On a brisk weekday in October 2023, three sewing machines hummed while experimental indie pop played quietly inside a warehouse near the airport in Missoula, Montana. Three sewers had their heads down, assembling eggplant-colored jumpsuits, as Mallory Ottariano, the 34-year-old founder of the women’s outdoor clothing brand , squinted into a dizzying spreadsheet. The Youniverse—what Ottariano, a queen of puns, calls the factory she opened just eight months earlier—smelled like the sugary candle that had been burning that morning, and soon it would be fragrant with garlic.

“What kind of pizza do you guys like? Or not like?” Ottariano shouted from the lofted office that a handy friend helped her build. Staring at numbers was making her hungry.

“No olives!” one of the sewers shouted between stitches.

“Any meat?” Ottariano asked.

“I like pepperoni,” said another.

You couldn’t tell from the employees’ nonchalance, but Youer was in the middle of its latest supply-chain crisis. Actually, two. First, it couldn’t find a specific purple thread in all of the U.S. to sew together 300 pairs of leggings, 30 of which had already sold to customers eagerly awaiting their arrival. Any other color would look weird, and dyeing was too expensive. Second, inventory slated to be ready in a month for a Black Friday drop wasn’t even underway at a contract factory in Los Angeles, California. Unless Ottariano found a fix fast, Youer’s customers would be disappointed, if not angry.

Since Ottariano started out back in 2012 with a $100 sewing machine from eBay, her brand has amassed a fanatical following among active women. Signature garments like the best-selling ($179) and stretchy ($94) sell out quickly. The vibrant prints are hand-designed and cheekily named by Ottariano, like a floral pattern called OK Bloomer.

Prodded about her stress levels, Ottariano shrugged as if to say, What’s new?ÌęAfter all she’s been through—including contemplating bankruptcy following losses in the hundreds of thousands of dollars to unreliable factories in 2020—not many setbacks phase her anymore.

“I’ve proven to myself that we can figure it out,” she says. “It’s not really fun, but I think that’s just the reality of business. If I want to stay in this industry, that’s going to happen all the damn time.”

It’s especially the reality for small outdoor businesses like Youer that have chosen to manufacture domestically despite countless challenges such as higher costs, fewer resources, more regulation, and now potential new tariffs proposed by President Donald Trump on U.S. imports from China, Canada, and Mexico.

These obstacles pose such a threat to small businesses that doubt lingers: Is having more control, greater transparency, and better ethics by manufacturing in the U.S. worth it? And do American consumers care enough about those things to keep the few American-made gear brands alive?

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You’re on a hike with your dog when his paws start bleeding on sharp rocks. Soon after, he refuses to move. It’s not possible to carry him out, because he’s not only injured but stubborn and heavy. You’re miles from your car and dark is coming. So what do you do?

If a human is in trouble, the easy answer is to call search and rescue either with a cell phone or satellite communicator. But if an animal needs rescuing, the answer isn’t so simple.

Many SAR organizations will not respond to emergency calls for an injured animal. They are restricted by law to only dispatch missions for humans, says Keelan Cleary, a member of , which serves Oregon’s northwest corner.

The dispatching agency—in the western US, usually a sheriff’s office; in the eastern US, either a fish and wildlife office or a fire department—must take into account the risks of a mission as well as a team’s bandwidth. Since many teams are made up of volunteers, there’s only so much time and energy they can offer.

It doesn’t mean that SAR team members aren’t animal lovers. Cleary, who has two dogs and a cat, brings treats on every mission just in case an animal is involved.

“When we do deal with animals, it’s usually because a human is injured and the pet is with them,” says Cleary.

Oregon is among the rare places, along with , , and Los Angeles, with an animal-specific rescue organization. Hikers can call the (OHSTAR) team if their pet is in trouble. The team is trained in high angle ropes, tree climbing, and austere environment training, which includes map reading, terrain analysis, risk mitigation, and first aid.

This summer, OHSTAR rescued a Newfoundland named Levon after his owner took him camping in the Mount St. Helens area for respite from a Portland heatwave. That night, Levon started showing signs of heat stress, and in the morning, despite a cool evening and lots of water, he was unsteady and started to stumble. The rescue team arrived quickly with a special piece of equipment called a stokes basket to carry Levon, who weighs more than 100 pounds. Other OHSTAR missions have included saving a horse stuck in deep snow and a dog stranded for a week on a steep cliffside.

Cleary recommends that all pet owners, especially those without access to a rescue organization, add a few more items to their list of 10 essentials in case they ever need to spend a night on the mountain—either because the hiker is in distress or their animal is.

Along with extra layers, water, and food for you, he recommends bringing water and food for your animal. Duct tape can also be a lifesaver; Cleary says he once made a bootie when his dog’s paw pads got scraped. He also brings a lightweight fabric sling in the event he ever has to carry a dog off the trail. Here are for caring for your adventure animal:

• Keep your dog hydrated on the trail. Carry a collapsible dish and offer them water often, especially if it’s hot out.
• Choose pet-friendly trails. Make sure you’re aware of your pet’s physical limits—it’s best to start slow and ramp up the difficulty as you and your pet gain experience hiking together. It’s best to leave your pet at home for technical scrambles and high mileage days. Make sure to follow any restrictions for the area you plan to hike.
• Spend time training recall and obedience off the trail so you can be confident in your control over your pet in the backcountry.
• Familiarize yourself with before embarking on longer adventures, just in case something happens, so a call for help is your last resort.

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Spend enough time eating hiking food, and you might start gagging at the very thought of a peanut-butter tortilla roll-up. But whether or not you’ve hit that devastating milestone, rest assured: You don’t need to restrict yourself to beans and PB on the trail. With a little creativity, you can make a variety of flavorful camp meals with just a few cheap ingredients.

These four hiker-approved hot meals cost $3 or less per person. We’ve broken down the costs per single serving, but at these rates, it’s easy to double (or even quadruple) the recipes without blowing your budget.

Spicy Mac Mash

This elevated take on the ramen bomb is cheesy, easy, and vegetarian-friendly. Cost: About $1.75 per serving.

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• Annie’s White Cheddar Shells Mac and Cheese ($0.75 per serving)
• 1 box of instant mashed potatoes ($0.75 per serving)
• 1 tsp. olive oil ($0.15 per serving)
• Hot sauce, to taste ($0.10 per serving)

In camp: Boil water and cook pasta. Drain water, but leave a little behind to mix in instant mashed potatoes and the cheese powder for a thick, creamy, filling sauce. Fluff together with a fork. Top with olive oil and hot sauce.

