Pop Culture Passport - Exploring Quirky & Cool Travel Destinations in the USA

Send us Fan Mail 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...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 149 Did you know Atlantic City has over 100 murals telling the stories of its soul, and most visitors walk right past them? Atlantic City is one of America's most recognized destinations, but for most people, the story begins and ends with the casinos and the boardwalk. In this episode, I sit down with Kiara Davis, Tourism and Community Affairs Manager for Visit Atlan...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 148 What if the beach town you thought you knew was actually the birthplace of rock and roll? The Wildwoods, New Jersey, have been a Jersey Shore staple for generations, but there's so much more to this five-mile island than boardwalk rides and saltwater taffy. In this episode, I sit down with Ben Rose, Director of Marketing and PR for the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Au...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 147 What if the best adventures were hiding within 90 miles of home? This summer, we're trading airports and hotels for day trips, road snacks, and coming home to our own beds every night. Welcome to Day Trip Palooza — a summer series built around one home base, a 90-mile radius, and a whole lot of curiosity about what's been waiting right in our own backyard. In...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 146 Did you know there's an entire city humming along beneath the streets of Kansas City? Kansas City has a well-earned reputation for barbecue, jazz, and the Chiefs. But scratch the surface, and you'll find a city full of stories that don't make the highlight reel. In this episode, we honor the classics and then go exploring, from a steamboat buried under a...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 145 Is Cincinnati chili really chili… or is it something completely different? In this Snack Society episode, we dive into the history, controversy, and flavor profile of Cincinnati chili, the Greek-inspired meat sauce that divides an entire region. From Skyline to Gold Star to the lesser-known Worthmore, we conduct an official taste test and unpack how this unexpected dis...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 144 What happens when you wander just a little off the main path in Seattle? Seattle is famous for coffee, the Space Needle, and grunge music, but the real magic of the Emerald City shows up when you lean into curiosity. In this episode, we explore the quirky landmarks, pop culture filming locations, and creative spaces that make Seattle a city that rewards side quests. In...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 143 There are many things people prioritize when visiting a new city, such as landmarks, restaurants, and museums. Me? I like to find the grocery store. And my favorite one so far? Jungle Jim’s International Market in Cincinnati. What started as a roadside produce stand in the 1970s has grown into a 200,000-square-foot international food playground complete with animatroni...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 142 Did you know there are real places across the United States where the world of Peanuts comes to life? From the California hometown where Charles Schulz created the comic strip to a few surprising side quests across the country, this episode explores destinations where Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the rest of the Peanuts gang still leave their mark. In this episode of Pop...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 141 Are Peeps a nostalgic springtime favorite… or just sugary packing peanuts? In this episode of Snack Society Snack Files, we’re diving into the surprisingly strange history of one of Easter’s most divisive treats. From hand-piped marshmallow chicks in Pennsylvania to scientific experiments, pop culture chaos, and our own Spring Break taste test, Peeps have a much bigger...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 140 Philadelphia is famous for its rich history, Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and its role as the birthplace of the United States. But the Greater Philadelphia area also tells another story: one about the people who decided that culture, fandom, and everyday memories were worth saving. In this episode of Pop Culture Passport , we explore quirky and fascinating side...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 139 Have you ever unwrapped a piece of hard candy and suddenly felt eight years old again? In this week’s Snack Society: Snack Files episode, we’re diving into the surprisingly deep history of hard candy, from early American port cities to mid-century candy dishes and the iconic sweets that quietly shaped our memories. In this episode, we explore: Gibraltar candy and early...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 138 Candy stores aren’t just about sugar. They’re about memory, place, and tradition. In this episode of Pop Culture Passport , we’re traveling across the country to explore some of America’s most iconic candy stores, from one of the oldest candy companies in the country to neighborhood nostalgia archives and full-scale candy destinations. In this episode, we explore: The...