A 10-county road trip, featuring more than 140 small businesses, including 11 Antelope County locations, begins Saturday and continues through Sept. 30..

The 2021 Best of the Backroad Tour of Northeast Nebraska, sponsored by News Channel Nebraska and Giant Gear, combines travel, adventure and unique small-town charm and hospitality.

The tour features four Summerland-area sites, including the sidebar, in Clearwater; Corner Hardware & More and the Orchard Historical Society, in Orchard and Royal Bar and Grill, in Royal.

Seven Neligh businesses are listed on the tour’s map, including Sly’s Family Bar & Grill, Neligh Flower Shop, Neligh Mill, Antelope Country Club, Wanek Pharmacy, Antelope County Museum and Lucky Joe’s Liquor.

Other stops are located in Boone, Boyd, Cedar, Dixon, Holt, Knox, Pierce, Rock and Wayne counties.

According to Laurie Larsen, account executive for NCN, “It is important for residents of Nebraska to shop locally and buy locally, so our vibrant communities can emerge from two years of setbacks.

The concept of the tour is simple.

Participants may download a map at https://nenebraskabackroads.com or send a reqeust to [email protected].

Participants will receive a stamp on the map when they visit a participating business.

A purchase is not required; however, additional stamps will be given for each $10 purchased, up to $50.

Travelers who stop at a business outside of business hours may participate by submitting a photo of themselves in front of the business and emailing the photo to the tour’s gmail account. Participants can mark their map with the date of submission.

At the conclusion of the tour, contest submissions will be due to the City of Laurel Economic Development Office by Oct. 15.

A total of $7,450 in prize money will be awarded in multiple categories, including a $1,000 grand prize drawing for visiting all tour locations.

Five prizes will be drawn for visits to all counties and collecting the most stamps and/or selfies at businesses.

Another five winners will receive $250 in a drawing based on most purchases along the route.

Lodging and golf receipts may be emailed for two drawings, one for most night stay-overs and a second for golfing at all eight participating golf courses.

Stops on the tour will also have an opportunity to be named friendliest community, as voted on by participants.

For more information about the tour, visit the Facebook Page, https://www.facebook.com/backroadtourofnortheastnebraska or connect with them on Instagram at nebackroadtour.