Destination: Uncategorized

Last year in Milwaukee, I had an unforgettable experience. I had just given a talk to an energetic and positive crowd at the Pabst Theater, and I was enjoying a fun atmosphere of pandemonium in the lobby. It’s always a thrill to meet happy travelers — but this was a first: Three women greeted me with brand-new tattoos that shared the message to “Keep on Travelin’.”

And recently I heard from another tattooed traveler. Annie, who owns the Little Annie Motel Tattoo Parlor in Los Angeles, just finished up a six-week trip to Europe — and she was celebrating her travel joy with a new tattoo, which she shared with me in this photo.

What about you? Have you ever gotten a tattoo on the road, or do you have any tattoos that celebrate your love of travel? Let me know in the comments here, on Facebook, or on Twitter.

I’m often inspired by families on the road. And this past summer on a ferry between Oban and Isle of Mull, I met the Kime family from Texas. The mom and dad (Sarah and Stuart) told me that they had realized that there is no better education or quality family time than traveling together — so they took their kids on a year-long trip around the world. (The kids recognized me because they were using my TV show Rick Steves’ Europe as part of their on-the-road curriculum. They were staying in 107 locations over 370 nights, and 86 of those stops were based on episodes from the show.)

The energy, curiosity, and joy in the faces of each of those kids as they experienced our world was a delight to experience. To follow their adventures — and if you’re a parent, to be inspired to take your kids out of conventional school and make the world their classroom — check out the Kime family’s adventures on Instagram.

What about you? Have you taken your kids out of conventional school for a bit of “on-the-road” education? I’d love to hear about your experience.

It was 1969, I was 14 years old, and one night my dad came home and said, “Son, we’re going to Norway to see the relatives.” I thought, “Stupid idea.”

A few days after arriving, I was sitting on the carpet with my cousins in Bergen watching Neil Armstrong on TV as he took “et lite skritt for et menneske … one giant leap for mankind.” It occurred to me that this was more than an American celebration. It was a human one. Without my realizing it, travel was broadening my perspective. While reinforcing how thankful I was to be an American, it was also making me a better citizen of the planet. It was shaping the 14-year-old me to be a force for peace and an advocate for the importance of thoughtful travel — the idea that travel can be a political act.

I wrote about this idea in the September issue of the Rotarian Magazine. You can read it now here — and be sure to tune in below to hear my conversation with Rotary International.

https://www.facebook.com/rotary/posts/330421654186379

We lovingly fine-tune all our TV shows before they air — and on the final review this time around, producer Simon, editor Risa, and I caught an embarrassing flub that no one had noticed before. When I think about how close this came to being broadcast across the USA, I shudder.

BTW, we’ve just finished Season 10 of Rick Steves’ Europe. Beginning next month, it will air in virtually every city in the country. Be sure to ask your public television station about your local air times, and don’t miss an episode!

Here’s the lineup for Season 10:

1001  The Heart of England
1002  Lisbon
1003  Portugal’s Heartland
1004  Travel Skills: Cruising
1005  Greek Islands: Santorini, Mykonos, and Rhodes
1006  European Festivals I
1007  European Festivals II
1008  The Best of Sicily
1009  Sicilian Delights
1010  Scotland’s Highlands
1011  Scotland’s Islands
1012  Glasgow and Scottish Passions

Earlier today, I shared my thoughts about the “Do not pass this point” signs that travelers often come across — and I wrote that I generally choose to ignore them.

I asked you to share your own thoughts — and wow, what a torrent of thoughtful responses I received. I read over 500 of your comments (all of them) here and on Facebook, and they were filled with wisdom…far more wisdom than I shared in my initial post. I learned a lot, and I must say, I was wrong, and the community of travelers on my page was right. I appreciate how, on this forum, I can learn from you, as well as vice versa.

So, after considering your comments — the vast majority explaining the many ways that warning signs are worth taking seriously, with only a few agreeing with my take on proceeding at your own risk — I’ve taken down my original post. As a travel writer who respects the platform I have to share my thoughts, I do have a responsibility not to give advice that can endanger people.

Stay tuned for lots more travel advice. And if you think I’m steering you wrong, I have no doubt you’ll let me know! Happy (and no foolish, risk-taking) travels.