Sausage Wraps

Wolf these down for a dose of protein and melted goodness. The ingredients below come in larger servings, meaning you can feed the whole camp. Cost: About $2 per serving.

Ingredients

• Your choice of pre-cooked sausage ($1.25 per serving)
• Tortilla or wrap ($0.30 per serving)
• Shredded cheese ($0.30 per serving)
• Pinch of pepper and salt
• Eggs (use powdered or dehydrated eggs, or ) ($0.25 per serving)
• Hot sauce, to taste ($0.10 per serving)

In camp: Heat sausage over a fire or stove. Once warm, place it in a tortilla or wrap and top with shredded cheese to get a melty effect. Add seasoning and scrambled eggs.

Backcountry Nachos

Treat yourself to something crisp and hearty out there with this crave-worthy recipe. Cost: About $2.75 per serving.

Ingredients:

• Tortilla chips ($0.40 per serving)
• Small can of nacho cheese, or shredded cheese ($0.50 per serving)
• Black beans, transferred to zip top-bag ($0.42 per serving)
• Tomato ($0.50 per serving)
• Avocado ($1 per serving)
• Jalapeno ($0.10 per serving)
• Cilantro, wrapped in damp paper towel in a zip-top bag ($1 per bunch)
• Salsa (optional)

In camp: Chop the jalapeno, cilantro, avocado, and tomato. Warm up your beans and cheese or stove. Layer your bowl or plate with a handful of chips—as many as you can fit. Pile on the toppings. Go back for seconds.

Packed Couscous Bowls

Salty, savory, and scrumptious after a long day, these couscous bowls are both easy to make in camp and worthy of your dining table at home. Cost: About $3 per serving.

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• Dried couscous ($0.65 per serving)
• Bagged sun dried tomatoes ($0.40 per serving)
• Olives, transferred to zip-top bag ( $0.23 per serving)
• Broccoli (store in a zip-top bag and eat on day one or two, or buy freeze-dried) ($0.50 per serving)
• Chicken or tuna packets ($0.75 per serving)

In camp: Boil water and cook your couscous over a campfire or stove. While it’s still steamy, mix in tomatoes, olives, broccoli, and your choice of protein.

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Most hikers know not to carry too many scented products into the backcountry—but new research shows it’s not just bears they could be attracting. According to a , perfumes and soaps—especially those with natural, plant-derived scents—can act like mosquito magnets. The same is true of scented deodorants, sunscreens, and other skin-care products.

You might read that and be tempted to give up your backcountry hygiene routine altogether. However, research also shows that mosquitos are attracted to the scent of human sweat and BO. So, what’s worse: using mosquito-attracting skin-care products, or skipping out on personal hygiene altogether?

To find out, we spoke to G. Mandela Fernandez-Grandon, a UK-based entomologist who studies how smells impact animal and insect behavior. His answer? It’s complicated.

Research shows that mosquitoes are indeed drawn to human byproducts like lactic acid, which we produce naturally and which appears in our body odor. So, the stinkier we get, the more of these compounds we emit—increasing our chances of getting bit.

“Many bacteria on our skin that attract mosquitos thrive on sweat,” Fernandez-Grandon explains. Sweating profusely and going days without showering can help those bacteria flourish—and make you “particularly attractive” to mosquitos. (Drinking alcohol is another way to magnify your stink and bring the ‘skeeters around, he says.)

Maintaining at least some backcountry personal hygiene can reduce your attractiveness to mosquitos, Fernandez-Grandon says, but you do have to be pretty careful about what you use. That’s because lactic acid—as well as other mosquito attractants like cetyl alcohol and citric acid—are commonly found in the very same skin-care products made to keep our bodies clean. Using such products is like ringing the dinner bell for female mosquitoes (males don’t bite). And that’s just the fundamental ingredients we’re talking about here. Artificial scents add a whole other layer.

Many skin-care products are designed to smell like flowers. Fernandez-Grandon says the “floral volatiles” within these products may attract mosquitoes—but not necessarily to bite you. “A lot of work shows that when mosquitos are looking for flowers, when they’re looking for nectar to feed on, they’re not interested in blood feeding,” he explains. In other words, they’re in a smell-the-roses mindset. And when they discover you’re not a flower, they’re likely to move on.

This may lead you to believe that lathering yourself lavender-scented lotion you may mask your human aroma. But unless it keeps you from breathing (in which case, throw it away immediately) you’ll still be emitting carbon dioxide, which means mosquitos will still be able to detect you.

“When they’re interested in getting a blood meal, we are very attractive and probably a lot more so than something small you might put on your skin,” says Fernandez-Grandon. In other words, if you want to keep mosquitos at bay, you’re better off doing what you can to keep clean; it’ll take more than a little soap residue to negate the mosquito-repelling benefits of minimizing your BO.

There are a few scents you can add that have been proven to repel mosquitoes. The first is citronella oil, extracted from plants and containing a component called PMD (P-menthane-3,8-diol). Cintronella is found in some soaps and balms. The other product, Fernandez-Grandon says, is , a bath oil which to repel bugs—including both mosquitoes and biting midges. Then there’s good ol’ fashioned DEET, which is still one of the most effective repellents out there.

The takeaway: Try not to wear powerfully scented lotions or sunscreens if you can help it, but also don’t worry about giving up your hygiene routine altogether. When it comes to preventing mosquitoes, it doesn’t matter too much what scents you’ve got on, says Fernandez-Grandon. After all, millions of years of evolution have trained the ‘skeeters to find you eventually.

“A little bit of citric acid
or these other floral compounds is probably not going to throw them off the goal,” he says.

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One fall morning on a run, a man jumped out of the bushes toward me on a trail near my home in Flagstaff, Arizona. I’d seen him in the area a few days prior and had run past him on my way up the hill earlier that morning. I even said hello. But I hadn’t expected to see him again, let alone hiding in the trees, on my way back down. Had he been waiting for me? I panicked, picking up my pace as he approached me, and passed him before we could interact. There was no way to know his intentions without stopping, but I couldn’t help thinking, “What if?” It spooked me so much that I didn’t return to that section of trail until the next spring.

For months,ÌęI felt flinchy even when I stuck to the roads or joined my husband on his workouts. The joy, strength, and confidence I got from running had drained out of me.

Then we adopted a dog.

At only eight months old in December 2021, Kona’s whole body rippled with energy. We knew she was our perfect match as soon as she licked our faces within seconds of meeting us at her foster family’s home. With a little bit of greyhound mixed with cattle dog, German shepherd, and boxer, her body is lean, her legs and neck are long, and her big, floppy ears express all her emotions.

Our new schedule was bookended by walks in the mornings and evenings, when Kona’s curious nose would lead the way through the neighborhood. She’d find these massive logs and balance them in her mouth for the entirety of our stroll, causing a scene and making us laugh. But when she’d zoom around our 500-square-foot apartment, I realized this puppy probably needed more than a few walks. It hadn’t been my intention to train her as a running companion. It just sort of happened naturally. One winter day in Buffalo Park, we started trotting along the two-mileÌęgravel path together.

Watching Kona move that day—with her tongue hanging out, ears pointed backwards, tail held high, and body coursing like a dolphin—brought purpose back to running for me. SheÌęwas built for this movement, and I could tell that she was happiest running. It reminded me that I once was, too.

The trail I had been avoiding was a 0.75-mile stretch from our house to the park, where I felt much safer around more people. I had run past the bushes with my husband, but never on my own, and it was annoying to drive to the park or rely on his schedule to get out.

Now that I had Kona though, I decided it was time to reclaim my runs. I suited up in my running vest stuffed with treats, poop bags, water, and pepper spray. With her tethered around my waist, we jogged along the sidewalk for two blocks until we hit the dirt path shaded by ponderosa pines. The bushes were just ahead. Then we passed them. Then we were at the top of the hill almost to the park. We ran the entire loop and back down the hill past the bushesÌęagain for a total of four miles—a run I hadn’t completed on my own since the incident. Thanks to Kona, I felt empowered.

That spring, I fell back into my running routine, and Kona started to learn the cues for when I was heading out. She’d follow me around as I dressed in my tights and socks, collected my hat and sunglasses, and looped my arms through my running vest. By the time I was lacing up my shoes, she was right beside me waiting at the door. Her big brown eyes would grow wide and her forehead wrinkled with concern as if to say, “You’re bringing me, right?” Of course, my girl.

We’ve since moved away from Flagstaff to Portland, Oregon, where I’m running more often in flowering neighborhoods than on forested trails (though we love Portland’s Forest Park). I bring her along for a few miles every week. For the first few steps, she’s forceful, yanking me along behind her as if she’s a sled dog and I’m her sled. She can’t contain her excitement.

Eventually she eases up and falls into sync by my side. We’ve gotten better at navigating around other runners, parents with strollers, parked cars, and cyclists. She looks both ways when we cross the streets, and she hunts for squirrels, crows, and cats while I try distracting her with treats.

Running with Kona makes me feel brave again. I’m not jumpy, and I don’t ever feel scared. I know that if something were to happen when we’re together, she would likely . She’s not a trained guard dog or anything, but having a companion makes me feel safer. More than anything now, she is my motivation for getting out the door. She keeps running fun—especially when she muscles a stick that’s comically bigger than her body. “Weight training,” I joke to the people amused by her determination as we pass.

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Out of 100 of the most visible brands in America, Patagonia ranked number one for reputation, according to an .

More than 16,000 Americans were asked to list “companies that either excel or falter in society,” as part of the survey. From that, pollsters curated a list of 100 companies, which were then scored across nine reputation-gauging attributes including trajectory, vision, culture, and trust.

As Patagonia celebrates 50 years in business, the scoring marks the brand’s second time in first place; it also but dropped to third in 2022. Compared to the other mega corporations on the list with thousands of employees (Costco has over 200,000 employees in the U.S. alone), Patagonia is tiny, employing around 1,000 people. Patagonia is immediately followed by Costco, John Deere, and Trader Joe’s. The bottom end of the list includes Bitcoin, Meta, Twitter, and in spot 100, The Trump Organization. Other notable companies on the list include Apple, Amazon, Ford, Nike, Adidas, and Google.

Why the Patagonia Clothing Company Outranks All Others

On the discussing the results, journalist Margaret Talev credits Patagonia’s notoriety to the brand’s unwavering commitment to environmental efforts, with a recent example being last year’s restructuring. Founder Yvon Chouinard gave control to two private entities: a trust that owns Patagonia’s voting stock and an environmental nonprofit called Holdfast Collective, which receives all earnings not reinvested in the business—roughly $100 million a year. The combination of Patagonia’s consistency, dedication to its values, and doubling down on its commitment to various causes resulted in the positive public perception, she says.

“Patagonia is a company ideologically that has a center-left appeal, and yet you have many Republicans who like Patagonia as well,” Talev says. “What consumers have been saying consistently in this survey is that they like a company that knows what it stands for and isn’t just chasing consumers with marketing employees, but that sticks to its message.”

A Strong Reputation Means Everything to Brand Prosperity

Reputation has always been a strong indicator of success in the world of business. You’re not going to recommend a company that has poor quality or service, nor will you go back for more business. And on the flip side, brands foster loyalty through quality and reliability.ÌęBut companies face a far less forgiving landscape than in the pre-Yelp era. Factors like ethics, values, and leadership can either boost or threaten its future also, says Daniel Powell, managing attorney at Minc LLC, a firm that provides online reputation management.

He adds that companies can now receive blowback from customers for making cultural or political statements—or saying nothing at all. And a CEO with harassment allegations can be just as detrimental to a company’s bottom line as hundreds of bad reviews.

According to Weber Shandwick and KRC Research’s State of Corporate Reputation in 2020, global executives attribute 63 percent of their company’s market value to its overall reputation. The research also reveals that 91 percent of executives care about their company’s reputation.

The equation is simple: “The better your reputation is, the more marketplace interactions you’re going to have,” Powell says. “When your reputation is bad, you won’t even get the chance for that interaction.” Patagonia’s earnings are private, but CEO Ryan Gellert earlier this year that company revenues are around $1.5 billion annually.

In a time when public opinion can shift overnight, Powell says he advises clients to “jealously safeguard their reputation.” That includes monitoring any red flags and pumping up any good press. “Everyone is going to get hit with something negative,” Powell says. “One negative review can have catastrophic cascading consequences if you have nothing to counteract it.”

