Pop Culture Passport - Exploring Quirky & Cool Travel Destinations in the USA
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.
Pop Culture Passport - Exploring Quirky & Cool Travel Destinations in the USA
The Santa Monica Pier and Carousel: Route 66, Movie Magic, and One Very Good Pig
Episode 120
What do a Paris museum, a Route 66 road trip, and a carousel pig have in common? They all showed up in the most unexpected way during a walk along the Santa Monica Pier.
In this episode of Pop Culture Passport, I’m sharing the charming, surprising story behind one of California’s most iconic boardwalk carousels—and why one particular animal stopped me in my tracks.
Here’s what you’ll discover:
- Why the Santa Monica Pier is the unofficial “End of Route 66”
- The surprising warrior roots of carousel rides
- Why some carousels include pigs, lions, and other unusual animals
- Hollywood moments filmed right at the Looff Hippodrome
- What carousels symbolize in movies, musicals, and storytelling
🎠 Whether you’re a roadside attraction fan, a carousel lover, or just someone who appreciates the quirky side of travel, this one’s for you.
You ready? Let’s roam.
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