Travel Oddities

You can love the Manatees in Florida, but don’t touch. On this week’s episode, Harley and Josh have to discover the secrets of Cassadaga Florida before the sun sets. Today’s oddity is the Psychic Capital of the World, but if you are a resident of Cassadaga, FL, you probably already knew that. The story starts in 1875 when the psychic, seer, guide, medium, George P. Colby got the rights to build the Southern Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp Meeting Association. Josh and Harley examine some of the tales that have given Cassadaga its title as well as some more spooky stories from the town as well. Does Cassadaga really have a town-wide curfew? In The News: Glitter boobs, are they the fashion trend that you have been awaiting? We discuss the Blue Spring State Park. If you go, be sure to take the river cruise, they have MANATEES. No Episode of the Travel Oddities Podcast would be complete without a place to grab a bite, and we combined our restaurant pick and our mandatory unpronounceable word. The Florida Top 5 could save you some jail time. Source Links: Week in Weird investigates Cassadaga Vice.com story about Cassadaga Cassadaga’s Official Website Cassadaga Wiki More info on Cassadaga Things to do in Cassadaga-Florida Blue Spring State Park Website GRUB Outro Music by the Sun Subscribe, Rate & Review – ITunes Google Play Stitcher You can support our efforts anytime you shop on Amazon – To Shop Amazon for Any and All Items, Just Click Here Share us with your friends – Facebook Twitter You can share original art, clips, show ideas, trip reports or writing a blog entry for our page. Just click here. Fill out our survey!

On this week’s episode, Harley and Amy explore the catacombs of Westminster Burying Ground in historic Baltimore, MD. ***Warning. We have some audio anomalies, and we are currently blaming gremlins*** This oddity is one of steeped in history. It starts with the life and death of Edgar Allan Poe. We discuss grave robbers, ghosts, screaming skulls, weird traditions, lost graves, conspiracies and tragedy. Amy really did her homework on this show and Harley really thinks its gross that Poe married his cousin. We also discuss the Poe Toaster, and that is not an author sized cooking device. In The News: McDonald’s has a new menu and a new utensil that you really don’t need, ever, for any reason. What the Frork am I talking about? We discuss Baltimore, Maryland, including the Poe House. There are more famous people from Baltimore than we could list in one show, but we made sure that David Hasslehoff made the list! No Episode of the Travel Oddities Podcast would be complete without a place to grab a bite, and “pit beef” is a thing in Maryland, so we found THE place to eat that. Brett’s Top 5 is back. This show is Balti”more” than you can handle. Westminster Burying Ground info: Westminster Hall and Burying Ground Wiki Westminster Hall website Westminster Hall on Facebook Edgar Allan Poe Gravesite on Facebook Baltimore MD Baltimore’s website Baltimore on Facebook Chaps Pit Beef website Chaps Pit Beef on Facebook News News Music The Raven And The Swan outro song Outro by Josh Woodward Josh Woodward on Facebook Subscribe, Rate & Review – ITunes Google Play Stitcher You can support our efforts anytime you shop on Amazon – To Shop Amazon for Any and All Items, Just Click Here Share us with your friends – Facebook Twitter You can share original art, clips, show ideas, trip reports or writing a blog entry for our page. Just click here. Fill out our survey!

On this week’s episode, Harley and Josh walk barefoot in the beautiful Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, Texas. This oddity starts a few hundred million years ago, takes a detour to the British Isles and ends up in a Druid grove. We had a great interview with John Beckett, author of The Path of Paganism: An Experience-Based Guide to Modern Pagan Practice. On top of being an author, John is a blogger and….oh yeah, he is a DRUID. John explains how one might become a druid or pagan. He also discusses his experience at Dinosaur Valley State Park. In The News: Festival of the Steel Phallus in Kawasaki, Japan. Sorry, we don’t make the news, we just report it. We discuss Glen Rose, TX. For a town of under 3000 residents, there is a surprising amount of fun activities in the area. No Episode of the Travel Oddities Podcast would be complete without a place to grab a bite, and any place that regularly has a two-hour wait, must be great. John Beckett’s info: John’s Blog Patheos on Facebook John’s Twitter John’s Facebook Denton CUUPS Site Denton CUUPS on Facebook Dinosaur Valley State Park Dinosaur Valley Park on Facebook Dinosaur Valley Site Dinosaur Valley State Park Wiki Glen Rose Glen Rose Website Glen Rose on Facebook Glen Rose Wiki Dinosaur World Website Dinosaur World Facebook Loco Coyote Grill Website Loco Coyote Grill on Facebook News News Story Music Outro Music by Bit Subscribe, Rate & Review – ITunes Google Play Stitcher You can support our efforts anytime you shop on Amazon – To Shop Amazon for Any and All Items, Just Click Here Share us with your friends – Facebook Twitter You can share original art, clips, show ideas, trip reports or writing a blog entry for our page. Just click here. Fill out our survey!

