Axios NWA Does: A scenic drive near Fayetteville

Driving the news: This is a good time to go, as we're coming up on peak fall foliage season. It's beautiful.

Background: You may have heard of the Pig Trail Scenic Byway. It was a common route to get from the Arkansas River Valley to Fayetteville before Interstate 49 existed and remains a popular ride for motorcyclists.

• It's a curvy road surrounded by trees, and you can pull over for a scenic overlook of the mountains. I can confirm the Encyclopedia of Arkansas' description as correct — "utterly devoid of franchise eateries, liquor stores or other stops except for widely spaced 'mom and pop' gas stations."

The intrigue: You don't actually have to even travel all the way to the byway if you don't want to spend the time or gas.

• The 30-mile stretch from Fayetteville to where you turn onto the byway in Brashears is plenty picturesque and a good reminder that you don't have to go far to unplug from NWA's busier, urban areas.