Innehållsförteckning för May 2021 från Country Extra

I’m writing this letter in March, on the one-year mark of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. The past year was a doozy for many of us, changing the way we live, work and play. It was also a time to reflect on the values we share and how we treat our neighbors. Normal may be on the horizon, but I don’t want to go back to that entirely. This year has taught me to make more time for my family and for myself, to cherish my friends, and to look ahead to traveling our beautiful country. My daughter keeps asking when we’ll go on a trip. She definitely wants out, and her never-give-in attitude was evident this winter when she’d head outside to swing in frigid temperatures. Millions…

ISOLATED WATERS Located in a narrow string of barrier islands in North Carolina called the Outer Banks, Cape Hatteras has so much to offer: water sports, fishing, camping by the ocean, wildlife watching, stargazing and five lighthouses to explore. BEACHES FOR THE BIRDS About 400 species of birds have been spotted on the islands. In summer, coastal nesting birds mate, nest and raise their young here. RECREATE RESPONSIBLY Wearing a face mask is mandatory on federal land. Before visiting, check the park’s website for any COVID-19 restrictions. nps.gov/caha…

BUSHKILL FALLS If your goal is to see as many cascades as you can in one trip, head to Bushkill Falls in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. The park has trails leading to eight falls, including the two-hour trek to Bridal Veil (above). visitbushkillfalls.com LOWER PROXY FALLS When the road to this wonder in Oregon’s Three Sisters Wilderness Area opens in late spring, hikers take the 1.5-mile loop to the falls. A stream drops 225 feet and then divides into two falls, which disappear into porous lava rocks at the bottom. fs.usda.gov LOOKING GLASS FALLS Each winter this North Carolina cascade lives up to its name. The sides freeze and create a mirror effect. In summer it’s an easy-to-get-to roadside waterfall. Descend a staircase and get your perfect photograph from…

STAY The Pearl Hotel in Rosemary Beach anchors Main Street, with views of the ocean. The stunning structure rings distinctively European, whitewashed with charming turrets, black-and-white awnings, and a clock affixed to its tower. EAT The Red Bar in Grayton Beach is one of the area’s beloved establishments, attracting locals and visitors. Don’t miss the fabulous fare or the live bands, most notably The Red Bar Jazz Band, which performs most evenings. PLAY After reclining on the beach with a good book, listening to the waves, take a few hours to snorkel. Explore the South Walton Artificial Reef Association’s snorkeling collection of artificial reefs in various shapes: a dolphin (Miramar Beach), sea turtle (Grayton Beach State Park), seahorse (Topsail Hill Preserve State Park) and grouper (Inlet Beach).…

Check out Great American Road Trips: Scenic Drives, the latest book from Country. AMERICA’S BEST Experience our country’s back roads in this collection of scenic drives. Gorgeous photos paired with reader stories will inspire you to explore small towns and enjoy breathtaking vistas. ORDER TODAY! ONLY $10! lovethecountry.com/XRD2 WANT MORE COUNTRY EXTRA ? CHECK OUT COUNTRY in the June/July issue… • Tour Gettysburg National Military Park. • Visit the Michigan fishing spots beloved by Ernest Hemingway. • Discover hidden gems from coast to coast. Subscribe at countrymagazine.com…

A quick detour 10 miles east of Cashton on state Highway 33 brings you to Ontario, dubbed the “Canoe Capital of the Kickapoo” River. Famous for its beauty and easy canoeing, the river is an ideal spot to indulge in a one- to three-hour fully supplied canoe trip arranged by one of several outfitters in the area. Or venture a bit farther southeast to visit Wildcat Mountain State Park for picturesque views, 21 miles of scenic hiking and overlooks begging for a picnic. Then meander your way through back roads to continue the circle drive.…

A WHALE OF A TIME San Juan Island is one of the best places on Earth for whale-watching. May through September, orcas, gray whales, humpbacks and minke whales swim past Lime Kiln State Park on the west side of the island. Do a deep dive into whales at the Lime Kiln Interpretive Center or at The Whale Museum in Friday Harbor. BUMPER CROP Farming is a way of life for many on Lopez Island. Farm stands and rural settings across the island offer insights: Taste heritage wheat grown and milled on the island in sturdy, wood-fired loaves at Barn Owl Bakery’s farm stand; watch draft horses plow the fields at Horse Drawn Farm (where a farm stand offers natural meats and veggies); and walk an herbal labyrinth at the Whispers…

