Innehållsförteckning för November 2020 från Country Extra

RVS ARE EVERYWHERE these days and in high demand. I can tell that my husband has them on his mind. If he’s channel surfing, he’ll linger on any program featuring the most tricked-out homes on wheels. Granite countertops, retractable patios, a television—all the comfort you could ask for on the road. These vehicles are certainly beautiful, but the vintage travel campers you’ll see in Jennifer Broadstreet Hess’ story on page 16 are a little more my style. When I was a kid, we road-tripped in a 1969 Volkswagen bus that my mechanic father kept running with lots of patience and TLC. That bus (or boose, as he called it) took us to the rim of the Grand Canyon, into the Rocky Mountains and to pristine beaches in California—to name a…

RAISED ON BLACK’S POND THERE’S A PLACE CALLED BLACK’S POND in rural Pennsylvania. This simple farm pond, probably no more than a few acres, was magic to a 6-year-old. My father took me there to fish for bullheads. Be it under a damp drizzle or a flickering lantern at night, a bullhead’s shimmering tawny skin while thrashing on the grassy bank has stayed indelibly etched in my mind. I was so clumsy then that most of the fish escaped my initial grasp. During the ensuing chase, my dad’s prosthetic arm rattled and creaked as he quaked with laughter at my struggles. More than half a century has passed. Still, traces of dad’s laughter course through my veins. I was born after he returned from war, so I never knew him…

Fantastic road trips aren’t determined by the number of miles you drive but by the quality of those miles. By that standard, the winding road starting amid the suburbs of Tucson, Arizona, and snaking its way to the top of Mount Lemmon is an epic journey. The Sky Island Scenic Byway, known locally as Catalina Highway, only traverses 27 miles, yet it is the biological equivalent of driving from Mexico to Canada. Travelers pass through five life zones as the paved road ascends from spiny desert scrub to mixed conifer forest. Every 1,000 feet gained in elevation is like traveling 600 miles to the north. From Tanque Verde Road in northeast Tucson, turn north on Catalina Highway. For the first few miles, the road flashes across gently sloping hills past…

Wildlife Watching Stroll the sands of the Dungeness Spit Recreation Area, home of the nation’s longest natural sand spit at 5.5 miles. The spit is part of the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge, which lies on a migration route known as the Pacific Flyway. clallam.net/parks/dungeness.html Explore the Shore Paddle out of Freshwater Bay to sea caves and harbor seal haul-outs with Adventures Through Kayaking. Rent equipment or take a guided tour. atkayaking.com Native Heritage Take a side trip to Neah Bay to learn about the Makah tribe. The renowned Makah Museum tells of the tribe’s history and culture. makah.com Pedal Power Roll along the Olympic Discovery Trail, a bike path that goes past farmland, forest and ocean. olympicdiscoverytrail.org Plan your visit at olympicpeninsula.org…

Get ready for an iconic Colorado drive that includes a majestic horizon of snowcapped peaks, a chance for wildlife sightings and a couple of mountain towns worthy of leisurely stops. The Peak to Peak Scenic Byway, which begins in Central City, only 38 miles west of Denver, winds north along the Continental Divide for 55 miles, stringing together routes 7, 72, and 119 into a journey you won’t forget. It’s my go-to drive when I want to impress out-of-towners or just make some beautiful turns in my car. I recently popped onto the Peak to Peak with my daughters Shanti and Sky for a relaxed daytrip. Our first stop was Nederland, a mountain town with a population of about 1,500 and an elevation of about 8,230 feet. “Ned” straddles the…

My mother called up from the stairway: “Jesse! Did you feed the cats?” My heart sank. I was so warm and cozy. I had just clicked off the lamp next to my bed and snuggled deep down beneath the three quilts my grandma had made. No, I hadn’t. And I knew very well that she was aware. My family lived on an old farm property. We had a huge old barn and 5 acres of meadow. It was a fantastic place to grow up. We moved there when I was 7, and we brought our kitten, Booties, with us. Three other cats—Fluffy, Taffy and Crooked-Tail—already lived in the barn. The cats were the best part about our new place. They were friendly, letting me drag them around and play with…

