Travel with Rick Steves

Find out more about Russia's Black Sea resort city of Sochi and how the Winter Olympic games are affecting local attitudes. Pauline Frommer offers enthusiastic tips for making a visit to New York City fun and affordable. And friends from Europe share their local traditions for welcoming in the New Year in Spain, Croatia, Wales, Scotland, Belgium and Portugal.

Hear about holiday traditions in Wales, Hungary, Sicily, Scotland, and even Santa Fe where locals have unique ways to light up the season.  Hear how scientists at a research station in Antarctica make merry.  Plus listeners share some of their favorite Christmas memories from holiday travels.

Take a look at the conflict centers of the world through the lens of a foreign correspondent from the BBC.  We hear how Christmas with the troops in Afghanistan can be a bit of a surreal experience.  Get a look at how they celebrate the holidays in Switzerland and Austria.  Rick also learns the essentials of serving a well-balanced savory cheese plate the way it's done in France.

In the Loire Valley in central France, dozens of historic estates are ready to impress you with everything from elaborate gardens and architecture to authentic displays of medieval hunting and defense techniques. Plus, two guides recommend the sites in Brittany where even the rocks can show you a good time.  Also, Leslie Carroll digs up juicy backstories on Europe's ruling families, and their "notorious royal marriages."

Guides to Budapest tell us about their favorite places. Learn why each side of the Danube feels like a different city and where you can find everything from Hapsburg-era elegance, to the latest trend for enjoying a late night drink and conversation. Plus, listeners tell Rick about their recent forays into Iran and Palestine where American tourists are uncommon, but not unwelcome.

A preacher, a biologist, and a granddaughter of Turkish nomads give perspectives on how people around the world are really all part of the same family whether they live in a suburban bungalow or a goat hair tent.  Rick interviews Reverend Jim Wallis, "The Darwinian Tourist," and a nomadic sheep herder to discover what they've learned from their travels.

Italian food expert Fred Plotkin delves into the local dessert specialties of Italy, and tells us where you can find the best gelato in the entire country.  A guide from Sicily advises us how not to upset the "food police" when eating your pasta.  Also, we'll get an overview of the dozens of neighborhood food markets you can shop at in Paris.

Hear how J. Maarten Troost found contentment and sobriety, sailing in the wake of Robert Louis Stevenson among the South Sea islands. Journalist Lisa Napoli describes the pressures to modernize and connect with the outside world that are changing the Himalayan country of Bhutan. Also, tour guide Asa Danielsson from Stockholm explains how a strong sense of ethics and fairness shapes the social order in Sweden.

A genuinely "down to earth" astronaut tells us what it's like living and working on the International Space Station. Colonel Cady Coleman explains how zero gravity changes the everyday things you do, and how circling planet Earth every 90-minutes will change your outlook on life. Plus, listeners share tales of their own unforgettable treks and travels, back on mother Earth.

When in Rome, one of the timeless ways to enjoy the city is people-watching and enjoying the night air in one of the city's picturesque public squares.  Find out how to experience a more intimate side of Rome, after dark. A guide to New York City tells us about the un-touristy corners of his city where you can get in touch with New York's forgotten history and explore the city's multicultural character.

Adventure traveler and author Richard Grant describes the craziness he encountered on the island of Zanzibar. A native of small town Italy explains the uncrowded appeal of Abruzzo, in the rugged Apennine mountains. Also, a tour guide to southeast Asia outlines the visitor scene from Vietnam to Burma.

An expert on travel to Cuba explains how their society is changing under Raul Castro's policies, and how Americans can legally get around the embargo on travel to Cuba.  Also, we look into the attractions of back-roads touring in Quebec, and hear about Germany's extensive network of hiking trails.

Actress Joanna Lumley details her four-thousand mile trek up the Nile River to the source in the swampy highlands of Rwanda.  We'll hear how the personality of the river changes from Cairo to Luxor, Sudan to Lake Victoria, and the remarkable sites and people she met along the way.

Rick checks in with European tour guides on researching family history in Ireland, and listeners tell us of their own discoveries meeting relatives in Sweden and Lithuania. We'll get highlights of the Low Countries of Belgium and the Netherlands where a cozy medieval city or a bike ride to the sea is just a short ride from the major cities.

The experts from The People's Guide to Mexico offer tips for enjoying an independent road trip to explore Mexico on your own. Hear about the frustrations many women face in Italy when they try to break some very old gender stereotypes. Also Rick checks in with listeners responding to past topics and guests.