Country December/January 2022

Perseverance. That word comes to mind when I think of 2021. From the latest pandemic news to bumps in the road to the new normal, 2021 was almost as challenging as the year before. To get through it, I followed my younger sister’s advice: Be cautious, but live for today, because tomorrow is never guaranteed. Our contributors know a lot about perseverance. On page 25, Andrea Zani brings you the story of Emily Ford, who in March became the first woman to thru-hike Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail in winter. With each snowy step along the 1,200-mile trail, Emily showed that the outdoors belong to everyone. Jeff and Lesa Tester faced a serious health crisis almost 20 years ago. Since then, they’ve chosen to make the most of the time they…

Inspire your loved ones to explore the best of America! Gift friends and family a subscription to Country and Country Extra. ORDER NOW! country-magazine.com/givetoday WANT MORE TRIP IDEAS? CHECK OUT COUNTRY™ extra In our January issue… • Experience the wintry glory of Iowa’s Great Lakes region.• Discover sunny escapes where winter is wonderful.• Plus, photographing snowy owls, snowmobiling in Wisconsin and exploring New Mexico’s Chaco Canyon. Subscribe at country-magazine.com…

The photo of the posing mountain goat on the back of Country’s Aug/Sept issue sparked a memory. On a Colorado trip in 1983, our family drove to the top of Mount Evans and was greeted by this friendly fellow! I managed to quickly snap a picture through my open car window before he actually stuck his nose in, likely hoping for an edible handout! MARILYN RIETBERG Grand Rapids, MI Country’s picture of the pumpkin festival in Damariscotta, Maine, (Oct/Nov, page 10) got my attention. A friend lives a couple of hours away from it, and I posted on Facebook that I wanted to go. Within 30 minutes, two Virginia buddies posted that they wanted to go, too. It’s 12 hours from home, so it may not happen next year, but…

“I LOVE TO EXPLORE IDAHO AND EASTERN OREGON BACK ROADS, AND THE SIMPLE PLEASURES IN SMALL FARMING TOWNS, GHOST TOWNS AND UNIQUE MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES.” 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 FACEBOOKcountry magazine INSTAGRAM@country.magazine…

COLORADO Georgetown looks a lot like a Christmas postcard. Combine snow, chestnuts roasting on an open fire, horse-drawn wagon rides, a procession of caroling children and around 25 merchants selling handmade goods, and you have the makings for one seriously charming holiday event. georgetown-colorado.org PENNSYLVANIA Known as Christmas City, Bethlehem hosts a traditional European Christkindlmarkt that features about 150 craftspeople, along with authentic ornaments and collectibles from Germany. Visits with St. Nick, live music, and a station to write and send letters to the North Pole keep faces smiling. But perhaps niftiest of all is the Hot Glass Experience, when visitors have a chance to make their own Bethlehem star. DiscoverLehigh Valley.com GEORGIA If you really want to feel like you’ve taken a step back in time, head to Helen.…

LIGHTING THE WAY On Christmas Eve, luminarias (paper bags that are folded at the top and filled with sand to hold a candle) are lit and placed in churches and homes, and along the paths and walkways of Old Town in Albuquerque. It’s a 300-year-old tradition. HEART OF THE CITY A gathering place since Albuquerque’s founding in 1706, Old Town was built around the San Felipe de Neri church. Today, Old Town’s Pueblo-Spanishstyle buildings house shops, galleries and restaurants. PLAN YOUR VISIT Read more about Old Town’s Christmas festivities at visitalbuquerque.org.…