1. Share your photos and stories with us using the online form, country-magazine.com/submit. 2. Note which department you are submitting for, and whether the material has been published before. However, your item may be selected to run in any section of our magazine, or elsewhere. 3. We do not return submitted materials. Although we are unable to acknowledge receipt of a submission, we will let you know if it is published. 4. We accept high-resolution digital images. Digital images should be about 4x6 inches at a minimum resolution of 300 dots per inch, or about 1200x1800 pixels. Photos must be in focus and of good quality. Please send submissions only through our online form. 5. If we print your submission in the magazine, we will send you a complimentary copy…

Traveling with Pets People love to travel with the furry members of their families. Tell us about the trips you’ve taken with your pets. Where did you go? Please label your submission “Traveling With Pets.” Humor You plan the perfect trip and then the unexpected happens. Tell us about these momentary mishaps now that you can laugh about them. Please label your submission “Travel Humor.” Bucket List Have you taken a trip that had been on your bucket list for a while? Did you take a trip to volunteer or to conquer a longstanding goal, such as hiking the Grand Canyon? Share your stories about goals fulfilled through travel. Label your submission “Bucket List.” Photo Tips • Cameras and smartphones can capture large images. Send us unmodified originals (minimum file…

As a professional landscape photographer, I am often asked what is my favorite ecosystem to shoot. Forests, mountains or coastlines? My answer: the Great Plains. That answer often comes as a surprise to my inquirer, but it shouldn’t. Here in this uncrowded landscape, the sky is dominant. Storms are abrupt and dramatic, and the vast grasslands teem with abundant wildlife, including birds. My go-to place to roam on the Great Plains is the Sandhills area of northcentral Nebraska, a region of grass-stabilized sand dunes that were designated a National Natural Landmark in 1984. A few scenic byways go through this area. I like to customize my trip by devising a loop that combines the best parts of this remarkable region into a grand tour. I begin my journey in the…

Good to Know! Sky Island Scenic Byway is open year-round but winter weather and fire hazards may cause restrictions, so call ahead for conditions. Large motor homes over 22 feet may have trouble negotiating steep grades and sharp turns. There are very few places for big vehicles to turn around. For more information, contact the Santa Catalina Ranger District at 520-749-8700 or visit fs.usda.gov/coronado. Local Eats At the end of the drive (or bike ride, if you’re ambitious), indulge in a cookie: chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin or the Rachel (oats, coconut and butterscotch) at the Cookie Cabin in Summerhaven. thecookiecabin.org Stargazing Perched atop a sky island standing 9,157 feet tall, the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter will dazzle stargazers with views of distant galaxies. The premier five-hour program starts two hours before…

Take a drive along part of Alabama’s Coastal Connection Scenic Byway and experience pristine beaches, historical sites, abundant nature and fabulous meals. Begin your tour on Dauphin Island, head east on Highway 180 to Gulf Shores and wrap it up in Orange Beach after exploring the many intriguing sites along this coastal gem. Plan on spending a minimum of two days, because the beauty of this area will certainly lure you in. BOND WITH HISTORY AND NATURE Fort Gaines is on Dauphin Island and has guarded the entrance to Mobile Bay for 150 years. After exploring this historic site, there’s nothing like driving onto the Mobile Bay Ferry for an epic float over to Gulf Shores. Dolphins, jellyfish and pelicans will keep your eyes glued to your binoculars as you…

Slice by the Creek At Crosscut Pizzeria and Taphouse in central Nederland, the outdoor patio is the ideal place to watch the creek and the world go by—over salads, pizzas, and beer and wine on tap. crosscutpizza.com Take a Ride Visit the Carousel of Happiness, one of Colorado’s most whimsical and affordable attractions. It opened in 2010, created by local resident Scott Harrison, a Vietnam veteran who spent 26 years handcarving the 50 animals. carouselofhappiness.org Here’s Stanley As you enter Estes Park, gray cliffs frame the Stanley Hotel—home to one of the state’s largest whiskey collections and the inspiration for Stephen King’s novel and movie The Shining. Book a room, visit the bar or sign up for a ghost tour. stanleyhotel.com Pitch a Tent One of the most popular campgrounds…

