad could it be? It couldn’t be too risky, we reasoned, since most of our fellow travelers were seniors, and we considered ourselves to be young seniors! At the time, I was really nervous and a little apprehensive. I’d never…

SALT LICK BBQ DRIFTWOOD, TX Bring your best appetite to this cash-only Texas mainstay just 30 minutes from Austin. Settle in for a feast of brisket, ribs, sausage, chicken and more that’s been sizzled up tender and juicy in an open pit. Don’t skimp on the sides or the dessert! The peach cobbler is so good that you can buy it by the half or full tray. Check online for current information on table service, takeout, picnic dining and special music events. saltlickbbq.com…

DRIVE Wilderness Drive meanders through the park for 10 miles with multiple pull-offs and hiking trails along the way. Go in the early morning or late evening to see deer, beavers, porcupines, wolves and black bears. You might even hear the call of Minnesota’s state bird, the loon. STAY Built in 1905, the historic Douglas Lodge is a haven of relaxation after a busy day exploring. In summer, the restaurant serves meals made with Minnesota-grown ingredients. SEE Take a short hike from the road to Preacher’s Grove, a stand of red pines with a stunning overlook of the lake. Even on a sunny day, the dark quiet lets you appreciate the amazing beauty of this hidden gem. GO-TO SPOT: HEADWATERS See for yourself how a slow trickle from Lake Itasca…

Growing up in the 1950s as a horse-crazy young girl, I read the book Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry. As happens when I read any good book, I imagined myself on Chincoteague Island off the coast of Virginia with the Beebe kids and the beautiful ponies—never thinking I would actually travel there. Fast-forward to June 2018, and I found myself on the island with my husband, Lloyd, as we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary. Chincoteague and Assateague Islands are side-by-side natural treasures in the Atlantic Ocean. The islands are home to the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and the Assateague Island National Seashore. While cars are allowed on the islands, speed limits are 25 mph, and we never saw any speeders! We stayed at The Watson Guest House and had…

IN THE 1800S, escaped slaves running for their lives found respite in the Fountain City, Indiana, safe house of Quakers Levi and Catharine Coffin. Known as the Underground Railroad’s Grand Central Station, the Coffin home was a pivotal stop for more than 1,000 freedom seekers on their journey to Canada. Learn about this couple’s brave ingenuity and hear their harrowing tales while touring their brick home as well as the Levi and Catharine Coffin Interpretive Center next door. Run by the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites, the visitor center features an excellent video and three floors of interactive exhibits that tell of the struggles those on the Underground Railroad faced. At the Coffin home, knowledgeable tour guides unveil secret chambers, a hidden spring-fed basement well (top right) and buckboard…