Pop Culture Passport - Exploring Quirky & Cool Travel Destinations in the USA
Pop Culture Passport is your guide to quirky and cool travel destinations across the USA. Every other week, we explore unique things to do, from movie and TV filming locations and theme parks to roadside attractions, quirky museums, regional foods, and the fascinating stories behind the places you visit.
If you'd happily add 60 minutes to your trip to visit a filming location, the Jell-O Museum, a legendary roadside attraction, or a local spot with an incredible backstory, this podcast is for you.
I'm Beth Schillaci, aka the Roaming Yeti. I'm a travel content creator, pop culture nerd, and firm believer that the best discoveries happen when you layer a little curiosity on top of wherever you're already headed. I call them side quests: the detours, the unexpected stops, the "wait, THAT'S here?" moments that make any trip unforgettable and personal.
Whether you're planning a dedicated trip or looking for the perfect thing to add to somewhere you're already going, a work trip, a family visit, or a drive through a new city, there's always something worth the detour.
Think of this as traveling with your slightly nerdy, sort-of-cool friend who loves deep dives, unexpected discoveries, and finding the story behind the story.
Explore episodes about:
- Movie & TV filming locations
- Quirky museums & unique attractions
- Road trips & roadside attractions
- Theme parks & themed entertainment
- Regional foods, candy history & food tourism
- Day trips & weekend getaways
- Hidden history, origin stories & local legends
- Pop culture travel across the USA
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
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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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