Country February/March 2022

Taking a deeper look at the places we love and uncovering stories hidden by the passage of time isn’t easy. But it’s necessary. Writer Jason Frye, who has explored just about every small town and mountain in his beloved North Carolina, did just that for us. On page 40, he revisits Asheville, a vibrant city in the Blue Ridge Mountains known for the arts, the Biltmore Estate and access to the outdoors. This time, Jason took a tour with Hood Huggers International and saw Asheville from the perspective of its Black residents. Learning the fuller story of Asheville helped him appreciate it more and has influenced how he looks at the other places he loves. It was a transformative experience. Trying something new can be such a fulfilling part of…

The October/November issue arrived as my husband, David, and I set out on a road trip from St. Petersburg, Florida, to Harrisonburg, Virginia. I took it along to read on the long drive. We wanted to hike while in Virginia, so I was delighted to discover “Easy Hikes for Fall Color” (page 20), which included a description and beautiful photograph of Stony Man Trail overlook, reached by a well-trod and fairly easy path on Virginia’s Skyline Drive, near where we planned to be. We found the trail and hiked to the top. I couldn’t resist duplicating the photo in the article, minus the sunset but with my Country magazine. TERRI RICK Largo, FL Enjoyed the photo by Callen Davis of Port Alsworth, Alaska, in the August/September issue (page 62). I…

“AMERICA HAS SO MANY DIFFERENT LANDSCAPES, AND EACH ONE IS BEAUTIFUL IN ITS OWN WAY. OCEANS, DESERTS, MOUNTAINS—THERE’S SO MUCH TO SEE AND EXPLORE.” FE / CORTNIE GOODIN LEARN ABOUT COUNTRY’S FIELD EDITOR PROGRAM! Visit country-magazine.com/fieldeditors WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU. CONNECT WITH US! Share your comments: feedback@country-magazine.com Submit stories and photos: country-magazine.com/submit FACEBOOK country magazine INSTAGRAM @country.magazine ON FACEBOOK WE POSTED THIS MYSTERY QUIZ: CAN YOU IDENTIFY THE WATERFALL IN JOHN McKINLEY’S PHOTO? CORRECT ANSWER: Tahquamenon Falls in Michigan…

MADE FOR WALKING Texas’ great vintage boot companies sprouted up in El Paso, aka the “Boot Capital of America.” At Rocketbuster Boots—housed in an eclectic historical warehouse—they still cut, carve and stitch the state’s famous footwear by hand. Get an appointment on the books and the gang will give you the VIP treatment, from design ideas to a custom fit. rocketbuster.com HANDSOME & HAND-TOOLED They craft a belt to last a lifetime at Lone Tree Leather Works in Dell, Montana; details, from the floral pattern and the finish to the branding and the buckle, are all up to you. (Hint: Ask for buckstitching for a classic 1960s style.) wyomingbelts.com…

HATMAN JACK’S sits proudly on the old Chisholm Trail, famed as an overland cattle-driving route, but Jack’s doesn’t carry just hats those cowboys favored. Fedoras, bowlers, ascots, homburgs, pork pies, Panama hats and trilbies for both men and women line the racks, walls and shelves. Celebrities as diverse as Luciano Pavarotti, Charlie Daniels, Sharon Stone and B.B. King have all made their way to Wichita to the third-largest hat store in the U.S.—and it’s a must see for anyone traveling to Kansas. Why? Jack Kellogg, the “Jack” behind Hatman Jack’s, not only sells hats but also custom fits them to his customers. Vintage tools in the workroom in the back of the shop are used to steam, stretch and finger-block hats so the taper, brim and fit are just right.…

CRUISING U.S. ROUTE 17, also known as the Charleston Highway, is one of my favorite things to do. For me, the drive starts just north of historic Beaufort, a charming low country town, and stretches roughly 70 miles north to Charleston. Along the way, I find a nostalgic, pre-interstate America. The coastal highway rolls past marshes teeming with birds and other wildlife and friendly roadside markets that still sell Cracker Jack. Charleston is a whole story in itself. John Scanlan Hilton Head Island, SC…