The Patagonia Lawsuits: Taking a Brand Stand

And Patagonia has recently had to play defense. This spring, the company in California court against Nordstrom for allegedly selling thousands of counterfeit goods. Up until this year, the department store was an authorized dealer. Also recently, Patagonia and Gap settled a lawsuit after the outdoor outfitter alleged that Gap had deliberately copied its iconic Snap-T fleece pullover design.

Besides protecting itself, the brand also fields an aggressive offense. The company puts a lot of energy toward environmental and human rights activism, and despite getting involved in politics—which many brands still avoid—it still comes out on top. Some of its most buzzworthy moments include suing President Trump in 2017 over the reduction of two national monuments. At one point, the Patagonia’s homepage read, “The President Stole Your Land.” Then it endorsed two political candidates. Patagonia went viral again in 2020 when someone discovered a hidden message on the underside of a tag: “Vote the assholes out.” It even publicly entered the abortion rights fight in 2022, agreeing to pay bail for employees arrested in abortion protests and denouncing the Texas abortion ban.

The company’s success is the result of a complicated and hard-won combination of action, service, and renowned consumer goods. The number one placement on the Axios and Harris Poll is a resounding indication that it’s working.

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Every year as a kid at YMCA or Girl Scout summer camp, the night I anticipated most was closing campfire, a few hours of silliness that marked our final evening together.ÌęAll week, my cabin mates and I had obsessed between meals and activities over our skit performance, editing lines to make them funnier, embellishing costumes to make them more outrageous, and practicing scenes to make sure we wouldn’t miss a beat during our five minutes of fame on the last night. The more summers I went to camp, the more I became comfortable making a complete fool of myself on stage in front of the rest of the campers and counselors.

As anyone who has ever been to sleepaway camp knows, campfire skits and songs and stories are deeply rooted in the experience. The days of camp might be all about sports or nature, but nighttime entertainment is a theater kid’s dream. Similar to a talent show, some performances are educational but mostly, they just make you laugh with their dad-joke quality, complete with groans at the punchline. Talent is irrelevant. Burping gets you more cheers than perfect singing. Acting absurd gets you a bigger standing ovation than preserving your cool factor. Full body movement is encouraged, and audience engagement through call and response is essential.

It’s been almost a decade since my last performance as a camp counselor, and I realize now that this rich camp tradition left a greater impression on me than I knew at the time. Through camp skits I developed my sense of humor, built confidence in front of a crowd, and learned how to accept others for their quirks.

Away from phones and peers back home, social norms fade and space for self exploration forms, Don and Scott Whipple tell me. The brothers have run in the Sierra Nevadas for nearly 30 years, watching the same skits for the same amount of time. Even the oldest skits get original twists from new sets of campers. Shy kids come out of their shells, and cool kids let their guard down. “They get to open up this door to a part of themselves that they wouldn’t have felt safe to reveal at school or in the neighborhood or other parts of their life,” Don says.

Storytelling is also at the core of ’s programming, which is a day and overnight camp built around outdoor lore and ancient survival skills. Tony Deis, founder of the camp, says Tracker stories share wisdom—like the reenactment of tracking a bear or navigating a new environment—but they also stretch a kid’s capacity to interact and retain information. “When we work with kids as mentors and guides, we think about personality traits like spokes on a wheel,” Deis says. “If one is too long and one is too short, you’re not equipped to be independent in life.”

Summer camp taught me archery and horseback riding, meal prep and fire-tending, but until now, I never thought of skits from a skill-building perspective. It makes me miss my unapologetic summer-camp self. The ease of jumping into a new role. The playfulness of working together with a team. The dedication to a pointless project. The feeling of dancing like nobody’s watching, even when you’re in front of an audience. The affirmation through cheers and standing ovations that reminds me, Your ideas are welcome here.

For those of us who were once campers and feel far removed from camp’s safe space, Don offers this: “We always talk about how we can make our schools or communities more like summer camp, this idyllic utopia,” he says. Maybe, he adds, we can bring the silliness of skits into our own families and classrooms to reconnect with nature, ourselves, and each other.

The next time you’re sitting around a campfire with friends and family, give it a try. Let your guard down, embrace the discomfort, and invite your loved ones to join in on the improvising. And remember: The more funny noises and childlike humor, the better.

Campfire Skit Ideas

If you’re still active at camp, here are two skit suggestions from the archives:

The Bandana Skit

(As told by Scott Whipple of Mountain Camp)

Two campers are on the phone. One is telling the other how to use a bandana. But because of a bad cell connection, the second camper hears the word “banana” instead of “bandana.” Camper 1 proceeds to tell Camper 2 that they can fold the bandana, use it to blow their nose, wear it around their neck or on their head, tie it in a knot, etcetera.

Meanwhile, Camper 2 is smashing the banana in their hands, on their face, and on their head, making a hilarious mess. Then Camper 1 instructs Camper 2 to fold it up and put it in their pocket, at which point Camper 2 refuses. Camper 2 says something like, “There’s no way I’m putting thisÌębanana in my pocket!” Horrified, Camper 1 clarifies that they said “bandana” not “banana.”Ìę

The Wee Skit

(A skit I will never forget from my first few years at camp)

A group of campers lay on stage in their sleeping bags. They’re cozy and quiet and even snoring, but then one of the campers starts rustling around, maybe even flailing dramatically, and they wake everyone else up. “What’s the matter, Johnny?” one of the other campers asks. The Johnny character cries out in a whiny voice, “I really have to go wee!” And all campers on stage yell at Johnny to just go wee already.

Everyone, including Johnny, drifts off back to sleep, and they go through this routine several times of thrashing and dozing before Johnny finally commits. Instead of doing what you think Johnny is going to do, once enough suspense has built up, Johnny yells out, “Weeeeeee!”

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In your lifetime of small talk, you’ve probably been asked something like, “So, do you prefer the mountain or the beach?” Maybe you’re soothed by the sound of waves so you say beaches. Or maybe you prefer the smell of pine so you say mountains. But this classic speed-dating question doesn’t even consider a third option that offers the best of both worlds: sand dunes.

Formed by the wind over millions of years, sand dunes grow and shape shift as grains of sand erode and accumulate. These miraculous mounds are essentially mountains made of sand. The steep curve that the wind hits is called the slip face, and the back hump of the deposit is called the stoss side. Though they resemble peaks, walking on sand is not like walking on dirt or rock. The granules move as you step, providing less resistance and friction than a hard surface. This creates quite the workout in an otherworldly landscape ripe for outdoor recreation.

