Pigeon River: A Natural Wonder is Back from the Brink
Posted on 05/19/2025
In late September of 2024, Hurricane Helene struck, reaching Category 4 intensity in the Big Bend region of Florida and making landfall as a Category 4 storm. As it moved[…]
Tony from Jersey on How to Avoid the Road Trip from Hell
Posted on 05/12/2025
Tony Clemente aka Tony from Jersey has worked on all manner of cars for decades. His word is his bond and his skill is legendary. Ask the legions of drivers[…]
The Comeback Trail: Appalachia After Helene
Posted on 05/05/2025
Hurricane Helene severely impacted the Appalachian Trail, requiring extensive efforts to clear downed trees, repair infrastructure, and restore impacted areas. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), along with partner organizations like[…]
Before Nevada Was the Battle-Born State: the Story of the Pony Express
Posted on 04/28/2025
The Pony Express was a fast mail service operating from 1860 to 1861 that used relays of horse-mounted riders to deliver mail between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California in[…]
Iconic Rides at The Hollywood Museum
Posted on 04/21/2025
In this edition, we feature a new exhibit at The Hollywood Museum. Iconic Rides: A Drive Through Time brings the past forward with famous cars that were like family friends[…]
Mark Greene and Ginger Baker Rust on American Car Culture
Posted on 04/14/2025
In this episode, we visit with Mark Greene, Founder of the Cars Yeah podcast and first-time guest Ginger Baker Rust who has succeeded him as host. You’ve heard Mark on[…]
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival 2025
Posted on 04/07/2025
The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival 2025 is underway in Washington state and frequent contributor Matt Shea joins us for his annual survey of the venues and activities that have made[…]
Springfield, Illinois: Preserving History and Making History
Posted on 03/31/2025
Amy Beadle, Marketing and Advertising Manager for Visit Springfield, returns with news of upcoming events that demonstrate why the Illinois Capital city is where “History Comes Alive.” The 63rd Annual[…]
What is Old is New Again: Reimagined Classics
Posted on 03/24/2025
An emerging trend in the car collector world features vehicles reimagined by builders who bring famous marques into the 21st century including Mustang, Camaro, Shelby Cobra, Porsche 911, Broncos, Toyota[…]
APRIL FOOLS-A-PALOOZA in Lucas, KS
Posted on 03/17/2025
Lucas, Kansas is preparing to host APRIL FOOLS-A-PALOOZA, a vibrant local art festival, where the town’s artists and organizations come together to showcase their work. This event is held annually[…]
100 Things to Do on Mackinac Island
Posted on 03/10/2025
Take a ferry ride back in time to Michigan’s Mackinac Island, the car-free destination in the Straits of Mackinac where the Great Lakes Huron and Michigan meet. Here, the streets[…]
Route 66: Neon Nights and Mother Road Monuments
Posted on 03/03/2025
Route 66 was decommissioned in 1985 after being replaced by the interstate highway system. Nevertheless, The Main Street of America’s hold on several generations of road-trippers, including people not yet[…]
Where Did They Go? Legendary Cars Gone Missing
Posted on 02/24/2025
Famous cars owned (or driven) by famous people: how could they disappear? An aura of mystery shrouds the fate of some legendary autos; all with a unique story to tell[…]
Valentine’s Day 2025 (Part II) Love is All Around
Posted on 02/20/2025
For Valentine’s Day, we include a bonus episode for your enjoyment. Suzanne Mitchell joins us as co-host, having discovered towns whose name says it all. Then we acknowledge the Commonwealth[…]
Looking for Love in All the Right Places
Posted on 02/17/2025
On Valentine’s Day, we turn to our friend and regular contributor Matt Shea for examples of romantic artistic creations to be found at various locations around America. They offer proof[…]
When I Love Lucy Hit the Road
Posted on 02/10/2025
“California, Here We Come!” The Ricardos and Mertzes began their cross-country drive to the Golden State on the January 10, 1955 episode of I Love Lucy. What could possibly go[…]
What Mechanics Know: Meet Tony From Jersey
Posted on 02/03/2025
