Rick Steves

American travel writer, television host, and activist Rick Steves is a prominent voice in European travel. Since 1973, he has spent roughly one hundred days each year exploring the continent. His work aims to inspire and guide Americans toward culturally enriching and accessible journeys. He founded Rick Steves' Europe, a company based in Edmonds, Washington. Through Rick Steves' Europe, he operates a comprehensive travel enterprise. This enterprise encompasses a popular series of guidebooks, including *Europe Through the Back Door*, first published in 1980. It also features a long-running public television series, *Rick Steves' Europe*, and a weekly public radio program, *Travel with Rick Steves*. Each year, the company organizes small-group tours, introducing over thirty thousand travelers to Europe. Steves' travel philosophy encourages travelers to become "temporary locals," venturing beyond typical tourist paths for deeper cultural immersion and broader perspectives. Beyond his travel work, Steves is an active advocate for social justice, drug policy reform, and hunger relief. He aligns his business practices with these personal values, notably through a self-imposed carbon tax that supports climate initiatives. His contributions to travel journalism have earned him multiple Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Awards.