American Road Trip Talk

The Reviving America’s Scenic Byways Act of 2019 directs the Secretary of Transportation to start the application process for new byways within 90 days and designate a new round of National Scenic Byways within one year. The implications for road travelers across the nation are far-reaching, heralding a resurgence of support for beautiful places off the beaten path. Mark Falzone, President of Scen...

New England is rich in historical significance and cultural influences harkening back to colonial and Revolutionary War days. From Boston, Massachusetts to Acadia National Park in Maine, history blends with some of North America’s most spectacular scenery to entice road trippers from sea to shining sea as Trip Talk host Gary Mantz recently discovered for himself. See Privacy Policy at https://art1...

David L. Scott and Kay W. Scott have spent over thirty summers touring the United States and Canada, including six summers exclusively devoted to the national park lodges. They are experts in planning affordable enjoyment of the U.S. National Park system and the wide variety of lodging options it offers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19...

Author Kim Romaner and her retired husband decided over two years ago to sell their home and most of their possessions to embark on a cross-country RV adventure that continues to this day with stays at famous places like National Parks as well as small towns and roadside attractions that can accommodate their big rig. Kim is an inspiration to those who hope to pursue their own dreams someday by hi...

Manresa Castle in Port Townsend, WA is both a haunted hotspot and a landmark hotel boasting Victorian-era elegance. Several other popular lodgings in the Evergreen State have a ghostly reputation as well, including The Tokeland Hotel in the town of Tokeland. It is the oldest hotel in Washington. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/priv...

Jess Winfield, American Road editor, L.A. based author and screenwriter talks about his feature article “Star Trek Original Movie Locations” in the Summer 2019 issue revealing a gorgeous array of natural settings that filmmakers used in developing the franchise. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Paranormal investigator Marie D. Jones researched the tragic history of numerous American roads and bridges for a chapter in her book, Celebrity Ghosts and Notorious Hauntings. From Hwy. 41 on which James Dean met his untimely (though predicted) demise to infamous bridges where apparitions are frequently spotted, the lure of the haunt compels many of us to seek out spectral scenes as revealed in t...

Tom Cotter has gained a large and loyal following among classic car enthusiasts with his Barn Find Hunter series on YouTube and by forging a career promoting the collection and restoration of these coveted automobiles. He shares experiences and insights gathered during his many Barn Find road trips in this episode. Photo credit Hagerty.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Califo...

Trip Talk recently hosted an interview with the amiable and informative Greg Peerbolte, executive director of the Joliet Area Historical Museum. Enjoy this "Best Of" episode again and listen for news of American Road Magazine's 2019 "Picture Perfect" photography contest. You could win $500! Visit americanroadmagazine.com for details and entry instructions. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/p...

Hidden away like a palace fashioned of magic and artistic genius, Solomon’s Castle in the lush wet wilds of central Florida is Howard Solomon’s dream of paradise. The creator’s daughter and current keeper of the Castle flame, Alane Solomon articulates the vision her father lovingly constructed from 1972 until his death in 2016. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy...

For over a century, Detroit has been established as a major urban and industrial center. Yet the Motor City has a surprisingly large and impressive array of outdoor adventures for locals who are in on the secret and countless visitors who discover and revel in The D’s striking open-air pursuits. Travel writer Amy S. Eckert shares her firsthand knowledge of a hundred exciting venues in and around M...

The nocturnal joys of taking in a movie (or two) at a Drive-In Theatre are still available across North America. We talk with Wes and Brian Neal, owners and operators of The Boulevard in Kansas City, Kansas about the enduring appeal and evolution of the Drive-In Theatre experience in the digital era. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com...

This episode sends you to prison in Joliet but luckily in a good way, with a fascinating survey of local crime and punishment legacy courtesy of Greg Peerbolte, executive director of the Joliet Area Historical Museum. Other attractions along the Heritage Corridor in Illinois also are included. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privac...

Erika Nelson is an independent artist and educator who explores the fringes of art and culture on the back roads and at offbeat roadside attractions that dot the American landscape. Erika travels the USA in a permanently altered Art Car, exhibiting the World's Largest Collection of the World's Smallest Versions of the World's Largest Things. In this episode, Erika offers a survey of quirky Colorad...

American Road Magazine co-founders Thomas Arthur Repp and Becky Repp deliver a preview of our Summer 2019 Issue including a tribute to numerous Drive-In Theaters that still dot the USA with nostalgic pride, now accentuated by modern amenities. And take in the glories of Detroit’s fabled Woodward Avenue, a magnet of the Motor City celebrated in the Spring issue. See Privacy Policy at https://art19....

Meet Erika Nelson, Pretty Smart Cookie and Creator of the World's Largest Collection of the World's Smallest Versions of the World's Largest Things Traveling Roadside Attraction and Museum, trains her visionary eye on quirky attractions of Seattle and environs. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Local historian and preservationist Mary Truitt details the remarkable history of Vandalia, Illinois as a crossroads of 19th Century America, a town rich with Midwest history and a significant location for the study of Abraham Lincoln’s early public life. 2019 is Vandalia’s Bicentennial with lots of celebrations planned, peaking from June 13-16. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and...

Dr. Cori Convertito, Curator of Collections for the Key West Art & Historical Society, presides over a treasure trove from her office at the Custom House, flagship of four renowned museums in town and an interpretive center of local culture brimming with “southernmost” heritage. Cori shares her insights on a wealth of displays celebrating the freewheeling character of a unique American city un...

Anyone who spends time in Key West, Florida will discover as Ernest Hemingway himself did that this four-mile long stretch of paradise gets into your soul and never leaves. Key West Rebecca, a very popular concierge with seemingly unlimited facts and figures at her fingertips, offers history and advice to travelers headed for the southernmost place in the United States. See Privacy Policy at https...

Austin, Minnesota is home to Hormel Foods and the colorfully interactive SPAM Museum that welcomes many thousands of loyal consumers each year to a veritable shrine that celebrates a product introduced to Depression Era families and American soldiers in World War II, thereafter gaining a global reputation as one of the most versatile food items ever. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy...

Veteran travel writer Amy S. Eckert introduces first-time visitors to the Motor City while helping Detroit residents explore their hometown in the full bloom of its cultural rebirth with an engaging and indispensable guide to enjoying all that Detroit has to offer. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Author, artist and photographer Tony Craig details the venerable history of country stores in North Carolina and then with equal passion guides listeners into the highly competitive (and lucrative) culture of duck decoy artistry. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Tom Cotter is a bucket-list “highway and byway” dreamer who envisions extraordinary road trips and then looks for ways to make his dreams come true. Hear his story of traveling the length of the Lincoln Highway in a classic Ford Model T speedster. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

From Troll Hunts to a massive LEGO display this spring and summer, the Morton Arboretum 25 miles from downtown Chicago offers a destination for nature lovers and day-trippers with exercise and environmental education on the brain. Lots to see, do and learn! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

Inspiring Automotive Enthusiasts is the trademark and mantra of Mark Greene whose passion for classic automobiles and the adventures to be had in them can be traced back to his car-crazy boyhood and a surprise visit to the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .