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
Day Trip Palooza Wrap-Up: Buffalo, East Aurora & Unexpected Detours
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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 than four rushed ones.
Join me as I recap visits to:
- East Aurora, home of the historic Roycroft Campus and the famous Vidler’s 5 & 10
- Buffalo, where we tackled the great wing debate and visited the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum
- Fairport, a charming Erie Canal town where a last-minute pivot turned into a fun afternoon.
Plus, in this Snack Society Field Report:
- Duff’s vs. Anchor Bar
- The history of Buffalo wings
- Beef on Weck
- Buffalo’s beloved sponge candy
This episode is a reminder that you don’t need a perfect itinerary—or even a full vacation—to discover something new.
You ready? Let’s roam.
In This Episode
- What Day Trip Palooza was and why I created it
- Why some trips happened, and others didn’t
- East Aurora highlights
- Buffalo food and attractions
- Fairport and the Erie Canal
- The value of flexible travel plans
- Why day trips are staying in my travel rotation
Resources
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