These Parts

In the finale show, Elliot and Vince make it to their great-great-grandfather's all-time favorite town. Randall, NY, was established by Rand as a valhalla of sorts for the McNally lineage. It's customary that all McNallys make a pilgrimage here in their formative years to learn about the famous family and their place in the cartographical world at large. Listen to the McNally brothers take in the sights, talk about the highlights and say a fond farewell from these parts to yours.

Vince and Elliot McNally head to the bayou to check out Loufficeatte, LA. Rand's 2nd all-time favorite town was once the short-lived sovereign country of Randada. Rand purchased the land from French con-woman Lucille Loufficeatte in a deal called the Lousiana Hornswaggle—it reverted back to US jurisdiction shortly thereafter. To this day, the town holds onto its sordid past as a welcome home for con artists and swindlers of all ilk. Chatting with the boys about all that and more is Lucille's great-great-granddaughter Blair Loufficeatte (Janelle Blasdel).

Vince and Elliot McNally head west to Rand's 3rd all-time favorite town. Isle of Doves, CA, was the westernmost point in the union until Alaska and Hawaii were admitted. Rand created one of the first formal nature preserves when he discovered the small island, though he originally believed he had found a sea-route to Japan—despite still being within sight of mainland California. Isle of Doves is only inhabited by a small community of doves and dovekeepers, and the McNallys are lucky enough to sit down with one of them: Seashell Paragon (Aric McKeown).

Elliot and Vince McNally check out Rand's 4th all-time favorite town in this episode. San Guajandro, NM, served as the sleepy southwest stage for Rand’s late-in-life religious reawakening. Now it's home to the Born-Again-Born-Again Movement, a group that has realized that “Born-Again” Christians take things a bit too far. Chatting with Vince and Elliot is local Reverend Kev (Jeremy Adler).

The McNally brothers break into Rand's Top 5 with their visit to Phox, SC. Phox was the setting of the Spanish-American War's last shots fired in the Spanish-American war. Unfortunately, yellow journalism ran so rampant in the town that, in an effort to sell more newspapers, word of the peace treaty never made it to print. Rand oversaw the peace negotiations via transatlantic telephone in the 20th century, but passions still run deep. Vince and Elliot talk with great-great-grandson of our 26th president, and modern-day Rough Rider, Thumbert Roosevelt (Michael Ribbens).

Elliot and Vince McNally are staying cool in one of Rand's hottest towns. Byarkansa, AK, clocks in number 6 on the brothers' countdown. When originally charting Byarkansa, Rand mistranscribed all of the town’s coordinates. Zealous and nearsighted town governance ratified the measures into law, and their city constitution can never be amended for any reason. As such, the town technically exists in Botswana, Africa. Citizens have adopted the laid-back, warm-weather lifestyle shared by other Pacific surf towns and their spiritual Saharan climate. Elliot and Vince welcome guest Bobbo (Milan Patel), town sporting goods store proprietor, puka shell necklace enthusiast and all-around cool dude.

The McNally brothers visit their great-great-grandfather's 7th all-time favorite town. Kaner, WI, is where Rand holed himself up for a year to write the Great American Novel. Although he never finished, Kaner is now home to authors, wordsmiths and novelists of all kinds attempting to craft their prose. Chatting with Elliot and Vince is accomplished author Darin Buttercutt (Bill McKinley).

Elliot and Vince McNally visit Ortolan, PA, their great-great-grandfather's 8th all-time favorite town. Citizens of Ortolan have believed the apocalypse was coming any day now for the better part of a century. A haven for preppers of all kinds, Rand spent a year hunkered down in a bunker here. Chatting with the McNally brothers is local prepper Craig Honk (Michael Erickson).

Elliot and Vince McNally are at last reunited to visit Rand's 9th all-time favorite town: Nergens, KS. The nation’s first laundromat founded here, and Rand utilized it on a cross-country mapping expedition. He unfortunately lost a sock in the process—the only personal effect he ever misplaced. Nowadays, the town serves as a lost-sock museum. Chatting with the brothers is Matthew Landry, the Laundromat King of the Lower-Midwest (A.J. Grimm).

