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
America’s Santa Theme Parks and Other Christmas Destinations
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 parks
- Santa’s Village in Jefferson, New Hampshire — a cheerful, old-school family favorite
- North Pole: Santa’s Workshop in Colorado — where Christmas meets the Rockies
- Santa’s Land in Cherokee, North Carolina — part petting zoo, part holiday time capsule
- Santa’s Wonderland in Texas — a modern, Texas-sized celebration
- Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana — America’s very first theme park
- North Pole, Alaska — where Christmas lights meet the northern lights
Whether 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.
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