American Road Trip Talk

Whether your tastes run to roughing it in the evergreen wild, packing up the RV for a long weekend trip or indulging in the rustic luxury of “glamping,” wintertime in Western Washington is no impediment to all the thrills you can discover on the open road. In this episode, Matt Shea is back with news of several resorts that put you in close touch with nature and offer year-round recreational oppor...

"Throw Me Something, Mister!" This phrase is famous in Bayou country; it is what people say as they get caught up in the Mardi Gras spirit. On this edition of American Road Trip Talk, you’ll learn why this is the perfect time to plan a visit to the land of “lagniappe” and see for yourself why the people, parades and special events in Louisiana's Cajun Bayou are tough to beat. Cody A. Gray, Preside...

This week’s episode features historic Springfield, Illinois and another star turn for Amy Beadle, Marketing Manager of the Springfield Illinois Convention & Visitors Bureau. Tune in or download and hear about events planned for 2025 in the Land of Lincoln. The 63rd International Carillon Festival, held in beautiful Washington Park, will be moving to Memorial Day Weekend this year. Springfield...

Our first episode of 2025 is a tribute to Jimmy Carter, America’s 39th President and beloved citizen of Plains, Georgia. Erika Nelson joins us to share her memories of visiting the church where Mr. Carter taught Sunday School as well as her appreciation for the people in Plains and the diverse modes of living to be found in rural Georgia. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Califor...

Our last episode of 2024 features Mark Greene of Cars Yeah fame with In Memoriam tributes to four car culture legends who passed away this year. Also, we offer a retrospective on Mark’s successful podcasting career as owner and host of Cars Yeah as he slows his roll and hands over the wheel to a new host. Over the past ten and a half years, Mark has talked with over 2,550 Inspiring Automotive Enth...

Cameo Waters, Tourism Director of Jonesborough, Tennessee is our guest this week. Rich in regional history, Jonesborough attracts heritage tourism because of its status as Tennessee's oldest town and its proud architectural tradition, thanks to local historic preservation efforts. Among the landmarks is the Chester Inn, built in 1797, which still stands impressively downtown. Beyond all that, the...

What seemed like good ideas at the time to motor moguls in Detroit and other car capitals sometimes turned out to be star-crossed cars that were so unpopular, they have become infamous legends in their own right. It wasn’t just the Edsel or Yugo either. Many famous brands have suffered in the marketplace as the result of wayward imagination and misbegotten technology. Karl Petry, classic car and a...

In this encore episode, we talk with Destiny Egley, an authority on Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. Open year-round, the city has become a popular resort location, noted for its five hot pools suitable for bathing and featuring a turbulent inner tube run coursing through part of the town. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sel...

Erika Nelson, when she is not gracing the American landscape with her popular art projects, curates the Worlds Largest Collection of the Worlds Smallest Versions of the Worlds Largest Things. “Roadside Yuletide” is a phrase we coined to describe public monuments erected for when ‘Tis the Season. They are seen around the country. Erika shares about several of the best. (encore presentation original...

Seattle and Puget Sound are shaking off the effects of a bomb cyclone, undeterred in their preparations for Thanksgiving weekend and the traditional kickoff of the Christmas holiday season. Matt Shea, a frequent contributor to American Road Trip Talk, stops by with his detailed report on a variety of ceremonies and activities that offer family-friendly options for celebrating the “most wonderful t...

Bodega Bay in California found immortality as the setting for Alfred Hitchcock’s natural horror-thriller, The Birds (1963) and continues to draw cinephiles, Hitchcock fans and curiosity seekers by the thousands more than 60 years later. The seaside village combines laid-back charm with the echoes of its cinematic past and permanent association with Hollywood’s Master of Suspense. Geoffrey Mark gue...

From It Happened One Night to The Grapes of Wrath to Easy Rider to Thelma and Louise, some of the most iconic films ever made celebrate the dynamics of memorable characters taking to the open road. On this edition of American Road Trip Talk, we visit with classic Hollywood expert Geoffrey Mark to get the inside story of movies that took audiences on a vicarious ride to destiny. See Privacy Policy...

