Exploring America

A Mediaplanet Guide to Outdoor Recreation

Exploring America

Guy Fieri The celebrity chef rediscovers the beauty of America

Find out about the best beer to drink for an active lifestyle Learn what you should avoid when going on a hike

MARCH 2021 | MODERNWELLNESSGUIDE.COM

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Outdoor Recreation, America’s Medicine for Recovery

Top Tips for Hiking During the Pandemic People across the country are discovering the mental health benefits of walking in nature.

Today, many people have turned to the great outdoors to find solace and relaxation. It is essential, especially during the pandemic, to prepare for a hike regardless of the length.

Avoid overcrowded trails Finding a parking spot at the trailhead of popular destinations can be a challenge.

Speak with a local expert at a visitor center, gear shop, or tourism office to find other scenic spots that may have fewer people.

Avoid hiking during peak visitation times, such as weekends and holidays.

Choose a trail based on your experience and fitness The joy of hiking can quickly vanish if you find yourself in an unexpected situation. The distance, elevation gain, climate, and trail condition all impact the difficulty of a route.

Steer clear of trails that might exceed your limitations to prevent a situation that might require assistance from first responders.

Bring your mask and hand sanitizer People tend to congregate at trail junctions, viewpoints, water features, and benches. In heavily trafficked locations like these, hikers should wear masks when it is not feasible to socially distance.

Share the trail When passing people on the trail, it might be tempting to walk parallel to the trail to socially distance, but this can damage plants, cause erosion, and widen the path. Instead, step six feet off the path (preferably on a durable surface) and pause for the other trail users to pass before resuming your hike.

Uphill hikers have the right of way, and hikers should yield to equestrians.

For more hiking tips and resources, visit americanhiking.org/hiking-resources/.

Wesley Trimble, Communications and Creative Director, American Hiking Society

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Lise Aangeenbrug, Executive Director, Outdoor Industry Association

As our country works to address concurrent economic, public health, social, and climate crises, the great outdoors can help individuals and communities build back better.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, stay-at-home families found respite in the out-of-home places that the CDC declared safe: backyards, neighborhood parks, greenbelts, hiking trails, and campsites. We became reacquainted with the immeasurable value of close-to-home outdoor recreation infrastructure. Individuals and families rediscovered the healing power of open space, blue skies, and fresh air.

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Before long, many people ventured farther, road-tripping to state and national parks. In 2020, 69 percent of Americans reported a newfound appreciation for the outdoors’ ability to combat the mental, physical, and emotional effects caused by lockdowns. Whether it was solitude or conviviality we craved, we found it outside. Camping participation saw a 28 percent year-over-year increase in 2020; 8.1 million more Americans hiked than in the previous year; and freshwater fishing grew by 8.6 percent.

What followed was a growing awareness among communities, businesses, agencies, and policymakers that the benefits of the outdoors extend beyond personal and public health. While other industries were devastated, the outdoor recreation sector emerged as the one poised to help drive America’s economic recovery amid the pandemic.

And even as the country now grapples with crises that are

often positioned at odds with one another, COVID-19 and climate change, outdoor recreation remains a bipartisan issue with great potential to help alleviate both crises.

Taking a stand The government should take urgent action to invest in infrastructure projects that ensure equitable access to the outdoors and the preservation of our nation’s forests, lakes, trails, oceans, and rivers. Forests have the potential to absorb the equivalent of all emissions from U.S. vehicles. We support 30x30 initiatives at the state and federal level to protect 30 percent of America’s public lands and waters by 2030.

The private sector must also step up.

The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) worked closely with the Biden-Harris transition team to identify the levers our industry is uniquely positioned to pull, in order to meet the 30×30 goal while

simultaneously driving America’s economic recovery with a focus on outdoor equity and sustainability.

Through our philanthropic arm, the Outdoor Foundation, we work to make the outdoors accessible, welcoming, and safe for all. This is especially critical at a time when we know the pandemic and climate change disproportionately affect communities that have traditionally experienced barriers to getting outside. Through OIA’s Climate Action Corps, our member companies are doing their part to bring private-sector solutions to the climate crisis by committing to measure, plan, and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and share their progress annually.

