The ever evolving adventure of Jim Hinckley’s America is in finding ways to use new technologies to inspire road trips and share America’s story. Times change!

Well folks, let me tell you—when my dearest friend and I started this adventure called Jim Hinckley’s America, I had two things in my saddlebag. One was a beat-up old typewriter and the other was a passion for sharing America’s story (and inspiring road trips) one mile, one memory, and one adventure at a time. The typewriter’s long gone but our passion is still burning strong.

Today, Jim Hinckley’s America is more than a website, a podcast, or a quirky slogan. It wasn’t what we planned. But it’s become a living, breathing, road-trip-inspiring, network of cooperative community-building partnerships built on one simple idea: sharing America’s story and telling folks where to go. And amigos, now we’re doing that with podcasts, videos, blogs, presentations, social media, books, feature articles, and even the occasional hand-drawn map or phone number and address on a diner napkin.

From Snail Mail to AI

Now I’ll admit it. I’m a bit tech-challenged. My parents often quipped that I was born ninety and never aged. Perhaps that it is why I am most comfortable with Model A Ford era technology.

And I am so old that my writing career was launched with a 1948 Underwood typewriter. My photos were often developed at the local drugstore, and I waited weeks for research material to come in the mail.

Fast forward a few decades, and here I am wrestling with video editing software, recording the Coffee With Jim podcast on Podbean, uploading In Search of Lost Highways episodes to YouTube, and even making a valiant effort to use AI tools like ChatGPT and NotebookLM to keep the wheels turning.

Times change. So, we adapt or fade into the dust, right? Even though the miles and years are starting to catch up with me, I’m not ready for the rocking chair on the front porch just yet. So, the ever evolving adventure of Jim Hinckley’s America continues.

The Heart of What We Do

What keeps me goin’ isn’t just wanderlust or nostalgia—it’s our belief that communities matter. We happen to think that history should be relevant, fascinating, and fun. And we are convinced that tourism, when done right, can be a catalyst for economic development as well as historic district revitalization, and a cornerstone for building a sense of community.

So, we work hard to inspire road trips, shine a spotlight on hidden gems, and encourage folks to build networks of cooperative partnerships—just like they used to do at the corner gas station or over a slice of pie at the corner café.

Supporting Cast of Champions

We couldn’t do what we do without our incredible advertising partners. These folks are at the heart of the Jim Hinckley’s America community:

• David Brenner and the Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico – a Route 66 gem, a 1960s time capsule with vintage charm and modern comfort.
• Connie Echols at the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri – the oldest continuously operating motel on Route 66, lovingly restored and steeped in history, is a destination where the magic of this storied highway is infectious.
• Sam Murray of Gilligan’s Route 66 Tours – offering unforgettable guided adventures along the Mother Road, and through the heart of America along the Mississippi River.
• Austin Coop of Two Lane America – one of the finest tour operators keepin’ the spirit of classic Americana alive. Route 66, the fall colors in New England, the southwest, and the heart of the pioneering American auto industry are Austin’s specialty.
• Vickie Aschcraft at the Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park in Albuquerque – a time capsule mixed with a full service modern RV park, travel trailer museum, and destination for the Route 66 enthusiast.
• Angela Moreland at the Cactus Inn Motel in McLean, Texas – a slice of 1950s hospitality in the heart of Texas.
• Stephen Disbrowe with RouteTrip USA – providing international travelers with awesome bespoke road trip adventures in the United States or canada that are both practical and magical.

And of course, our heartfelt thanks to the good folks on Patreon, whose monthly support helps us keep the wheels rollin’ and the stories flowin’. You too are a big part of the Jim Hinckley’s America community.

Programs & Projects that Reflect the Mission

• Coffee With Jim Podcast – where we talk with fascinating and inspiring folks from the world of tourism, Route 66, history, community development, and small business. Recent guests include Rhys Martin, Austin Coop, and Vickie Ashcraft. And coming soon? We’ve got Jim Featherstone on cybersecurity for small business, Wade Bray chatting about the Route 66 Road Fest, and more.
• In Search of Lost Highways – our YouTube series that dives into forgotten byways, overlooked towns, and the quirky corners of American road trip lore.
• Jim Hinckley’s America Facebook Page – your daily dose of road trip inspiration, history tidbits, and the occasional philosophical ramble.
• JimHinckleysAmerica.com – the hub for everything we do, from blog posts to tour info to our calendar of events.

Honored and Humbled

One particularly humbling project has been contributing to a Route 66 Centennial Anthology to be published by Quarto Publishing in fall 2025. I had the distinct honor of working alongside some incredibly talented folks and very dear friends: Dries Bessels, Gregory Hasman, Rhys Martin, Joe Sonderman, and Cheryl Eichar Jett. That’s some good company right there, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

We Want to Hear From You!

Now, here’s where you come in, dear reader. You are also a big part of the Jim Hinckley’s America community. So, we’d love to know what you’d like to see from us. More videos? More behind-the-scenes stories? More interviews on the podcast?

And here’s a big question: Would you like to see a revival of our Decade with Jim series, a daily sharing of our adventures one Instagram and Facebook post at a time? It got sidelined when Facebook and Instagram threw us a curveball, but if there’s interest, well… let’s just say this old dog might dig that one back up.

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So, as we roll into another season of storytelling, road tripping, and community building, thank you for sharing the advenutre. Whether you’re a sponsor, a supporter, or just someone who loves a good road trip yarn, we’re mighty glad to have you as part of the Jim Hinckley’s America family.

Until next time, stay curious, keep exploring, and as always—I’ll see you on the road, amigos.

“Telling people where to go… and sharing America’s story one mile at a time.”