If you’re open to embracing sand in all your crevices and slowly gaining vertical as you hike to the crests, these five dune destinations across the U.S. offer a life-size sandbox for exploring.

Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Utah

Slightly north of the Utah-Arizona border, red rock country’s mineral-rich Navajo Sandstone crumbled away leaving behind . Over the course of a year, the landscape can change as much as 50 feet: Winds are funneled through a notch between the Moquith and Moccasin mountains, which increases wind velocity enough to carry sand grains from the eroding sandstone—a phenomenon known as the Venturi effect. These mounds have existed for 10,000 to 15,000 years as the only major dune field in the Colorado Plateau region.

Visit the state park at sunrise and sunset, when the sky and the sand contrast against each other to create a vibrant backdrop. Open during daylight hours for $10 per vehicle, about 90 percent of the park’s 3,730 acres welcomes four wheeling, and sections like the Natural Trail are reserved for hikers. Start at the observation deck and create your own path over the rippled surface. For a thrilling ride down the park’s two steepest faces, the visitor’s center offers sand sled rentals for $25 a day. Because the dunes are within driving distance from Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks, make it a stop on a road trip through southern Utah.

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Colorado

North America’s , bordered by the Sangre de Cristo mountains. If you don’t already have an annual National Park pass, a $25 basic entrance pass is good for up to seven consecutive days. At their fullest, Star Dune rises 750 feet and High Dune crests at 700 feet. Once you exert maximum leg strength to reach their tops, you’re rewarded with panoramic views of the area’s peaks and valleys. During the warmer months, Medano Creek on the east side of the dune field fills with snowmelt, creating a beach-like atmosphere where kids and dogs splash around. Be forewarned: it gets crowded on weekends in late May and early June. Fall and winter are also magical seasons to visit, when a fresh dusting of snow coats the sand and rain hardens the surface to make sand easier to ascend.

Day-use activities include sand boarding and sledding. Just make sure to hit up for rentals before entering the park (from $19 at Sand Dunes Recreation). At night, the stars and galaxies put on a cosmic show in this certified International Dark Sky Park. For a totally different view of the park away from crowds, snag a backpacking permit through recreation.gov ($6) to hike Sand Ramp Trail. With numerous camping areas along the route—the farthest is Sand Creek, 11 miles out and back—you can choose to stay in the dune fields or head into the alpine.

White Sands National Park, New Mexico

Designated in 2019, is one of the national park system’s newest sites. The $25 entrance fee is good for seven days, or you can use an annual National Park pass to enter. This great white pile of glistening sand covers 275 square miles of desert in the Tularosa Basin, making it the world’s largest gypsum dunefield. When rain and snowmelt wash minerals from the San Andres and Sacramento Mountains down to the basin floor, the water evaporates and leaves behind crystalline chunks. Hikers can see larger selenite crystals on the way to Lake Lucero.

Backcountry tent camping on the dunes is temporarily closed for rehabilitation, but you can find alternatives at Oliver Lee Memorial State Park in Alamogordo or Aguirre Spring Campground in Las Cruces. Immerse yourself in the pastel landscape on a number of day hikes ranging in difficulty. The 0.4-mile round trip Interdune Boardwalk is accessible for wheelchairs and strollers, while the Alkali Flat Trail takes you five miles over the dunes to the dry lakebed of Lake Otero. Like other stops on this list, sand sledding is allowed. Plastic saucers are for sale at the park’s trading outpost and gift shop ($25 for new, $20 for used, and $3 for wax). You can also bike or drive Dunes Drive, a 16-mile round trip scenic road that leads to wayside stops. (The first four miles are paved and the second four miles are hard-packed gypsum.) Tip: pack sunglasses for your visit because the sun-washed sand can be just as blinding as snow.

Jockey’s Ridge State Park, North Carolina

Starting 4,000 years ago, winds blowing in from the northeast in winter and from the southwest in summer have formed the East Coast’s tallest active sand dune system, often called “The Living Dune” for its constant evolution. Mostly made up of quartz rock granules, this special place in the Outer Banks is spread across 426 acres. The amount of sand is equal to about 6 million dump truck loads, according to the . But the dunes are only one ecosystem of the park, along with the Maritime Thicket and Roanoke Sound Estuary. It’s free to enter from 8 A.M. to sunset every day but Christmas Day.

Strong and consistent gusts create ideal conditions for wind-related recreation, such as kite-flying from the ridgetops, windsurfing in the sound, and hang-gliding off designated dune faces. offers rentals (including sand boards, boats, and beach gear) and lessons from their training center near the park’s visitor center. Looking for a slower-paced adventure? Several trails—like the Soundside Nature Trail, 360-foot Boardwalk Trail; or 1.2-mile Tracks in the Sand Trail—lead you through the different coastal environments.

Indiana Sand Dunes National Park, Indiana

Towering nearly 250 feet high in some spots, s glacial sand curves overlook Lake Michigan’s ocean-like expanse. The mighty lake has influenced the dunes and beaches over millennia, reshaping the topography with wind, waves, lake currents, ice, and storms. Today, with a $25 day pass or annual National Park pass, visitors can explore four major dune areas: Tolleston Dunes, Calumet Dunes, Glenwood Dunes, and the shoreline, which is considered the youngest dune complex. Wetlands fill the depressions between the ridges, and quiet woodlands, prairies, and savannas add greenery to the scenery.

This faux coastal area is a haven for hikers and beacon for birders with over 50 miles of trails through dunes, wetlands, prairies, and old-growth forests. The 4.7-mile Cowles Bog Trail is designated as a National Natural Landmark, and the 2.9 Tolleston Dunes Trail has a wheelchair-accessible route and an observation deck. Dogs are allowed at most locations in the park and can even earn their very own at the visitor center. August is the perfect time to visit this national park, when the temperature ranges from a balmy 60 to mild 80.

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New testing by a consumer advocacy group warns that a number of sports bras and athletic shirts on the market contain high levels of bisphenol A, or BPA, an industrial chemical that has been linked to cancer and other health concerns when exposed to the human body. The finding is prompting scientists and gear makers to more closely inspect next-to-skin materials.

“We feel like this is probably the tip of an iceberg and that there’s a lot more out there,” says Jimena Díaz Leiva, science director at the Center for Environmental Health (CEH), which conducted the testing and in mid-October.