Amy the Social Media Goddess dropped by for a tour of the Travel Oddities road-trip garage. On this week’s episode, Harley and Amy nerd out about the Lemp Mansion in the bustling city of St. Louis, Missouri. This oddity is has been brewing since the late 1800’s. It starts with a ridiculously wealthy family, the Lemps, contenders for the title of Royal Family of Beer. Then there are some tragic changes of circumstances followed by one hundred plus years of paranormal activity. We had a hugely informative interview with Troy Taylor, author extraordinaire. His most recent book, American Hauntings, The rise of the Spirit World and the Birth of the Modern Ghost Hunter, released today. Troy also founded THE original Ghost Conference. Troy explains how you write 121 books. We are convinced that he has clones! We discuss St. Louis, MO. More cool sights and activities than we could list. Troy shared his number one spot for chicken in the area, and I have the neck sweats from listening. Troy Taylor’s info: Troy’s site Conference Site Troy on Facebook Troy on Twitter Troy Taylor on Instagram Lemp Mansion Lemp Mansion Wiki The Lemp on Facebook Lemp Mansion Website The Lemp on Twitter St. Louis, MO St. Louis Website St, Louis Wiki St Louis on Facebook The Southern’s Website The Southern on Facebook The Southern on Twitter Music St. Louis Tickle by Heftone Banjo Orchestra The Heftone’s Website Subscribe, Rate & Review – ITunes Google Play Stitcher You can support our efforts anytime you shop on Amazon – To Shop Amazon for Any and All Items, Just Click Here Share us with your friends – Facebook Twitter You can share original art, clips, show ideas, trip reports or writing a blog entry for our page. Just click here. Fill out our survey!

How many times can you record a single episode before finally losing your mind? The answer is 4. On this week’s episode, Harley is joined by Josh the Giant Leprechaun, you may remember him from our Bobby Mackey episode. ***Warning. We have some audio anomalies, and I am now considering burning everything and starting over.*** This oddity is a slippery one, so we took a hands-on approach. Harley took a road trip down to Apache, Oklahoma to take part in the Apache, OK Rattlesnake Festival. We hear a first-hand account of Harley’s experience hunting rattlesnakes. We discuss what appears to be the largest garage sale on the planet. We take a virtual walk through the snake pit and then pop over to the butcher shop. We discuss Apache, OK. If you go, bring a bag lunch because there are very few places to eat. Apache Rattlesnake Festival Festival Page Apache, OK Apache Wiki Things to do in Apache TravelOK Link to the Event Music Evan “Funk” Davies – Rattlesnakes Subscribe, Rate & Review – ITunes Google Play Stitcher You can support our efforts anytime you shop on Amazon – To Shop Amazon for Any and All Items, Just Click Here Share us with your friends – Facebook Twitter You can share original art, clips, show ideas, trip reports or writing a blog entry for our page. Just click here. Fill out our survey!

