Unscaled Travel Show
by Jeremy G. Long
Unscaled isn’t about bucket lists — it’s about tearing them up.Each week, travel journalist Jeremy Long and his co-explorer Amy take you beyond the guidebooks and into the real, raw, ridiculous side of travel. From late-night tacos in Vegas to getting lost in back alleys in Osaka, this is the show for anyone who craves curiosity, chaos, and the kind of stories you can’t plan for.Pack your bags — and the umbrella — it’s gonna get weird.
Episodes
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Ep. 186 - Travel Tips for Beginners: How to Actually Start Traveling
Travel tips for beginners, from two people who learned by getting it wrong and going anyway. Jeremy and Amy talk about the trips that turned them into travelers, what to do first, how much to plan, and how to start with a small, close trip — no perfect trip, perfect money, or two weeks off...
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Ep. 185 - Haunted U.S. National Parks
In this episode, we tell the haunted and tragic stories that atayed in America's national parks, from Mammoth Cave to Yellowstone. Ghost stories, haunted hotels, and spooky places you can actually visit — Gettysburg, Grand Canyon, Great Smoky Mountains, Yosemite, and Pele's Curse. ______ If…
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Ep. 184 - Haunted Alaska: Ghosts of the Last Frontier
Jeremy and Amy explore haunted Alaska — the Historic Anchorage Hotel's guest ghost book, the Portlock ghost town, and the SS Princess Sophia shipwreck — plus ghost ships, haunted hotels, and Alaska ghost stories for spooky season. ______ If you're enjoying the show, hit follow right now — it…
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Ep. 183 - Route 66: The Most Haunted Road in the World
Haunted Route 66: ghost stories from the Mother Road in its centennial year. Jeremy and Amy drive 2,448 miles of hauntings — the Chain of Rocks Bridge, the Hornet Spook Light, the Skirvin Hotel's Effie, the KiMo Theatre and its doughnut-fed ghost Bobby, the Hotel Monte Vista's haunted rooms, the...
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Ep. 182 - Deadwood: South Dakota's Most Haunted Town
They tore the Black Hills apart for gold, but the richest vein turned out to be the dead. This week Jeremy and Amy take you to Deadwood, South Dakota — the most haunted town in South Dakota — to kick off spooky month. Wild Bill Hickok's last poker hand. Seth Bullock's haunted hotel. A former...
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Ep. 181 - Downtown Las Vegas: Mobsters, Neon, and the Comeback
Before the Strip, there was Fremont Street. In this episode, Jeremy and Amy Long tell the story of Glitter Gulch — the original Las Vegas, born in a 1905 railroad land auction and raised on neon and mob money. From the Golden Nugget and Benny Binion's Horseshoe to Vegas Vic, the 40-foot neon...
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Ep. 180 - Great Basin National Park: Lehman Caves, Ancient Bristlecones & Nevada's Darkest Skies
Great Basin National Park is Nevada's only national park entirely within the state — and one of the least-visited parks in the system. This week we're exploring it top to bottom: the 90-minute Grand Palace Tour inside Lehman Caves (the trip highlight, including the moment the ranger killed the...
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Ep. 179 - Blue Zones: Sardinia, Okinawa & the Secret to Living to 100
There are five places on Earth with the most 100-year-olds — Sardinia, Okinawa, Ikaria, Nicoya, and Loma Linda, California. They're called Blue Zones, and this week we're breaking down what the people there actually do differently, from ikigai and moai to hara hachi bu, and whether the science...
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Ep. 178 - The Landmarks, Buildings & Entire Towns That Were Physically Relocated
What do a 3,000-year-old Egyptian temple, the London Bridge, a 200-foot lighthouse, and an entire Swedish mining town have in common? They were all picked up and moved. This week, Jeremy and Amy dig into the true stories behind history's most audacious relocations: how UNESCO cut Abu Simbel into...
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Ep. 177 - Is Shoulder Season Dead?