After six months of research, her team detected up to 22 times the safe limit of BPA, , in polyester and spandex sports bras made by The North Face, Brooks, Nike, All in Motion, PINK, Asics, Athleta, and FILA. The group also found unhealthy levels of BPA in from The North Face, Brooks, Mizuno, Athleta, New Balance, and Reebok. The brands mustÌę respond to the violations by December 11 with their plans to remedy their materials. If they don’t, CEH plans to initiate litigation in California court.

Brooks Running says that BPA is already a banned substance in their products, and all materials are certified as safe by an independent third party. “We have no reason to believe any of our products do not meet any health/safety standards, but out of an abundance of caution, we are working urgently to investigate these claims,” a Brooks representative wrote in an email. The other brands have not responded to șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű’s requests for comment.

Concern over the possibility of BPA leaching out of apparel has even prompted brands not involved in CEH’s investigation to take stock of their material usage. The founder of Lume Six, Margaux Elliott, whose company makes sports bras with blended polyester fabric, contacted her suppliers as well as external testing facilities to confirm her material’s safety. Testing is costly, but she says she would rather ensure that her customers are safe.

“I’m trying to figure out where this is coming from so that I can make sure my product doesn’t have it,” Elliott says, adding that these findings should trigger industry-wide testing.

As some of the main fabrics used in outdoor gear and apparel, not to mention day-to-day clothing, polyester and spandex are virtually unavoidable. The “technical” materials are in everything from clothing to sleeping bags to tents. Petroleum-based polyester fibers are made by melting and extruding PET plastic pellets into long threads that are then spun into textiles. Spandex is derived from a synthetic polymer called polyurethane, which is also considered a plastic material.

, an association that certifies products are free from harmful chemicals, BPA enters the manufacturing process of polyester “as an intermediary step to improve the natural properties and lifespan of a fabric.” The chemical can be added to polyester and polyamide textiles to help dyes hold, prevent static, and boost flame retardance.

The CEH’s investigation into BPA in clothing began in fall 2021, made predominantly with polyester and spandex, including styles from Saucony and Adidas. After socks, Díaz Leiva says, the researchers then turned to clothing, focusing on garments made for exercise, when high body temperature can activate leaching.

BPA can leach into food and drink from the containers that hold them, a discovery that led to legislative bans in baby bottles by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2012. (By the way, your water bottle might be BPA-free, but manufacturers can just replace BPA with a whole host of alternative bisphenols that can cause the same kind of harm, scientists say.) However, the chemical can also end up in the bloodstream from absorption through the skin, such as when you sweat as you exercise.

It’s unclear if ingesting or absorbing BPA through the skin is worse for you, says Patricia Hunt, a molecular bioscience professor at Washington State University. About 25 years ago while studying mice, she was the first researcher to link abnormalities in egg chromosomes to BPA.

When ingested, BPA is immediately metabolized and most of it is released through urination, whereas when absorbed through the skin, the metabolic process slows and BPA hangs around longer in your body, she says. “You could argue that dermal delivery is a better way to get an exposure that’s going to have a biological effect.”

Immediate impact is difficult to measure, though. You may not get sick directly from BPA or other chemicals in plastics, but decades of research links even low levels of bisphenols to serious health issues like infertility, obesity, diabetes, and asthma.

The CEH place the onus on businesses, not individuals, to claim responsibility for the health impacts of plastic use. CEH sees litigation as the conduit for change: They want corporations to reformulate their products entirely with safer materials because they believe warning labels aren’t enough.

Because of the ongoing cases, Díaz Leiva could not share more about the CEH’s testing methods, such as how they chose the products and where exactly they found BPA. She could say, however, that they did not find BPA in natural materials like cotton and wool. That said, any natural fiber can be spun with plastic or coated with a chemical additive.

Check the tags of your gear, wear your polyester and spandex clothing less, and consider investing in wool or cotton garments instead.

The CEH recommends reducing exposure to polyester and spandex fabrics and avoiding the products on their lists. BPA doesn’t just wash out over time. “We have been telling people as much as possible to limit the amount of time that they wear their clothing,” says Díaz Leiva. “So after you finish a workout, take off your sports bra or your shirt.”

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On the trail, my friends crave hamburgers and fries, fried chicken, and buttery pastries. Me? I salivate thinking about ice-cold drinks. Not only is hydration essential to recovery, aprĂ©s refreshments are a celebratory treat to look forward to at the end of a journey. While most watering holes are located a drives’ worth away from the trailhead, a handful of wineries, breweries, and sober bars have set up shop right along hiking areas to serve thirsty trekkers as soon as they’re ready to kick up their feet. Smart for business, convenient for you. Below, we’ve vetted 20 gorgeous hikes—of varying distance and difficulty—located near trailside drinking establishments across every region in the U.S. There on their patios and in their taprooms, you can cheers to a day well spent.

The West

North Table Mountain to New Terrain Brewing Co.

Golden, Colorado

If the trailhead shares a parking lot with a brewery, we encourage you to indulge. is situated right at the bottom of Golden’s , a rocky mesa with 360 degree views of the Front Range. Park in the shared lot and start your trek at the East Access Trail, which climbs more than 1,000 feet before looping the mesa’s outer rim for a total of 8 miles. Follow signs for the North Table Loop. Once you finish your hike and descend, a crisp craft beer is waiting for you at the bottom. The spacious taproom and patio hosts live music and food trucks, making it a bustling spot for other thirsty hikers, mountain bikers, climbers, and dogs.

Ocean Beach Cafe to Lands End Lookout

San Francisco, California

For one of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge, head to Lincoln Park and the Presidio on the northwest side of San Francisco. The hugs the shore for four miles from Golden Gate Overlook to Lands End Lookout, passing by several beaches and photogenic rock formations, a labyrinth, and sutro bath ruins. Right where Balboa Street ends and the sand begins, you’ll find , a non-alcoholic bar and bottle shop with a daily happy hour. Fall menu items include libations like the Hummingbird with tennyson black ginger and the Devil Mountain with a spiritless Kentucky 74. Reserve a one-hour Temperance Tasting for a sampling of the latest alcohol-free wines, beers, elixirs, and mocktails.

