I'd like to recommend a travel podcast for you. It's called Via Podcast, presented by AAA Mountain

West Group. And I'm especially excited about this season because they explore one of my

absolute favorite parts of the world, the American West. It's an area I have spent years of my

life living and traveling in. And via podcast does a great job of painting a new picture of this part of the United States.

And the show is hosted by Michelle Donati and Midi Hicks,

who both do a wonderful job of mixing travel, culture, adventure, and curiosity

with a focus on the people, the places, legends, and hidden histories of the area. And all of this together

really brings these destinations they cover to life. I highly recommend checking out episode

one, Discover the Real Route 66, where journalist and adventurer Will Grant travels the iconic

mother road from California to New Mexico celebrating Route 66's

Centennial. I'm going to play a short trailer from the host so you can get a feel for the show and

its style.

2006 is a big year for Route 66. It's one of those classic road trip routes and it's now

officially 100 years old.

Route 66 is often referred to as the Mother Road.

What makes it so iconic?

So under the umbrella of Route 66 falls certain historical events that are noteworthy, like the Great Depression.

This is the Dust Bowlers, people leaving the Great Plains during the drought that accompanied

the Great Depression, and they were going west for whatever opportunity.

Then you have the motor courts in like the 50s and 60s.

So like that highway sign emblem with the two sixes on it comes to represent this time

of American character.

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