Backroad Weekly
Available Thursdays at 12:00 p.m.
Every Friday at 6:42 & 8:42 a.m and 4:18 p.m., Backroad Weekly founder Caitlan Hester joins KRCU to share day trips, outdoor adventures, and upcoming events within easy driving distance of Southeast Missouri. From hiking trails and historic sites to festivals, museums, restaurants, and small-town attractions, these segments help local listeners find their next nearby outing.
Latest Episodes
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If you're in the Cape Girardeau area of Southeast Missouri like me, this week's day trip is a long haul, at about a 2.5-hour drive. But holy Ozarks, is it worth every gas station bathroom that you have to brave. -
Suddenly, the forest opens into a clearing of ancient volcanic rock that has formed in a cluster of short, blocky columns. The locals call it the Devil's Honeycomb. -
Tiptoe away to an ancient place where a cool, clear river spills around giant pink boulders. Then, idle down into the canyon to soak in the shallow, gravel-bottomed wading pools. -
Founded in the 1850s, with a current population of only about 130 people, Kimmswick, Missouri, was revived and restored by the 7-UP heiress in the 70s, when she hauled in historic buildings for preservation and vibe. -
There's one road in the world that has closed every year, twice a year, for over 50 years, all in the name of snakes. -
Ride the rails in 100-year-old passenger cars while you take in a show. -
Hey, local day trippers! Obviously, I'm a travel writer and not a singer. But you know who is singing this time of year? Wild elk. -
The phrase, "hidden gem" gets thrown around too often in travel writing. It's kind of a pet peeve. But this time, I'll begrudgingly admit that "hidden gem" is a great way to describe Lon Sanders Canyon Conservation Area, in Piedmont, Missouri. -
What I thought was a quick lunch stop in Marble Hill, Missouri, turned into an antiquing vortex. I emerged three hours later with disheveled hair and home decor. -
Sorry to have to call them out like this, but your cycling friends are holding out on you. Southern Illinois' Tunnel Hill State Trail is famously a cyclist's good time. But adventurers who hoof it can have a little tunnel fun, too.
