Country June/July 2022

After what felt like the longest Wisconsin winter ever, summer is finally here. I’m looking forward to sunshine and finding new places to explore in the Dairy State. Discovery makes our annual Hidden Gems special section a lot of fun to work on. Each year our goal is to introduce you to gorgeous places you may not know about. Starting on page 26, you’ll find 15 destinations worth a spot on your bucket list. Many of these gems are local secrets. It was a treat to show you one that I love—Usery Mountain park in Arizona (page 34). Though it’s well-known in my hometown, it doesn’t exactly have name recognition out of state. Other staff members also shared their favorite hidden gems. Kirsten Schrader takes you birding in Wisconsin’s Horicon…

SPRING GETAWAYS Do you have a favorite place to usher in spring? Where do you head for spring break? Share your favorite trips to destinations that help us awaken from winter. YOUR PARKS Have you visited any national or state parks? Tell us about the ones you’ve visited—or maybe there’s one in your own backyard. ROAD TRIP Whether you’re exploring the back roads of Vermont or headed out on Route 66, take us along for the ride! Share your tales from the road. I DID IT Share the personal triumphs you’ve accomplished through travel, from hiking to the bottom of the Grand Canyon at age 75 to volunteering on a farm. THIS PLACE MATTERS Preservation is dear to our hearts. Tell us about meaningful public places that are worth seeing…

What’s the best aspect of being a Field Editor? Introducing readers to people and places they never thought of visiting or cannot get to. Do you have a favorite national or state park? Interstate State Park near Taylors Falls, Minnesota. What’s the most memorable trip you’ve ever taken? My first trip to Mount Rushmore as a kid. I couldn’t mold Play-Doh into a ball, so when I saw what people had done with rock, I was more than impressed. What’s your favorite scenic view? Georgia Pass, Colorado (aka the Continental Divide) What’s next on your bucket list? Alaska, the only state I have not visited. I hope to experience it soon! Learn about the Country Field Editor program at country-magazine.com/fieldeditors WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. CONNECT WITH US! Share…

Enter the impressive wooden gate and stroll gently curving paths past tranquil koi ponds, tumbling waterfalls and lush plantings to find an unexpected moment of Zen in Rockford, Illinois. A trip to Oregon’s Portland Japanese Garden back in 1978 inspired businessman John Anderson to turn his swampy backyard into this serene oasis. With the help of master craftsman and designer Hoichi Kurisu, each rock, tree and path was carefully considered and aligned so that over the next 30 years the area transformed into an authentic Japanesestyle landscape. The Pond Strolling Garden, graceful arched bridges and raked sand garden complement structures that include a Japanese tea house, a guest house and a visitors center. An ample outdoor pavilion provides a perfect setting for private weddings as well as classes and special…

SOUND AND GONG BATHS One Thursday a month from May through October, “bathe” in the sound and vibrations of singing bowls, drums, gongs and more as you rest, meditate and achieve stillness. GENTLE YOGA Find balance and increase your strength and flexibility with myriad yoga sessions to choose from. AWARENESS WALKS A booklet is available that prompts you to stop at select garden locations and use your senses to notice your surroundings. LEARN MORE AT andersongardens.org…

IN THE WHITE MOUNTAINS just outside North Conway, New Hampshire, my friend Deborah and I stumbled upon Diana’s Baths. An easy trail led to three levels. The two lower levels were easier to climb around. Massive granite boulders surrounded shallow pools; others formed the perfect surface for a gentle waterfall. Every stone was worn smooth by eons of rushing water, which made traversing them easy, except for the puddles and a few splashes from the waterfall. We were amazed at the number of people enjoying the frigid water at the middle level: girls in bikinis, guys in shorts or cut-offs, even a few dogs. Sunlight peeking through the trees enhanced the beauty of this hidden gem. Fascinated by the site, on our return home we did some further research and…