My dad, Mark Frieden, put this sign on my grandparents’ barn in Pomona, Kansas, for people passing by. Dad wants people to see the positive and know how beautiful America really is every day! Boy, it’s great to drive by and just smile! ALISSA BOXBERGER Olathe, Kansas I READ WITH MUCH DELIGHT Lisa Bartow’s article “Splash, Laughter and Flop” (July, page 46). She has a terrific writing skill that is enjoyable. We didn’t have a pond or a rope swing on our property growing up, but we had friends who did in my small Mississippi town. Please write more stories, Lisa! GARY SLOAN Odenton, Maryland SEEING THE ARTICLE “Sweet Sorghum” by Diana Derringer in the September issue ( page 11) brought back a childhood memory of the 1940s when my…

NOVEMBER 26 Thanksgiving Day OVERCOOK THE TURKEY? HERE’S A QUICK FIX: Heat 3 cups of chicken, turkey or vegetable broth. Carve the turkey and soak each piece in the warm broth for several seconds. Shake off excess broth and serve turkey with gravy. LATE-SEASON LEAF PEEPING To capture November’s best autumn color palette, head to Amicalola Falls State Park in Georgia, to Tennessee’s Natchez Trace Parkway, or to Homochitto National Forest in Mississippi. NOVEMBER 15-21 GEOGRAPHY AWARENESS WEEK LET’S CELEBRATE WITH A QUIZ: DO YOU KNOW YOUR STATE CAPITALS? Which two U.S. state capitals have the only rhyming names? SEE ANSWERS BELOW NATIONAL PARKS BUCKET JOURNAL The perfect keepsake or holiday gift for the family! Plan your visits for 2021 with this handy journal. All 62 parks are arranged by…

In spring, the Sandhills become a birders paradise. Grab your binoculars and add these places to your must-visit list. Eco-Tours When the greater prairie-chicken does its mating dance, birders head to Calamus Outfitters and the Switzer Ranch. In addition to offering safari-style birding tours, the Switzer family hosts the Nebraska Prairie-Chicken Festival every other year. The next event takes place April 16-18, 2021. The ranch also hosts eco-tours of the grassland and river trips. calamusoutfitters.com More Migration The arrival of the sandhill cranes each spring brings birders from across the country. The Nebraska Crane Festival (March 6–April 11, 2021) is a monthlong celebration of their arrival. Visit Rowe Sanctuary for tours, viewings and seminars. The sanctuary is located on the Platte River for ideal bird-watching. ne.audubon.org/crane-festival Plan your visit at…

Chlorophyll rules in the damp Pacific Northwest. Experience it firsthand on a drive around Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula loop, where logging trucks have given way to SUVs loaded with bikes and kayaks. You’ll easily see the green in the Hoh Rain Forest, where bigleaf maples stoop like old men under the weight of thick pads of mosses and epiphytes (plants that grow on other plants for support). And you can almost taste it in the salt-tinged air of the area’s pristine Pacific shore, where hemlock and red cedar forests trail down to beaches pounded by ocean waves. With high mountain peaks, dense forests and ocean beaches, Olympic National Park—an UNESCO World Heritage Site—is the heart of the peninsula. It’s flanked on three sides by Highway 101, which ribbons through small…

Coastal Fare Lucy Buffett’s Lulu’s Gulf Shores offers fresh seafood, bread pudding and a family fun zone area. You can learn where your fish came from through a QR code on your phone, and if allergies are an issue, Lulu’s has you covered. It offers vegan, soy-free, seafood-free, shellfish-free, gluten-free, egg-free and dairy-free menu options. The best tip I can give you is to order the bread pudding. You will not regret ordering dessert while you dine along the river with a view. lulubuffett.com/gulf-shores Claim a picnic table at The Royal Oyster Bar in Gulf Shores for a traditional southern oyster feast. Handmade cocktails are also a favorite. facebook.com/theroyaloyster For a burger on the beach, head to The Gulf in Orange Beach for locally sourced beef paired with house-cut fries.…