Innehållsförteckning för September 2021 från Country Extra

For most of my childhood, Yuma, Arizona, was just a landmark on the highway to San Diego—a place to pass at 80 mph on our way to an ocean getaway. After looking at the cover image of the Kofa Mountains and our feature “Nature’s Safe Havens,” on page 30, I have to admit I missed out. If we had bothered to get off the highway, we’d have discovered a place rich with desert beauty and wildlife. Sometimes the best places to explore are right in our backyards. It’s a good lesson to learn. These are the kinds of places we’d love to hear about from you! This issue has quite a few stories from folks sharing their states’ best destinations. First up is Field Editor and Pennsylvania resident Carolyn Anderson.…

TEST OF TIME Sequoias can live more than 3,400 years, and they grow in 40 distinct groves in the parks. The size and reddish hue of the trees make them stand out from others. MEET THE STAR At 275 feet tall and 36 feet in diameter at the base, the tree known as General Sherman is the largest living sequoia in the park. It resides in the Giant Forest and there are two trails leading to it. PLAN AHEAD For up-to-date information on Sequoia and other national parks, get the National Park Service app. nps.gov…

NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY SEPT. 25, 2021 Public lands belong to all of us! You can pitch in to help keep them pristine. Every fourth Saturday in September folks volunteer to clean and restore our parks. There’s plenty to do! This year you can clean the beach at Cape Lookout National Seashore in North Carolina or pull weeds at Utah’s Arches National Park. Entry to all national park sites is free! Find a volunteer event near you at neefusa.org/npld.…

THE KIDS IN THE BACKSEAT need to unleash their road-trip wiggles. The back window is down because the dog needs to sniff fresh air, and you need out of the driver’s seat to stretch your legs. It’s the family’s summer vacation in southern Utah’s red rock country, and the pioneer outpost of Panguitch will meet all our urgent needs. Known as the gateway to Highway 89 and Bryce Canyon National Park (it’s 20 miles away), Panguitch offers travelers a place to rest, eat and play. This outpost was designed with Main Street and Center Street as part of Highway 89. Downtown is lined with historic buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, and family-owned restaurants and shops. So next time you find yourself cruising down Highway 89, stop for…

1. GO THE DISTANCE Spectacular scenery abounds on the 4.2-mile trail to Redrock Falls in Montana’s Glacier National Park. JEFF MULLIGAN FRANKLIN, MA 2. KEEPIN’ TRACK Engine 453 chugs between Antonito, Colorado, and Chama, New Mexico, crossing state borders 11 times. RYAN BAER FREELAND, MD 3. SCENIC CYCLING The Shingle Mill Pathway meanders through Michigan’s Pigeon River Country State Forest. JIM HANUS RICHMOND, MI 4. MOUNTAINS MAJESTY I had never been to Maroon Bells in Colorado’s White River National Forest. I was awestruck as I observed the mountains in all their glory. DANA FOREMAN PENROSE, CO 5. RIVER RIDE The trademark of Ohio’s Providence Metropark is the peaceful mule-drawn boat ride on the Miami and Erie Canal. BENJAMIN AYLING FINDLAY, OH 6. TEACHING MOMENTS I enjoy sharing my love of…

When Alfred Vanderbilt wanted to get away, he roughed it at the luxurious yet rustic Great Camp Sagamore in the Adirondacks of New York. 1901  Vanderbilt buys the hunting retreat, and brings family and guests to socialize and reconnect with nature. 2018  Sagamore is open to the public. Tour the grounds (there are 27 buildings) or book a stay. sagamore.org ORIGINAL RUSTIC William West Durant designed the camp to blend into the landscape, inspiring the architecture seen in our national parks. OFF THE GRID There are no TVs or cell service. Guests and visitors come to unplug and to bask in nature, the views and each other’s company.…

If you took snapshots on your last road trip, enter your best images in the Great American Road Trip Photo Contest. We’re looking for amazing images that show the beauty of America, from gorgeous landscapes and wildlife to people and roadside attractions. Here’s what you need to know: 1. What you can win: Grand Prize: $1,000 • First Prize: $250 • Second Prize: $150 • Third Prize: $100 2. What to submit: High-resolution photos in these categories: scenery, wildlife, roadside attractions and people (including kids) 3. How to submit: For rules, and to enter, go to country-magazine.com/ contests and upload your photo. Fill out the form and click “submit.” 4. Contest dates: July 12, 2021–Sept. 24, 2021 Enter your photos at country-magazine.com/contests…

Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site Once the home of violent outlaws (including Butch Cassidy), this 1872 stone structure in Laramie is now a museum where visitors can relive the Old West. Receive your own “convict identity” and take a self-guided tour through iron cells and prison grounds, then watch volunteers make brooms just as the convicts did. Hike the nature trail to the Big Laramie River scenic overlook or picnic. Open May through September. visitlaramie.org Sheridan Inn Developed in part by Buffalo Bill of Wild West Show fame, this revitalized historic hotel in Sheridan dates back to 1892. Buffalo Bill auditioned acts for the show from the large front porch, and each of the 22 rooms’ furnishings highlight key characters in Buffalo Bill’s life. sheridaninn.com Sheridan Donut Company From…

TOUR The gristmill is open for guided tours from 1 to 2 p.m. daily. See demonstrations of how the mill worked and hear all about its history. HIKE To see the mill, the covered bridge, a waterfall and lovely views of Slippery Rock Creek Gorge, trek the Kildoo trail. This 3-mile loop begins on either end of the covered bridge and crosses the creek. The path is paved for about 400 yards and then yields to rocky, forested terrain. PLAY Held the last full weekend in September, the Heritage Festival shows off popular arts, crafts and games of the 1800s.…

Table with a View Nab a seat on the patio of the River Deck Restaurant right on the edge of Lake Hayward. Relax and take in the views until you’re wrapped up in what’s on your table: crispy crab cakes, pan-seared tuna nachos and mango mahi mahi. Big Fish Stories Even if you aren’t able to catch Hayward’s annual Lumberjack World Championships in July or the American Birkebeiner cross-country ski competition in winter, there’s one world-record spot you can’t miss: the world’s largest muskie (You can climb into it!) in the Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame! Sweet Tooth Staples If you bring one souvenir back from this road trip, make it a sweet treat for the family. Head down Main Street to hand-pick hand-dipped chocolates from Lynne Marie’s Candies,…

STAY Each of the nine rooms and two suites at the Pitcher Inn (below) embodies a unique Vermont theme. Stay in the School Room, modeled after a Vermont one-room schoolhouse, or the Lodge Room with its massive fireplace and king-size bed. The inn has two restaurants that are open to the public, including Tracks, an indoor/outdoor pub. pitcherinn.com SHOP Housed in a building from 1839, the renowned Warren Store (below) is one of the most famous country stores in Vermont. The shelves are stocked with products from local suppliers. Find anything from maple syrup to candles, toys, home goods and fashion accessories. It is a great place to poke around for souvenirs or pick up provisions from the deli for a picnic. Try the Vermonter—grilled cheese with cheddar, bacon and,…

Made in Montana If traveling on the Road to the Buffalo, stop at Sunflower Gallery. Housed in a historic building painted slate blue, red and yellow, it’s hard to miss. This cooperative of about 20 local artists features jewelry, pottery, fabric art, stained glass and more. sunflowergallerymt.com Pass the Rolls! With cinnamon rolls as big as your head (below) and meals cooked with down-home flair, Minnie’s Montana Cafe belongs on your itinerary. Locals rave about generous portion sizes, affordable prices and the pies. Ranch Stay For the quintessential Montana experience, book a room at Rocky Point Ranch. David Heilman says that every night the sunsets were spectacular (above), and the view of the Clark Fork River and Cabinet Mountains was breathtaking. Located a few miles outside of Thompson Falls, the…

OUR FAMILY took a trip to the coast of Maine and thought it would be fun to go on a harbor cruise. We drove into the parking lot and took a ticket, and the wooden arm rose to let us into the lot. As we looked for a parking space, we spied a sign that read, “Do not enter this lot unless you are prepared to be here 24 hours or more.” We then realized we had driven into the wrong lot; this lot was for a three-day cruise to Nova Scotia! No one was around to ask how to get out. Finally, we spotted another car pulling up to the gate, so we jumped out of our car, waving at them to stop. We thought if they took a…