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

Beth Schillaci - The Roaming Yeti

Pop Culture Passport is your guide to quirky, cool, and nostalgic travel across the U.S.—from movie filming locations and theme parks to roadside attractions and pop culture museums. If you'd happily add 60 minutes to your trip to visit a filming location, the Jell-O Museum, or a roadside diner from your favorite TV show, this podcast is for you. Every other week, I’ll take you behind the scenes of iconic and offbeat destinations, sharing their history, stories, and the fun details. Along the way, we’ll dive into theme parks, explore quirky museums, and uncover the real places behind your favorite movies and shows. I'm Beth Schillaci—aka the Roaming Yeti. I’m a travel content creator, pop culture nerd, and obsessive road trip planner who somehow turns an 8-hour drive into a 21-stop itinerary (because you never know what you’ll find). I’m also the creator of the Quirky & Cool Travel Guide, a curated directory of unique U.S. destinations, and I share even more travel stories and pop culture finds on The Roaming Yeti Blog. Think of this as traveling with your slightly nerdy, sort-of-cool friend who thrives on deep dives, unique finds, and laughter-filled road trips. Grab your Pop Culture Passport—let’s roam.

  1. Quirky & Cool Rochester: Side Quests While Visiting the Finger Lakes

    JAN 9

    Quirky & Cool Rochester: Side Quests While Visiting the Finger Lakes

    Send us a text 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 art galleries, this stop proves you don’t need to travel far to find something extraordinary. In this episode, we’ll cover: House of Guitars & Record Archive: Two legendary music stops with stories (and vinyl) for days.Marge’s Lakeside Inn & The Blind Pig: Dive bars, speakeasies, and cocktails with a side of local lore.Clock of Nations & ArtisanWorks: Nostalgia, reinvention, and immersive creativity in motion.Bonus Sip Stops: Favorite breweries and casual hangouts to round out your Rochester road trip.If you love discovering destinations with heart and history, this episode will have you adding Rochester to your next Western NY adventure. You ready? Let’s roam. Get your free Field Notes Travel & Snack Journal by signing up for the newsletter. Connect with me on social: Facebook or Instagram. Like this episode? Share it in your stories and tag me @the_roaming_yeti Love the show? Leave a 5-star review, and let me know where you'd like us to roam next. Ready for more from The Roaming Yeti now? Visit our website.

    30 min
  2. A Year in Quirky Travel: 5 Standout Moments Beyond LA

    12/26/2025

    A Year in Quirky Travel: 5 Standout Moments Beyond LA

    Send us a text 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 the best way. Plus, I’ll share what’s coming in 2026 — including a big year for the Snack Society, more Pop Culture Passport episodes, and a growing audio tour project that I’m really excited about. In this episode: My Top 5 favorite travel moments outside of LA — including Gettysburg, Rochester, and EPCOTA nostalgic trip to Kings Island, complete with Smurf-blue ice creamMy unofficial Country Bears Easter egg hunt inside a dark rideWhat’s next for the Roaming Yeti Snack Society in 2026You ready? Let’s roam. Links & Resources: Explore Snack Society blog posts. https://theroamingyeti.com/category/journal/snack-society/Sign up for the Roaming Yeti newsletter to get the Snack Society Field Agent Journal in January. https://theroamingyeti.comListen to the Haunted Frederick Ghost Trail podcast. https://theroamingyeti.com/haunted-frederick/Get your free Field Notes Travel & Snack Journal by signing up for the newsletter. Connect with me on social: Facebook or Instagram. Like this episode? Share it in your stories and tag me @the_roaming_yeti Love the show? Leave a 5-star review, and let me know where you'd like us to roam next. Ready for more from The Roaming Yeti now? Visit our website.

    18 min
  3. Nerds, Fun Dip & Stranger Things: Exploring 80s Candy Culture with Jason Liebig

    12/19/2025

    Nerds, Fun Dip & Stranger Things: Exploring 80s Candy Culture with Jason Liebig

    Send us a text 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, Mad Men, The Goldbergs, and more. Together, they dig into the sweet, surprising world of 1980s candy — from iconic favorites like Nerds and Fun Dip to long-lost treats and the stories behind the wrappers. In this episode, you’ll hear: How Jason went from Marvel Comics to building the largest candy-packaging archive in the U.S.Why the 1980s were a groundbreaking decade for candy innovationHow real packaging helps make shows like Stranger Things feel so authenticThe wild evolution of Fun Dip, Pixy Stix, Big League Chew, and moreAn incredible story about a rare Kit Kat wrapper that survived World War IIWhether you grew up in the 80s or just love a good pop culture deep dive, this episode is packed with nostalgic fun and fascinating behind-the-scenes details. You ready? Let’s roam. Follow Jason on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/collectingcandy/ Get your free Field Notes Travel & Snack Journal by signing up for the newsletter. Connect with me on social: Facebook or Instagram. Like this episode? Share it in your stories and tag me @the_roaming_yeti Love the show? Leave a 5-star review, and let me know where you'd like us to roam next. Ready for more from The Roaming Yeti now? Visit our website.

    1h 5m
  4. America’s Santa Theme Parks and Other Christmas Destinations

    12/12/2025

    America’s Santa Theme Parks and Other Christmas Destinations

    Send us a text 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 Pole to the retro reindeer rides of New England, each stop tells a story of nostalgia, creativity, and pure joy. In this episode, you’ll visit: Santa’s Workshop in North Pole, New York — one of the world’s oldest Christmas parksSanta’s Village in Jefferson, New Hampshire — a cheerful, old-school family favoriteNorth Pole: Santa’s Workshop in Colorado — where Christmas meets the RockiesSanta’s Land in Cherokee, North Carolina — part petting zoo, part holiday time capsuleSanta’s Wonderland in Texas — a modern, Texas-sized celebrationHoliday World in Santa Claus, Indiana — America’s very first theme parkNorth Pole, Alaska — where Christmas lights meet the northern lightsWhether you’re a theme park enthusiast or just someone who thinks twinkle lights should be a year-round thing, this episode is your invitation to find a little magic off the beaten path. You ready? Let’s roam. Get your free Field Notes Travel & Snack Journal by signing up for the newsletter. Connect with me on social: Facebook or Instagram. Like this episode? Share it in your stories and tag me @the_roaming_yeti Love the show? Leave a 5-star review, and let me know where you'd like us to roam next. Ready for more from The Roaming Yeti now? Visit our website.

    13 min

Trailer

5
out of 5
29 Ratings

About

Pop Culture Passport is your guide to quirky, cool, and nostalgic travel across the U.S.—from movie filming locations and theme parks to roadside attractions and pop culture museums. If you'd happily add 60 minutes to your trip to visit a filming location, the Jell-O Museum, or a roadside diner from your favorite TV show, this podcast is for you. Every other week, I’ll take you behind the scenes of iconic and offbeat destinations, sharing their history, stories, and the fun details. Along the way, we’ll dive into theme parks, explore quirky museums, and uncover the real places behind your favorite movies and shows. I'm Beth Schillaci—aka the Roaming Yeti. I’m a travel content creator, pop culture nerd, and obsessive road trip planner who somehow turns an 8-hour drive into a 21-stop itinerary (because you never know what you’ll find). I’m also the creator of the Quirky & Cool Travel Guide, a curated directory of unique U.S. destinations, and I share even more travel stories and pop culture finds on The Roaming Yeti Blog. Think of this as traveling with your slightly nerdy, sort-of-cool friend who thrives on deep dives, unique finds, and laughter-filled road trips. Grab your Pop Culture Passport—let’s roam.