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Issue: Fall/Winter 2010
Author(s): Peter Chakerian
Referred to as “Penn’s Woods” and “The Black Forest” of Western Pennsylvania, Cook Forest State Park in Cooksburg, Pennsylvania, is a grand, versatile getaway for outdoor types, romantics and families. The woodlands’ immaculate splendor and virgin timber inspired legendary film director Cecil B. DeMille to use it as the setting for his 1946 Paramount Pictures film “The Unconquered” with cinema icon Gary Cooper. Cook Forest features more than 8,500 acres, replete with white pine and hemlock trees an...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2010
Author(s): Becky Linhardt
Blessed with clear waters, a sheltered sand beach and more than 700 acres of natural habitat protected within state parks and preserves, Kelleys Island, Ohio, has long been a vital stop for birds and butterflies migrating across Lake Erie. The annual autumn Feather & Foliage Bird Festival, held this year on September 25, celebrates the island’s Important Birding Area designation with naturalist-led bird hikes, tree identification and bird-banding sessions. “The Audubon Club always helps out at the Hi...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2010
Author(s): Jackie Perrin
Situated in the heart of Finger Lakes “Snow Country,” an area that consistently wins the crown in New York’s annual “Snowball” snowfall competition, Greek Peak Mountain Resort in Cortland, New York, has long been a cool destination for adventurers. In addition to 32 trails, 6 aerial lifts, night skiing and a full-service Nordic Center, the family-operated resort offers a lively schedule of activities both on and off the slopes. Now, visitors can spend a day on the mountain, then relax at the ...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2010
Author(s): Laura Taxel
There’s no reason to let the season keep you indoors and on the couch. Daniel Boone National Forest in the hills of eastern Kentucky , about an hour from Lexington, is a year-round destination. In winter, the rugged landscape of forested ridges, sandstone cliffs, deep ravines and frozen waterfalls is beautiful and deserted. Snowfall is generally light and temperatures are chilly but rarely bone-numbingly frigid. So, pack some polar fleece and thermal undies and plan to do some of the finest trekking this...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2010
Author(s): Kelly Fordon
What could be more exhilarating than traveling on a polar express through the deep gorges of the Agawa Canyon this winter? Perhaps only the fact that along the ride, you can unload your snowmobile and zip off through northern Ontario’s boreal forests. That’s right. The Algoma Central Railway, which begins in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and continues 296 miles to the French Canadian town of Hearst, is a literal jumping off point for incredible sledding adventures. Riders on the Algoma Central Railway’...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2010
Author(s): Amy Bizzarri Bocchetta
Love to hike? Then Starved Rock State Park , located in Utica, Illinois, on the south bank of the Illinois River, is the place to be. One of the best places in the Midwest to enjoy fall colors, the park boasts more than 13 miles of hiking trails — through canyons and past cascading waterfalls. Best of all, you can tailor your trip based on your skill level, from beginner to advanced, by following well-marked trails and free maps. This area has been home to humans from as early as 8000 B.C. Hopewellian, W...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2010
Author(s): Jane Ammeson
Beneath the rolling green hills of southern Indiana, the sinewy 21-mile Myst’ry River courses through the subterranean passages of Bluespring Cav erns near Bedford, Indiana . Serious spelunkers can crawl through the caverns, most of them still unexplored, in an area known as Limestone Country because of the porous rock beneath the surface — perfect for forming caves. But for those of us who like a more relaxed adventure, the best way to travel the longest subterranean river in the United States is on a ...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2010
Author(s): Katie Morell
Want to go scuba diving this summer? If so, there’s no need to book a flight to Hawaii or an island in the Caribbean; just drive about 65 miles east of Charleston, to Sarge’s Dive Shop in Summersville, West Virginia , and strap on your goggles. The 2,700-acre, crystal-clear Summersville Lake attracts droves of eager water-sports fans each year to partake not only in scuba diving, but also snorkeling, boating and fishing. For those who prefer land-based adventures, Summersville is home to hundreds o...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2010
Author(s): Sherri Telenko
Nature has a way of rising above the human desire to control it. For example, Buckeye Lake in Licking County, Ohio , would be just another man-made waterway — built in 1826 as a reservoir for the Erie Canal — if it weren’t for a buoyant mass of plant life called Cranberry Bog. When the swamp was flooded in 1830, all marsh plant life was destroyed except for a 12-acre mat of young plants and sphagnum moss that swelled up and rose to the surface like a spongy island. Today, the Cranberry Bog State Nature ...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2010
