Country Extra

See more of America's countryside with every issue of Country EXTRA!  Country EXTRA is delivered in between your issues of Country.  Celebrate the people, places and stories that make country life so special. Discover America through first-hand reader visits with country folks, full-color photos, reviews of country inns, country-fresh recipes and time-saving tips and shortcuts.

AUTUMN IN THE AIR

BACKYARD BEAUTY!

Lions and tigers and bears—oh my! Frolic with the animals at Michigan’s John Ball Zoo.

TALES OF THE SEA • Sail in to the Columbia River Maritime Museum for an immersive seafaring experience.

Supersize It!

REST AND REFUEL

Viewfinder

Made by Hand

Sky-High Views • Take a scenic gondola ride and watch as beauty unfolds beneath you. Here are three views that can’t be beat.

A FRENCH CONNECTION • Outdoor splendor and Old World charm bring Barbara Gibbs Ostmann back to Ste. Genevieve, Missouri.

WAVES OF CUTENESS • With their expressive faces and mischievous behavior, sea otters always entertain photographer Barrett Hedges.

AUTUMN IN THE PARKS • Fantastic foliage, fewer crowds, wildlife watching and no bugs—fall is the best time to visit our national parks.

The Grape Outdoors • Northern California’s Russian River Valley is famous for its wine, but nature lovers will find plenty to whet their appetites, too. Pair an activity like hiking, cycling or rafting with a farm or treehouse stay.

RUNDOWN ON THE Russian River Valley • Here’s the scoop on the heart of Sonoma County, which includes Healdsburg to the north, Sebastopol to the south, Santa Rosa to the east and Guerneville to the west.

TREASURE HUNT • Dig for diamonds and more along the Crystal Trail in Arkansas.

HEIDE’S FAVORITES

A Harrowing Quest for the Best • To get the perfect shot, this photographer headed into Colorado’s rugged mountains.

DANA’S GOLDEN HOUR PHOTO TIPS

HONORING HEROES • The Flight 93 National Memorial in Pennsylvania pays tribute to selfless acts of bravery.

WISH YOU WERE HERE • Water, wildlife and two-wheeled adventure. Readers open their photo albums and share outdoor escapes.

ON THE ROAD • Can you identify these roadside attractions and their states? Compare your answers to those below.

GUIDELINES

FIND THE NEEDLE

COUNTRY extra

FROZEN IN TIME • The upright petrified trees in Yellowstone National Park have stories to tell of volcanic eruptions that shaped the landscape millions of years ago.