It wasn't long ago that traveling outside summer meant real deals, smaller crowds, and better experiences. Jeremy and Amy dig into whether shoulder season still delivers — what's changed, where the deals went, and whether the days of great off-peak travel are officially over. If you're enjoying…
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Ep. 176 - America's 64th National Park: Top Candidates, Predictions & Near Misses
It takes an awful lot for a place to become a national park — and since the 63rd was created in 2020, everyone's asking when the 64th debuts, and where. Jeremy and Amy break down the leading candidates based on current bills and legislation, the places that lost national park status over the…
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Ep. 175 - America's First Wellness Resorts: Hot Springs, Saratoga Springs, Battle Creek & Sedona
Long before cold plunges and wellness retreats, Americans traveled for mineral water, mountain air, and experimental cures. Jeremy and Amy tour the original wellness destinations — Hot Springs, Saratoga Springs, and Mineral Wells, the tuberculosis retreats of Colorado and Arizona, Kellogg's…
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Ep. 174 - Top Destinations for One Last Summer Trip
This episode of Unscaled is all about squeezing in one last summer getaway without expensive flights or a week off. We’re heading around the country with family-friendly long-weekend escapes, from Flagstaff and San Diego to Bend, Coeur d’Alene, Wisconsin Dells, Traverse City, the White Mountains...
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Ep. 173 - Dark Sky Destinations in the American West
We’re exploring some of the West’s best Certified Dark Sky destinations, from Death Valley and Southern Utah to some truly remote stargazing spots. We’ll also share what the designation means and some practical tips for seeing the night sky at its best. ____________________________________ S04...
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Ep. 172 - Visiting Mount Rushmore & Custer State Park
In this episode, Unscaled explores South Dakota’s Black Hills. We’ll visit Mount Rushmore, search for bison and other wildlife along Custer State Park’s Wildlife Loop, pass the Crazy Horse Memorial and finish among the legends and historic graves of Deadwood. ____________________________________...
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Ep. 171 - South Dakota Road Trip: Sioux Falls, the Corn Palace, and Badlands National Park
We’re crossing South Dakota from Sioux Falls to Badlands National Park, with stops at Falls Park, the Cathedral of Saint Joseph and Mitchell’s wonderfully bizarre Corn Palace. Then we’ll explore the Badlands Loop Road, search for bison and prairie dogs along Sage Creek, uncover the Cold War…
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Ep. 170 - Can You See Yellowstone National Park In One Day?
Can you see Yellowstone National Park in a single day? Maybe. But do you get a true sense of the world's first national park in just a matter of hours? Probably not. In this episode, Jeremy and Amy have returned from an impromptu trip to Yellowstone with tips and advice for visiting this…
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Ep. 169 - The Very Best of Las Vegas' Museums
Las Vegas has some of the most unique and intriguing museums in the world. When you're ready to give the glitzy neon lights of the Strip a break, old favorites such as the Mob Museum and the Atomic Testing Museum are joined by new entries like the Punk Rock Museum to show you a great Sin City…
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Ep. 168 - Free & Near-Free Things To Do in Las Vegas
There are classic free things to do in Las Vegas such as the Bellagio Fountains and the world famous 'Welcome' sign. But there are some alternatives and new additions to the list of free, or near-free, things to do. ____________________________________ S04 Ep168…
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Ep. 167 - Alaska: Denali National Park
In this episode, Amy and Jeremy wrap up their four-part Alaska adventure with a visit to Denali National Park. They'll share what first-time visitors need to know, ride the famous Tundra Wilderness Tour, explore the park beyond the bus, and look back at the moments that made this one of our...
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Ep. 166 - Alaska: Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Richardson Highway, Fairbanks
A missed shuttle at the gateway to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park threatened to derail our Alaska adventure. Instead, it led to one of the most memorable days of the entire trip. Join us as we journey through Alaska's wild Interior, drive beneath the midnight sun, encounter wildlife along the...
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Ep. 165 - Alaska: Kenai Fjords National Park, Seward
When most people dream about visiting Alaska, they're picturing a place very much like Kenai Fjords National Park. In this episode, Amy and Jeremy explore the rugged coastline of Alaska's Kenai Peninsula, from the harbor town of Seward to the glacier-carved fjords that make this region one of the...
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Ep. 164 - Alaska: Anchorage, Portage Glacier & Turnagain Arm
This episode takes listeners to Alaska for the first of several special episodes from Amy and Jeremy's recent journey through the Last Frontier. We explore Anchorage, Turnagain Arm, Portage Glacier, and Byron Glacier while sharing the sights, history, and experiences that made Alaska such a...
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Ep. 163 - Scenic Byway 12 Road Trip: Bryce Canyon, Escalante, Boulder & Capitol Reef
In this episode of the Unscaled Travel Show, Jeremy and Amy head into southern Utah to explore what they're calling Utah's Wild Corridor — the legendary stretch of Scenic Byway 12 connecting Bryce Canyon, Tropic, Escalante, Boulder, and Capitol Reef. From road trip culture and small desert towns…
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Ep. 162 - Highway 89: The Road That Built the Southwest
From giant national parks to tiny desert towns, Highway 89 quietly became one of the greatest road trip corridors in America. This week, Jeremy and Amy explore the road connecting places like Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Page, and dozens of strange...
