Travel

Matt McGowan’s new novel, "Western Swing," takes readers across the western U.S. as Ray, a man in his early 20s, leaves the family farm for a solo vacation. It doesn’t stay solo for long after his car’s engine block cracks, and he finds himself temporarily stuck in a small Wyoming town.

Spencer McCullough said he started the project after he realized how difficult it was to find places to stay while traveling. He said he felt inspired to make this easier for his fellow cyclists.

President Jimmy Carter’s funeral will be this week, and NPR will provide live coverage on Thursday. In 1995, President Carter was on Ozarks at Large, reading an excerpt from his book “An Outdoor Journal,” published by the University of Arkansas Press— one of six books in the Press’ “Carter Collection.”

You can fill a passport with stamps just by touring around northwest Arkansas. The Ozark Foundation, a nonprofit that partners with other organizations to celebrate the region, offers the Ozark Adventure Passport for free. Mike Spivey, the president and CEO, recently brought a passport, a thermal printer and a stamp to the Anthony and Susan Hui News Studio.

On today's show, Pastor Clint Schnekloth returns to suggest “What We Remember Will Be Saved” by Stephanie Saldana. Also, the Ozark Foundation offers a free passport to explore northwest Arkansas. Plus, Michael Tilley and April Wallace share regional headlines and happenings, respectively.

In this week’s excerpt of "I Am Northwest Arkansas", host Randy Wilburn speaks with Anela Malik, who lives in Bentonville, but travels the world for her website, Feed the Malik.

Cahoots actors Catriona McFeely and Gary Crossan of the "University of Wonder and Imagination" talk about their hometown of Derry, Ireland, and recommend fun stops if ever in town.

Two local teachers received fellowships from the National Geographic Society to take part in an expedition to Antarctica over their winter break. Now they are working to bring what they learned to students in northwest Arkansas.

On today's show, the Arkansas Passport Center is attracting more travelers amid the passport backlog. Also, a new way to find lost livestock, Arkansas schools open doors as LEARNS changes take place and a brief history of fads from the David and Barbara Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History.

In 2022, the U.S. Department of State processed 22 million passports - more than any time before. And a spokesperson from the department said they are on track to break that record in 2023.