Not Your Average Bucket List

About Not Your Average Bucket List

Embark on an adventure with States of Discovery, where education and curiosity about the world collide. Our veteran adventure-loving hosts, Sara and Marisa, will take listeners on a quest to discover the country’s hidden narratives - one story at a time. From minimalist van life to podcasting live from the Wisconsin State Fair, this show will illuminate the untold stories of the world around us. If you’re familiar with our sister podcast, Not Your Average Bucket List, (https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/usa/not-your-average-bucket-list-podcast/) then you’re going to love this!

Publisher

Only In Your State

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

9 Sept 2022

Latest episode

23 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

2 of 133 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   23 Jul 2026TRANSCRIPT

   Why Fayetteville, Arkansas Is One of the South's Most Surprising Small Towns

   This episode explores Fayetteville, Arkansas's hidden gems, from extensive parklands and trails to its vibrant LGBTQ+ history and community events.

2. 

   16 Jun 2026TRANSCRIPT

   We're Back, We're Traveling, and We Have a Lot to Say

   Hosts Marisa and Sara share recent travel adventures and insights, including unique destinations and upcoming plans, in this interview episode.

3. 

   24 Mar 2026

   Beyond the Tourist Trap: How to Find Quirky Neighborhoods When You Travel

   Episode Summary What if the best part of your next trip isn't on any "Top 10" list? In this episode, Marisa and Sara make the case for neighborhood-first travel — ditching the tourist traps and leaning into the quirky, culturally rich pockets that give a city its real soul. What We Cover Why "landmark-first" travel is holding you back — and what to do instead The do's and don'ts of wandering — how to bake unstructured time into your trip without getting lost (literally and figuratively) The sociology of quirky neighborhoods — why artists, creatives, and culture tend to cluster in the same kinds of places Are hidden gems going mainstream? — the gentrification question nobody wants to ask Neighborhood Spotlights 🌿 East Hill – Pensacola, FL A cool older neighborhood with a glow-up. Think front-porch culture, golf carts, indie coffee shops, craft cocktails, and a seriously community-driven vibe. 🎨 Tremont – Cleveland, OH Cleveland's smaller, scrappier arts district — and one of the Midwest's best-kept secrets. 🎸 Fishtown – Philadelphia, PA Industrial-cool turned creative hotspot. Converted warehouses, dive bars next to trendy cocktail lounges, street art on brick walls, and some of Philly's best live music and food. 🏔️ Taos Downtown – Taos, NM An artsy ski town gem tucked between Santa Fe and the mountains — rich in culture, history, and unexpected energy. Key Takeaways Go 2–3 neighborhoods out from the city center — that's where the real character lives Look for street art — it almost always signals a creative, culturally active community Ask locals — bartenders, baristas, and rideshare drivers know things Google doesn't Skip the chains. If you spot a Warby Parker or an Anthropologie, keep walking Don't over-plan. Leave room to wander — your best travel story probably isn't scheduled Try the most random restaurant you can find. The most authentic spots are often the least "Yelp-able" Resources & Tools Mentioned Google Maps (https://maps.google.com) – Use the "zoom-in" explore feature instead of just searching Only In Your State (https://www.onlyinyourstate.com) – Discover hyperlocal gems by state Yelp (https://www.yelp.com) & TripAdvisor (https://www.tripadvisor.com) – Useful for finding independent local businesses Reddit – Search city-specific subreddits for honest, local recommendations Subscribe & Follow Loved this episode? Subscribe to States of Discovery so you never miss a hidden gem. ⭐ Leave us a review — it helps other travelers find the show! Stay curious, stay traveling — and we'll see you next time on States of Discovery.

Inside a recent episode

Why Fayetteville, Arkansas Is One of the South's Most Surprising Small Towns

Published 23 Jul 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Like I didn't realize just how many sort of like outdoorsy activities you could do because I know we were just like walking around downtown. We were doing like a very specific thing. But then when I started to realize how far you could go and what you could do, I was... So, so pleased as punch. And not only do they have a lot of trails, but I didn't realize that it was the United States first and only UCI bike city, which is like awarded by the like a cyclist international union. So that's pretty crazy. That's great. Like, no wonder I was so blown away by how accessible it was. Yeah, if I'm going to go back to Fayetteville 100%, I'm going to be outdoors a majority of the time tackling some of these like I just the the hiking trails alone, you know, you have hiking trails, waterfall hiking trails, summit trails. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

880,714

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.7 / 5

30 ratings

Spotify

3.8 / 5

11 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 81 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

94

Social presence

0

YouTube

86

Engagement

81

Contact Not Your Average Bucket List

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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