Author(s): Emily Tennyson
Swirling, hovering over the beach, a cloud forms — but it’s not white. It’s orange, and it’s fluttering. In early autumn, thousands of Monarch butterflies migrate over Point Pelee , the southernmost spot on Canada’s mainland, on their way to their winter home in Mexico. There, the butterflies feast on milkweed, their only source of food. Such is the Monarchs’ popularity that Point Pelee has a dedicated “butterfly hotline,” where visitors can call for information. A national park since 1918, Point Pelee ...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2010
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
Northern Michigan’s Les Cheneaux Islands have drawn boating enthusiasts for centuries — but never before have boaters been able to build their own craft as part of the experience. The Great Lakes Boat Building School aims to change that. Organized primarily as a vocational school in 2005, this Cedarville, Michigan, destination offers one-week and 10-day summer workshops that allow hobbyists to custom build their own boats. Most workshop participants hail from the Midwest, but the school has had particip...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2009
Author(s): Jenny Pavlasek
The woods that surround the town of Long Lake in the central Adirondack Mountains are lovely, dark and deep; too deep, says pilot Tom Helms, to appreciate them from the few roads that wind through town and along its namesake 14-mile-long body of water. Which is why for more than six decades, travelers have sought out the seaplane services of Helms Aero Service — currently two Cessna 206 craft equipped with straight floats — on the beach near the bridge along St. Rte. 30. Make an appointment (or if you’re...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2009
Author(s): Emily Tennyson
Swoosh! Swoosh! It’s 15 degrees outside, but don’t be surprised if you work up a sweat. Cross-country skiing is exhilarating, and the snowy sylvan glade at Nub’s Nob Ski Resort in Harbor Springs, Michigan , is almost like a fairy tale. The meticulously groomed paths curve away from the busy downhill slopes, and in a matter of minutes, you’re transported into the woods. The northwest corner of Michigan is home to shopping, restaurants and an array of outdoor sports. But unlike the region’s bigger ski dest...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2009
Author(s): Margaret Phillips
Kentucky certainly wouldn’t be the same without its horses, and Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky , gives children an excellent opportunity to get to know the magnificent creatures up close. With more than 100 horses during the summer months and a few less during the winter season, it is impossible to go to this park and not interact with them. The Hall of Champions, housing legends such as Cigar, CH Gypsy Supreme, Kona Gold and Western Dreamer, is a favorite with children, as is the Parade of B...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2009
Author(s): Jenny Pavlasek
For a mountain biker like yourself, if it isn’t a challenge, it isn’t fun. So we’re here to report that less than one mile into the singletrack trail system at Moosic Mountain in northeastern Pennsylvania , you’re bound to wonder what you were thinking. Opened last fall, this rugged and rocky path delivers eight miles of winding route through an unlikely place for a “bikers welcome” sign — a 1,500-acre nature preserve. The 2,200-foot protected ridge is owned by The Nature Conservancy, which recognized it...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2009
Author(s): Jennifer Rogers
As the leaves fall leisurely to the ground and the heat of summer fades to a crisp breeze, the Hocking Hills region boasts a bountiful harvest of autumn-inspired adventures, not to mention the most beautiful foliage in the region. This fall, forget the drive-it-yourself tour and heed the call of “All Aboard!” Fall foliage train rides on the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway provide one of the most picturesque panoramas of the area, taking riders past historic landmarks and canal locks and alongside the casca...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2009
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
Just 30 minutes west of Louisville, Kentucky, the town of Corydon, Indiana , prides itself on its Civil War-era historic sites, small-town charm and unspoiled Ohio River scenery. But Corydon’s most exciting attractions lie well underground. Three southern Indiana cave systems wend through the limestone beneath Corydon, offering visitors the chance to play spelunker for a day. Marengo Cave, discovered in 1883, draws more visitors than any other in Indiana. Orange stalactites and sparkling stalagmites punc...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2009
Author(s): Becky Linhardt
