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
151 episodes
East Broad Top Railroad: The Pennsylvania Railroad That Refused to Die
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 ...
Day Trip Palooza Wrap-Up: Buffalo, East Aurora & Unexpected Detours
Episode 150While 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 epis...
Atlantic City, NJ: Much More Than Casinos
Episode 149Did 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 begin...
The Wildwoods, NJ: Much More Than a Beach Town
Episode 148What 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 isla...
Day Trip Palooza: One Home Base, 90 Miles, and a Whole Lot of Curiosity
Episode 147What 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 ...
Kansas City, MO Side Quests: Beyond the BBQ and Jazz
Episode 146Did 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 fu...
What is Cincinnati Chili: Skyline vs. Gold Star and an Official Taste Test
Episode 145Is 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 ...
Seattle Side Quests: Quirky Stops Beyond the Space Needle
Episode 144What 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 curiosi...
Jungle Jim’s International Market in Cincinnati: A Snack Society Playground
Episode 143There 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 Cincin...
From Santa Rosa to St Paul: Peanuts Places You Can Visit
Episode 142Did 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 acros...
Snack Files: The Sweet History of Peeps and a Taste Test
Episode 141Are 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 h...
Beyond the Liberty Bell: Quirky Side Quests Around Philadelphia
Episode 140Philadelphia 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 ...
Snack Society Snack Files - The Surprising History of Hard Candy in America
Episode 139Have 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 A...
From Salem to Hershey: Candy Stores That Feel Like Time Capsules
Episode 138Candy 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...
Snack Society Report: Hanover, PA — Snack Food Capital of the World
Episode 137What 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 ju...
Atlanta Side Quests: Quirky, Pop Culture & Hidden Gems Beyond the World Cup
Episode 136If 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 ...
Snack Society: King Cake, Fat Tuesday & The Foods That Connect Us
Episode 135Did 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...
From Stranger Things to Twin Peaks: Real Towns Behind Your Favorite TV Shows
Episode 134What 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 f...
Where to Eat & Drink in LA: A Snack Society Field Report
Episode 133From 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 tr...
Shop, Snack, and Nerd Out: Pop Culture Stops in LA
Episode 132Ever wonder where to shop or snack like a pop culture nerd in Los Angeles?From iconic comic shops and vintage bookstores to on-screen diners and galactic cantinas, this episode is your guide to the quirky, cool, ...
Quirky & Cool Rochester: Side Quests While Visiting the Finger Lakes
Episode 131Heading to the Finger Lakes, Niagara Falls, or even Buffalo? Don’t skip Rochester — this city’s full of side quests you didn’t know you needed.In this episode, we’re heading to Western New York for a quirky detour throu...
A Year in Quirky Travel: 5 Standout Moments Beyond LA
Episode 130What were your favorite travel moments this year — the unexpected discoveries, weird details, or hidden gems that stuck with you?In this final episode of 2025, I’m taking a look back at some of the quirky and coo...
Nerds, Fun Dip & Stranger Things: Exploring 80s Candy Culture with Jason Liebig
Episode 129What was your go-to candy in the 80s — and why do those flavors and wrappers still feel so nostalgic today?In this episode, Beth sits down with Jason Liebig, one of the country’s top nostalgia experts and ...
America’s Santa Theme Parks and Other Christmas Destinations
Episode 128Did you know there’s an entire trail of Santa-themed parks across the U.S.—some dating back more than 75 years?In this festive episode, I unwrapped a twinkle-lit road trip through America’s Santa Parks — the vintage the...
The Evolution of Disney California Adventure: From WestCOT to Cars Land
Episode 127What happens when Disney builds a brand-new park… and it flops?When Disney California Adventure opened in 2001, critics called it everything from “underwhelming” to “a state fair with better landscaping.” But t...
