It’s hard not to feel FOMO when you’re on social media. In the summertime, it can seem like social media feeds are a montage of Aperol spritzes in Positano, yacht selfies in Capris, and cinematic gelato strolls through Rome. Meanwhile, you’re stuck at a gas station off the interstate wondering if you’re hallucinating from the heat — or if that was actually Samantha Brown at the air pump.
Spoiler: it was.
In a now-viral TikTok posted last month, veteran travel host Samantha Brown — beloved for shows like Passport to Europe and her current PBS series Places to Love — reminded us why she’s been America’s travel comfort-watch for decades. With effortless charm and zero pretense, she turned a humble roadside pit stop into a full-blown Italian dessert moment.
“Hey everyone, it’s July. You know what that means: It’s gas station affogato season,” Brown says from a Gulf station, casually channeling dolce vita vibes. “You’re seeing everyone in Italy, Positano, the Amalfi Coast — but you’re at a gas station off the Mass Pike.”
Her recipe: Equal parts budget travel hack and chaotic genius: “To make it fancy, you get a black cup of coffee, just from the gas station, and an ice cream sandwich and you dip it in and you make the affogato in your mouth,” she says before taking a bite. “Delicious.”
The internet loved it.
“The people’s princess!” one viewer declared.
“Samantha Brown dipped her ice cream sandwich in gas station coffee so I dipped my ice cream sandwich in gas station coffee,” another follower dutifully reported.
“As someone who’s crushed I couldn’t go to Italy this summer, this is priceless,” wrote one commenter — echoing the mood of pretty much anyone with PTO envy and a maxed-out credit card.
Fans also used the comments to share their longtime affection for the host. “You were such a crucial and comforting part of my childhood & you haven’t aged a day,” gushed one. Another chimed in: “I grew up watching you go places I could never afford! Still so wholesome.”
Another joked; Not the travel tip I asked for… but it is the travel tip I need.”
And really, that’s what makes the video land so perfectly. It’s not about recreating the postcard version of summer travel — it’s about finding a moment of joy and whimsy, even if it’s next to a quarter-fed air machine.
“Who needs Italy anyway?” one fan wrote. “Heading to 7-Eleven for quick supplies.”
Want more stories like this? Use the button below to follow me for more relatable Xennial takes on travel and lifestyle.