The land can appear to be very far away when you’re paddling on the wide expanse of Little Traverse Bay, Michigan . Even safely seated within a Native American jiimaan — a large, wooden canoe — the bay can be an adventure when the winds blow in from Lake Michigan. Travelers to north central Michigan can board a jiimaan during the Festival on the Bay, Aug. 14–16, at the waterfront in Petoskey. The free excursions are sponsored by the Odawa Institute of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. (The...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2009
Author(s): Ed Condran
Bird is the word at Powdermill Nature Reserve in Rector, Pennsylvania . Those who are curious about our feathered friends will enjoy a memorable experience at Powdermill, one of the nation’s longest-running bird-banding stations, in operation for 47 years. The program focuses on the great diversity of small migratory songbirds that are caught in mist nets, banded with numbered aluminum bands and released. More than 550,000 birds of 190 species have been banded to date. Migratory birds such as Baltimore ...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2009
Author(s): Jenna Schnuer
The variety of reasons to visit U-pick farms of the Finger Lakes Region in New York is as bountiful as the number of crops harvested in the area. Whether you have kids who need to get a grasp on where food really comes from (while having more fruit-stained finger fun than they could ever imagine) or you just want to soak up some rays while gathering the goods for a year’s worth of pies, the 9,000-square-mile, 14-county Finger Lakes region awaits. Don’t worry, you won’t have to randomly drive down countr...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2009
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
Half a dozen first-time surfers grab their boards from the back of a VW bus and make their way toward the beach. Ryan Gerard, owner of Third Coast Surf Shop in New Buffalo, Michigan , takes them through their paces on the sand. He positions their bodies face-down on the boards, shows them how to paddle their arms, demonstrates a smooth leap into a squat — and finally demonstrates how to stand up, with knees bent and arms out for balance. Once the surfers have finished their land-based instruction,...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2009
Author(s): Kathy Witt
Journey to Harlan County, Kentucky — an isolated region in the southeastern part of the state near the Virginia border — for ATV thrills at the Black Mountain Off-Road Adventure Park . Ride on trails cut out of old coal and timbering land, comprising over 6,000 acres and more than 200 miles of rutted, pockmarked roads. The trails are littered with boulders and dense foliage that opens to the landscape oddity of grassy domes, a characteristic peculiar to clear-cut land — and beloved by ATVers. Riders com...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2009
Author(s): Ed Condran
A run through a Class V rapid on Pike County, Kentucky’s Russell Fork River — known as the “Beast of the East” — is ideal for adrenaline junkies. Experienced guides are strongly suggested for anyone attempting to navigate the unpredictable whitewater, which runs for 16 miles. But there’s also plenty of river for those who are looking for less treacherous waters along the Russell Fork. The upper section of the Russell is much more forgiving than the wild stretch of the gorge, which is only recommended fo...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2009
Author(s): Kathy Witt
Have a capital good time in the “RV Capital of the World.” Elkhart County, Indiana , is home to the “shrine” to the RV — the 80,000-square-foot RV/MH Hall of Fame and Museum . This fun and far-reaching collection dates back to the early 1900s towables and journeys along the RV’s evolutionary timeline to today’s state-of-the-art motor homes. The exhibit even boasts a custom 1934 trailer built for Hollywood siren Mae West. Vintage RVs are displayed among murals of scenic American destinations. The n...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2008
Author(s): Jenny Pavlasek
When you can’t beat ’em, join ’em, — especially when the ’em is Mother Nature. So, when the snow flies, you might as well put your best foot forward: Bundle up and get ready for an unconventional hike during a Snowshoe Walk in Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore . One of the state’s prettiest winter wonderlands, the park hosts hikes for amateur trekkers every Saturday in January and February. Sessions last about two hours and include free snowshoe rental, instruction on snowshoeing basics ...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2008
Author(s): Meredith Beverstock
Witnessing the majestic beauty of the bald eagle is a truly awe-inspiring experience. Nearly 3,000 eagles migrate south to winter in Illinois , adopting the attitude of many human “snowbirds”: when your habitat freezes, it’s time to move on. Illinois, in fact, is second only to Alaska in winter population of eagles. This phenomenon makes January and February the perfect time to eagle-watch. The Quincy Bald Eagle Watch in western Illinois features viewing with park rangers. Starved Rock Bald Eagle ...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2008
Author(s): John Patrick Pullen
