Indholdsfortegnelse for June/July 2022 i Country

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…

KINGWOOD, WV COOPERS ROCK HAS SOME OF THE BEST CLIMBING IN THE U.S. Coopers Rock State Forest gets its name from an old folk legend about a fugitive who hid from the law in the rugged mountain cliffs. A cooper by trade, he made wooden barrels and sold them to the people in nearby towns for many years. Located off I-68 near the town of Bruceton Mills, the forest is known for stunning scenic overlooks and recreational activities such as hiking, climbing, birding and mountain biking. I love coming here, and I visit many times during the year. Rock paths lead to a breathtaking view of the Cheat River Gorge. I sit down on the rock cliff and admire lush scenery that runs for miles and miles in both directions…

EVERY SUMMER TOURISTS come from all over to explore the Painted Hills of central Oregon. While many online reviews suggest staying in big cities like Bend or Redmond, my father, sister and I opted for the magical small-town feeling of Mitchell. Located 9 miles from the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Mitchell got its start when gold was discovered in the surrounding hills in 1861. Today it is a tourist destination, and the people who live there (all 112 of them) are welcoming to all. As we sat at a picnic table at Tiger Town Brewing Co., waiting for an outdoor screening of Cannonball Run to start rolling, we felt the sense of community. Servers had lively chats with customers. Locals greeted us, asking about our plans and making…

EMBARK ON A JOURNEY of discovery at the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park in western Ohio and learn about the birth of flight. Multiple sites within the park, as well as two visitor centers, tell the stories of how Dayton’s famous aviation pioneers, Wilbur and Orville Wright, launched the development of controlled flight in America. Be sure to visit one of the Wright brothers’ original bicycle shops, tour their mansion at Hawthorn Hill and visit their historically restored printing office. See the brothers’ third airplane and view the Huffman Prairie Flying Field where, in 1905, Wilbur broke the world record by piloting a plane for more than 24 miles in 39 minutes. FROM DREAMS TO REALITY Stop at the Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center for a self-guided tour of displays and…

Just 22 miles off the coast of California, Santa Catalina Island became a resort destination when chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr. bought it in 1919. 1936 Sailboats and steamers bring tourists and Hollywood stars such as Charlie Chaplin and Humphrey Bogart. 2020 Avalon Harbor bustles with activity as visitors moor their boats and experience the island’s interior. BATTER UP! The Chicago Cubs held their spring training on the island from 1921 to 1951, except during WWII. ART DECO ICON Catalina Casino, the star of Avalon Harbor, was built in 1929, with a luxurious circular ballroom and a movie theater. Book a behind-the-scenes tour at visitcatalinaisland.com. ISLAND ARCHIVE Explore the island’s nearly 10,000 years of history and rotating traveling exhibitions at the Catalina Museum for Art & History. catalinamuseum.org…

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…

CAMP Sleep in comfort under the stars. Coopers Rock has a few Tentrr sites deep in the forest. You can rest up on a memory foam mattress in a canvas tent on a wooden platform, grill in a fire pit and clean up in a solar shower. Book at reservations.wvstateparks.com. ZIP LINE Whiz through the forest canopy at 35 mph! Western Virginia University offers guided zip line tours in Coopers Rock State Forest during the spring, summer and fall. Tour guides will share tidbits about the forest’s plants and wildlife. Call ahead for rates and restrictions. adventurechallenge.wvu.edu GO-TO SPOT: COOPERS ROCK OVERLOOK This Instagram-ready spot offers stunning views of the gorge and water below.…

There’s a rumor going around among Appalachian Trail aficionados: The stretch of the storied footpath that ranges though 101 miles of Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park is among the most alluring. It is undeniably lovely, a gently rolling, primordially lush-looking landscape that’s deep blue-green in summer and brilliantly fiery gold in autumn. And in spring, the wildflowers begin to emerge—Shenandoah is home to more than 862 species. It’s also rich with wildlife; lucky hikers might get a glimpse of everything from an elusive bobcat to a chubby black bear. But this section of the trail is notable for more than its beauty. For trekkers who would rather sleep in comfort than rough it outdoors, Shenandoah National Park offers three nights of inn-toinn hiking along about 25 miles of the Appalachian Trail.…