We are considering changing the name of the show to Harley talks to smart people. On this week’s episode, we work our way through down a cobblestone street to the Norwichtown Cemetery in historic Norwich, CT. This oddity is a classic. It starts during the Revolution, developed some cold spots, and now has Benedict Arnold visiting his mom’s grave every Halloween. It looks beautiful and creepy. Zachary Lamothe stopped by for discussion about this Norwich. Hailing from Norwich, Connecticut, Zack grew up in a house built in 1752 and from an early age was always intrigued by local lore and history. Zack studied New England history and folklore while a student at Boston University, attaining a degree in American Studies. He earned a Master’s Degree in Special Education at Southern Connecticut State University and has taught high school special education and history. He is a frequent contributor to Norwich Magazine where he writes about history, community profiles, and tourism as well as other written and web based publications. His first book, Connecticut Lore: Strange, Off Kilter, and Full of Surprises was released in 2013 and the sequel More Connecticut Lore was released in 2016, both from Schiffer Publications. We discuss Norwich, CT, the history and the modern. This town has no shortage of adventures, if you just take the time to explore. No Episode of the Travel Oddities Podcast would be complete without a place to grab a bite, and Zack introduced us to the grinder. Zachary Lamothe’s info: Zack’s Facebook @CTconnoisseur on Twitter @zlamothe on Instagram Zack’s Website More about Norwichtown Cemetery Wiki More about Norwich Connecticut Norwich Wiki Norwich’s website Norwich on Facebook Slater Museum website Slater Museum on Facebook D’Elia’s Grinders Music Chicky Chacky Subscribe, Rate & Review – ITunes Google Play Stitcher You can support our efforts anytime you shop on Amazon – To Shop Amazon for Any and All Items, Just Click Here Share us with your friends – Facebook Twitter You can share original art, clips, show ideas, trip reports or writing a blog entry for our page. Just click here. Fill out our survey!

Harley has a Paranormal Hangover! On this week’s episode, Harley heads to the east coast to investigate the investigators at the third annual Salem Con in the Historic Haunted Hawthorne Hotel in lovely Salem, MA. This event has all a ton of the experts in oddities all in one place. This is a two-day event that includes a ton of Q&A sessions with huge names in the paranormal field, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. There is also four separate ghost hunting adventures all over the town of Salem. Harley had a great interview with Marc Arvilla and Lauren Sheridan, co-Founders of Salem Con, among a metric tonne of other titles and accomplishments. They also do a Podcast called Paranormal Hangover….so just another interview with people that make Harley look lazy. On top of telling us all about Salem Con and all the travel secrets, Marc tells about his Demonology studies and Lauren tells us all about her super power(she can make anybody cry). Harley also called a hundred gas stations to get the skinny on Salem Mass. Apparently, Salem is awesome and beautiful. No Episode of the Travel Oddities Podcast would be complete without a place to grab a bite, and we had to go to Sea Level to find it for you…oh and Brett crashed the second half of show! Marc Arvilla & Lauren Sheridan’s info: MGH Paranormal Society on Facebook MGH Paranormal’s Website MGH Paranormal on Twitter Paranormal Hangover on Facebook Paranormal Hangover on Twitter Salem Con info: Salem Con on Facebook Hawthorne Hotel Website The Hawthorne Hotel on Facebook Salem, MA info: Salem Wiki Salem has a web page Salem on Facebook Things to do in Salem Sea Level Oyster Bar website Sea Level Oyster Bar on Facebook Nightmare Gallery Website Count Orloks on Facebook Defense against the dark arts Defense against Ghosts Music Vulpiano Records Ghosts written by Miguel Zapata Miguel Zapata: 6 & 12-string acoustic guitars, piano, harmonica, percussion, vocals, production & all artwork. Jacobo Manso: slide dobro Contact: Email Website for outro music Subscribe, Rate & Review – ITunes Google Play Stitcher You can support our efforts anytime you shop on Amazon – To Shop Amazon for Any and All Items,