“If your friends all jumped off of a bridge, would you follow them?” It’s a rhetorical question, of course, one that countless children have been asked by their mothers, desperate to show the foolishness of blindly following the lead of friends. So, it’s likely that those moms let loose a weary sigh about New River Gorge Bridge Day, an annual event in Fayetteville, West Virginia, that is the largest extreme sports event in the world. Last year, 377 people from more than 10 countries took a record ...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2008
Author(s): Jennifer Haliburton
All right, so maybe you’ll never nail a perfect figure eight on the ice. Or a double axel. In fact, you’d be happy just learning how to ice skate for five glorious seconds without winding up on all fours. Never mind your lack of prowess: The rink at Canaan Valley Resort and Conference Center in Davis, West Virginia, welcomes skaters of all skill levels. The covered, outdoor ice-skating rink is a popular attraction for families who love to spend quality time together engaged in lively, winter-weather act...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2008
Author(s): Jenna Schnuer
Anyone longing for the golden yellows, brilliant reds and oh-so-oranges of the fall foliage season, hail a taxitout de suite — a New York Water Taxi , that is. Okay, so you can’t actually hail one of these boats. But when the leaves begin to make their colorful displays this autumn, travelers can board one of the company’s brilliant yellow watercraft (trimmed with that familiar, black-and-white checkerboard pattern) on Pier 17 at the New York City’s South Street Seaport for a five-hour cruise on the Hud...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2008
Author(s): Kathy Witt
Head to Red River Gorge in Kentucky for hiking and rock climbing, with overnights spent in the scenic splendor of Natural Bridge State Resort Park . Located in the foothills of rugged Eastern Kentucky, the area snuggles up to Daniel Boone National Forest and has the largest concentration of arches and rock shelters east of the Colorado Rockies. At the resort, the 35-room Hemlock Lodge has private balconies overlooking the mountains, plus 11 equipped cottages tucked right into the forest and 82 campsites...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2008
Author(s): Kathy Witt
Northern Indiana’s Amish Country always boasts pastoral allure: The sight of women in bonnets and men in horse-drawn carriages sets a picturesque scene that proves irresistible to tourists. The area’s first Quilt Gardens Tour adds to that appeal. Through first frost, the landscape throughout Elkhart County is abloom with traditional and contemporary Amish quilt patterns and artistically rendered murals depicted in vast, floral displays. The 12 gardens — some of which are so large they require hand-water...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2008
Author(s): Becky Linhardt
Quakers, Shakers and the inspirational history of early settlers are the focus of driving tours through the Southwest Ohio Heritage Triangle . Located in Warren County, Ohio, the Triangle is anchored by the city of Franklin on the west and connected to Waynesville on the east by St. Rte. 73; Lebanon (at the southern point) links to Franklin via St. Rte. 123, and with Waynesville via U.S. Rte. 42. Additionally, the Quaker Heritage Tour can extend your travels farther eastward, from Waynesville to Wilming...
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Issue: Bonus Online Content Summer 2008
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
From the first time that I heard the old Ojibway legend, I knew that I wanted to visit Michigan’s Manitou Islands. The story goes like this: A Wisconsin forest fire drove a mother bear to swim across Lake Michigan for refuge, her twin cubs in tow. Once she reached northern Michigan, the mother bear sat atop a bluff to wait for her cubs — but they never arrived. The cubs became North and South Manitou Islands. Today, the mother bear still awaits their arrival, holding vigil on the sand of the Sleeping Be...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2008
Author(s): Betsa Marsh
Busy as a beaver. Quiet as a mouse. Name your favorite animal analogy —they all dovetail during an adventurous Beaver Watch on Ohio’s Lake Hope. The body of water is the centerpiece of Lake Hope State Park in rural Vinton County , surrounded by the oak and hickory trees of Zaleski State Forest. Those towering trees prove awfully attractive to industrious beavers, who use their giant incisors to gnaw and drag them down the banks to a good spot for a dam and lodge. Earth-Wind-Rock: Outdoor Adventures of A...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2008
Author(s): John Patrick Pullen, Photo courtesy of John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove
For someone who’s more automobile aficionado than birding enthusiast, hearing the name Audubon might first spark thoughts of a super-fast highway in Germany. But while you won’t find anything fast or furious, it’s the furry and feathered attractions at the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove in Audubon, Pennsylvania , that provide plenty of excitement for nature lovers. Mill Grove was the first home of John Audubon, founder of the so-named nonprofit group famous (to everyone but auto fanatics, that ...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2008