In the mid-season premiere, Elliot McNally visits Rand's 10th favorite town. He's joined by his illegitimate cousin—a descendant of Rand's secret family—Frederick "Frito" Kissinger (Matt Fox), since Vince forgot to show up. Ungsten, DE was home to Rand's very own newspaper, the Ungsten Free Monitor. The politically driven rag is still printed to this day under the keen eye of its Editor-in-Chief, and Elliot's guest, Sherman Patacky (Vince Koci).

In the mid-season finale, Vince and Elliot McNally travel to Rand's 11th favorite town, Bradley, MA. Established by board game inventor and investor Milton Bradley, some of the most famous and infamous games were created right here with the help of his long-time friend and one-time partner Rand McNally. Rand left the town after a huge relationship-ending argument and never returned—but the memories continued to hold a special place in his heart. The town still functions as a gaming mecca today, and talking to the brothers is Milton Bradley's great-great-grandson and current company head Darren Bradley Jr. (Jack Van Thomme).

Charla, ME makes Rand's Top 20 list at spot #12. The northeastern town is rumored to be the resting grounds of Roman Emperor Charlemagne. Rand was preoccupied for a year here in a DaVinci Code-esque grail quest for answers and more. Vince and Elliot McNally visit and talk to present-day adventurer and treasure hunter Louisiana Jones (Sam Hayes).

Vince and Elliot McNally visit Rand's 13th favorite town, Huntley, AR. Huntley hosts and boasts the most eating competitions of anywhere else in the nation. Rand McNally once placed second in a hot dog eating contest here. Chatting with the traveling duo is competitive eater Doug "The Disposal" Dillinger (Jared Haverdink).

Rand's 14th all-time favorite town is home to the first widely broadcast radio program. Now, the Colorado town of Blumenthall is a breeding ground of podcast production. Rand’s old radio show based on his journal, The Windings & Findings of the Great Rand McNally, aired weekly in all 18 states. Talking with Vince and Elliot McNally this week is local podcast host Buck Williby (Eric Simons).

Elliot and Vince McNally travel to Rand's 15th favorite town: Hawkins, TN. Originally named for Sadie Hawkins, the first girl to ever ask a boy to a dance, the town's namesake once escorted Rand McNally to a barn dance during his travels. Today, the citizens of Hawkins champion feminism and cultural subversions of all kinds—and at the forefront of this is Sadie Hawkins's great-great-granddaughter, and activist, Luella Hawkins-Chappuella (Hallie Zmroczek).

Rand's 16th favorite town comes straight from the heart. Mount Melanie, WA was founded by Rand in tribute to his forbidden love, Melanie Mercator—of the Mercator Projection lineage. Because their love could never be, this was originally their secret meeting place. Today, the town serves as a home to star-crossed lovers of all kinds. Talking with Vince and Elliot McNally about all that and more is love guru and radio host Leo Epstein (Brady Cripe).

Rand's 17th all-time favorite town will put a spring in your step and a song in your heart. Fairfax, GA is home to the most barbershop quartets, but only one barbershop. Rand belonged to a group here called The Note-able Gentlemen that's still going strong today. With Elliot out this week, Vince is joined by their uncle Chet Romney (Scott Engdahl) to talk to Fairfax resident—and current member of Rand's quartet institution—Tom Waits (Elliot Matson).

Vince and Elliot head south to Rand's 18th favorite town, Mayhew, TX. Mayhew is home to the most cults of anywhere else, including one Rand belonged to here for a few years that's still going strong today. With the brothers this episode is Kip Tennis (Jeremy Sender), a citizen who's tried just about every cult in town but can't quite commit to any one yet.

Vince and Elliot McNally travel to Rand's 19th all-time favorite town, Clybourn, CT. Clybourn is home to sports played the old fashioned way, from leather heads to woody skis and everything in between. Rand played quarterback for a season with the Clybourn Kodiaks. Talking with Vince and Elliot are town game masters Chumly Julius (Alex Collyard) and Clamda Shaw (Alexa Palmero).

Elliot and Vince McNally are back with a new series of These Parts and a new journey. Following along with their great-great-grandfather's travel journal, they're visiting and counting down Rand McNally's all-time 20 favorite American towns. Kicking things off at #20 is Brompton, VA, the last remaining vestige of the "Wild Wild East." A young Rand passed through once upon a time touring with a rodeo show.