Author and anthropologist Julie Tate-Libby knows a thing or two about the Methow Valley.

She spent her childhood visiting the region. She fell in love with the outdoor spaces and was delighted when her family moved to the Methow during her adolescence.

She’s seen several waves of newcomers to the area and watched the region change over the years.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she examined the cultural shifts through a series of essays, both as an anthropologist and a longtime Methow Valley resident.

SPR’s Owen Henderson sat down with Tate-Libby to talk about her new book, “The Next Best Place.” 20250807_Inland Journal_Methow history_online.mp3 Listen • 12:12

This interview was edited for clarity and brevity.

OH: In the introduction, you write that the book is a love letter

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