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
Auto racing enthusiasts have flocked to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 1909, settling themselves into the world’s largest spectator sporting facility with more than 250,000 others. Now those who would rather experience speed first-hand have more reason than ever to visit the Brickyard. The Speedway offers visitors the chance to ride in or drive an IndyCar themselves through the Indy Racing Experience . Participants suit up in authentic race gear and either join an experienced Indy Racing L...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2008
Author(s): Jennifer Haliburton
Thank goodness for the bonsai tree. If it weren’t for the popularity of miniature planting having spread to the United States, the Far East’s legendary culture of gardening would still be a mystery to most of us. The Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, Illinois , utilize the power of great landscape design to give Westerners a much broader understanding of both the culture and its philosophies. More than three decades of cultivation have led to a series of gardens and structures, including a t...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2008
Author(s): Sherri Telenko
Deep down an eerie gap in the earth’s surface, occupying the cool, damp spaces of one state’s unique karst topography, another world awaits. A journey through the Lost River Cave and Valley in Bowling Green, Kentucky , isn’t for the faint of heart. From the many translucent crawfish that call the cave home, to the numerous cave crickets that skate across the water — not to mention all the bats, salamanders and southern cavefish who tend to keep out of sight — the prehistoric attraction could give some v...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2008
Author(s): Amy S. Eckert
Chalk it up to the ingenuity of water-loving thrill seekers: Just when you thought there couldn’t possibly be another heart-pounding, fun way to enjoy the Great Lakes, along comes kiteboarding. Like surfers with large kites harnessed to them, kiteboarders hop aboard small boards and let the wind skim them along the water’s surface. The board serves as the kiteboarder’s steering mechanism; the colorful kite provides the power. Just find the time and patience it takes to master those elements in the shift...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2008
Author(s): Kathy Witt
The next time you endeavor to stray off the Bluegrass State’s major thoroughfares and venture onto its rich back roads, be sure to keep your eyes peeled: darting minnows and whirling pinwheels are everywhere. The colorful patterns are part of the Eastern Kentucky Quilt Trail , a network of brightly painted quilt squares that honors the region’s storied quilting heritage. Just as reflective of the area’s culture are the structures on which many of the massive works of art are painted: old tobacco ...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2008
Author(s): Jenna Schnuer
New York City knows how to grab the attention of out-of-towners: Whether it’s steel-and-glass skyscrapers prompting eyes to gaze upward, or glitzy theater marquees and avant-garde boutiques drawing stares of wonder, there’s no shortage of interesting sights during a walk around the Big Apple. The Union Square Chocolate, Wine & Culture Tour adds sweets shops to the must-see list. The city’s famous food offerings have always run the gamut — from New York’s own style of tasty pizza and bagels, to chic ...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2008
Author(s): Jenna Schnuer
Held aloft by their signature rainbow-colored balloons, the wicker baskets that take Adirondack Balloon Flights passengers into the sky are the best kind of standing-room-only spaces around. Soaring high above Lake George, Saratoga Springs, Albany and the Adirondacks in northern New York State , the whimsical tours offer passengers a view that company owner/pilot Phil Jackson describes as looking like a “Grandma Moses, country-type painting.” For more than 30 years and through more than 3,000 fli...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2008
Author(s): Betsa Marsh
The paddle silently pares away a wedge of chill water, and even the oar-end drip doesn’t make a sound. You angle your canoe into a wall of mist, and suddenly, there on the opposite side, you spot your breakfast mate: 1,200 pounds, with a fuzzy, protruding nose and a serious five-o’clock shadow. As he gently nudges lily pad roots from the lake’s edge, your guide soundlessly tops off your teacup. Good morning, Mr. Moose. “ Morning Tea with Moose ” is Northern Edge Algonquin’s three-night camping adventure...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2007
Author(s): Kate Bigam
