Ready for a close-up

Texarkana, Texas, in running for Viewer’s Choice episode of award-winning PBS travel series

TEXARKANA, Texas — The city is in the running for a featured spot in a PBS travel series.

“The Daytripper” is the brainchild of host Chet Garner. Along with his team, Garner embarks on day trips throughout Texas to highlight what the shows thinks makes the Lone Star State special — from “well-known landmarks to the completely obscure dives and hideaways,” the show states on its website.

“We created ‘The Daytripper’ to inspire folks to get out and explore their own backyard. Adventure is much closer than you realize,” the site states.

The show is in the middle of filming season 14 and is asking viewers to select the city for the season finale.

Competition for Viewer’s Choice started with 16 cities on a bracket-style ballot organized into four regions — North Texas, East Texas, South Texas and West Texas.

In the first round of voting last week, Texarkana bested Jasper — about 190 miles south of here — in the East Texas bracket to make it to the final eight. The city now faces off against Galveston for a chance at the final four.

The bracket is updated on Friday. The winner will be announced Aug. 11, said Teresa Crone, executive assistant at Hogaboom Road, which produces “The Daytripper.”

City Manager David Orr and the city of Texarkana have contacted “The Daytripper” over the years about being featured in the show, Natalie Haywood, Texarkana Chamber of Commerce’s communications director, said to the Gazette. This year, however, the show reached out to the city.

Haywood said being featured in “The Daytripper” would expand Texarkana’s presence on the state and national scenes.

“This opportunity would shine a spotlight on local businesses, the downtown Arts and Historic District, as well as the rich history Texarkana is celebrating during its Sesquicentennial,” Haywood said. “‘The Daytripper’ features cities not only on PBS, but on their Youtube channel and website, where they provide a complete guide of each city they explore.”

“The Daytripper” airs in 48 states. It is the winner of several Lone Star Emmy awards.

To view the ballot, visit bit.ly/3dq4cln. Viewers can submit one vote a day.

(Staff photo by Stevon Gamble) A stylized city logo is seen on a building in the Arts and Historic District on West Third Street near the state line Sunday afternoon in Texarkana, Texas. The city is among the finalists for the Viewer’s Choice episode to end season 14 of the Texas travel show “The Daytripper.”

(Staff photo by Stevon Gamble) Cleverly painted drain spouts come to life in the artists alley between Pine and Main streets Sunday afternoon n Texarkana, Texas. Such creative artwork is something Natalie Haywood, communications director of Texarkana Chamber of Commerce, hopes is highlighted if the city is chosen as the filming location for the season finale of “The Daytripper.” The Texas travel show is holding a contest for Viewer’s Choice, and Texarkana is among the eight finalists.