RURAL TOURISM

Inspires Travelers While Uplifting Pastoral Cultures

Ecotourism offers a green approach to traveling, unlike traditional vacation destinations with well-known tourist attractions buzzing with polluting effects. Eco tours promote sustainable travel with a minimal carbon footprint while giving to the communities they visit. A variant

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• BY HEATHER DALE

of this type of adventure is rural tourism, a profoundly enriching interaction within a culture that includes getting involved in the rural lifestyle and taking part in customs and traditions. These four U.S. locations offer rural tourism opportunities for groups who want to immerse themselves in cultural experiences.

ALABAMA’S BLACK BELT REGION IS RIPE WITH RURAL TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES

The copious dark and fertile soil spanning 23 counties in Alabama are aptly called the Black Belt Region. During the tumultuous Civil Rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s, the Black Belt Region was also the stage for many pivotal moments in American history. From the brutality that played out on Bloody Sunday to the Selma-to-Montgomery march for voting rights, these communities have taken great care to preserve not only the Black Belt culture of land-cultivating traditions but Black history. Today, the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association promotes the Black Belt Region as an “outdoorsmen’s paradise,” offering vast world-class fishing and hunting opportunities, hiking, birding, canoeing, horseback riding, whitewater rafting and other ecotourism experiences. (alabamablackbeltadventures.org)

CHEROKEE, NORTH CAROLINA EMBRACES NATIVE AMERICAN FISHING HERITAGE

Nature lovers unite in Cherokee, North Carolina, for harmonious opportunities to connect with Mother Earth. Set among glorious sparkling rivers and the Great Smoky Mountains, Cherokee offers groups a “living garden” experience, from kayaking and waterfalls to hiking trails rich with flora and fauna. Absorb Cherokee Indian heritage with a visit to the Museum of the Cherokee Indian before taking an eco-tour of the sacred region.

Cherokee beckons anglers with 30 miles of pristine freestone streams and rivers only found in mountainous regions. One of the most coveted natural resources for the Cherokee people were these waterways providing ample fishing opportunities. Cast a line and catch trout of all colors while immersing in the raw lifestyle. (visitcherokeenc.com/play)

PROTECTING THE WATERS IN WHITEFISH, MONTANA

Nestled among Montana’s immense Rocky Mountains at the edge of Glacier National Park is the rustic town of Whitefish. The community works hard to educate visitors about how to tour their unspoiled area responsibly and leave fewer footprints. By purposefully creating 50 miles of hiking and biking trails, the town can preserve the surrounding watersheds that supply drinking water and help maintain other essential ecosystems.

Visitors to the area can enjoy a walk along the living wetlands interpretive footpath called Viking Creek Nature Trail. Hikers will ascertain the wetlands’ importance and how eco-tours educate trekkers on protecting the vital natural resource and its watercleansing abilities in the Whitefish Lake Watershed. The project provides protection of 30 acres of critical wetlands and wildlife habitats while attenuating flooding and acting as a water quality buffer. (explorewhitefish.com)

NEW MEXICO’S FARMING & RANCHING CULTURE STILL THRIVING

Forty miles north of the Mexican border is the city of Las Cruces, New Mexico. It’s the home of the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, a 47-acre immersive space offering hands-on learning opportunities. Through preserving 3,000 years of farming and ranching history, the site keeps alive the traditions and activities of the cultivating lifestyle.

Visitors can interact with New Mexican cattle, sheer a sheep, observe working blacksmiths forge tools and stroll a pistachio orchard. The museum’s director, Mark Santiago, says that their goal is to educate people about where their food and other products come from to bring an appreciation to the culture. The authentic rural tourism experience preserves the past to teach the present that this way of life still thrives and holds true to its cultural identity. (www.nmfarmandranchmuseum.org)