How Mid-Century Style Magazine, Retro Roadtrip, and Mary-Frances O’Dea Joined the Journey

Retro road trips and mid century magic are fuleing a tsunami of interest in the upcoming Route 66 centennial. It is shaping up to be an epic celelebration of the great American road trip in 2026.

On or off iconic Route 66 there’s a certain kind of magic about taking to the old two lane highways. There is an infectious excitement about seeing what discoveries await around the bend.The road trip is an electric blend of history, discovery, adventure, and colorful characters. It is so much more than miles on a map.

That’s exactly the kind of vibe Mary-Frances O’Dea brings to the table with her long-running passion projects Mid-Century Style Magazine and Retro Roadtrip. So, it was a pure joy to have her as a guest on Coffee With Jim, the weekly podcast from Jim Hinckley’s America.

On the November 23, 2025 episode of Coffee With Jim, listeners joined Mary-Frances and me for a lively, wide-ranging conversation. We talked about mid-century style, retro road trips, and the role of curated websites in historic preservation and small business marketing. We also talked about quirky Lustron homes, iconic time capsule motels such as Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucucmari, New Mexico, and muffler men.

A Digital Roadmap to America’s Past

Mary-Frances’s work on Mid-Century Style Magazine and its companion project Retro Roadtrip shines a spotlight on roadside culture with the same reverence and curiosity that is our focus on Coffee With Jim. After all, we have built Jim HInckley’s America on twin pillars. The Sharing of America’s story. Inspiring road trips by telling people where to go.

Mid-Century Style Magazine began in 2005 as a personal blog about the adventure of renovating a 1950s ranch home. Over the years it has grown into a rich digital magazine devoted to all things mid-century. That includes classic larchitectural design, preservation efforts, and lifestyle features.

Meanwhile, Retro Roadtrip has become a curated directory of cool retro hotels and lodging. It is a celebration of momm-and-pop motels and unique roadside attractions. It is inspiration for anyone planning a cross-country adventure or a weekend getaway.

Mary-Frances brings decades of blogging experience and creativity to her platforms. She uses her technical expertise as the founder of Apricity Web Solutions to make history come alive online. Her conversation on Coffee With Jim also explored how digital storytelling and targeted websites can help safeguard the stories that make America’s backroads worth exploring.

Coffee With Jim in 2025: A Year of Stories Worth the Road

The 2025 season of Coffee With Jim has been packed with fascinating and inspirational guests whose work aligns perfectly with the ethos of Jim Hinckley’s America. This isn’t a Jim show. It’s a bold mix of history, building a sense of community, and shared adventures. We want to encourage people to get off the couch and on the road where they will discover America.

From vintage trailer culture and community development, to Route 66 centennial events and grassroots preservation efforts, each episode is a smile-inducing, thought-provoking journey. It’s a virtual diner where folks gather on Sunday morning for some good old fashioned conversation.

With each guest and each story, our podcast serves exactly the purpose Jim Hinckley’s America champions. That is telling America’s story and inspiring road trips by telling people where to go.

Sponsors Who Share the Vision

None of this shared adventure would be possible without the generous support of sponsors who believe in the magic of the open road. In 2025, Coffee With Jim was designated an official Route 66 centennial program. We owe this to listeners and to partners who are passionate about authentic travel experiences, including:

• Two Lane America
• Roadrunner Lodge Motel
• Gilligan’s Route 66 Tours
• Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park
• Wagon Wheel Motel
• RouteTrip USA
• Deanna Nelson State Farm Insurance
• Cactus Inn Motel
  …and the ongoing support of Patreon supporters whose enthusiasm keeps the wheels turning each week.

More Ways We’re Sharing America’s Story

In a recent blog post we explored time capsule restaurants in Burbank, California. That story, like Mary-Frances’s work, reminds us that every neon sign, road-side attraction, and quirky café has a story worth telling.

On the Horizon: 2026 Route 66 Info Fair in Needles, California

Looking ahead to 2026, Jim Hinckley’s America will be at the Route 66 Info Fair in Needles, California. This is a celebration of the great American road trip that perfectly complements our mission. I’ll be there signing copies of my latest book, Route 66: 100 Years, a Route 66 anthology packed with stories that honor the iconic highway.

Alongside book signings, I’ll have a program about the National Old Trails Highway and Route 66 in the Southwest and Mojave Desert. I’ll be happy to answer questions and help plan your trip. And we will be meeting up with our Patreon community at a special supporters’ gathering.

---

When mid-century charm meets digital storytelling and podcast conversation, something magical happens. That’s exactly what happened when Coffee With Jim welcomed Mary-Frances O’Dea, and it’s part of the vibrant journey Jim Hinckley’s America invites every reader and listener to join.