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A virtual geocache pointed us toward one of America’s most delightfully odd treasures: Barney Smith’s Toilet Seat Museum. What started in a San Antonio garage now lives inside a soaring, neon-kissed shrine at The Colony’s Truck Yard, where porcelain “columns,” floor-to-ceiling seats, and a playful ceiling homage to Michelangelo turn folk art into a full-sensory experience. We swap FOMO for wonder as we tell the story of a hospital-door detour that became a permanent exhibit piece, the final geocacher pack-out before the move, and the ongoing hunt for seat #1341—still tucked away somewhere, if our banana-box notes are right.

The Truck Yard itself is a vibe: backyard party energy, rotating food trucks, live music, and the Beard Science Sour House pouring high-character drafts and cocktails served in IV bags. Step out of the museum and into a private tiki-adjacent karaoke room, where we belt Elvis under a parade of taxidermy squirrels. Then expand the map. In nearby McKinney, Tupps Brewing mixes rustic mill charm with patio fires, Martin House pours Texas-strong favorites, and Arcade 92 resurrects joystick nostalgia for one flat entry fee. It’s a perfect loop for geocachers and Munzee players who value the chase as much as the destination.

We also dig into why location-based games keep delivering: they nudge us off the highway and into the places locals love, where stories linger longer than any log entry. If The Colony is on your route, go see the museum, scan the hidden caches and Adventure Lab, sip a sour, and sing one song you didn’t plan on. And if you spot that elusive 1341 plate, send us a photo—we’ll cheer from anywhere. Enjoyed the journey? Follow, share with a friend who loves roadside Americana, and leave a quick review so more curious travelers can find their next stop.

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A city this generous doesn’t just welcome you—it hands you a map and dares you to follow your curiosity. We land in San Diego on a points ticket, grab a budget Turo with unlimited miles, and set off to turn the weekend into a living treasure hunt built around a geocaching block party called “Signal’s Island.” From push-scootering through Balboa Park’s Spanish Revival plazas and the new Comic-Con Museum to logging Adventure Labs woven into art, gardens, and a towering zoo statue, the day unfolds with pace and purpose.

The coast ups the stakes. In La Jolla, a sunrise sea-kayak tour becomes a geology lesson as we bounce through surf, trace a fault line between limestone and harder rock, and make the call to skip churning cave mouths—then pivot to Sunny Jim Sea Cave via a hidden staircase inside a rock shop. That same spirit of play leads to a rare webcam cache on a tide-lashed pier and to a plate of ocean-fresh fish tacos at Duke’s, where the view is pure Pacific. Community fuels the journey: we swap stories at a beach bonfire welcome, run into TV producer Dave Barsky, and hear that Mike Rowe listened to our Dirty Jobs episode and loved it.

San Diego’s Navy roots open a pop-culture loop. We eat barbecue at the Kansas City Barbecue—the Top Gun bar where Goose pounded “Great Balls of Fire”—and later chase a virtual cache at the restored Top Gun House in Oceanside, complete with a Kawasaki out front for that Maverick shot. The block party itself delivers real activities: gadget caches tied to Adventure Labs, a coconut cream pie contest, path tag left-right-center, and costume flair worthy of Gilligan’s Island. Add an omakase-level meal at Sushi Ota and a CITO cleanup on Imperial Beach, and the weekend turns into a model for city adventures that blend exploration, service, and story.

Ready to build your own San Diego treasure map—packed with geocaches, sea caves, pop-culture stops, and unforgettable bites? Subscribe, share this episode with your travel crew, and leave a quick review to help more curious listeners find the show.

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Craft breweries have evolved into must-visit destinations for travelers seeking authentic cultural experiences across America. In this episode, we dive into why these local establishments offer so much more than just great beer—they're gateways to understanding a community's character, history, and values.

We share personal stories from breweries that left lasting impressions, from a plant bingo night in Minnesota to a pig farm brewery connection in Duluth where we tracked our dinner from farm to table. Through these experiences, we illustrate how breweries foster connections between travelers and locals in ways that traditional tourist destinations simply cannot match.

