Innholdsfortegnelse for February/March 2022 i Country

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…

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…

ON OUR THIRD GLORIOUS morning, we lingered at the RV park in our Torrey mountain oasis. Asher and his grandpa balanced on a seesaw. The bird-watchers stalked a few more species among the towering cottonwood groves. After an informative visit to the Capitol Reef visitor center, we strolled through the nearby orchards to see the famous pinyon jays and stumbled across the tamest and largest marmots any of us had ever encountered. Capitol Reef’s Waterpocket Fold is a geologic monocline or rock “wrinkle” stretching for almost 100 miles and marked by rugged terrain and elaborate hiking trails. For the sake of simplicity and time, we opted to drive through the heart of the park, surrounded by white desert domes and massive sandstone cliffs. Located in the center of Capitol Reef,…

GRAND PRIZE / JERRY POSPESHIL / SIOUX CITY, IA At 527 square miles, Canyonlands National Park in southeastern Utah is more than four times the size of nearby Arches but has half the number of visitors. It’s a wonderful place to take photographs. While searching for a good vantage point to enjoy the spectacular sunset, I couldn’t resist taking a picture of this unusual U-shaped formation. FIRST PLACE / BRENNEN DUFFIELD / FAYETTEVILLE, AR Every evening in Yosemite National Park, we hiked to our viewing spot and watched Horsetail Fall turn to lava—for less than two minutes each night. Once the setting sun hit El Capitan at the perfect angle, the valley erupted with the howls of spectators. I feel blessed to have captured this winter phenomenon. SECOND PLACE /…

ON A RETURN TRIP to Iowa from Breckenridge, Colorado, my husband, Myron, said, “I want to show you Mount Evans. I remember going there as a child.” It was a beautiful, sunny 80-degree day. As we drove higher up the mountain, we noticed snow blowing across the roadway. Soon it was freezing on the road…and there were no guardrails! At the top we parked and jumped out with our camera to get some photos. The wind and snow were blowing so hard, we watched as our car sat rocking back and forth. On the way down, I mentioned that no one would know where to look for us if we slid off the road. In an effort to calm me, Myron asked, “Have you seen any mountain goats?” With eyes…

In the December/January issue, we hid the needle on page 58. In each issue we hide a needle (black or white). If you find it, enter online at country-magazine.com by clicking the Contests link at the top of the page. We’ll draw winners from all the correct entries. Winners receive a one-year subscription to Country. No purchase necessary to enter to win. Purchase will not improve your chances of winning. Sweepstakes is open to legal residents age 18 years or older of the U.S., its territories and possessions. Sweepstakes begins on Jan. 17, 2022, and ends on March 11, 2022. For official rules, visit country-magazine.com. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Sweepstakes sponsored by RDA Enthusiast Brands, LLC.…

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…

Standing on what was once the lawn of Stephens-Lee High School, with a bird’s-eye view of Asheville, North Carolina, spread before me, I start to see a city I love through a new lens. I knew Asheville well, or thought I did, until I joined DeWayne Barton for a Black history tour. “[Asheville] was a different city for us,” DeWayne says. “One that many visitors have no idea about.” DeWayne, an artist, poet and social entrepreneur, started the tour company Hood Huggers International for this very reason. “We’ve got all these tourists and different kinds of tours—food tours and brewery tours and architecture tours—but not one Black history tour. Like we weren’t here,” he says. A Hood Huggers tour, which lasts up to two hours, shows residents and visitors the…

Elvis Presley Birthplace More than 100,000 visitors come annually to tour the two-room house where he was born in 1935, sit in a pew of his childhood church, walk the memorabilia-filled museum and climb the hill to the famous “Becoming” statue. elvispresleybirthplace.com Elvis Festival The annual five-day event honoring Tupelo’s most famous native son takes place in June, drawing visitors from around the world. Enjoy concerts, a 5K race and many Elvis-themed activities, including an impersonator competition—time to break out the “Aloha from Hawaii” suit! tupeloelvisfestival.com Connie’s Fried Chicken The chicken biscuits for breakfast are good, but the melt-in-your-mouth blueberry doughnuts are legendary. Crave Open late on weekends, this cute dessert shop is a perfect stop for after-dinner treats. Menu items such as gooey skillet cookies, salted caramel cheesecake and…

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“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…

Adjust to Small Spaces The first night I was claustrophobic, wedged in the upper bed with my husband and son (below), the ceiling only 10 inches from my face. I had no way to move except to clamber over my “boys.” The next night I curled up on the short bed converted from the table. My lungs welcomed the abundance of air, and I slept soundly the rest of the week. Enjoy the Journey Asher and his grandpa both loved sitting at the table in the RV working on activity books or mapping out our trip. The scenery along the way was just as breathtaking as the park destinations. Make It Your ‘Home on the Road’ Several times we rolled up to an overlook in the middle of nowhere, in blistering…

FREEDOM TRAIL With the help of the National Civil Rights Museum, the Trafalgar tour company created the Journey Along the Civil Rights Trail. This nine-day tour of heritage sites takes travelers from Memphis, Tennessee, to Atlanta, exploring landmark events, such as the murder of Emmett Till, and activists, such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. The tour package includes accommodations, meals and on-trip transportation. trafalgar.com BLACK WALL STREET Last year marked 100 years since a white mob attacked the prosperous Black Wall Street neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, killing as many as 300 people and burning 35 city blocks. Today, Greenwood Avenue, the heart of that neighborhood, still stands. Tour the area, visit Black-owned businesses and learn the history behind the events of June 1, 1921. tourofblackwallstreet.com CIVIL RIGHTS…

1. BADGE OF COURAGE My son, Gregory, and I hiked to the top of California’s Upper Yosemite Falls on a Scout trip. CAROLYN OWEN HALF MOON BAY, CA 2. SOUTHWEST WONDER Lost Dutchman State Park reveals Arizona’s beauty: mountains, blue skies, cactuses and wildflowers. MARIE HAYES GILBERT, AZ 3. FEEDING FRENZY Pelicans and shorebirds greet the Florida sun along Merritt Island’s Black Point Wildlife Drive. BARBARA HOUSTON QUINTON, VA 4. HIKING HAWAII On Kauai’s Napali Coast, boardwalks snake through the beautiful Pihea Trail that leads to Alakai Swamp. KIRSTEN BUSSE MINNEAPOLIS, MN 5. PRAIRIE DANCE Wild mustangs in Nevada challenged each other in a wildlife test of strength. KATHY PORT GARDNERVILLE, NV 6. SPRING THAW California’s Lassen Peak provides a stunning backdrop as the ice recedes on Manzanita Lake. DENNIS…

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Staged to honor the legacy of dog sledding in Alaska, the Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race tests the grit of teams as they travel 1,000 miles from Anchorage to Nome. 1913 Long before planes delivered mail and goods, folks in towns such as Seward used dog sleds to move supplies. 2021 Musher Ryne Olson’s team begins the race, run in a closed loop through wilderness due to the pandemic. ORIGINS The first Iditarod took place March 3, 1973. FASTEST TIME Musher Mitch Seavey set the record in 2017 with a finish of 8 days, 3 hours, 40 minutes and 13 seconds. PLAN AHEAD An ideal time to see the Iditarod is at the unofficial start, which is on the first Saturday in March, when teams race down Fourth Avenue in…