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Ep. 161 - Capitol Reef National Park First Time Visitor's Guide
In this episode of the Unscaled Travel Show, Jeremy and Amy head to Capitol Reef National Park for a first-timer’s guide to one of Utah’s most underrated national parks. From scenic drives and ancient petroglyphs to the famous pies at Fruita’s Gifford House, they break down the best stops, hikes,...
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Ep. 160 - Bryce Canyon National Park: A First-Time Visitor's Guide
Explore Bryce Canyon National Park with this first-time visitor’s guide from the Unscaled Travel Show. We break down the park’s famous hoodoos, the viewpoints and hikes actually worth your time, practical travel tips, and the experiences most visitors miss—from Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden to...
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Ep. 159 - Introvert vs. Extrovert Travel: LA vs. NYC, Tokyo vs. Osaka, London vs. Melbourne
Are you an introvert or an extrovert — and does it change where you should travel? In this episode of Unscaled, Jeremy and Amy make six head-to-head city matchups: destinations that look similar on paper but couldn't be more different depending on how you're wired. LA vs. NYC. Tokyo vs. Osaka....
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Ep. 158 - Atomic Vegas: 1950s Las Vegas Nuclear Tourism, Atomic Cocktails & Cold War History
In the 1950s, Las Vegas turned nuclear testing into a tourist attraction. Rooftop viewing parties. Atomic cocktails. A mushroom cloud hairdo. In this episode of the Unscaled Travel Show, Jeremy and Amy cover the atomic era — the spectacle, the fallout, and the bars and museums still standing in…
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Ep. 157 - The Texas Revolution Road Trip | 190 Years Later
Texas Revolution road trip across Gonzales, Goliad, the Alamo, and San Jacinto — real places, real history, and what it feels like to stand where it happened. For the 190th anniversary of the Texas Revolution, this episode follows the story across Texas — from the opening shots in Gonzales to the...
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Ep. 156 - Vancouver, BC: Worth the Drive North
We return to Vancouver, BC — one of the most underrated road trips in the Pacific Northwest. In this episode: crossing the border by car, staying in the West End steps from English Bay, Granville Island's iconic public market, Lee's Donuts in Gastown, the Vancouver Aquarium inside Stanley Park…
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Ep. 155 - Bellingham WA & the Skagit Valley
Bellingham, Washington sits 90 minutes north of Seattle and most people drive right past it. They shouldn't. In this episode, we cover one of the Pacific Northwest's most underrated regions — the Bellingham waterfront, the historic Fairhaven district, Chuckanut Drive (Washington's original scenic...
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Ep. 154 - Essential Music Cities of the United States
If someone asked you to name the American cities where music is woven into the identity of the place — where the history lives in the venues, the neighborhoods, the streets — how many could you name? In this episode, Jeremy and Amy break down their top picks. No ranking. Just the history, the...
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Ep. 153 - Nevada's Best Road Trips
Most people fly into Las Vegas and never leave. That's definitely a mistake. Nevada has more designated scenic byways than almost any state in the country — and more than enough variety to fill a week of driving adventures. In this episode, Jeremy and Amy break down six of the best road trips in...
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Ep. 152 - Is Vegas Still Worth It?
The popular question these days is one that stings us locals: "Is Vegas dead?" Naah. It's not dead. Las Vegas is worth it in 2026. It's also more expensive, more confusing, and easier to get wrong than ever. Blackjack minimums have tripled. Resort fees run extremely high. The cheap buffets are...
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Ep. 151 - America's Best Festivals Worth Traveling For
From the giants you already know to the ones you absolutely should — and a few that have no business existing but are completely wonderful — Jeremy and Amy take you through America's most extraordinary festivals worth building a trip around. Texas State Fair, Coachella, Burning Man get their...
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Ep. 150 - Route 66, Lincoln Highway & Highway 1: The Road Trips That Built America
Episode 150. To mark the milestone, we're doing something fitting: talking about the roads that built this country. From the Lincoln Highway, the first coast-to-coast road ever built, to Route 66 at 100 years old, to some of the most unreasonable and beautiful drives on the planet — Highway 1…
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Ep. 149 - Atlantis Bahamas: A First-Timer’s Guide to Paradise Island’s Mega-Resort
In this episode, we're breaking down what Atlantis Paradise Island is really like for first-time visitors. From navigating the massive resort layout to surviving Aquaventure, understanding the family factor, and getting through Nassau customs without headaches, we cover the practical details you...
