Pop Culture Passport - Exploring Quirky & Cool Travel Destinations in the USA
Pop Culture Passport is your guide to quirky and cool travel destinations across the USA. Every other week, we explore unique things to do, from movie and TV filming locations and theme parks to roadside attractions, quirky museums, regional foods, and the fascinating stories behind the places you visit. If you'd happily add 60 minutes to your trip to visit a filming location, the Jell-O Museum, a legendary roadside attraction, or a local spot with an incredible backstory, this podcast is for you. I'm Beth Schillaci, aka the Roaming Yeti. I'm a travel content creator, pop culture nerd, and firm believer that the best discoveries happen when you layer a little curiosity on top of wherever you're already headed. I call them side quests: the detours, the unexpected stops, the "wait, THAT'S here?" moments that make any trip unforgettable and personal. Whether you're planning a dedicated trip or looking for the perfect thing to add to somewhere you're already going, a work trip, a family visit, or a drive through a new city, there's always something worth the detour. Think of this as traveling with your slightly nerdy, sort-of-cool friend who loves deep dives, unexpected discoveries, and finding the story behind the story. Explore episodes about: Movie & TV filming locations Quirky museums & unique attractions Road trips & roadside attractions Theme parks & themed entertainment Regional foods, candy history & food tourism Day trips & weekend getaways Hidden history, origin stories & local legends Pop culture travel across the USA Grab your Pop Culture Passport — let's roam.
Episodes
Episode 152
What if the best baseball experience in America isn't at a Major League stadium?
In this episode, we make the case for Minor League Baseball as the ultimate side quest, the affordable, community-driven, glorious alternative to the big leagues that most travelers completely overlook.
We start with a personal story: the night the Rochester Red Wings played as the Rochester Plates, a nod to Rochester's most fa...
A scrap dealer buys a railroad. The engines start to cry. And he makes them a promise he keeps for the rest of his life.
That's just one of the extraordinary stories inside today's episode, and it only scratches the surface of what makes the East Broad Top Railroad one of the most remarkable places in America.
In this episode, I sit down with Andrew Greene, Director of Sales and a qualified brakeman at the East Broad ...
Episode 150
While spending two and a half weeks in Western New York, I set out to complete what I called Day Trip Palooza: four day trips within 90 miles of our home base.
Did it go according to plan? Not exactly.
In this episode, I’m sharing what happened when weather, holiday hours, work schedules, and real life got in the way, and why two great day trips turned out to be better than four rushed ones.
Join me as...
Episode 149
Did you know Atlantic City has over 100 murals telling the stories of its soul, and most visitors walk right past them?
Atlantic City is one of America's most recognized destinations, but for most people, the story begins and ends with the casinos and the boardwalk. In this episode, I sit down with Kiara Davis, Tourism and Community Affairs Manager for Visit Atlantic City and proud Atlantic City native, to...
Episode 148
What if the beach town you thought you knew was actually the birthplace of rock and roll?
The Wildwoods, New Jersey, have been a Jersey Shore staple for generations, but there's so much more to this five-mile island than boardwalk rides and saltwater taffy. In this episode, I sit down with Ben Rose, Director of Marketing and PR for the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Authority, to uncover the layers of history, ...
Episode 147
What if the best adventures were hiding within 90 miles of home?
This summer, we're trading airports and hotels for day trips, road snacks, and coming home to our own beds every night. Welcome to Day Trip Palooza — a summer series built around one home base, a 90-mile radius, and a whole lot of curiosity about what's been waiting right in our own backyard.
In this episode, you'll discover:
- What Day...
Episode 146
Did you know there's an entire city humming along beneath the streets of Kansas City?
Kansas City has a well-earned reputation for barbecue, jazz, and the Chiefs. But scratch the surface, and you'll find a city full of stories that don't make the highlight reel. In this episode, we honor the classics and then go exploring, from a steamboat buried under a cornfield for over a hundred years to an underground...
Episode 145
Is Cincinnati chili really chili… or is it something completely different?
In this Snack Society episode, we dive into the history, controversy, and flavor profile of Cincinnati chili, the Greek-inspired meat sauce that divides an entire region. From Skyline to Gold Star to the lesser-known Worthmore, we conduct an official taste test and unpack how this unexpected dish became a city icon.
