Backyard Road Trips

Well, kids, it's finally here. Zack has never eaten a McDonald's or Wendy's hamburger. Jim puts him up to the challenge. He samples burgers from McDonald's, Wendy's, and Burger King and guesses which is which based on look and taste. While chewing, Zack inquires about Jim's dietary habits and what foods he eats and tells about his adventures acquiring the burgers. 

Zack and Jim step out of their beverage element with a stop at a tea room. They interview Missy Sullivan of the Victoria Grace Tea Room which is located inside the Primitive Crow in Bozrah, CT. This episode is recorded on-site inside the tea room. They chat about the evolution of the tea room, what is offered for an afternoon tea, the origins of the tea they serve, and plenty of "tea" puns!  

Zack and Jim talk about all things travel with Linda Orlomoski, better known as The Distracted Wanderer. Linda is an avid explorer on both the global and local levels. She writes detailed accounts of her experiences on her blog, The Distracted Wanderer as well as for publications including Norwich Magazine and the Norwich Bulletin newspaper. They chat about favorite places to travel internationall...

Jim and Zack talk with Matt Woodward, creator, and hiker extraordinaire at ExploreCT.org. Matt discusses what led him to create his website, how he finds new hikes, and his most memorable hikes. For more information about Matt and ExploreCT, please visit, www.exploreCT.org, the most detailed resource for hikes in Connecticut. 

We've come full circle as Zack and Jim tackle post-Covid travel plans. They discuss travel differences in recent states they have visited including Arizona, Tennessee, and Vermont as well as their home states of Massachusetts and Connecticut respectively. What are your summer travel plans? 

Even though it's only June, it's starting to feel like October in the Backyard Road Trips studio! Jim and Zack chat with Brandi from DOA Supernatural. They discuss hauntings going on at the Primitive Crow antique shop in Bozrah, Connecticut. She also shares other paranormal tales from her childhood to the present day. 

This podcast is making me hungry! Zack and Jim talk about their favorite meals. Zack gives an overview of a recent blog series on the Backyard Road Trips website about restaurants and they share restaurants that they would drive hours for. Listen for all the Sly Stallone references!

We're back!! After a few months of travel restrictions and coronavirus Jim and Zack are at it again. For the first episode of the new season, they catch up on what they've missed since the first of the year. They talk hikes, food, future travel and beer. Witness the Miracle Berry, as they sample sour beer before and after trying the Miracle Berry. The results are astonishing! 

Whoa! The sun has gone down and Backyard Road Trips is turning out the lights. For this "after dark" episode we're looking at scandals, mayhem, pandemonium! Or Jim and Zack are at it again but this time they are discussing merry mishaps that they've encountered in their past. From driving a car into a movie theater to swiping lobsters this episode will have you rolling in the aisles. And we're hap...

Well, Zack and Jim are drinking again but this time it is soda! Jim gets to sample three colas blindly and is surprised by the results. They discuss the state of the craft soda industry and why soda is considered a dirty word. They mention their favorite local brands such as Simpson Spring and Hosmer Mountain. 

Well, guys, it's winter. In New England, it can get pretty bleak. Have no fear though, Backyard Road Trips is here! Jim and Zack talk about what winter trips they have planned and how they plan to spend the hibernation months. They also discuss hobbies that they like to partake in during the winter as well as Christopher Cross, Sam Adams mixed packs, and visiting the zoo. 

Welcome to the world of homemade mead making! Jim discusses the mead making process. Zack and Jim sample a few types of mead and Zack shares his mediocre home brew experience. Finally, they sample whiskey and talk about adventures in fatherhood.

Happy Holidays! Jim and Zack share their favorite holiday traditions. Of course, this isn't just Christmas cookies and egg nog, the duo details their favorite personal holiday traditions. From Zack putting up a beer can tree to Jim's unusual Christmas tree disposal method, the pair share what the season has in store. 

Jim and Zack catch up with one another after a few weeks away from the recording studio. Proud new papa, Jim talks with Zack about how life has changed since the birth of his son. Zack discusses his new book, A History Lover's Guide to the South Shore, recent articles he's written on the Backyard Road Trips website, and favorite meals he's had. Finally, they banter about seasonal craft beer and fa...

Zack and Jim interview Drew Burnett, founder of Drew's Honeybees. Drew's Honeybees is a natural, organic skincare company based out of Norwich, CT. The company specializes in lip and body balms that are environmentally friendly and whose proceeds go to honeybee conservation. Drew chats with us about his products, what you can do to protect the honeybees, and his favorite backyard road trips. Drew...

Halloween is almost here! Zack and Jim share with you some of their favorite oddities and spooky things. Zack details stories from his collections of folklore, Connecticut Lore . From ghosts of Norwichtown to the last wolf in Connecticut, the stories they share are slightly scary but mostly entertaining. 

Jim and Zack blindly taste seven pumpkin beers. Special guest, Jackie Lamothe helps moderate and adds her two cents. The beers tasted include; Shovel Town, Southern Tier, Samuel Adams, Spencer Trappist, Blue Point, Two Roads, and Shipyard. Can you guess which beer tops our list? And then Zack lists ten beers inspired by Michael McDonald songs. 

Zack and Jim discuss how COVID has impacted their travel plans this summer. Jim describes how he adapted his trips to the White Mountains and the Adirondacks. Zack elaborates on how he has made the best of living in Plymouth, MA this summer. They both share with us their favorite craft beers from the last few months. The Q & A session involves places that were not what they expected and the best (...

Welcome to Backyard Road Trips! Backyard Road Trips has been a website exploring all things in our own backyards (literal and figurative) for two years. Now we've expanded to a podcast too! In Episode 1, Zack and Jim discuss the origins of Backyard Road Trips. Jim talks about his favorite hikes in Connecticut (as well as some of his least favorite). Zack describes backyard road tripping as a kid t...