7:30 Mine Trail to Bread Bar

Silver Plume, Colorado

Tired of waiting in traffic on I-70? Reroute to Silver Plume west of Georgetown, a historic mining town tucked in the narrow canyon. Right downtown, hop on the out-and-back from Main Street, then climb more than 1,200 feet in 2.5 miles, one way. Highlights along the route include historic mining structures, closed mine shafts, and the grave of the man who discovered silver and gold in the area. Historians say he used to play the violin outside his cabin. At the bottom of the hill, awaits with treats. In addition to beer, wine, and cocktails, this comfy bar housed in a 1800s-era bakery also caters to sober drinkers. Order the No Bones Tabor, a zingy zero-proof mocktail mixed with blackberry sage jam, citrus, and soda. One caveat: it only seats ten or so people, so plan to go during Colorado’s off-season.

Snoqualmie Pass to DruBru

Snoqualmie Pass, Washington

Up at Snoqualmie Pass, just outside of Seattle, hiking, skiing, and beer-drinking worlds collide. In the resort area, is right next to the iconic Pacific Crest Trail and other Washington day hikes. is an 8.5 out-and-back with a glassy lake at the top, and Lodge Lake climbs the ski hill for two miles to another scenic lake. Once you’re back in the village, choose from 15 active taps or the grab-and-go selection, then kick back on the heated outdoor patios to admire views of Guye Peak and Snoqualmie Mountain. The Lemon Lime Lager is crisp and light, while the Alpha Female Double IPA has a simple malk backbone with floral and fresh-cut-grass flavors.

Eola Hills Wine Cellars

Salem, Oregon

Hiking with wine has its very own terminology: it’s called wiking. In the Willamette Valley, where wineries are as abundant as trails, Eola Hills Wine Cellars combines the two pastimes on private pathways through their 165-acre wooded . The winery provides trail maps for the self-guided hike in the hillsides, and the entry fee is waived with a post-hike wine bottle purchase. Take note: This wiking experience is only available by . Check the calendar to plan your visit around the many other outdoor events, such as Yoga + Wine classes. Camping is also available to , a network of unique overnight RV and campervan spots. Pour yourself a glass and overlook the lake from the private dock during quiet hours.

Treasure Hill Trail to High West Saloon

Park City, Utah

When there’s no snow on the ground, ski resorts become hiking hotspots. Instead of relying on a chairlift, use your legs to travel the from Old Town to the top of the Payday Express Lift, a total of 1,000 feet of vert and six miles round trip through aspen groves. The first payoff for your hard work is panoramic views of the Park City Mountain Resort base, Park Meadows, and Quarry Mountain. The second payoff is down at the base at , an old-timey bar with a wide range of whiskeys and more than a century of history. In 2006, the company became Utah’s first legal distillery since 1870. Whiskey wonks will appreciate the 45-minute tour at the tasting room and distillery 18 miles to the north. You can also scroll through the online recipe book for drink inspiration.

The Midwest

Smale Riverfront Park to Aster Social Sippery

Cincinnati, Ohio

Exploring a city, especially its green spaces and waterfronts, by foot is called urban hiking. In downtown Cincinnati, there’s no better place to enjoy nature than along the Ohio River at . Huge pollinator gardens attract bees and birds, public art like the Black Brigade Monument and Marian Spencer Statue honor historical figures and events, and Carol Ann’s Carousel delights kids and adults alike. You can even walk across the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge to Kentucky. Or, extend your adventure by hopping on the Ohio River Trail, which spans over 20 miles to its end point in New Richmond. Aten-minute walk from the water, serves alcoholic and non-alcoholic libations concocted from healthy ingredients like kombucha, lemongrass, fresh fruits, and handpicked herbs.

Mount Tabor Trail to Round Barn Estate and Tabor Hill Winery

Buchanan and Baroda, Michigan

Sip and stroll through the woods of this quaint southwest Michigan town, where a . has been making small-batch wines, craft beer, and spirits for more than 30 years out of its domed building, while specializes in sweet, sparkling, and dry wines. The sibling locations put the beautiful woodlands around their properties to good use by creating an immersive tasting experience. Access the trail from either winery during normal business hours, and meander through vineyards with drinks and snacks in hand. There’s also an easier 1.3-mile round trip shortcut. The area is especially scenic during harvest time, when the plump grapes hang off the vines.

Superior Hiking Trail to Ursa Minor Brewing

Duluth, Minnesota

Whether you’re preparing for your next thru-hike or just looking for a day outing, the 310-mile offers breathtaking views of Lake Superior and the Sawtooth Mountains. The trail starts in Duluth and ends at the Canadian border, winding through boreal forests, past babbling brooks and cascading waterfalls, and nearby native flora and fauna. Right in Duluth, either before you start your trek or after, fill up at . Set in an industrial space with a pizza oven and outdoor fire pits, this taproom slings brews from its rotating tap, which includes sober-friendly drinks like kombucha, ginger beer, and their own non-alcoholic cream ale called N/A Time N/A Where. If you’re local, keep an eye on the calendar for various community events and fundraising initiatives.

Crow Peak Trail to Crow Peak Brewing

Spearfish, South Dakota

Spearfish is where South Dakota’s outdoorsy people live and visit. There are waterfalls, cross-country skiing tracks, and hiking and biking routes galore. While the brewery isn’t exactly next to the trail, it’s on our list because it’s pretty damn close. is at the mouth of Higgins Gulch Road, which leads to the trailhead to 5,760-foot Crow Peak, a 6.8-mile out and back overlooking the Black Hills National Forest. Wildflowers pop in the spring, and trees turn golden in fall. The brewery is housed in a cool two-story building with a long bar and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Year-round beers from the five-barrel brew system include the 5 ABV Canyon Cream Ale and 6.5 ABV Pile O’Dirt Porter.

Katy Trail to Good News Brewing Company

August, Missouri

Similar to the inn-to-inn style footpaths in Europe, the is a converted railroad trail spanning nearly 240 miles through some of Missouri’s smallest communities. Few have thru-hiked the route, but many more consider it for scenic day outings. Some sections of the trail follow the Missouri River, varying from rolling farmland, forests, tallgrass prairies, and metro areas. Pick up the path in the little towns of Defiance or Augusta, where has two locations located near trailheads servicing hikers and cyclists with seasonal beers, ciders, and guest taps. The Augusta trail entrance is also nearby and . Spring and fall are the best times of year to hike the trail to avoid Midwestern heat and chill in summer and winter.