Every room at Deer Creek Resort , in Mt. Sterling, Ohio , boasts a patio overlooking the great outdoors, so don't be surprised if you're greeted by more than sunshine when you awake. The resident wildlife is so used to visitors that it's not unusual to find a family of wide-eyed raccoons staring up at you from the other side of your sliding-glass door or to notice a curious skunk poking around in the bushes — kind of like a day at the zoo, only a lot more relaxing. That's the beauty of this quiet retrea...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2007
Author(s): Kathy Witt
The limestone cliffs known as the Palisades were carved by the Kentucky River some 5 million years ago. Today, they loom 300 to 450 feet above the river, standing sentinel over the waters that lure so many outdoor lovers to this part of the country, and serving as a dramatic backdrop for the brilliant fall scenery that flanks the river. One memorable way to take in the picturesque vista is aboard the 115-passenger Dixie Belle , an authentic sternwheeler that offers hour-long narrated excursions from Sha...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2007
Author(s): John Pullen
Since remakes are all the rage at the movies these days, why not take a cue from the Billy Crystal comedy "City Slickers" and escape the suburbs to saddle up? Bailiwick Ranch , the oldest and largest stable in New York's Catskill Mountains , caters to wannabe cowpokes by arranging for horses and a guide to lead them on half-day rides through the historic Hudson Valley town of Mount Pleasant. The ranch is just two hours from New York City, but with 300 acres of private trails and access to more than 25,0...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2007
Author(s): Gerald Bartell
Jack Frost isn't the only one who casts a chill over the rolling hills of southern Indiana come fall. According to local folklore, spirits swoop through homes, museums and cemeteries, raising the hairs on the back of visitors' necks and supplying frightfully fun ways to peruse Bloomington, Indiana . Indiana University may have as many ghosts as deans: A woman in a yellow nightdress reportedly stalks Reed Hall Dormitory, and benevolent spirits at the Wylie House Museum, the home of IU's first president, ...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2007
Author(s): Betsa Marsh
With an Alpine climate, double black-diamond runs and a nearly 5,000-foot summit, Snowshoe Mountain Resort is like a little slice of Switzerland shaved off in West Virginia . Tucked between Cheat Mountain and the vast Monongahela National Forest on the eastern edge of the state, the resort's 234 ski-worthy acres and state-of-the-art lodges offer a pristine winter playground for snow-sport enthusiasts. Fifty-seven slopes and trails cater to all skill levels, from beginners learning the basics at the Ski ...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2007
Author(s): John Pullen
For travelers on the hunt for authentic American artwork, Pennsylvania's Route 15 is hardly the road less traveled. The so-called "Byway of the Arts" unfurls for 190 miles, bisecting the state north to south as it winds through rural expanses and metropolitan cityscapes in places such as Boiling Springs, Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg and Newport. But while the lay of the land changes with each passing town and city, seemingly every locale on the route is a hub of creativity. Speckled with craft barns,...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2007
Author(s): John Pullen
Painters, writers, sculptors — for hundreds of years, artists have listened to the gentle whisper of nature to inspire their masterful works. Ernest Hemingway's muse sounded like the waves of Key West; Ansel Adams was stirred by the trees of Yosemite. These places couldn't be more different, but they do have one thing in common: At the time the artists were nurturing a heartfelt attachment to them, they were still largely undiscovered by hordes of visitors. Ontario is hardly uninhabited, but...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2007
Author(s): Jenny Pavlasek
Wine country is tough to top as a romantic destination. But the overwhelming crowds in places like California's Napa and Sonoma valleys can quickly kill the mood. This fall, skip the lines and plan your vineyard escape closer to home. Illinois has four organized wine trails, the oldest of which is the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail in the southernmost part of the state. Nine wineries specializing in French hybrid grapes such as Traminette and Chambourcin, as well as some better-known varietals, including Cabe...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2007
Author(s): Jenny Pavlasek
The only thing as predictable as birds flying south for winter are the flocks of birding buffs who migrate from city to city this time of year, spotting scopes in tow, turning their favorite pastime into a rather unconventional way to take in fall's colors. Touch the Earth Adventures , a nature-based travel adventure company in Athens, Ohio , helps birders appreciate the season and keep an eye out for hard-to-find species with guided birding-by-kayak trips on the tranquil lakes surrounding southeastern ...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2007
