Rick Steves, America's most respected authority on European travel, empowers Americans to have European trips that are fun, affordable, and culturally broadening. In 1976, he started his business, Rick Steves' Europe, headquartered in Edmonds, Washington, near Seattle. There he produces a best-selling guidebook series, a popular public television show, a weekly public radio show, a syndicated travel column, and free travel information available through his travel center and ricksteves.com. Rick Steves' Europe also runs a successful small-group tour program taking 30,000 travelers to Europe annually.
Email Rick at rick@ricksteves.com, or write to him c/o 130 4th Ave N, Edmonds, WA 98020.
Short Version (71 words)
Rick Steves is a popular public television host, a best-selling guidebook author, and an outspoken activist who encourages Americans to broaden their perspectives through travel. He is the founder and owner of Rick Steves' Europe, a travel business with a tour program that brings more than 30,000 people to Europe annually. Rick lives and works in his hometown of Edmonds, Washington, where his office window overlooks his old junior high school.
Medium Version (200 words)
Rick Steves is a popular public television host, a best-selling guidebook author, and an outspoken activist who encourages Americans to broaden their perspectives through travel. But above all else, Rick considers himself a teacher. He taught his first travel class at his college campus in the mid-1970s — and now, more than 40 years later, he still measures his success not by dollars earned, but by trips impacted.
Rick is the founder and owner of Rick Steves' Europe, a travel business with a tour program that brings more than 30,000 people to Europe annually. Each year, the company contributes to a portfolio of climate-smart nonprofits, essentially paying a self-imposed carbon tax. He also works closely with several advocacy groups and has been instrumental in the legalization of marijuana in states across the US.
Rick spends about four months a year in Europe, researching guidebooks, fine-tuning his tour program, filming his TV show, and making new discoveries for travelers. To recharge, he plays piano, relaxes at his family cabin in the Cascade mountains, and spends time with his son Andy and daughter Jackie. He lives and works in his hometown of Edmonds, Washington, where his office window overlooks his old junior high school.
Long version (390 words)
Rick Steves is a popular public television host, a best-selling guidebook author, and an outspoken activist who encourages Americans to broaden their perspectives through travel. But above all else, Rick considers himself a teacher. He taught his first travel class at his college campus in the mid-1970s — and now, more than 40 years later, he still measures his success not by dollars earned, but by trips impacted.
Widely considered America's leading authority on European travel, Rick produces a best-selling series of guidebooks and is the author of Travel as a Political Act. He is dedicated to providing all Americans with access to travel information, and has made extensive resources available for free on the Rick Steves' Europe website, via the Rick Steves Audio Europe™ app, and in Rick Steves Classroom Europe™, a searchable database of short, teachable video clips.
A longtime supporter of public broadcasting, Rick produces and hosts public television and radio shows that air across the nation. His newest special, Hunger and Hope: Lessons from Ethiopia and Guatemala, debuted in February 2020, and Season 11 of Rick Steves' Europe will air this fall.
Rick is the founder and owner of Rick Steves' Europe (RSE), a travel business with more than 100 full-time employees. RSE operates a successful tour program which brings more than 30,000 people to Europe annually. The company contributes $1 million a year to climate-smart nonprofits, essentially paying a self-imposed carbon tax.
Rick works closely with several advocacy groups and makes regular financial contributions to more than 170 organizations, including annual contributions to Bread for the World. He is a board member of NORML and has been instrumental in the legalization of marijuana in several states. He has also provided $8 million in funding to build two new neighborhood centers in his community, and has donated a 24-unit apartment building for homeless women and their children to his local YWCA.
Rick spends about four months a year in Europe, researching guidebooks, fine-tuning his tour program, filming his TV show, and making new discoveries for travelers. To recharge, he plays piano, relaxes at his family cabin in the Cascade mountains, and spends time with his son Andy and daughter Jackie. He lives and works in his hometown of Edmonds, Washington, where his office window overlooks his old junior high school.
Rick and His Business
Listen to Rick and Boston Public Radio's new monthly segment, Day Tripping with Rick Steves
Rick Steves Talks About Staying in One Place, What America Is Getting Wrong, and Dreaming of Escargots
Rick Steves with Cathy Unruh
Rick Steves' new documentary Hunger and Hope explores solutions to poverty
Samantha Brown and Rick Steves got adorably lost together in LA
In your travels and at home, channel climate-change anxiety into action
Your travel-related COVID-19 questions, answered
Rick Steves cancels tours to Italy
Travel writer Rick Steves explains self-imposed $1M carbon tax, where that money is going
Rick Steves rolls out self-imposed carbon tax
Rick Steves self-imposes $1 million 'tax' to help offset the environmental impact of the 30,000 people who take his tours each year
Rick Steves is putting a $1 million "self-imposed carbon tax" on his travel company
Europe's 'flight shame' movement doesn't stand a chance in the U.S.
Rick was profiled in an 8,000-word cover story by Sam Anderson
Rick Steves: The Traveler's Aid
A profile of Rick conducting guidebook research in Europe
Rick Steves has the inside track to Europe
Rick Steves' travel empire is moving as fast as a Europe-bound 747
Rick gives us a peek at what it takes to update his guidebooks.
Outspoken Travel Guru Rooted in Edmonds
Travel as a Political Act
Rick’s plan for a better world: more travel
Rick provides 10 great places to challenge American assumptions
Rick gets uncomfortable in "Travel As A Political Act"
#BTReads: Rick Steves's 'Travel as a Political Act'
Write Like Rick Steves: Travel Writer Extraordinaire
Rick writes an op-ed about how travel helps gain global perspective
Rick comments on recent elections in Iran
Travel guru Rick Steves says travel with an open mind and think globally
G is for Geopolitical: Rick Steves Revealed
Interview with Rick Steves: 'Travel as a Political Act'
The World According to Rick Steves
Learn why Rick is dedicated to thoughtful travel
Rick talks about how Europe perceives the United States
Rick writes an op-ed about what he sees as the real threat to U.S. security
Rick writes an op-ed about global warming
Outspoken Travel Guru Rooted in Edmonds
Rick writes an op-ed about what he sees as the real threat to U.S. security
Drug Policy Reform
Mr. Steves goes to Washington – to talk drug policy
Rick briefs members of Congress on marijuana law reform
Rick Steves offers a European take on America’s drug war
Rick sums up his drug policy views in this 8-min video
Fresh ideas on a tired crusade
Rick’s op-ed on "Europe: Curing, Not Punishing Addicts"
Rick Steves’ writes on "We need to get smart about marijuana"
Rick's LA Times op-ed listed as one of the "Top 10 Reasons for Optimism"
Travel guru stands firm on war and weed
Rick's Products & Travel Advice
Rick's guidebooks endorsed
Rick writes an op-ed about why a weaker dollar can actually give you a richer travel experience
Rick Steves, Through the Front Door
