Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2022 i Country Extra

A colleague recently asked me what my ideal Mother’s Day trip would be. I had to think about that one. As a mom, I instinctively plan the journey so that my whole family has a wonderful experience. My husband loves the beach, preferably one in a warmer climate. He’d find plenty of inspiration in writer Cheryl Rodewig’s roundup of southern islands (page 22). A walk along the sandy shore of Cumberland Island in Georgia or experiencing Old Florida on Cedar Key sounds good to me. I could see my son in a kayak or canoe, paddling down a river. He’d really appreciate Barbara Gibbs Ostmann’s piece about Missouri’s Ozark National Scenic Riverways (page 32). He loves water and exploring the outdoors. My daughter, on the other hand, is a bit…

DAMASCUS, VIRGINIA, is a must for anyone seeking outdoor recreation. It has it all: rails to trails, kayaking, fly fishing and hundreds of miles of hiking trails through lush forests. Seven trails pass through Damascus, a town of less than 1 square mile with a population of 763. The town’s history and development began with the railroad and lumber, but today its focus is tourism. Of the seven trails, the Appalachian is best known, but it is the Virginia Creeper, a multiuse trail, that keeps the town in business. Cyclists come from all over to ride this trail and experience Appalachia. Weekend visitors relax in coffee shops and diners. The downtown’s many shops, which include a woodworker gallery, souvenir and three popular outfitter stores, all await exploration. The library at…

HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT. That seems to be the calling card of my favorite place in Missouri, the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Despite being a national park site with more than 1.5 million visitors a year, this protected river system with its magnificent springs is often unknown to people from out of state, and even to some from within the state—a situation that baffles me. How can people not realize what a treasure is right in their backyard? Come along with me to the Missouri Ozarks as we explore the riverways from one end of the park to the other, visiting a string of freshwater springs that will impress even the most jaded of travelers. Along the way we can float (the Missouri term for a canoe or kayak trip),…

The Port The Mississippi River is the star of downtown Dubuque. Start your journey with a stroll along the Mississippi River Walk. The paved path runs along the river, offering views of the riverbank and the boats entering the harbor. Pioneer Past Experience the lives of early settlers at the Mathias Ham Historic Site. You can tour the Mathias Ham house, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, plus Iowa’s oldest cabin, the Humke Schoolhouse from Centralia and a historic granary. Guided tours are available. rivermuseum.com/hamsite Angel in the Window St. Luke’s United Methodist Church is home to the fifth-largest collection of Tiffany windows in the world. Take volunteer-led tours Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from Memorial Day through October. Saturday tours are available by appointment. stlukesdbq.org/tours Ride to…

IN THE LATE 1800S , near Grafton, West Virginia, Anna Jarvis’ mom said, “I hope that someone, sometime will found a Mother’s Day commemorating mothers for the matchless service they render to humanity in every field of life.” So, in honor of her mother’s tireless work tending wounded Civil War soldiers, organizing work clubs to provide medication and assistance to ill mothers, and sheltering slaves on the Underground Railroad, Anna campaigned to do just that. On May 9, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a resolution proclaiming Mother’s Day a national holiday to be celebrated on the second Sunday in May. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Jarvis house was also the first field headquarters of Gen. George McClellan during the Civil War. Today’s visitors to the…

CAMP Bannack has one tepee (below) and two campgrounds. However, there are plenty of free campgrounds in nearby Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. Most sites are primitive and available on a first-come, first-served basis. FISH Cast a line in Grasshopper Creek or venture outside the park. Anglers from all over the world come to fish the area’s trout streams. Licenses are required and can be purchased in stores in Dillon. SELF-GUIDED TOURS Visitors are welcome to roam around and explore the old buildings. Bannack State Park is open year-round. Admission is $8. GO-TO SPOT: HOTEL MEADE Built in 1875, the brick building is well preserved and allegedly haunted by the ghost of a drowning victim.…

HARD TO RESIST I think all bears are fascinating. They have unique personalities that draw people’s attention and make it easy for humans to recognize individual bears. Black bear cubs have beautiful blue eyes and are just about the cutest things on the planet. They are also great climbers, and it’s always nice to photograph bears in trees! Their play behavior is the most interesting thing to photograph. RESPONSIBLE PHOTOGRAPHY The biggest challenge is photographing bears without disturbing them or altering their natural behaviors. I see many photographers who will do anything to get “the shot” with no regard for the welfare of the bear. This just isn’t fair to the animal. I am very careful around cubs to make sure that I am not causing them any level of…

GO WITH A GUIDE Bill Smith, a local who has been running these rivers since he was 9, is authorized to offer interpretive guided boat touring, eco-touring and fishing trips within the riverways. Whether you need help landing a trout or smallmouth bass, or you want someone to point out the sights as you cruise the rivers or explore the hills, Smith is your man. scenicriversguideservice.com HORSING AROUND Look for the wild horses of Shannon County. Spotting them is a highlight for many visitors. Learn more at the Missouri Wild Horse League’s Facebook page. BADGE OF HONOR Complete the Current River Challenge and win a souvenir bandanna as well as bragging rights. The three-part, 12-mile challenge includes hiking from Echo Bluff State Park to Current River State Park, paddling from…

1. LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT My daughter and granddaughter take in their first view of the Grand Canyon. MAGGIE SALYERS LAKELAND, FL 2. HISTORIC HOMESTEAD The Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park in Pall Mall, Tennessee, is where the famed WWI hero lived most of his life. MYCHELE RUSSELL ALLARDT, TN 3. WINGED RAINBOW I had not seen a painted bunting in 20 years until I saw several at Circle B Bar Reserve in Polk County, Florida. JANNA ROLFE WESLEY CHAPEL, FL 5. ROADSIDE ATTRACTION We were driving through Wyoming on the way to Yellowstone when we sighted this bison so near our car. GLORIA STEWART ANKENY, IA 4. WORTH A HIKE Naches Trail in Mount Rainier National Park is peaceful and breathtakingly beautiful. TAMMY HAMMOND CLAYTON, NY 6.…

Hula shows, native music, a royal court and a lei contest are part of Lei Day in Oahu’s Kapi‘olani Park. HISTORY Lei Day, a celebration of gifting leis and Hawaiian culture, has been observed on May 1 in the Hawaiian Islands since 1927. ISLAND FLOWERS Each island has its own signature lei: red ohia lehua for the Big Island; pink lokelani for Maui, gold ilima for Oahu; purple mokihana for Kauai; orange kaunaoa for Lanai. ETIQUETTE A person should never refuse a lei. They symbolize aloha spirit and affection. TO LEARN MORE leiday.org…

Buy the best hiking boots you can afford. Ankle boots offer great protection from sprains and rocks. Have fun on your hikes. Keep your sense of humor and be open to new ideas. Hike early—right after sunrise if possible. You will be ahead of other hikers so you can enjoy peace and quiet on the trail, and the opportunity to see wildlife increases dramatically. Embrace the lesser-known and less-visited national parks. They have scenery to rival and surpass the more popular parks and are much less crowded.…

MY HUSBAND, HAROLD, likes to go turkey hunting with his buddies in Potter County, Pennsylvania. They usually camp, sleeping in a tent. One night around 1 a.m., Harold was jolted awake by a loud crash. He woke the other guys and they all crawled out with flashlights to see what it was. They discovered that a beaver had chewed down a medium-size tree—which had fallen, almost hitting the tent. Harold chuckled as he told me, “That would have been some headline in the paper the next day!’” During another camping adventure, Harold took me to Cherry Springs State Park and we decided to sleep in the back of our station wagon instead of taking the tent. As darkness fell, Harold pulled over on the side of the road to what…