NEAR AND FAR

For years now, the Rocky Mountain Land Library in Colorado has been on my travel bucket list.

It’s a place that combines two things I absolutely adore—the wide-open spaces of the West and lots of books. On page 46, writer Mindy Sink takes you (and me) to the former sheep and cattle ranch that is being restored and converted into a huge repository of more than 30,000 books about life in the American West.

The Rocky Mountain Land Library is a unique American destination, the kind we hope to bring you in every issue of Country.

But for a little nod to Europe and a visual sign of spring, turn to page 30, where writer Marla Miller describes Tulip Time in Holland, Michigan. The sight of windmills and rows of blooming tulips will put you in the mood for the season of renewal.

Starting on page 38, landscape photographer Larry Geddis takes you on a visual journey along Oregon’s rugged coast. His stunning images show the natural wonders created by centuries of wind and waves. This isn’t your typical day at the beach!

And our readers have a knack for showing us the best of America right in their own backyards. Field editor Trudy Haywood Saunders and her adorable daughter Peyton take us on a tour of the Uwharrie region of North Carolina (page 52), while Riley Jones discovers that he really does love the outdoors as he camps for the first time on Cheaha Mountain (page 56) in Alabama. If you’ve got a special destination in your home state, let us know about it. Share your own story and photos at country-magazine.com/submit. You might see your story in a future issue.