JACOBSON, MN My fantasy was to head west, far off the beaten path, to attempt remote hiking. So my friend Jim and I did just that on July 4, avoiding interstates and taking side roads when possible—6,000 miles of them—through six states and every national park and forest along our route. I reserved several overnights at old fire towers in the forests. There would only be rustic camping for these hardy voyagers. Although the United States Forest Service still uses some of these towers, most blazes are monitored by satellites or drones. Today the towers are historical treasures. They say the journey is just as important as the destination. And our journey to Montana’s Medicine Point fire tower was a rugged eight-hour adventure fraught with the unforeseen and the unexpected.…

1. PADDLE PERFECT Bowman Lake is in a less-visited section of Glacier National Park. It is a challenge to get there, but what a great way to spend the day. BRYAN D. SPELLMAN PLAINS, MT 2. GEOLOGY LESSON On an educational hike in Yellowstone National Park, a ranger helped our grandkids find glacial till. VICTORIA McCLURE ANDOVER, MN 3. HOT WEATHER HABITAT An abundance of wildlife resides in Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland, Florida, from alligators to birds, snakes and turtles. SANDRA HILL FAYETTEVILLE, GA 4. ALASKAN ADVENTURE My wife and I had our first kayak experience down the Upper Crescent River to Crescent Lake in Lake Clark National Park, Alaska. BRUCE BICKFORD RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, CA 5. MOUNTAIN MAJESTY I hiked to Titcomb Basin, a stunning setting beneath…

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…

RELIVE THE LIFE OF AMERICA’S EARLY SETTLERS. JACKSON, WYOMING Relive the Old American West as you ride in an updated covered wagon or on horseback right into the pristine backcountry of Caribou-Targhee National Forest on the Teton Wagon Train and Horse Adventure. You’ll need to book way ahead for a three-night camping adventure that includes hiking, canoeing, trail rides, tomahawk throwing, Dutch oven meals, campfire entertainment and more beneath the natural beauty of the Grand Teton mountain range. tetonwagontrain.com CASPER, WYOMING Ask Morris, owner of Historic Trails West, to share his wealth of Old West history as he guides you on authentic Overnight Wagon Trail Trek or Pony Express Ride adventures along the old Oregon and California trails. Multiple trip options will have you visiting historic landmarks and trail markers,…

01 COLORADO Maroon Bells If any single scene captures the rugged grandeur of Colorado, it’s this: two bell-shaped peaks tinted wine-red by the sun, shimmery gold aspens below, every exquisite detail reflected in the ephemeral stillness of an alpine lake. You’ve seen the images a thousand times, yet they are a poor substitute for standing there yourself. Maroon Bells is stunning in any season, but autumn at sunrise is singular in its beauty. —Christine Loomis WALK THE TRAILS Five trails, ranging from 13 miles to less than 1 mile round trip, offer views that bring the enduring beauty of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains into focus. Avid hikers should explore the surrounding landscape on Crater Lake Trail (3.6 miles) or Willow Lake Trail (13 miles). To get the image pro photographers do,…

MILWAUKEE, WI I hold my breath the first time that mail jumper Sid Pearl leaps from our boat, the Walworth. Will the teenager land on the dock or fall into Lake Geneva? I hope he stays dry. Sid doesn’t disappoint. He lands deftly on the dock, swiftly runs to a mailbox, delivers a bundle and then jumps back onto the boat, which never stopped moving in the water. The other passengers and I cheer for Sid, who will make the same delivery to about 40 homes around the lake. This is the U.S. Mailboat Tour, one of the most popular attractions in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Run by Gage Lake Geneva Cruise Line, this 21/2-hour tour is a fun mix of athleticism, humor, history and gorgeous scenery. LAKE TOUR Though Captain…

THIS LEANING IMITATOR DISGUISES A WATER TOWER A FORMER GAS STATION WAS NAMED FOR A BRIBERY SCANDAL ANSWERS 1. The Leaning Tower of Niles, Niles, IL; 2. Teapot Dome Gas Station, Zillah, WA THEN THIS HAPPENED Angler Angst MARIANNE FOSNOW FORT MILL, SC MY HUSBAND, TOM, convinced me to go fishing with him on Delavan Lake in Wisconsin. “You’ll put the worm on for me, right?” I asked anxiously. “We’re using lures,” he answered, as I noticed two hooks sticking out of the piece of metal at the end of my line. After a while, Tom caught a big one. I screamed when his huge fish crashed out of the water, flapping wildly. As the fish landed inside the boat, I lifted my legs and screamed again. That was enough…