The Initial Idea 

The site is started for an idea that has been in my head since the summer of 2006 - to take the great American road trip. I’m defining that as traveling “the Mother Road” herself Route 66. The idea of getting out on the open road and meeting the people who have staked their livelihood on something that may not fit in a nice neat box is exciting to me. In the 1950’s and 1960’s, entrepreneurs of all kinds traveled to the first road that connected the country and started businesses all along the road. From greasy spoons to unique motels, they grabbed onto life and told it how things were going to be. My thought is to grab 3 other people and travel from Chicago to L.A. on Route 66. I want to film the whole project and share the adventures that are made with you. To talk with business owners and the individuals who have spent their lives in Americas heartland sounds really exciting.

I wanted to start this project for many reasons, but a big one is that as I was thinking about crafting an adventure, to travel Europe, enjoy the Asian Continent, or climb Machu Pichu. I thought, “What about touring America?” and then I started looking back at some exciting times in this country. Having grown up in the Boston Area and now living in Virginia, I’ve already toured the civil war and revolutionary war battle grounds. So what was left.. THE WEST! Personally, I get stuck on World War II and what my grandparents generation did after the war. This whole generation of people made this country great and started so many things that we take for granted now. That’s why Route 66 stuck out. A somewhat forgotten roadway that is shrouded in nostalgia would be the perfect place for an adventure and the conversations on that journey would leave a man changed.

Here’s to that journey….

For The Great American Road Trip,

Dan Portnoy

Baby Steps First 

As the guys from Abandon Films came on board with the project they encouraged me, and I think they were exactly right, to start with something smaller and see what happens.  For that purpose we immediately set out on plans to travel to an overnight destination within 200 miles to see if there were stories worth telling.  Everything started falling into place for our first adventure to happen on a round trip journey to Durham, NC.  So in June of 2007 we hit the road to see what would happen.  The “webisodes” tell the story.
What’s Next?

In the next phase of the site I’d like a place for you to upload your adventures and use your slide shows and/or movies to tell your stories and really harness new media as a way to further connectivity.