Indulge that urge. Nothing makes you feel more alive than a pounding heart and pumped-up adrenaline. Dive in and explore the depths of a Great Lake. Cycle up and down hills that wind through the woods. Brave the rushing rapids. Climb on the back of a galloping steed. Or just take a turn on a scenic, windswept golf course. The region offers more than enough adventure opportunities for people who like to kick back by being active. So go enjoy the great outdoors. And yourself. Trail Away American Discovery...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2007
Author(s): Gerald Bartell
On the Great Allegheny Passage , both the journey and the destinations reward. This 150-mile trail stretching from Cumberland, Maryland, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, offers pleasures for those who stay on the straight and narrow path and to those who stray from its crushed limestone surface. The path accommodates hikers, bicyclists and, on some stretches, equestrians. Grades average 2 percent, allowing visitors to concentrate more on sites than survival. Wildlife is abundant – deer often flock near the ...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2007
Author(s): Michael Patrick Shiels
In Michigan , a state that boasts counties, cities and neighborhoods with Irish names such as Clare, Wexford, Corktown and Roscommon, you can be virtually transported to one of the Emerald Isle's wild-and-woolly, sea-smashed golf courses. Just as the sun drops over the edge of the moody Atlantic in the Gaelic-speaking regions of western Ireland, the golden glow of a Lake Michigan sunset sets the sheer, rocky precipices and sandy dunes alight each evening. In the tradition of Eire'...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2007
Author(s): Betsa Marsh
There's a striking, circular symmetry to Jackson County's signature bicycle rides: round wheels, round routes, round barns. The central Indiana county will show off its white-washed barn treasures during the 10th Volksride Ride to Recycle June 16 and the 16th Round Barn Bike Ride July 7. Jackson County is lucky to have three round barns, remnants of a phenomenon that started in Northern Indiana, then drifted south about a century ago. All are on private farms, where the owners take good care of the curi...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2007
Author(s): Jamie Rhein
On a clear night during a full moon, Cumberland Falls, dubbed the "Niagara of the South," casts a moonbow — think rainbow in the dark. From May 19 through September 30, Sheltowee Trace Outfitters, Kentucky's only rafting company "puts in" just below these falls, considered among the largest east of the Rockies. Located in southeastern Kentucky's Daniel Boone National Forest, Sheltowee Trace Outfitters operations are in the heart of frontiersman Daniel Boone's stomping grounds. Enjoy the wilderness by hea...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2007
Author(s): Bob Beasley
When heading to western Pennsylvania to hit the rapids, the first thing you need to practice is the name of the river. It's the Youghiogheny , pronounced Yawk-a-gain-ee. Just call it the Yough - as in Yawk - and you'll fit right in. No matter if you're a novice or an expert on a raft, the Youghiogheny has something to offer. If you feel like easing in, head to the Middle Yough's Class I and II rapids, which begin near the town of Confluence. Think you're really good? Jump right into the Lower Yough's Cl...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2007
Author(s): Jenny Pavlasek
Most outdoor types have heard of the Appalachian Trail, a favored trek from Georgia to Maine that lets day hikers and backpackers explore 2,175 miles of the country's East Coast. But mention the American Discovery Trail (ADT) — the only coast-to-coast, continuous path for hikers, bikers and other non-motorized travelers — and fewer headlamps go on. Popularity aside, we can't think of a better way to get a handle on the country's history and natural treasures than a walk along this all-American path. Sta...
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Issue: Spring/Summer 2007
Author(s): Jamie Rhein
In Lake Erie and in quarries around the state, Ohio's waters are teeming with interesting inhabitants. Sure, you'll find plenty of native species, but more surprising things dwell below the surface as well. At Gilboa Quarry , a school bus, a Volkswagen van, a Grumman Gulfstream IV airplane and more are waiting to be found. June 1–3 is the DUI Dry Suit Demo at the quarry. Fishing is strictly prohibited. Open daily, April 1–Nov. 30 with winter hours, Gilboa also has equipment rentals and camping. At...
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Issue: Fall/Winter 2002
Author(s): Susan R. Pollack
Sometime during the long, dark night, participants will wonder what the heck they're doing pulling an all-nighter in a canoe on the Au Sable River across northeast Michigan . But mostly they'll focus on paddling in a grueling, 120-mile marathon canoe race marking its 60th anniversary July 28–29. "You feel good, bad and numb about three different times and then, after a while, you just get in a routine and keep going," says Lynne Witte, 53, a Michigan teacher and veteran of 27 Weyerhaeuser Au...
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