The pandemic and the climate crisis might still be with us, but so too are the incredible natural resources that can help our communities and economies build back better. The great outdoors is calling, and we must answer. n

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Publisher Arianna DiBella Business Developer Joelle Hernandez Managing Director Luciana Olson Lead Designer Tiffany Pryor Designer Keziah Makoundou Lead Editor Mina Fanous Copy Editor Luigi Leonardo Partnership and Distribution Manager Jordan Hernandez Director of Sales Stephanie King Director of Product Faye Godfrey Cover Photo Food Network All photos are credited to Getty Images unless otherwise specified. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve USA Today.

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A Better Beer for a More Active Lifestyle A healthier life is about choices — in beer and the companies you choose to support.

Healthier, more active lifestyles are good for us. A recent study found more active lifestyles combined with a healthy diet can add years to your life — even if you have chronic health conditions. One healthier lifestyle choice that’s gaining popularity is non-alcoholic beer — in fact, sales rose 44 percent in 2020.

“People are realizing the stereotypes of how you live as an adult aren’t always true,” says Mason Gravley of Athletic Brewing, a craft brewer focusing on healthy, nonalcoholic beer. “They just feel better when they drink less or eat healthier or pursue active things on the weekends.”

A healthier beer Gravley is passionate about his beer. “Non-alcoholic beer was always kind of like a penalty box,” he says. “But for folks nowadays it’s like, I want to feel better, or I have a marathon tomorrow. That’s going to make me more proud come Monday morning at work, not spending half my weekend recovering from having a little too much to drink. It’s created that demand for a really flavorful, nonalcoholic craft beer.”

Athletic Brewing is dedicated to meeting that demand.

Traditional techniques for brewing non-alcoholic beer involve shorter brewing processes or “burning off” the alcohol with heat, both of which negatively impact flavor.

But with Athletic Brewing’s innovative, proprietary process, they are able to produce non-alcoholic beer that tastes

great and stands shoulder-toshoulder with full strength beers, and they have the awards to prove it.

That great flavor is important to athletes like Dani Reyes-Acosta, a professional adventure athlete and artist.

“A big part of outdoor cultures is that tailgate moment,’” she says. “After a socially-distanced hike with a friend last year, she handed me a Run Wild and I thought, wow, this is really amazing. I genuinely like it more than most beers.”

Benefits Healthier choices support an active lifestyle. “I’m committed to good drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic,” ReyesAcosta says. “It really matters to me what I put in my body — but I also like things to taste good.”

The benefits of a nonalcoholic beer like Athletic’s

award-winning Upside Dawn golden ale are obvious. No hangover, for one, and having a full-flavored non-alcoholic beer can make abstaining from alcohol for any reason more enjoyable. And beer is healthier than you might think — certainly better than sodas or energy drinks, which are packed with sugar.

Supporting outdoor spaces As more people realize the benefits of an active lifestyle, the stress on our trails and parks is increasing. “In rock climbing and backcountry skiing, for example, we’re looking at extreme human impact,” notes Reyes-Acosta.

“It’s really tough to see that as much as we love these places, we are loving them to death.”

Athletic Brewing has proactively addressed this issue from its beginning. “When Bill

Shufelt co-founded Athletic Brewing, he vowed that a portion of sales would go to taking care of these places that act as a kind of refuge,” Gravley notes. The result of this passion for the outdoors is Athletic’s Two for the Trails program, which donates 2 percent of all sales and volunteers time and energy to organizations that help maintain shared open spaces. Last year alone the company gave away over $300,000 to everything from organizations who build hiking and mountain bike trails to avalanche safety and education for backcountry skiing.

Athletic Brewing is actively looking to fund projects that support outdoor recreation and encourages interested groups to apply for a grant through their website.

“It’s really cool that Two for the Trails is supporting these organizations that are not just advocating for the protection of these spaces so that people can continue to recreate, but they’re also driving education,” Reyes-Acosta says.

For Gravley, it’s about investing in the future for everyone. “If we want future generations to enjoy these outdoor spaces, we’ve got to take care of them. That’s what Two for the Trails is all about — doing our little part of making sure we are giving back to these places we enjoy so much.” n Jeff Somers

To learn more about Athletic Brewing’s offerings and about the Two for the Trails program, visit https:// athleticbrewing.com/.

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Celebrating Diversity and Inclusivity in Outdoor Adventure Sports

Avoiding Venomous Snakes on a Hike

Troubled by the lack of BIPOC representation in outdoor sports, Danielle Williams founded the Melanin Base Camp.