1. TAKE IT FROM THE TOP Havasupai Indian Reservation in Arizona features three main waterfalls. Mooney Falls, the tallest at 190 feet, is my favorite. GRANT CLOUD WHITELAND, IN 2. SCENIC PAWS Our mini dachshunds, Bea Taylor and Thelma Lou, admire the view from the Sunset Rock overlook in Highlands, North Carolina. HOLLIE CARTLEDGE MOBILE, AL 3. SUMMIT SMILES My daughter, Jennifer, and I made it to the top of Sierra Blanca Peak in New Mexico at 11,973 feet. MICHAEL GIBSON CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 4. SHUTTERBUG My daughter, Rachel, snapped photos of mini ecosystems during our hike on the Guadalupe Peak Trail in Texas. ELIZABETH BOULTER BURNSVILLE, NC 5. EBB AND FLOW Depending on the tide and time of day, the landscape of Cannon Beach is ever changing. This photo…

SCAN THE ROCKS This park is recognized for having the most dramatic Niobrara chalk layer formations in Kansas. Its wide-open spaces offer a diverse array of distinct native prairie grasses and geological rock formations. As far as the eye can see, the landscape is rich with intense color and texture, set against an endless blue sky. HIKE Trek two accessible trails for otherworldly views. The shorter half-mile out-and-back Overlook Trail takes you to a scenic overlook from the east. My favorite is the out-and-back Life on the Rocks Trail. At about 3 miles total, the trail leads to two breathtaking scenic overlooks that are worth traveling the extra distance. BONUS TRIP Monument Rocks National Natural Landmark lies only 15 minutes east of Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park. If you have…

A PASSION FOR ANIMALS I realized that I was meant to be a wildlife photographer when I visited Grand Teton National Park in 2009. I’d go on landscape shoots and get bored. I found myself gravitating toward the moose and the bears. I came back from that trip transformed. WHERE TO GET PHOTOS I’ve never seen a mountain lion in the wild because they are incredibly elusive. I’ve photographed them only in captivity. When I teach my workshops at Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Camp Verde, Arizona, the students and I stay behind the habitat fence (I use a wide-open aperture setting and single-spot focus to make the fence disappear in the photos). I frame the animals with natural foliage so they look beautiful. The staff throws meat into…

• All Amish shops, farms and places of business are closed on Sundays. • Plan to use cash if you want to purchase goods and services. Most Amish businesses do not accept credit cards. • Use caution when driving over hills or passing vehicles because of horse-drawn buggies. Avoid parking or pulling over near or on hills. • Respect the privacy and beliefs of the Amish. Their religion forbids posing for photos, especially those showing their faces. Keep your cellphones and cameras at a distance.…

■ The park rangers at the visitor center are your best resource for late-breaking news and tips on “can’tmiss” sites along the way. ■ Beware of the weather; the temp can drop 100 degrees in 24 hours! Check day-of forecasts, dress in layers and bring rain gear. ■ Do not expect cellphone reception. Be sure your loved ones know where you are headed and when you plan to return. ■ Carry a whistle in the unlikely event of slipping from a trail or getting lost—it will hold out longer than your voice calling for help. ■ Glacier has a large grizzly bear population. Carry bear spray and know how to use it. Make noise as you hike. ■ Leave the mountain goats and bighorn sheep alone. If these animals are…

WHILE ON A ROAD TRIP to South Dakota with my two sons and my niece a few years back, we took a tour bus to visit Mount Rushmore. “Mommy, I can’t wait to see the four heads,” my 5-year-old excitedly said. The day broke sunny and clear, but as the bus climbed to the park, fog quickly descended. At the monument, the fog was so thick you could not see beyond the visitors center. Unwilling to let go of the moment, I took a photograph against the brick retaining wall with nothing but gray fog in the background! “MOMMY, I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE THE FOUR HEADS.” Disappointed, we boarded the bus to continue with our tour. Imagine driving more than 800 miles from Milwaukee to South Dakota and not…

Until David Rust built a cable tramway to cross the Colorado River in 1907, it was difficult to bring tourists into the Grand Canyon. His tram was a game changer. 1907  Rust called it “the cage.” One visitor described riding in it on a windy day as “being the clapper in a bell.” 2013  Hikers cross the Colorado to Phantom Ranch (the only lodge below the canyon rim) via the Kaibab Suspension Bridge. HOW IT WORKED The cage hung 60 feet above the river on a 450-foot-long cable. Gravity moved it halfway across the river. A crank operator on the other side did the rest. FUN FACT Teddy Roosevelt loved riding the tram—he did so many times. FOR THE MULES The Kaibab Suspension Bridge, built in 1928, is 5 feet…