On a quiet small town street there is an old white house with an ominous background, but you might just pass right by if it weren’t for the GIANT sign that reads, THE VILLISCA MURDER HOUSE, in blood red letters. On this week’s episode, episode 69, Harley travels the dusty roads of Iowa to find out more about The Villisca Murder House in lovely Villisca Iowa. This oddity has it all. “Mrs. X? She murders her husbands on their honeymoons, then changes her identity and marries again.” Okay, maybe that is the wrong axe murderer. Luckily, I had a an expert to give us the real scoop on this real weird house. Jason Offutt, author of How to Kill Monsters Using Common Household Items, What Lurks Beyond: The paranormal in your backyard, and many other books. Jason shares his personal experience with the Villisca Murder House and how he convinced his day job to pay for it all…I added that last part for dramatic effect. I discuss Villisca, IA, and a Viking Lake. No Episode of the Travel Oddities Podcast would be complete without a place to grab a bite, and wicked cool restaurants with ridiculously named burgers are really in my wheelhouse. Jason Offutt: Jason’s Website Jason on the Facebook Villisca Axe Murder House The Murder House’s Website…Murder Houses are people too The Murder House also has a Facebook page! Villisca Iowa Buck Snort Restaurant on Facebook Buck Snort Website Viking Lake State Park Viking Lake State Park Facebook Villisca’s Webpage Villisca’s Facebook Defense Against the Dark Arts Another way to stop ghosts? Music Turn the Page (acoustic Bob Seger cover) – Mike Massé Music by Mike Masse Subscribe, Rate & Review – ITunes Google Play Stitcher You can support our efforts anytime you shop on Amazon – To Shop Amazon for Any and All Items, Just Click Here Share us with your friends – Facebook Twitter You can share original art, clips, show ideas, trip reports or writing a blog entry for our page. Just click here. Fill out our survey!

***Warning. We have some audio anomolies, and we are currently blaming gremlins*** All work and no play, makes Brett a dull boy. All work and no play is Harley’s standard operating procedure. On this week’s episode, Harley and Brett work their way through the maze that is the Stanley Hotel in beautiful Estes Park, CO. This oddity is one of our favorites. It starts with the beautiful Colorado Rockies, gets the Stephen King treatment, throw in a dash of Stanley Kubrick and a pinch of Jack Nicholson and you have one creepy winter treat. We had a great interview with Natalie Fowler, co-author of Monster’s of the Midwest: True Tales of Bigfoot, Werewolves, and other legendary Creatures. On top of being an author, Natalie is also a paranormal investigator and researcher for Ghost Stories Ink. Natalie explains how one accidentally goes on a ghost hunt, and her experience at The Stanley Hotel. In The News: Alien spacecraft flashing the earth…space flashers? We discuss Estes Park, CO. If you go, there will not be a shortage of beautiful vistas and nature at it’s finest. No Episode of the Travel Oddities Podcast would be complete without a place to grab a bite, and we think awesome burgers that are inexpensive are the best burgers. Brett’s Top 5 is “high”ly informative. Natalie Fowler’s info: Natalie Fowler.com Natalie on Twitter Natalie’s Author Page Ghost Stories Inc Facebook Ghost Stories Ink Twitter Fate Magazine’s Website Fate Magazine on Facebook FATE Magazine on Twitter Stanley Hotel Stanley Hotel Wiki The Official Stanley Hotel Facebook The Official Stanley Hotel Website Estes Park Estes Park Wiki Things to do in Estes Park Estes Park on Facebook Estes Park Attractions Colorado Top 5 Baba’s Burgers Baba’s on Facebook News News from the Mirror UK UK Mirror on Facebook Music Heart of Gold (Neil Young cover) – Mike Massé, Jeff & Dave Hall, Sterling Cottam Music by Mike Masse The opening credit of The Shining Subscribe, Rate & Review – ITunes

On this week’s episode, Brett and Harley take an existential trip to Sedona, AZ in search of enlightenment at the Bell Rock Vortex. We are completely sold on this oddity, and Brett already has a bag packed. We had a great interview with our “boots on the ground” expert, Sue-Ellen Barker. Sue-Ellen is a tour guide with Sedona Red Rock tours and she really knows her vortexes, vortices….she really knows her vortex stuff. Sue-Ellen gives us the skinny on all of the metaphysical activities in the area as well as some activities for the normals(you know who you are). In The News: A school that teaches the ways of the force, but they can’t say that. The Silver Sabres Combat Academy might “force” you to exercise. We discuss Sedona, but let’s be honest, we couldn’t wrap up Sedona in a year of shows. No Episode of the Travel Oddities Podcast would be complete without a place to grab a bite, and our tour guide pointed us in the direction of the best pizza in the tri-state area. Brett’s Top 5 has cowboys and Native Americans. Sedona Red Rock Tours Sedona Vortex Retreats info [at] sedonadestinations [dot] com 928 – 282 – 0993 Picazzo’s Pizza Silver Sabres Combat Academy News – Business Insider UK Top 5 from Movoto Mike Masse and Jeff Hall – The Sound of Silence Music by Mike Masse Subscribe, Rate & Review – ITunes Google Play Stitcher You can support our efforts anytime you shop on Amazon – To Shop Amazon for Any and All Items, Just Click Here Share us with your friends – Facebook Twitter You can share original art, clips, show ideas, trip reports or writing a blog entry for our page. Just click here. Fill out our survey!