Growing up, Danielle Williams and her family spent a lot of time outdoors. Then, she spent over 10 years in the army, where she enjoyed jumping out of airplanes.

“As a civilian, I got into skydiving, which was a lot of fun and became my outdoor community,” says Williams, who uses mobility aids to walk.

In 2016, when she logged into Instagram looking “to connect with other people like me,” there were no groups for BIPOC who enjoyed outdoor sports.

Looking for community Initially, she thought people of color weren’t outdoorsy, but after research, she realized BIPOC are active, including surfing, hiking, kayaking, climbing, and skydiving. The problem was she never saw adventure athletes of color in media.

That’s how Williams founded Melanin Base Camp, an outdoor diversity blog that also makes short films, in February 2016. Two years later, she launched Diversify Outdoors, a digital media company that’s a coalition of outdoor entrepreneurs, activists, nonprofits, athletes, and bloggers connected through the outdoor diversity, equity, and inclusion space.

“Our mission is to create a space for honest conversations about race and gender, sexuality, and disability in the outdoors,” she says.

Do the work She’s calling on outdoor companies to do the work and ask themselves how they can meet the needs of the community.

“How can we invest in these communities of historically marginalized people that we report to care about?” she asks.

“It is important to learn, to do a lot of unlearning, and to listen to people who have been doing this work at the grassroots level for a long time.”

Kristen Castillo

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Each year, poison control centers receive thousands of calls about snakebites.

Snakes often hide in places where they are not readily visible to humans and pets, such as tall grass, piles of leaves, and under rocks. Thus, hiking areas can make the ideal hiding places for venomous snakes found throughout the United States.

Consider the following precautions before your next hike: Wear protective clothing Wear long pants and protective shoes such as high, thick leather boots.

Bring a friend It is safer to hike with another person in case you are bitten or have another emergency. If you must go alone, bring a fully charged phone

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and hike in an area where your phone gets a signal.

Avoid surprise encounters Snakes like to hide, so stay away from tall grass, piles of leaves, and rocks when possible. If you have to hike through tall grass or weeds, use a long stick to poke at the ground in front of you to scare snakes away.

Never touch or handle a snake Recently killed snakes may still bite by reflex. Even if you think it is dead or non-venomous, never touch a snake.

Besides looking out for snakes, hikers should also: Apply insect repellent Carefully read product labels when choosing a bug repellent. Products containing DEET are proven to

repel both mosquitoes and ticks.

DEET concentrates of up to 30 percent are safe for use on children 2 months and older. Follow application instructions carefully and only use repellent that is meant to be used on skin.

Avoid contact with toxic plants Although poison ivy commonly grows in green leaves of three, throughout the year it can appear in other colors such as red. Simply put, “leaves of three, leave them be.” Edible mushrooms and berries can also look similar to various toxic species. If you are hiking with children, teach them not to eat mushrooms or berries growing outside. n Yasmine Harding, MS, CHES, Director, Public Education and Communications, AAPCC

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How to Kickstart an RV Lifestyle Easily Living in an RV can offer endless opportunities to rediscover nature. Here’s how you can jumpstart your RV dream.

Traveling by RV is the most comfortable, most exciting, and safest way to explore America. RVs are self-contained, include their own living amenities, and can be used to find unique, dream-worthy, offthe-grid locations. With an RV, you can control your adventure and itinerary.

Here’s how you can kickstart your RV dream:

Guy Fieri Explores the Beauty of America

Do your research before you go In this pandemic, planning is important.

Determine where you’d like to travel and map your route, identifying easy gas stops. If possible, pack enough food for your entire trip. If you’re interested in finding unique things to see along the way, the Roadtrippers app offers over 9 million points of interest to consider.

Determine where you want to stay If you plan to stay in a campground, on rented land, or in national parks, make reservations in advance. National forests and grasslands offer over 33,000 RV spots, many boondocking options (camping without power or water hookups) and are pet friendly. Public lands may not be fully staffed, so it’s important that RVers stay informed and travel with proper supplies.

RV responsibly It’s our collective responsibility to help protect our public lands and ensure the beautiful outdoor places where families explore remain healthy for years to come.

As you RV, it’s important to respect nature, practice proper fire and water safety, and dispose of trash in a responsible way so you leave no trace you were there.

