Stand still on a prairie road and you notice how little asks for your attention. Wind moves through the grass, the sky runs past the horizon, and a lake lies so calm it holds the clouds twice. Small towns and busy cities are glad to fill the silence with conversation.
Winters are long and properly cold across much of the country, summers are warm and bright, and the Pacific coast stays mild and rainy. Late summer and early autumn avoid the extremes. A Local Friend shares a favourite spot and the story behind it, maybe a lakeside bench or a corner cafe.










