With Memorial Day weekend as the ‘unofficial’ start to summer, many families not only fire up their grills to cook Oscar Mayer hot dogs, but also make plans for cross-country road trips.  While on my coast-to-coast wiener roast, I found that many folks don’t just travel with their family; they bring other “friends” along for the ride.

At the beginning of my Wienermobile tour, Flat Wienermobile kept me company.  Then, I was asked to bring Squishy, my best friend’s blue turtle on my adventures.  In Atlantic, IA Squishy got to meet a gnome, a travel companion of visitors at a Wienermobile event.

In Mitchell, SD, Gumby and Pokey popped into OUR DOG for a photo.

And in Chicago, IL, this bunny hopped right onto OUR DOG’s windshield wiper.

Will you be dog-umenting your summer vacations with any bunderfully special travel companions?

Before beginning my time in a 27 foot-long hot dog on wheels, I used a different vehicle to spread miles of smiles: a Cookie Cruiser!  Not only did I drive a Cookie Cruiser, but I was a Smiley Cookie mascot! FUN FACT:  Brian the Bunderful was also a mascot, Truman the Tiger at the University of Missouri.

As my Wienermobile tour is drawing to a close, I’d like to share some photos with you of some other bunbelievable mascots I’ve met along the way.

H-E-Buddy, College Station, Texas

Super Dog Sam and I with Fredbird, the official mascot of the St. Louis Cardinals

Happy Belly, Shreveport, Louisiana

Kraft Macaroni and Cheese’s Cheesasaurus Rex

Franks to these mascots for visiting our events and helping spread miles of smiles!

Kids of all ages love the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile!  On a rainy day in Mitchell, SD, Super Dog Sam and I had some exceptional ladies and gentlemen visit OUR DOG.

They relished the opportunity to view OUR DOG from afar.  And you better bunlieve Super Dog Sam and I couldn’t let our visitors leave without singing the Wiener Jingle for an Oscar Mayer Wiener Whistle.

It’s been roughly three months since Picklin’ Pat and I parted ways and set out for a new region of the country with a new partner, to complete our Wienermobile tour.  This post is a “Salute to the South.”  Below you will find never-before-seen photos of places Picklin’ and I visited during our Southern crusade.

At Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, TX we spray painted XXIII on the public art sculpture.  Here’s to Hotdogger Class XXIII!

We visited the Summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, CO.  The height of Pikes Peak is almost 523 Wienermobile vehicles linked end-to-end.  Hot dog!

Franks to Royce, Hotdogger Class V, we relished a behind the scenes tour of Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, TX.

Picklin’ Pat and I had a WEENR-ful time as the South team.  To those we were able to meat along the way, y’all truly showed us what Southern hospitality is all about!

If you haven’t already heard, the Oscar Mayer brand is still on a Good Mood Mission!  We’re looking for ‘do-gooders’ and what better time to be a ‘do gooder’ than during National Volunteer Week, April 10-16.  Although Hotdoggers spend a lot of time spreading miles of smiles at grocery stores and various retail events, we also try to give back to the communities we visit during our time on the hot dog highways.

We volunteer at local food banks…

Give rides to families that love Oscar Mayer and the Wienermobile…

Donate blood…

And provide charitable donations to bunderful organizations!

How will you plan to be a ‘do-gooder’ and join the Good Mood Mission movement during National Volunteer Week this year?  If you simply visit Oscar Mayer’s Facebook page and enter an act of kindness you’ve done this week, you’ll be entered for a chance to win a ride in the Wienermobile and $100,000 to continue to do even more good in your community.

Happy National Volunteer Week!

Who knew that in one day you could meet Harry Potter, Batman, President Obama, Santa Claus, and the man of your dreams?  At Legoland in Chicago, this is entirely possible!

Super Dog Sam and I confess that we never played with Legos as children, and doggone it, did we miss out!  At Legoland, we built Star Wars Slave 1s in a Lego Laboratory.  A Master Model Builder gave us step-by-step instructions and Voila!, our masterpieces.

In addition to our Lego Laboratory fun, we had a bunderful time snapping photos with all of the Lego creations.

Top Dog of the United States

Tate-Yum’s Lego Friend

Super strong, Super Dog Sam

Although Super Dog Sam and I successfully created Lego people, there’s one challenge we couldn’t quite conquer. If you’re a Lego lunatic and want to mustard up the courage, try building an Oscar Mayer Wienermobile out of Legos!

In 1883, Oscar Mayer was founded in Chicago, Illinois.  A few years later, in 1891, another unique, family-owned company was founded in Jeffersonville, Indiana-Schimpff’s Confectionery.  Craving candy and chocolates, Super Dog Sam & I chanced upon Scimpff’s and relished what we dogscovered.

When we set foot in Schimpff’s, we were not only greeted by the scrumptious aroma of candy but also by Warren and Jill Schimpff, the fourth generation owners and candy creators.  Jill gave us a candy demonstration and shared history with us about the turn-of-the-century equipment used.

Super Dog Sam and I were sch-mitten by our experience at Schimpff’s.  Warren, Jill, and their staff were very generous and hospitable.  We left Schimpff’s with our bellies full and yet another reminder of why we love our job as Hotdoggers: meating people as sch-mittenly, sweet as candy!

Franks Warren, Jill, and company!  Can you guess which box of chocolate is mine?

It’s the doggone truth that women have a stronger craving for chocolate than men; my box of chocolate is the one on the right.

Many epic events occurred for the Midwest Team during our time in Columbus, Ohio.  Most Hotdoggers can attest to the fact that they not only love hot dogs, but have a great appreciation for all good mood food.  With good mood food in mind, I introduced Super Dog Sam to his first ever…buckeye!  Although Super Dog Sam is a Penn State alumnus, I bet you can get him to admit he loved this Ohio State staple.

Another first Super Dog Sam and I experienced while in Columbus was our first ever visit by another Hotdogger while on the road, Brian the Bunderful!

 It was exciting to turn our Dynamic Duo into a Tremendous Trio while Brian spent a few days touring Columbus with us!

Now, for the main event (drum roll please) Super Dog Sam and I visited the Wonderful Wacky Hot Dog Museum at O’Betty’s Red Hot in Athens, Ohio.  Housing hundreds of hot dog items, we found plenty of Oscar Mayer Wienermobilia and even left a Wienermobile keychain to add to the collection.  FUN FACT: Athens, Ohio is also home to my alumna mater, Ohio University!

From Athens to Columbus, Ohio proved to be for lovers-Wienermobile lovers!

Each year I look forward to watching the Academy Awards-particularly the beautiful actresses that float down the red carpet in jaw-dropping dresses.  In preparation for this year’s Academy Awards, I tried my luck on a red carpet I conveniently stumbled upon in the Oscar Mayer lobby in Madison.

Maybe Hotdogger Team Gear will be the next big trend at future award shows.

Once a month, the Knoxville, TN Visitor Center sponsors Uniquely Kid’s Friday!, a bunderfully free event for children of all ages.  Super Dog Sam and I were delighted to attend.

Spherit, the Visitor Center’s Sunsphere Mascot relished the opportunity to get a picture taken with LTL LINK.

These outstanding, young ladies also adored LTL LINK. Franks for your southern hospitality, Knoxville!