Jamie Jensen, seasoned road trip warrior and author of Road Trip USA: Cross-Country Adventures On America’s Two-Lane Highways, is our guest for an exploration of Highway US-2 in Washington state. Listen and learn more about 325 miles of some of the finest scenery the Pacific Northwest has to offer from someone who knows whereof he speaks. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Califor...

For our pre-Halloween episode, author and researcher Joey Madia joins us again; this time with a compilation of spectral thrills straight from the Mother Road! “Supernatural 66” is his term for a paranormal tradition that dots all eight states of Route 66 landscape. Haunted hotels, theatres and museums will be the focus of our interview. Joey is a raconteur so relax, listen and enjoy his recountin...

The RMS Queen Mary turned 90 on September 26th, 2024 and she has never looked more resplendent. Located in Long Beach, California since its purchase by the city in 1967, the legendary vessel is permanently moored as a tourist attraction, hotel, museum and event facility. As our guest Nicole Strickland can attest, the Queen Mary over the decades also has accrued a reputation for being among the mos...

Matt Shea opens the creaky gates of Halloween Road Thrills in the Pacific Northwest! Everything from scary to fun for both kids to adults, he won't trick you into anything so you can treat yourself to some spooky Halloween excitement. These are the places you want to hit the road to in your Boo-ick or whatever you are driving! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy...

Fall is among us, which means many of the green trees over the summer are now turning to their Autumn colors as Summer ends. New York Vinnie has been on more road trips across the country than he can count, and he shares his experiences on where and what makes the best road trip adventures during the Fall season in Washington State and other parts of the country. He also provides the information y...

In this edition of American Road Trip Talk, we pay a visit to the Totem Pole Trading Post in Rolla, Missouri before it closes its doors on September 30. Since its grand opening in 1933 and opening the current store in 1977 from what used to be a Shell gas station, the Totem Pole Trading Post stocks its shelves with handcrafted gifts and merchandise that represent the image of Route 66. The owner o...

Brian Gushue is a man who has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and needs a wheelchair for his mobility. Despite his disability, Brian didn't let that hold him down and began taking road trips to the nation's NFL stadiums. He set a goal to attend 500 games and has quickly exceeded that goal. Find out more about his inspirational travel adventures in and between the stadiums as he joins us for thi...

While the Big Leaguers are busy rounding the bases, we’ll be rounding the MLB ballparks in road trips designed just for baseball fans. From New York to Los Angeles and everything in between, Timothy Malcolm takes plots out routes that makes the most out of every mile and keep everything easy for your planning needs in his book, “Baseball Road Trips: The Complete Guide to All the Ballparks, with Be...

A great road trip doesn’t have to be done entirely by automobile. In fact, some of the best views can only be witnessed by parking your vehicle along the scenic drives and stepping foot where your vehicle can’t go to make it to the best possible viewpoints. Today it is a ride along Michigan's famous Route M22 with outdoor writer Jim DuFresne author of "Trails of M22". One of America's great drives...

Our guest for this episode is Amy Beadle, Marketing Manager of the Springfield Illinois Convention & Visitors Bureau. She has exciting news to share about the upcoming 23rd Annual International Route 66 Mother Road Festival. With a plethora of activities and venues to offer, this is one of the signature events celebrated every year in the Land of Lincoln. When putting Route 66 on glorious disp...

This week on American Road Trip Talk, meet New York Vinnie, filling in for Gary Mantz as he takes some time away from the show. In this edition, he chats with automotive adventurer Jeff Zurschmeide who took a road trip through America's Last Frontier in Alaska. It's much different than taking a road trip within the continental United States, and is an experience that should not be missed! See Priv...

In this episode, artist and frequent contributor Erika Nelson shares her deep appreciation of Art Cars. An art car is a vehicle that has had its appearance modified as an act of personal artistic expression. Among the highlights of our interview: Houston's Art Car Parade, Seattle’s art car inclusion in the Fremont Fair/Solstice event, Art Car World in Douglas, Arizona and Minnesota's passionate gr...

47 years ago, Elvis Presley passed into history. The King of Rock and Roll “left the building” at the age of 42. Today, we remember his too-short life and celebrate his incredible legacy with Cory Cooper, widely regarded Elvis expert. In addition to Graceland and Tupelo, where else can fans of The King visit to pay homage? Cory has select recommendations to offer. See Privacy Policy at https://art...