American Road Trip Talk

Mount Airy, North Carolina and the famous Mayberry Inn harken back to a simpler time, when CBS’ The Andy Griffith Show brought gentle laughter and wholesomeness to America from 1960-1968. Today, the community is a shrine to the still-popular program and its many memorable characters. Step back in time as Matt Shea, a Mayberry aficionado, reflects on the town’s heritage as chronicled for American R...

Pacific Northwest chronicler Harriet Baskas surveys some of the better-known films and TV shows set in or near the Emerald City. Some have been filmed there entirely while others capitalized on the stunning scenery and urban chic of Seattle to frame memorable dramas and comedies. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-...

Anson Williams, famous for his role as Potsie Weber on Happy Days, keeps faith with the idea that happy days are still “yours and mine” in the here and now. Nostalgia will always have its special place and today, Williams is also passionate about helping highway drivers stay safe by warding off drowsy driving. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https:/...

Frequent “Trip Talk” contributor Erika Nelson is back, this time with lots to share about COVID-safe roadside attractions. Included are Butch Anthony's drive through museum in Alabama; the Enchanted Highway in North Dakota; and Porter Sculputre Park. All are outdoor venues that you can road trip to and through. And hear about those Mardi Gras House Floats! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/p...

St. Joseph is identified by the slogan, "Where the Pony Express started and Jesse James ended." Beth Conway, Communications Director at the local Convention & Visitors Bureau, draws from a trove of historical fact and lore in telling the story of “St. Joe,” voted the top true western town in 2007. The townsfolk continually revel in living up to that award. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.c...

Hickory Corners, Michigan is home to the sprawling Gilmore Car Museum. Within, you can find motorized totems from every avenue of American life, including the TV Highway. Coming in 2021, the return of a Happy Days icon: Fonzie’s 1952 Triumph motorcycle. Hear the obscure story behind the famous bike. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/...

Classic TV actor Hank Garrett joins us for a round of nostalgic talk about his improbable rise from childhood poverty in Harlem to a rewarding life in Hollywood. Mr. Garrett is the only surviving cast member of the still-beloved Car 54, Where Are You? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

The 4077th took up prime time on American television for 11 memorable seasons. The set for the legendary M*A*S*H series also took up some prime real estate in Malibu, California. To think that it all could have gone up in flames! The harrowing story behind the famous finale of a still-beloved TV show is revealed by American Road contributor Jess Winfield. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/pr...

Until 1960’s tales of the macabre “Mothman” scared the dickens out of the locals, Point Pleasant, West Virginia was exactly what you might expect: an historic riverside town with bucolic vistas and friendly people. Today, the town is still small but with an outsized legend and lots of early American lore to attract throngs of visitors every year. Tonya and Joey Madia are Point Pleasant pilgrims wi...

In honor of Elvis Presley’s birthday, Cory Cooper stops by to share his expertise on locations and sets where The King’s feature films were shot. Including settings as diverse as New Orleans, Seattle, Hawaii and Las Vegas, hear the details of where, when and how Elvis made movie magic. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not...

Cars Yeah creator and host Mark Greene has an unquenchable passion for automobile technology and the countless places it can take us. To start 2021, we talk with Mark once again about the array of museums and exhibits that put automotive ingenuity on proud display from coast-to-coast. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-...

Fantasy Lights is a drive-through Christmas light display located just south of Tacoma. It's the largest holiday drive-through event in the Northwest, featuring nearly 300 elaborate displays and thousands of sparkling lights. An eye-popping variety of displays are found around Puget Sound, as detailed by guest Matt Shea. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice...

Edgar Cayce's Association for Research and Enlightenment (A.R.E.) was founded by Edgar Cayce (1877–1945) in 1931 to research and explore a wide variety of spiritual subjects. His headquarters, located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, is still going strong as a center of inquiry and metaphysical tourism. Josie Varga and Kathy Lamm share their appreciation of a unique man and his legacy. See Privacy Pol...

Chances are, that orange beauty you turned into a delicious pie or impressive jack-o’-lantern came from one of three Pumpkin Capitals of America, located in Floydada, Texas, Morton, Illinois or Half Moon Bay, California. Eric Spitznagel joins us to celebrate the most famous of pumpkin patches. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privac...

(Originally aired 2-28-20) Cynthia Schreiner Smith is an actor/writer who was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota where she still lives. Since 1998, she has worked at the Wabasha Street Caves in St. Paul, researching, writing scripts and acting as a guide for their historical tours. Cynthia shares her knowledge of the town's Gangster Era and talks about why the Twin Cities are hardly identical....

The holiday feast dates back to November 1621, when the newly arrived Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians gathered at Plymouth for an autumn harvest celebration, an event regarded as America’s “first Thanksgiving.” History merges with our personal recollections in this episode dedicated to America’s perennial time of gratitude. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy...

The World’s Only Corn Palace is Mitchell’s premier tourist attraction. Some 500,000 tourists come from around the nation each year to see the uniquely designed corn murals. The city’s first Corn Palace was built as a way to prove to the world that South Dakota had a healthy agricultural climate. Today, the Palace is a cultural showpiece of the Prairie with cleverly designed themes. Thanks to cornp...

Tom Yamarone lives in California and has been researching Bigfoot for a long time. He is beloved in the Sasquatch community of believers and seekers. As a balladeer, Tom is sometimes referred to as the Bob Dylan of Bigfoot songs! In this Trip Talk episode, he shares from his comprehensive store of insights and experiences. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Noti...

Harry Thomason is the Hollywood award-winning producer & director best known for the tremendously popular and iconic TV hits Designing Women, Evening Shade and Hearts Afire. His TV Miniseries,The Blue and The Gray won the prestigious People's Choice Award. In his riveting podcast series, The Story You Never Heard, Harry vividly brings to life fascinating moments, intriguing events and thrillin...

Built in 1853 as a company owned logging town, Port Gamble, Washington today is a Victorian vision out of time, a fun getaway with friendly locals and more than its share of resident ghosts. Matt Shea chronicles paranormal activity in the Pacific Northwest; he joins us to share a brief history of the town that once was home to sailors and society folk alike. Apparently some citizens liked it far t...

JoAnne Worley’s instinctive comedic timing and irrepressible laugh make her a favorite of audiences everywhere. Her work runs the gamut from television, movie and stage productions to game shows, talk shows, commercials, cartoons and opera. For more than 40 years she has been involved with the organization Actors and Others for Animals (founded 1971), which funds spay-and-neuter programs, and prov...

Once the proverbial phrase for hunting, now “Sport of Kings” typically is used to exalt the world of thoroughbred horse-racing, although the earliest uses of the expression related to war, as in the days of King Arthur. We talk with Marie D. Jones about the Kentucky Derby, Triple Crown and famous racing venues from coast to coast that have been elevated to shrine status. See Privacy Policy at http...

Erika Nelson is back again with the highlights of her latest foray into the wilds of artistic expression. Being an independent artist and educator, Erika is always up for a new cultural safari as she explores contemporary art forms in the public realm. Next stop: Wisconsin. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-inf...

encore- Erika Nelson is an independent artist and educator, exploring the fringes of art and culture as experienced on the back roads and offbeat roadside attractions that dot the American landscape. Her recent exploration of Tulsa, Oklahoma got her up close and personal with a celebrated statue known as the Golden Driller and other memorable landmarks deep in oil country. See Privacy Policy at ht...

With an explosion of wildfires consuming millions of acres and threatening lives in the Western United States, travelers are forced to reconsider their plans for dreamed-of road trips to the region. Mark Greene of Cars Yeah discusses the enormous impact on residents and visitors alike. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not...