On this weeks episode Brett and Harley travel north(ish) to VanMeter, IA in search of the Van Meter Visitor, Mothman, Mystery Creature whatcha ma call it. Try saying that 5 times fast, that’s a real oddity. Again this week with the tongue twisters. They had the pleasure of interviewing Jessica Freeburg, co-author of the”Hitch Hikers Guide to Cryptids” ‘Monsters of the Midwest They also talk about the Vameter Visitor Festival that comes around every late September…do the math on that one. In The News: Pojo’s Pure Vermont Soaps that are saito ward off Vampires and Werewolves and anychance at true love; unless of course you find someone that doesn’t have the sense of smell. We discuss Van Meter #inanutshell No Episode of the Travel Oddities Podcast would be complete without a place to grab a bite, the boys give you the “skinny” on Fat Randi’s Bar and Grill and why Iowa has a state bird, rock, flower and apparently a state sandwhich. Brett’s Top 5 is a top 5 of epic perportions only because he never stays on topic Brett and Harley ‘It’s better to burn out than to Fae away’ I believe that’s the saying. The Fairy welcoming committee is well under way. Can Brett find it in his heart to open his mind, body and spirit to the the fae. Tune in next time to find out if it was a Bang or Bust. Jessica Freeburg Ghost Stories Ink Werewolf and Vampire repelling Soap Soapy News Van Meter Iowa Bob Feller Museum Fat Randi’s Bar and Grill Van Meter Visitor Festival Roman Nose State Park Cherokee Trading Post Wet Willie’s Custom Carving Outro Music by Mike Masse Subscribe, Rate & Review – ITunes Google Play Stitcher You can support our efforts anytime you shop on Amazon – To Shop Amazon for Any and All Items, Just Click Here Share us with your friends – Facebook Twitter You can share original art, clips, show ideas, trip reports or writing a blog entry for our page. Just click here. Fill out our survey!

On this week’s episode Brett and Harley travel the Information Super Highway to Hay Springs,NE to grab a steak and maybe a glimpse of the legendary ‘Alkali Monster’ of Walgren Lake Is it a 40 to 100 foot long tall tale or a cornfed, cattle eatin’, blinkin green eyed, alligator lookin, flipper havin’ loch ness monster from Nebraska. In The News: OREO Brews…To Do or Not To Do. A Virginia brewer is taking OREOs to the next level with their 7% robust chocolate milk stout Hornswoggler. This isn’t your Daddy’s milk n cookies and if you drink too much you might just toss your cookies. From Walgren Lake to the Bar J for a steak. Brett had the opportunity to talk to the Co-Owner of the Bar J Steakhouse and find out why Nebraska is one of the best places for beef in America and why you aren’t getting dessert so don’t even ask They discuss a ‘ friendly ‘ festival option in August called the Hay Springs Friendly Fest so bring your curse jar, practice your indoor voices outside and smile REAL BIG! No Episode of the Travel Oddities Podcast would be complete without a place to grab a bite, and thanks to Nicole we have options this week. Brett’s Top 5 is one not to miss, I would be ‘lying’ if I thought this might be a Reuben Studdard sized Top 5. This is not SPAM, I’ll eat a Nebraskit on the tallest mountain in Nebraska if I’m wrong, call me a Cadillac at Car Henge. Congratulations to our January ‘Odd Box Challenge ‘ winner; Amy Cummings-Hatfield…WOOT WOOT!!! Keep those submissions coming for our February /March challenge. Brett and Harley will attempt to invite fairies to brunch on the next Odd Challenge.Will Brett finally give way to the fairies and the fae will he succumb to their magic and trinkets of gold and silver. Oreo News Nebraska Top 5 Alkali Lake Monster Friendly Festival Bar J Steakhouse SharkBanz End of Show music by Mike Masse Mike Masse End of Show song Subscribe, Rate & Review – ITunes Google Play Stitcher You can support our efforts anytime you shop on Amazon – To Shop Amazon for Any and All Items, Just Click Here Share us with your friends – Facebook Twitter You can share original art, clips, show ideas, trip reports or writing a blog entry for our page. Just click here. Fill out our survey!

