We were lucky to catch up with Zachary Lamothe recently and have shared our conversation below.

Zachary, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

Backyard Road Trips was an idea that initially came to me upon entering fatherhood. As an avid explorer, my travel-centric lifestyle was curbed upon the birth of my first son. After succumbing to the fact that plane travel would become a rarity, I decided to turn to my own backyard for adventure. Thus Backyard Road Trips was born. It also connected my written work as I am the author of five books: Connecticut Lore, More Connecticut Lore, A History Lover’s Guide to the South Shore (Massachusetts), Classic Restaurants of Boston, and Distilled in Boston. These titles also support the thesis of exploring one’s backyard. I took an idea that was disheartening to me, the inability to travel easily, and turned it into something rewarding not just for myself but for my family. These backyard road trips are meaningful travel but on the local level. Whether it is a natural place, a museum, a kid-centered activity, an excellent restaurant, or a craft libation destination, all of these backyard road trips are examples of meaningful travel.

Zachary, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My career as a professional writer began in 2013 with the publication of my first book, Connecticut Lore: Strange, Off Kilter and Full of Surprises. Prior to that, I had written for a few print and online publications prior. My background is in American Studies as I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in this field from Boston University. My senior thesis was the basis for my first book. A second, More Connecticut Lore was written in 2016, This was followed by three more in 2020, 2021, and 2023 respectively. All of these books explored regional travel in different areas such as folklore and offbeat travel, a guide to historical sites, and travelogues to restaurants and distilleries.

A website seemed to be a logical extension of my book writing and thus Backyard Road Trips began. The idea was meaningful travel on the local level since upon becoming a father, travel that is further afield became increasingly more difficult to do. It grew into a podcast in 2020 with my co-host Jim Wheeler and I talking about our favorite backyard road trips as well as other topics including craft beer taste tests, interviewing various guests and seasonal traditions. In addition to writing and podcasting, I have been able to share my expertise through various talks about regional travel, folklore, food and spirits depending on the scope of the presentation. I’ve also led tours and taught classes about the subjects I write about. I’m most proud when readers take my advice to visit some absolutely fantastic places that may not have been on their radar before. If I can help inform, educate, and entertain, I feel that my mission is accomplished.

With Backyard Road Trips, these are places that I recommend, not businesses that come to me that ask for collaboration so there is an authenticity to it.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

After graduating with a BA in American Studies, I found myself not sure of what field I would like to go into. Eventually, I began in a career in education, teaching special education. My love of American Studies and my creative streak led me to have to pivot in my career as in 2011 as I decided to try to put a book together. Although I enjoyed teaching, it was not as fulfilling for me as I had hoped. After the book proposal was written and accepted I thought I would change career fields completely. Instead, I have remained in the classroom but have been able to keep two careers simultaneously.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I run Backyard Road Trips out of a labor of love. The revenue from the website fluctuates meaning there are highs and lows, actually, this is also for my writing career in general. It fulfills my creative need through researching, exploring, and writing these pieces. A non-creative would struggle to understand the ability to do this even when it is not always financially lucrative. It’s the best of both worlds when I get paid for what I do but nevertheless, my writing career and website in general provide me something that I feel is needed in my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.backyardroadtrips.com
• Instagram: @backyardroadtrips
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/backyardroadtrips
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-lamothe-23263268/
• Twitter: @backydroadtrips
• Youtube: @backyardroadtrips4532

Image Credits
The photo of me with oysters is by Adam Mannar, and the photo of me with my son is by Jaclyn Lamothe. The photo of the horizon with a cloudy sky is by Jim Wheeler.