Travel With Rick Steves

Adam Gopnik discusses why the rituals associated with mealtime are often as important to the French as their recipes, and explains why "The Table Comes First in France"; also, two Portuguese guides share the highlights of their country's cuisine, from the seafood along its long Atlantic coast, to the hearty dishes enjoyed in the inland mountains. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

European Union experts join Rick to discuss the roots of the current political tensions in Europe, and how government policies are impacting the average European and frequent flier Johnny Jet returns with more tips for getting the most out of flights. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Rick invites some of his European friends to compare the beers of Europe and discuss the cultures that go with them, and travel writer David Farley talks about an eccentric hill town, not far from Rome, where a generation of bohemians share residency with a centuries-old mystery relic the Vatican would rather not talk about. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Rick speaks with Parisians who inspire travelers to explore their city, from its relaxing parks and public spaces to late night strolls and memorable dinners. Also, Richard Wiese, one of today's most adventurous scientist-explorers, shares how his passion for exploring the natural world has taken him on research projects to the North Pole and the hottest place on earth. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Photographer Annie Leibovitz talks about her pilgrimage to the homes of famous people from our history across the United States and describes what it meant to zoom in on the places and objects from the icons of our culture. Also, Rick checks in with listeners for ideas on planning extraordinary travels. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Marine wildlife expert Richard Ellis explains how the loss of the ice cap in the Arctic is accelerating, why wildlife in the region cannot adapt to the effects of global warming, and why this should matter to everyone. Also, Rick takes listener calls for stories of lessons learned when immersed in another culture. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Guides from Turkey dive into underwater archeology along with sights of Eastern Turkey and adventure traveler Richard Grant explores East Africa in search of the fabled source of the Nile River. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Ed Vulliamy investigates the escalating bloodshed from drug gangs in Northern Mexico and shares what he found in a "post-political" war zone, where few outsiders dare to tread. But Mexico is a big country, so Rick also explores this year's special tourism emphasis around an ancient Mayan prophesy, which is is fostering a deeper interest in the indigenous culture in the south. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Steve Inskeep assesses international news coverage in the U.S. media, Fred Plotkin describes why Vienna is one of his favorite cities, and listeners share resolutions for enjoying other cultures — even from the comfort of their own kitchen. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Rick uncovers holiday traditions from such places as Sicily and Croatia, Scotland and Brazil and gets suggestions for enjoying winter in Paris from a couple of local guides. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Rick celebrates Christmas with friends from near and far, hearing about holiday traditions from Holland and Hungary, Sicily and Scotland, learning about the unique ways people light up the season in Santa Fe, and discovering how scientists at a research station in Antarctica make merry, plus listeners share some of their favorite Christmas memories from holiday travels. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Rick is introduced to Santa's European relatives including Baba Noël, Grandfather Frost, Saint Nicholas, Krampus, and even Sammi Claus and Schwartzley. Also friends from Madrid, Rome, London and Lisbon discuss their cities' traditions for the Christmas season, and Rick learns how the holidays are celebrated in Bulgaria, the Swiss Alps, Austria and the Low Countries. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

It's a tropical party town that hosted some of America's best known writers. William McKeen explains the appeal of Key West during its artistic heyday of the 1970s, and as a resort town today. We'll also explore the advantages of staying at a farmhouse "agriturismo" in Italy, as a relaxing alternative to the busy city scene. And Rick shares listener comments from recent shows. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Rick checks in with a Norwegian team skiing across Antarctica to commemorate the trek of countryman Roald Amundsen; plus, NPR's Steve Inskeep shares what he discovered in the urban muddle of Karachi, Pakistan, and a journalist from The Netherlands outlines political changes on the Dutch horizon. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Jane and Michael Stern share their findings on the best Road Food and authentic regional food specialties they've found around the country and Rick gets a view from the cockpit on ways to help reduce the stress factors associated with flying. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Rick explores the flavorful benefits of street food vendors and decidedly unfancy hang outs and checks in with listener travel reports from the tsunami zone in northeast Japan, as well as Mexico City and East Timor. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Rick checks in with Reverend Jim Wallis and with "The Darwinian Tourist" to discover what they've learned from their travels to far away lands; hears how life is changing for nomadic sheep herders in Turkey; and celebrates cyclist Willie Weir's birthday in Portugal. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Rick discovers the high form of art in Ireland, language, where the works of poets and playwrights add color to parks and pubs. Plus, he gets tips for enjoying speciality museums in Paris, and explores how growing up in Renaissance-era Florence shaped Michelangelo into one of the greatest artists of all time. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Rick learns about the extraordinary measures taken by the citizens of Paris in 1939 to protect thousands of priceless art treasures at the Louvre from the coming Nazi invaders and is introduced to the nation of Malta; listeners share stories about the haunted places they've visited in Europe. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Rick checks in with European tour guides on researching family history in Ireland; listeners discuss meeting relatives in Sweden and Lithuania; and Low Countries Belgium and the Netherlands, where cozy medieval cities or bike rides to the sea are just a short ride away, are examined. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.