On this weeks episode Brett and Harley travel the Information Super Highway to Indianapolis, IN to explore the lore of The Haunted Anthenaeum. Try saying that 5 times fast, that’s a real oddity. They had the pleasure of interviewing paranormal investigator, author, co-owner of Unseenpress.com Inc., Nicole Kobrowski.and they discuss why the Athenaem is on the National Historic Registry and why it’s a Haunter’s Haven. They also talk about the Anthenaeum Foundation and Special Event coming up February 25, 2017. In The News: They have a story of biblical porportions. Did Jesus tell a Florida man to steal 7 BILLION DOLLARS!!! Thats an ‘UnGodly’ amount of money….HOLY JESUS, MARY and Benjamin!!! From Ghost Bustin to Gut Bustin: Loosen your belts boys ,they got the skinny on the best places to grub from our guest contributor Nicole; but you better brush up on your Deutsch. We discuss Indianapolis and all of the things to do there. From Medical History Museums, to catacombs, to the Indy 500 and more. No Episode of the Travel Oddities Podcast would be complete without a place to grab a bite, and thanks to Nicole we have options this week. Brett’s Top 5 is city specific and it’s got a whole new sound. The Odd Box winner is announced and yes you have to listen to see if you won. Brett and Harley dealve into the depths of the underworld via a twenty dollar Ouija board. Next week’s show may be hosted by Beelzebub and Mammon. Flashlight Session at the Athenaeum EVP at the Athenaeum The Athenaeum Event – Feb 25th The Athenaeum Event Signup Unseen Press Tour Schedule News Indiana Medical History Museum Lockerbie Pub Saint Joseph Brewery Chatham Tap The Rathskeller UFO Clearinghouse Subscribe, Rate & Review – ITunes Google Play Stitcher You can support our efforts anytime you shop on Amazon – To Shop Amazon for Any and All Items, Just Click Here Share us with your friends – Facebook Twitter You can share original art, clips, show ideas, trip reports or writing a blog entry for our page. Just click here. Fill out our survey!

1. Download the Flyer 2. Print the Flyer 3. Hang the Flyer in a public place 4. Email Harley 5. You are done 6. If you feel like sharing with the class, post a picture of your flyer on the group: Travel Oddities FB Group Odd Box Flyer

Join Harley and Brett as they pitch a tent in one of America’s most haunted campsites; Cades Cove in Townsend,TN The boys are a bit sleep deprived so there is no telling what trail they’ll end up on. Nestled in the beautiful Smoky Mountains, Cades Cove offers wildlife of every sort as well as a few spectral travelers as well. As if that wasn’t enough there’s an abandoned settlement equiped with all the structural nightmare fuel one could ask for, including two churches, a mill and log houses. In the News: Roswell That Ends Well…unless you’re Newman Seely and you steal a UFO in the UFO capital of the U.S of A, Roswell ,New Mexico Things to do: MTN Trax- Street Legal UTV Rental & Guided Off Road Tours Things to eat: Black Bear Cafe- Featuring meals under $10 FRIED OKRA!!!!!!!!!!!!! Of course Brett’s Top 5! Subscribe, Rate & Review – ITunes Google Play Stitcher You can support our efforts anytime you shop on Amazon – To Shop Amazon for Any and All Items, Just Click Here Share us with your friends – Facebook Twitter You can share original art, clips, show ideas, trip reports or writing a blog entry for our page. Just click here. Fill out our survey! More info on Tennessee Smoky Mountain site Cades Cove Site MTN TRAX Cades Cove Grub News