This week, we tackle the topic of how to form a mutually trusting relationship with your auto mechanic. Tony Clemente, owner of Silver Lake Auto Service in Belleville, New Jersey[…]
Winter Fun in the Wilds of Western Washington
Posted on 01/27/2025
Whether your tastes run to roughing it in the evergreen wild, packing up the RV for a long weekend trip or indulging in the rustic luxury of “glamping,” wintertime in[…]
Making Ready for Mardi Gras 2025 in Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou
Posted on 01/20/2025
“Throw Me Something, Mister!” This phrase is famous in Bayou country; it is what people say as they get caught up in the Mardi Gras spirit. On this edition of[…]
Springfield, Illinois
Posted on 01/13/2025
This week’s episode features historic Springfield, Illinois and another star turn for Amy Beadle, Marketing Manager of the Springfield Illinois Convention & Visitors Bureau. Tune in or download and hear[…]
President Jimmy Carter: Citizen of Plains, GA
Posted on 01/07/2025
Our first episode of 2025 is a tribute to Jimmy Carter, America’s 39th President and beloved citizen of Plains, Georgia. Erika Nelson joins us to share her memories of visiting[…]
In Memoriam Tributes and Cars Yeah Memories with Mark Greene
Posted on 01/02/2025
Our last episode of 2024 features Mark Greene of Cars Yeah fame with In Memoriam tributes to four car culture legends who passed away this year. Also, we offer a[…]
Stories Galore in Jonesborough, Tennessee
Posted on 12/23/2024
Cameo Waters, Tourism Director of Jonesborough, Tennessee is our guest this week. Rich in regional history, Jonesborough attracts heritage tourism because of its status as Tennessee’s oldest town and its[…]
Yikes! Some of the Worst Cars EVER Made
Posted on 12/16/2024
What seemed like good ideas at the time to motor moguls in Detroit and other car capitals sometimes turned out to be star-crossed cars that were so unpopular, they have[…]
Year-round Splendor in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho
Posted on 12/09/2024
In this encore episode, we talk with Destiny Egley, an authority on Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. Open year-round, the city has become a popular resort location, noted for its five[…]
Roadside Yuletide with Erika Nelson (encore)
Posted on 12/02/2024
Erika Nelson, when she is not gracing the American landscape with her popular art projects, curates the Worlds Largest Collection of the Worlds Smallest Versions of the Worlds Largest Things.[…]
Welcoming the Holidays in Seattle and the Sound
Posted on 11/25/2024
Seattle and Puget Sound are shaking off the effects of a bomb cyclone, undeterred in their preparations for Thanksgiving weekend and the traditional kickoff of the Christmas holiday season. Matt[…]
Hitchcock, The Birds and Bodega Bay
Posted on 11/18/2024
Bodega Bay in California found immortality as the setting for Alfred Hitchcock’s natural horror-thriller, The Birds (1963) and continues to draw cinephiles, Hitchcock fans and curiosity seekers by the thousands[…]
Classic Road Trip Movies with Geoffrey Mark
Posted on 11/11/2024
From It Happened One Night to The Grapes of Wrath to Easy Rider to Thelma and Louise, some of the most iconic films ever made celebrate the dynamics of memorable[…]
Highway US-2: A Washington Wonderland
Posted on 11/04/2024
Jamie Jensen, seasoned road trip warrior and author of Road Trip USA: Cross-Country Adventures On America’s Two-Lane Highways, is our guest for an exploration of Highway US-2 in Washington state.[…]
Seeking Out the Lively Spirits of Route 66
Posted on 10/29/2024
For our pre-Halloween episode, author and researcher Joey Madia joins us again; this time with a compilation of spectral thrills straight from the Mother Road! “Supernatural 66” is his term[…]
Queen Mary: Still Magnificent (and Haunted) at 90
Posted on 10/21/2024
The RMS Queen Mary turned 90 on September 26th, 2024 and she has never looked more resplendent. Located in Long Beach, California since its purchase by the city in 1967,[…]
Red, Yellow, and Orange in the Red, White, and Blue
Posted on 10/15/2024
Fall is among us, which means many of the green trees over the summer are now turning to their Autumn colors as Summer ends. New York Vinnie has been on[…]
Totem Pole Trading Post in Rolla, MO
Posted on 10/09/2024