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Ep. 148 - Valley of Fire State Park
This week on the Unscaled Travel Show, we’re heading just northeast of Las Vegas to Valley of Fire State Park — Nevada’s oldest state park and one of the most visually wild landscapes in the Southwest. We’re breaking down what the park actually is, how it’s laid out, the essential stops and hikes...
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Ep. 147 - Petrified Forest National Park: A First-Timer’s Guide + Route 66 Holbrook & Meteor Crater
In this episode of Unscaled, we head to northeastern Arizona for a first-timer’s guide to Petrified Forest National Park — how it was created, why it was protected, and how to experience it without rushing past what matters. We break down the Painted Desert, the park’s best short trails, and the...
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Ep. 146 - America at 250: Essential Eats & Culinary Stops
We’re closing out our Essentials series with the thing that ties it all together: food. This episode looks at the regional flavors and iconic eats that define the United States — how Tex-Mex, Indigenous desert cuisine, Cajun cooking, barbecue, and classic American dishes came to be, and how…
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Ep. 145 - America at 250: The Ultimate U.S. Travel Bucket List
From national parks and iconic engineering to incredible beaches, unreal landscapes, and classic road trips, this episode breaks down the ultimate U.S. travel bucket list. As the United States approaches its 250th birthday, we’re celebrating the places that make traveling America unforgettable....
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Ep. 144 - America at 250: Essential Places to Visit
In celebration of the United States' 250th birthday, we’re kicking off a travel series highlighting the essential places in the U.S. that travelers should visit at least once. This episode is East Coast–heavy and place-forward, covering stops like Philadelphia, Boston, Lexington & Concord,...
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Ep. 143 - Route 66 Turns 100!
In this episode of Unscaled Travel Show, we’re celebrating Historic Route 66’s 100th anniversary with a practical, first-timer-friendly road trip episode. We're diving a bit into the history and the reasons why Route 66 is such a beloved piece of Americana. Plus, we're highlighting fun,...
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Ep. 142 - Mesa Verde National Park: A First-Time Visitor's Guide
Amy and Jeremy kick off Season 4 with a first-time visitors' look at Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. They cover what to know before you go (fees, reservations, seasonal access), the best scenic overlooks, the most worthwhile trails and cliff-dwelling experiences, plus practical picks for...
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Ep. 141 - NYE Rules and Traditions from Around the World
In this episode of the Unscaled Travel Show, we explore various New Year traditions from around the world, discussing the symbolism behind these customs, the foods associated with them, and the unique rituals that different cultures practice to welcome the new year....
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Ep. 140 - Give the Gift of Experiences
This year, we’re laying out a solid argument for giving experiences to your loved ones instead of socks and fruit cake or the dreaded “Sock Fruit Cake" — cultural immersions, culinary adventures, and urban foraging — it doesn’t have to be super fancy. Just create and share some memories with…
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Ep. 139 - Quirky American Christmas Traditions
This week on The Unscaled Travel Show, Jeremy and Amy take a cross-country tour through the quirky traditions that make Christmas in America so wonderfully weird. From the mysterious “Christmas pickle” to Louisiana’s bonfires for Papa Noël, skiing Santas in Maine, lobster-trap trees in New…
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Ep. 138 - Christmas Can Be Brutal
In this episode of the Unscaled Travel Show, Jeremy and Amy explore the chaotic side of Christmas through historical events, including the ban on Christmas in England, the Eggnog Riot of 1826, and the Cisco Texas Bank Robbery of 1927. They discuss how these events reflect the festive spirit and…
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Ep. 137 - Great Southwestern Road Trip Pt. 2: Springfield, Lawrence, Abilene & Dodge City
In the follow-up to Episode 136, Jeremy and Amy recount their adventurous road trip across eight states in seven days. After reaching Missouri, they trace the footsteps of one of the Old West's most colorful characters, "Wild Bill" Hickok — through Springfield, Missouri, over into Lawrence…
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About this show
Unscaled isn’t about bucket lists — it’s about tearing them up.Each week, travel journalist Jeremy Long and his co-explorer Amy take you beyond the guidebooks and into the real, raw, ridiculous side of travel. From late-night tacos in Vegas to getting lost in back alleys in Osaka, this is the show for anyone who craves curiosity, chaos, and the kind of stories you can’t plan for.Pack your bags — and the umbrella — it’s gonna get weird.
Hosted by
Jeremy G. Long