In This Ep...
Episode 144
What happens when you wander just a little off the main path in Seattle?
Seattle is famous for coffee, the Space Needle, and grunge music, but the real magic of the Emerald City shows up when you lean into curiosity. In this episode, we explore the quirky landmarks, pop culture filming locations, and creative spaces that make Seattle a city that rewards side quests.
In this episode, we’ll cover:
- Ho...
Episode 143
There are many things people prioritize when visiting a new city, such as landmarks, restaurants, and museums. Me? I like to find the grocery store.
And my favorite one so far? Jungle Jim’s International Market in Cincinnati.
What started as a roadside produce stand in the 1970s has grown into a 200,000-square-foot international food playground complete with animatronics, a fire truck in the hot sauce...
Episode 142
Did you know there are real places across the United States where the world of Peanuts comes to life?
From the California hometown where Charles Schulz created the comic strip to a few surprising side quests across the country, this episode explores destinations where Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the rest of the Peanuts gang still leave their mark.
In this episode of Pop Culture Passport, we’re followin...
Episode 141
Are Peeps a nostalgic springtime favorite… or just sugary packing peanuts? In this episode of Snack Society Snack Files, we’re diving into the surprisingly strange history of one of Easter’s most divisive treats. From hand-piped marshmallow chicks in Pennsylvania to scientific experiments, pop culture chaos, and our own Spring Break taste test, Peeps have a much bigger story than you mi...
Episode 140
Philadelphia is famous for its rich history, Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and its role as the birthplace of the United States.
But the Greater Philadelphia area also tells another story: one about the people who decided that culture, fandom, and everyday memories were worth saving.
In this episode of Pop Culture Passport, we explore quirky and fascinating side quests across the Philly region —...
Episode 139
Have you ever unwrapped a piece of hard candy and suddenly felt eight years old again?
In this week’s Snack Society: Snack Files episode, we’re diving into the surprisingly deep history of hard candy, from early American port cities to mid-century candy dishes and the iconic sweets that quietly shaped our memories.
In this episode, we explore:
- Gibraltar candy and early American sugar craft
- Roc...
Episode 138
Candy stores aren’t just about sugar. They’re about memory, place, and tradition.
In this episode of Pop Culture Passport, we’re traveling across the country to explore some of America’s most iconic candy stores, from one of the oldest candy companies in the country to neighborhood nostalgia archives and full-scale candy destinations.
In this episode, we explore:
- The maritime root...
Episode 137
What happens when a small Pennsylvania town becomes one of the biggest snack producers in America?
In this Snack Society Report, we head to Hanover, Pennsylvania — a place where pretzels and potato chips aren’t just snacks… they’re part of the town’s identity.
In This Episode
- How Hanover became the Snack Food Capital of the World
- The history of Utz Quality Foods and ...
Episode 136
If you’re traveling to Atlanta for the World Cup… will you only see the stadium version of the city, or will you side quest into the places locals actually love?
Atlanta is getting ready to welcome the world, and yes, the stadium energy is going to be incredible. But some of the most memorable parts of this city live outside the official fan zones.
While researching this episode, I kept coming ...
Episode 135
Did you grow up with King Cake… or was Fat Tuesday pancakes-for-dinner night?
In this Snack Society episode, we’re opening both the Snack Files and the Test Kitchen to explore the foods Americans eat on the day before Lent — whether you call it Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday.
From Louisiana bakery culture to Pennsylvania Dutch kitchen traditions, this episode looks at how food...
Episode 134
What if you could actually visit Hawkins, Dunder Mifflin, or the Double R Diner?
In this episode of Pop Culture Passport, we’re taking you on a TV pilgrimage to the real-life towns behind some of your favorite fictional places. From the brick-lined square that doubled as Hawkins, Indiana, to the shadowy forests of Twin Peaks, these locations aren’t just filming sites; they’re places you c...
Episode 133
From English toffee at the Original Farmers Market to the best smash burger I’ve ever had, this Snack Society field report is a highlight reel of food and drink stops in LA that have us still talking. These are the spots we tried and loved during our LA trip—unexpected gems, neighborhood favorites, and breweries with serious food game.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
- Where to find me...
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