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 137 What happens when a small Pennsylvania town becomes one of the biggest snack producers in America? In this Snack Society Report, we head to Hanover, Pennsylvania — a place where pretzels and potato chips aren’t just snacks… they’re part of the town’s identity. In This Episode How Hanover became the Snack Food Capital of the World The history of Utz Quality Foods and Sn...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 136 If you’re traveling to Atlanta for the World Cup… will you only see the stadium version of the city, or will you side quest into the places locals actually love? Atlanta is getting ready to welcome the world, and yes, the stadium energy is going to be incredible. But some of the most memorable parts of this city live outside the official fan zones. While researching th...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 135 Did you grow up with King Cake… or was Fat Tuesday pancakes-for-dinner night? In this Snack Society episode, we’re opening both the Snack Files and the Test Kitchen to explore the foods Americans eat on the day before Lent — whether you call it Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, or Shrove Tuesday. From Louisiana bakery culture to Pennsylvania Dutch kitchen traditions, this episo...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 134 What if you could actually visit Hawkins, Dunder Mifflin, or the Double R Diner? In this episode of Pop Culture Passport , we’re taking you on a TV pilgrimage to the real-life towns behind some of your favorite fictional places. From the brick-lined square that doubled as Hawkins, Indiana, to the shadowy forests of Twin Peaks, these locations aren’t just filming sites...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 133 From English toffee at the Original Farmers Market to the best smash burger I’ve ever had, this Snack Society field report is a highlight reel of food and drink stops in LA that have us still talking. These are the spots we tried and loved during our LA trip—unexpected gems, neighborhood favorites, and breweries with serious food game. What You’ll Hear in This Episode:...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 132 Ever wonder where to shop or snack like a pop culture nerd in Los Angeles? From iconic comic shops and vintage bookstores to on-screen diners and galactic cantinas, this episode is your guide to the quirky, cool, and cinematic side of LA, one bite and book at a time. In this episode, I share: The bookstores and record shops where Hollywood history lives on Where to sho...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 131 Heading to the Finger Lakes, Niagara Falls, or even Buffalo? Don’t skip Rochester — this city’s full of side quests you didn’t know you needed. In this episode, we’re heading to Western New York for a quirky detour through Rochester — a city that’s quietly cool, full of history, and packed with creative surprises. From legendary guitar stores and speakeasies to living...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 130 What were your favorite travel moments this year — the unexpected discoveries, weird details, or hidden gems that stuck with you? In this final episode of 2025, I’m taking a look back at some of the quirky and cool destinations that weren’t in Los Angeles (shocking, I know). From ghost stories and blue ice cream to offbeat art museums, these moments stuck with me in th...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 129 What was your go-to candy in the 80s — and why do those flavors and wrappers still feel so nostalgic today? In this episode, Beth sits down with Jason Liebig , one of the country’s top nostalgia experts and the self-described Indiana Jones of snacks. Jason is a brand historian, packaging archivist, and behind-the-scenes consultant for hit shows like Stranger Things , M...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 128 Did you know there’s an entire trail of Santa-themed parks across the U.S.—some dating back more than 75 years? In this festive episode, I unwrapped a twinkle-lit road trip through America’s Santa Parks — the vintage theme parks, roadside attractions, and holiday wonderlands that keep the Christmas spirit alive all year long. From the snowy streets of Alaska’s North Po...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 127 What happens when Disney builds a brand-new park… and it flops? When Disney California Adventure opened in 2001, critics called it everything from “underwhelming” to “a state fair with better landscaping.” But two decades later, it’s one of Disney’s most beloved parks — home to Cars Land, World of Color, and Avengers Campus. In this episode, I’m tracing the park’s incr...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 126 Ever walked into a hotel lobby and felt a strange sense of déjà vu? Maybe it’s the chandeliers, the marble floors… or the feeling you’ve seen this place before, like in a movie, a show, or even a Taylor Swift video. In Los Angeles, some hotels don’t just host guests, they host entire worlds. In this week’s episode, we check into some of LA’s most cinematic hotels to un...