The conversation explores the unique atmospheres that make breweries special travel stops—rustic décor featuring local materials, bar tops made from single slabs of timber, outdoor patios perfect for stargazing, and game areas that encourage social interaction. We discuss how even non-beer drinkers can enjoy these spaces, with many breweries offering family-friendly environments, pet-friendly policies, and excellent food options through rotating food trucks showcasing local culinary talent.

For the more tech-savvy traveler, we examine how the Untapped app enhances brewery experiences by gamifying beer sampling while connecting enthusiasts worldwide. RV and van travelers will appreciate our deep dive into Harvest Host, a membership program that connects travelers with breweries offering overnight accommodations in exchange for patronage—a perfect way to support local businesses while experiencing America's craft beer scene.

As Oktoberfest approaches, there's no better time to add breweries to your travel itinerary. Whether you're seeking insider knowledge about a community, a place to socialize with locals, or simply a comfortable space to relax after a day of exploration, craft breweries deserve a prominent place on every traveler's map.

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Join Craig and Josh as they share their experiences visiting bucket-list roadside attractions they've previously featured on the podcast but never seen in person.

• Josh visits the World's Biggest Ball of Paint in Alexandria, Indiana, adding layer #30,085 and becoming a brief world record holder
• Meeting Michael Carmichael, the passionate creator who started painting layers on a baseball in 1977
• Craig explores the Badlands National Park in South Dakota, comparing its unique landscape to other national parks
• Free camping along the Badlands rim offers spectacular sunrise and sunset views
• Josh discovers Garfield-themed Munzee icons in Muncie, Indiana, hometown of cartoonist Jim Davis
• Exploring Wall Drug in South Dakota, a classic roadside stop famous for its numerous highway billboards
• Josh visits "Uranus, Indiana" - a smaller version of the Uranus, Missouri attraction we previously featured
• Craig checks out the Mitchell Corn Palace with its elaborate corn murals that change themes annually
• The current "Wonders of the World" theme features landmarks like the Sydney Opera House created entirely from corn

Support the podcast at patreon.com/treasurefortown where we'll share photos from these roadside adventures. Have feedback or ideas? Email us at treasuresofour [email protected].

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West Bend Cache Bash stands apart from typical geocaching mega events because it's organized by the town's Chamber of Commerce, highlighting how this Wisconsin community has embraced geocaching as a tourism draw while offering $1,000 in cash prizes to participants. We discover what makes this event special through our experiences finding creative and high-quality geocaches.

• West Bend Cache Bash features 66 brand-new caches designed specifically for the event
• Josh reaches his 10,000th geocache milestone with a Back to the Future themed multi-cache
• Creative cache designs include a pirate-themed "X marks the spot" distance puzzle
• A car wash themed cache requiring players to push toy cars through tubes to reveal codes
• Severe weather creates challenges but doesn't dampen the geocaching community's spirit
• Local Wisconsin culture experienced through cheese curds, local restaurants and a retro arcade bar
• The event attracts families with kid-friendly caches like the popular "Pull My Finger" monkey cache
• West Bend proudly calls itself the "Geocaching Capital of the Midwest" with thousands of caches in the area

If you've enjoyed this episode, please consider supporting us on Patreon at patreon.com/treasuresofourtown - your support helps us continue creating fun and informative content about unique destinations across America.

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We explore the hidden treasures of Michigan through Craig's recent two-and-a-half-week journey across 72 of the state's 83 counties, revealing why the often-forgotten Upper Peninsula might be America's best-kept travel secret.

• Traversing Michigan's varied landscape from farmlands to freshwater beaches
• Discovering the Upper Peninsula's unique character and wilderness (30% of Michigan's land area)
• Crossing the magnificent 5-mile Mackinac Bridge that connects the two peninsulas
• Finding pristine swimming spots like Perrot Lake with crystal-clear freshwater
• Visiting quirky attractions like the 500-pound "man-killing clam" at Seashell City 
• Exploring Michigan's craft beer scene with creative flight presentations
• Experiencing authentic American moments like roadside lemonade stands
• Attending the Midwest Geobash event with its community impact on local businesses
• Using apps like I Overlander to find free overnight parking spots
• Witnessing spectacular Lake Michigan sunsets that rival ocean vistas

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and review on your favorite podcasting app. You can also follow us on social media or reach out via email at [email protected].