The South

Hot Springs National Park to Superior Bathhouse Brewery

Garland County, Arkansas

You’ve heard of beer brewed with snowmelt, but what about thermal spring water? is the world’s first to use the ingredient for making beer, from sours to saisons. Built in 1916, the brick building with green window casings operated as a bathhouse for nearly 70 years and sat vacant for another 30 until the brewery inked a deal with the U.S. Department of the Interior. With 26 miles of hiking trails in the park, catch views of the surrounding Ouachita Mountains: the 1.4-mile Oertel Trail ascends a staircase from the visitor’s center, and the 1.2-mile Whittington Trail is an easy stroll. When your muscles grow tired, head to Bathhouse Row for a soak in the ancient thermal springs. Unfortunately you can’t take beer into the baths. But at the brewery, order the Beer Bath to sample 18 beers on tap.

Shelby Farms Greenline to Wiseacre and Hampline Breweries

Memphis, Tennessee

The product of the city’s commitment to walkability and accessibility, the is a 10.65-mile bikeway and pedestrian network right in Midtown Memphis that connects several neighborhoods, landmarks, bicycle shops, and parks. One section of the route, , features the city’s first bicycle-specific traffic signals. At one end, Overton Park, or Old Forest State Natural Area, is the only old-growth forest in the Southeast that’s located in an urban environment. At the other end, the community-supported Shelby Farms Park has loops of hiking and biking trails around clusters of ponds. Fuel up on snacks and beer at or , steps from each other right off the route. Order a few snacks alongside a rotating tap of seasonal and year-round brews.

Lady Bird Lake and Boggy Creek Greenbelt to Sans Bar

Austin, Texas

Mocktails have come a long way from Shirley Temples, and there’s a serious craft to elevating alcohol-free drinks beyond soda water with syrup. A first for Texas, creates a space for the sober serious and sober curious to imbibe on non-alcoholic bubbles in a cozy environment. It’s only open from 7 P.M. to 12 A.M. on Fridays, so we recommend spending the day exploring the nearby waterfront trails. Start at the Lady Bird Lake Trail, which stretches for ten miles along the Colorado River. The Zilker Botanical Garden and the lake’s boardwalk are highlights. Then in the afternoon, make your way into town and stop at the Boggy Creek Greenbelt, which has a 1.7-mile trail through fields and over bridges. From there, you’re four blocks from your end-of-day destination at the bar.

Gulf State Park to Big Beach Brewing

Gulf Shores, Alabama

Along the Gulf of Mexico, Alabama’s shoreline spreads for 60 miles. For folks in the South, Gulf Shores is one of the most popular beach getaways for enjoying the balmy waters, and the namesake state park encompasses 6,5000 acres. A string of boardwalks, campground roads, and trails create a lovely walking path around Shelby Lake, and seven trails through six distinct ecosystems make up more than 15 miles of the . Look out for butterflies in the gardens, white tailed deer on the ridges, and alligators in the marshes. On the northern outskirts of the park, invites beach goers to enjoy the ocean breeze from the taproom.

Art Loeb Trail to The Hub and Pisgah Tavern

Pisgah Forest, North Carolina

In Western North Carolina’s land of mile-high peaks and gushing waterfalls, the was one of the first outdoor gear shops to moonlight as a tavern, attracting connoisseurs of both beer and gear. The shop is located at the southern terminus of the 30-mile , which is considered one of the most challenging point-to-point hikes in the state because it traverses high points. Shorter out and back segments are also possible. At the end of your trek, you might be in need of a new tent or hiking boots. Peruse the shelves of the warehouse-like shop in search of gear to replenish your backpacking setup. Then head to the tavern to order from eight rotating taps and sit at one of the picnic tables under the string lights on the front deck.

The East

Nordic Trails to Oxbow Beer Garden

Oxford, Maine

Some of the best aprĂ©s experiences are found in unassuming places—like in the small town of Oxford in western Maine. is half taproom, half restaurant in a renovated 200-year-old barn that’s so quintessentially New England with its cabin-curated interior. Wood-fired pizza topped with fresh ingredients from the surrounding farmland pairs with the reviving farmhouse ales and fruited beers. Adjacent to this local hotspot is an extensive that loops for several miles around primitive hut, camping area, and Whitney Pond and the Little Androscoggin River. The trails are ideal for hiking, running, and walking the dog during the dry months, and when the trails are frosted with snow, the local nonprofit Portland Gear Hub rents out nordic skis, fat bikes, and snowshoes.

Hoodlebug Trail to Levity Beer and Noble Stein Brewing

Indiana, Pennsylvania

Even easy hikes deserve to be celebrated. The stretches for ten flat gravel miles from Indiana to Black Lick in Western Pennsylvania, over creeks, under tree canopies, and through wooded areas. Multiple access points at road crossings and parking lots allow you to begin and end your journey wherever you decide. A connector trail also links the 46-mile Ghost Town Trail near Saylor Park. In Indiana, order hoppy refreshments at , where you can sit around fire pits, listen to live music, or watch a friendly game of wiffle ball. Only a 20-minute walk to the north, has a robust menu of sours, ciders, lagers, and saisons. The two breweries have been known to collaborate on tasty brews.

Hunter Mountain to West Kill Brewing

West Kill, New York

Compared to out west, New York has a smaller percentage of public land. That’s what makes places like the Hunter-West Kill Wilderness so special. Right near , link up with the Hunter Mountain Trailhead for a strenuous climb about 2,000 feet to a fire tower. Keep following Diamond Notch Trail to Devil’s Path to Hunter Mountain Trail to reach the summit at 4,039 feet. Your reward at the bottom is a cold one on the 127-acre historic dairy farm, where breweries use foraged and locally-grown ingredients along with mountain water to brew beer. The Basil IPA has hints of strawberry and pine, while the Oyster Stout was brewed with, you guessed it, fresh Barnstable oysters.

Trapp Family Lodge to Von Trapp Brewing’s Bierhall

Stowe, Vermont

Paying homage to the Von Trapp family history and mountain resorts of Austria, the is a four-seasons, all-inclusive property for outdoor adventurers in Vermont’s Green Range (from $245). Visitors can either come for the day (requires a day pass) or book an extended stay in the suites and villas, and cater to people who love moving their bodies in the mountains. Spend your energy exploring that lead to summits and ridges. Snowshoe and cross-country ski in the fall and winter, mountain bike and hike in the spring and summer. A steep hike leads to the family-built chapel, and an educational tour leaves from the outdoor center. End the day hunkering down with a crisp and clean Austrian lager at Von Trapp Brewing’s Bierhall, a cozy lodge with high ceilings, wooden beams, and touches of Bavarian influences.

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