In this edition of American Road Trip Talk, we pay a visit to the Totem Pole Trading Post in Rolla, Missouri before it closes its doors on September 30. Since[…]
Rounding the Stadiums in a Baseball Road Trip
Posted on 09/16/2024
While the Big Leaguers are busy rounding the bases, we’ll be rounding the MLB ballparks in road trips designed just for baseball fans. From New York to Los Angeles and[…]
Michigan’s Scenic Route 22 & Hiking Trails
Posted on 09/09/2024
A great road trip doesn’t have to be done entirely by automobile. In fact, some of the best views can only be witnessed by parking your vehicle along the scenic[…]
Cruising the Last Frontier
Posted on 09/03/2024
This week on American Road Trip Talk, meet New York Vinnie, filling in for Gary Mantz as he takes some time away from the show. In this edition, he chats[…]
Celebrating the Art Car Phenomenon with Erika Nelson
Posted on 08/26/2024
In this episode, artist and frequent contributor Erika Nelson shares her deep appreciation of Art Cars. An art car is a vehicle that has had its appearance modified as an[…]
Remembering Elvis 47 Years Later
Posted on 08/19/2024
47 years ago, Elvis Presley passed into history. The King of Rock and Roll “left the building” at the age of 42. Today, we remember his too-short life and celebrate[…]
Springfield, Illinois: International Route 66 Mother Road Festival 2024
Posted on 08/12/2024
Our guest for this week’s episode is Amy Beadle, Marketing Manager of the Springfield Illinois Convention & Visitors Bureau. She has exciting news to share about the upcoming 23rd Annual[…]
Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou
Posted on 08/05/2024
On this edition of American Road Trip Talk, discover Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou, just 35 miles south of New Orleans and home to the unapologetic Cajun culture of Lafourche Parish. The[…]
Joyous Journey: Driving Across America by RV
Posted on 07/29/2024
Matt Shea is the guest host of American Road Trip Talk this week. Listen as he interviews Kristen Brandel and Christa O’Brien, two ladies that are living their road trip[…]
Isle Royale National Park in Michigan
Posted on 07/22/2024
Want to get far away from the noise and haste of daily life on your next vacation? Isle Royale National Park is a great destination for those seeking unspoiled beauty[…]
What a Weekend it Was: AAA Route 66 Road Fest in Tulsa
Posted on 07/15/2024
The AAA Route 66 Road Fest was held June 22-23, 2024 in Tulsa, Oklahoma and our guest, Joey Madia, was a featured speaker. If you were in attendance, lucky you![…]
Little Gems: Fishing, Camping and Hiking at Lakes in Washington
Posted on 07/08/2024
The great outdoors and western Washington are synonymous in the minds of fishers, hikers and campers who make the most of the mildest time of year. There are plenty of[…]
Scenic Pacific Coast Highway in Oregon
Posted on 07/02/2024
Cruising Pacific Coast Highway in Oregon from Cannon Beach to Gold Beach offers road-trippers a sizable stretch of scenic wonders and an opportunity to get acquainted with the easygoing hospitality[…]
Highway 101: A Road Trip Dream Come True
Posted on 06/24/2024
“Rainbows end down that highway where ocean breezes blow,” according to The Grateful Dead. When Mark Greene of Cars Yeah fame fulfilled a road trip dream alongside Blake, his then[…]
Star-Spangled Banner Historical Sites
Posted on 06/17/2024
On Flag Day in America, we dedicate this episode to three sites that celebrate the story of the Star-Spangled Banner: Fort McHenry, the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail and the[…]
Classic Hollywood Restaurants Then and Now
Posted on 06/10/2024
Don’t you wish you could dine where legends of Hollywood’s Golden Age loved to meet, greet, drink and eat? Good news: you still can! In this episode, Geoffrey Mark, a[…]
The National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA
Posted on 06/03/2024
In advance of the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, we feature The National D-Day Memorial, located in Bedford, VA. It has been called “a must visit for anyone interested in World[…]
Memorial Day Weekend 2024 in Western Washington
Posted on 05/28/2024
We often hear the phrase, “All gave some, some gave all.” Today’s episode is in honor of Memorial Day, dedicated to the brave Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice in[…]
