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.
Pop Culture Passport - Exploring Quirky & Cool Travel Destinations in the USA
Day Trip Palooza Wrap-Up: Buffalo, East Aurora & Unexpected Detours
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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 I recap visits to:
- East Aurora, home of the historic Roycroft Campus and the famous Vidler’s 5 & 10
- Buffalo, where we tackled the great wing debate and visited the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum
- Fairport, a charming Erie Canal town where a last-minute pivot turned into a fun afternoon.
Plus, in this Snack Society Field Report:
- Duff’s vs. Anchor Bar
- The history of Buffalo wings
- Beef on Weck
- Buffalo’s beloved sponge candy
This episode is a reminder that you don’t need a perfect itinerary—or even a full vacation—to discover something new.
You ready? Let’s roam.
In This Episode
- What Day Trip Palooza was and why I created it
- Why some trips happened, and others didn’t
- East Aurora highlights
- Buffalo food and attractions
- Fairport and the Erie Canal
- The value of flexible travel plans
- Why day trips are staying in my travel rotation
Resources
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