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Wisconsin Dells represents the ultimate tourist destination in the heartland of America, complete with water parks, unique geological formations, and quirky attractions. We dive into this nostalgic vacation spot that transforms an entire town into an amusement park experience with activities for all ages.

• Noah's Ark Water Park features over 50 water slides including innovative experiences like the Black Anaconda roller coaster water slide
• Wisconsin Duck tours use WWII-era amphibious vehicles to show the beautiful sandstone formations from both land and water
• The natural beauty of the area was first popularized by photographer H.H. Bennett in the mid-1800s
• Devil's Lake State Park offers hiking trails to impressive rock formations like Balancing Rock and Devil's Doorway
• The Upside-Down White House exemplifies the quirky tourist trap nature of the town with its alien conspiracy theme
• Wisconsin Deer Park provides opportunities to hand-feed approximately 100 tame deer in a 40-acre sanctuary
• Mount Olympus combines water park and theme park attractions including Poseidon's Revenge wave pool with its massive 20-foot wave every seven minutes
• Paul Bunyan's Cook Shanty serves lumberjack-style family meals on tin plates with must-try hot cinnamon sugar donuts

Noah’s Ark Waterpark

Wisconsin Dells Boat Tours

Rick Wilcox Magic Theater

Lost Canyon Tours

Paul Bunyan’s Cook Shanty

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Venture into the world of location-based gaming as we explore how Munzee transforms ordinary travel into extraordinary adventures. Join hosts Joshua and Craig as they welcome Rob, President of Munzee, for an insider's look at this 14-year-old global phenomenon that serves as the perfect companion for curious travelers.

Discover why Munzee has been called "the love child of geocaching and Pokemon Go" as Rob explains the game's unique blend of physical QR code hunting and virtual creature capturing. Unlike traditional geocaching, Munzee allows players to leave their mark virtually anywhere in the world, creating connections between travelers who might never meet but share experiences in the same breathtaking locations.

The conversation reveals how Munzee enhances travel in unexpected ways – turning tedious airport layovers into opportunities for play, guiding you to hidden local gems, and encouraging exploration beyond tourist traps. Learn about virtual gardens, competitive clan gameplay, and how capturing Munzees can create lasting digital memories of your adventures.

Whether you're a solo traveler seeking authentic experiences, a family looking to make road trips more engaging, or simply someone who enjoys discovering new places, this episode offers compelling reasons to add this versatile game to your travel toolkit. The hosts share personal stories of how Munzee has led them to unexpected discoveries, connected them with local communities, and preserved special travel moments through digital interactions.

Ready to transform how you experience the world? Download the Munzee app, scan our referral code from the episode artwork, and join a global community of explorers who find treasure in the journey, not just the destination.

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We reveal our top 10 rest areas across the United States, from basic facilities to spectacular view points to full-on tourist complexes that have become destinations in their own right.

• Rest areas provide safety, convenience, and often unexpected attractions for travelers
• Clean bathrooms remain a top priority, with Buc-ee's setting the gold standard
• Many stops feature historical exhibits, museums, and cultural attractions
• Location and scenic views elevate basic rest stops into memorable experiences
• Food options range from vending machines to multiple full-service restaurants
• Truck stops have evolved into complex facilities with amenities like movie theaters, arcades, and rental baths
• The world's largest truck stop in Iowa has its own zip code and eight restaurants
• Rest stops frequently feature geocaching and Munzee opportunities
• Many stops serve as impromptu picnic locations for traveling families
• Locations like South of the Border have become iconic tourist attractions in their own right

Let us know how many of our top 10 rest stops you've visited! Reach out at [email protected] or find us on social media.

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