Wondering whether the RV lifestyle is for you? There are many online tools available to help you through the RV journey. You can do your research, build a relationship with your local dealer, engage in the RV community, and explore nature. RVing is an exciting and unique way to experience life.

Bob Martin, President and CEO, THOR

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Throughout his many travels across the country, celebrity chef Guy Fieri still believes in the magic of the local food scene.

Guy Fieri is the king of Flavortown, a mythical place with great food and lots of fun. He cultivates that concept on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” the hit Food Network show he’s been hosting for nearly 15 years.

The road trip experience is part of the allure for the show, which he refers to as “Triple D.” Last summer, the show shot episodes in both Dakotas for states 49 and 50. It reminded him and his crew what a great country the United States is.

“People often feel like they have to ‘get out and see the world’ by leaving the country. But, let me tell you, ‘Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives’ has shown me just how much great, diverse culture is right here within our own borders, and it’s well worth exploring,” he says.

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He says that, while people often think the show is just burgers and pizza, there’s also a “very conscious focus on international cuisines.”

While cross-country travels have expanded his personal culinary repertoire, Fieri says his favorite road trip destination for food is his own home.

“All of the years on the road can make home seem like the vacation,” he says. “So, to be able to get back into my own kitchen and cook for Lori, Hunter, and Ryder is the best.”

Celebrating local food communities Now, Fieri is advocating for tourism that supports businesses around the country. He’s looking forward to hitting the road again postpandemic to celebrate local food communities. In the meantime, he’s calling on consumers to support local mom-and-pop restaurants.

“There’s a great food experience right around the corner from you.

You just have to go find it,” he says.

“I’ll tell you, we’re in a big food revolution here, and you really don’t have to go that far to find great food and a great story.”

He’s witnessed the growth of the national food scene, featuring traditional foods, as well as new fare from chefs’ and restaurateurs’ native culture.

“So, whether it’s in your backyard or you’re going to hit the road to find it, I encourage you to support all of these food businesses because without guests, they can’t continue to do what they do,” he says.

Fieri’s latest projects include “Tournament of Champions II,” a bracket-style culinary competition that premieres in March on Food Network; his Santos Tequila partnership with Sammy Hagar; and Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Kitchen, a delivery-only restaurant with 200 locations nationwide. n Kristen Castillo

Reno Collier on Resetting Your Mental Health With a Road Trip Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, going on a crosscountry road trip might be the reset that your brain needs.

Many of us are feeling trapped in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic due to international travel restrictions.

But comedian Reno Collier, host of NBC’s “The Great American Road Trip,” wants anyone whose flight has been canceled over the past year to know that there’s plenty of terrain worthy of exploring — and it’s right here in the

United States, accessible by road.

“We have everything here, and in a time like this, traveling overseas is not fun,” Collier said. “There’s a whole lot of hustle and bustle and all that, but you can get in your car or rent an RV or whatever you want, and basically see everything.”

Collier is no stranger to travel: He grew up going on road trips with his family, and as a comedian, he toured doing standup for 25 years. On his NBC show, seven families take a road trip on Route 66 in an RV, visiting monuments

and landmarks as they compete with one another. For this, Collier said, his approach to travel was markedly different from that of his comedy days. “We’d find a place to eat, but it wasn’t about stopping and seeing and exploring like it was on the show,” Collier explained.

When visiting some of the small towns along Route 66, Collier felt as if he’d gone back in time. “It’s like looking at a really old house — you wonder what happened in there,” he said. “I wonder what this was like when it was bustling and vibrant.”

Going for a reset These days, it can be possible to travel safely by car with your immediate family. For some people, taking a road trip may be the “reset” they need for mental health amid a flurry of nonstop news and screen time, or to reconnect with their loved ones, Collier said. He pointed out that for him and his family, the journey, rather than the destination, is often most memorable.

Traveling by car can also lead to new, unexpected discoveries in your backyard. Maybe it’s a tow truck museum in Tennessee, or fresh maple syrup in Vermont, or board game manufacturing facility in Minnesota.

Regardless, traveling can be an opportunity to learn, grow, and connect.

“We’re a melting pot. There are so many cultural influences that we can go and see, and still support our own economy,” Collier said. “You need to get out and travel and remind yourself what our country is like, remind yourself what we’re like.” n Melinda Carter

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