Program 529b: Newfoundland with Alan Doyle; Rick Mercer's Canada Day; Drink Dat New Orleans

Explore what Canada has to offer visitors, with two of its favorite sons on this week's Travel with Rick Steves. Newfoundland's Alan Doyle recommends sights to best enjoy the rugged beauty of his Atlantic island home. And comedian and author Rick Mercer shares some of his favorite places to enjoy across Canada.

Plus, raise a glass to New Orleans, as Elizabeth Pearce unveils how to appreciate the history of America's most "spirited city" through the kinds of cocktails it serves.

• Singer/musician Alan Doyle, author of "Light Tales for Heavy Times" (Doubleday Canada) and "Where I Belong" (Anchor Canada)
• Comedian Rick Mercer, author of "The Road Years" (Doubleday Canada) and former host of The Rick Mercer Report on CBC-TV
• New Orleans-based tour guide Elizabeth Pearce, author of "Drink Dat" (Countryman Press) and "The French Quarter Drinking Companion" (Pelican Publishing)

• Alan Doyle includes video productions of songs from his albums on his AlanDoyle.ca website.
• Alan's latest book, "All Together Now" promises "Light Tales for Heavy Times."
• Rick Mercer hosted the Rick Mercer Report for 15 years on CBC-TV in Canada.
• Rick Mercer's most recent bestseller is "The Road Years: A Memoir, Continued."
• Elizabeth Pearce wrote "Drink Dat" as a guide to the variety of drinking establishments in New Orleans.
• On her Drink and Learn Walking Tours of New Orleans, Elizabeth provides adult participants with samples of four of the city's iconic cocktails, and explains how those drinks illuminate the city's landmarks and historic characters.
• Elizabeth suggests that the finest cocktails in New Orleans are served at Arnaud's French 75 bar in the French Quarter.

• "I plan to hike the East Coast Trail this summer. I want to time it right to be in St. John's for the Folk Festival. What advice do you have for me?" (e-mail from Michele in Detroit)
• Caller asks what Rick Mercer considers to be the top places in Canada that an American should visit "to get a true flavor of the country." (Steve in Minneapolis)
• Caller mentions appeal of Tofino for viewing winter storms on Vancouver Island. Also asks, "I know how Prince Edward Island joined Confederation, however I often wonder why it is a province with only 140,000 people." (Tony in Victoria, British Columbia)

• Ashley MacIsaac, "Sleepy Maggie - The Sandman Radio Edit," EP extra from Hi How Are You Today? / A&M Records
• John Lee Hooker, "Boom Boom," Martin Scorsese Presents "The Best of the Blues" (soundtrack) / UTV Records
• Natalie MacMaster, "Flamenco Fling," In My Hands / Rounder
• Great Big Sea, "Festival Reel," Great Big Sea / (self-released in 1993)
• Jock Tamson's Bairns, "Gude Claret," May You Never Lack A Scone / Greentrax
• Alan Doyle, "Fall," A Week at the Warehouse / Universal Music Canada
• Rufus Guinchard, "Sally's Cove Reel," Here and Now: Canadian Heritage disc 3 (collection) / CBC-Sony Special Music Products
• * Great Big Sea, "Rogers Reel," Great Big Sea / (self-released, 1993)
• Instrumental intro to Jann Arden, "Good Mother," In Between Dances (collection) / Attic
• Danielle Martineau, "L'Eau et le Vent," Here and Now: A Celebration of Canadian Music, disc 1 (Music of the First Peoples and Folk Music) (collection) / CBC-Sony Special Music Products
• Moe Koffman, "Swinging Shepherd Blues," Here and Now: A Celebration of Canadian Music, disc 4 (Artists and Styles of Historical Importance) (collection) / CBC-Sony Special Music Products
• Norm Hacking, "The Great Depression of '92," Bittersweet Canada (collection) / Word of Mouth
• Earl Klugh, "Canadian Sunset," The Spice of Life / Koch
• Gilles Vigneault, "Mon Pays," Here and Now: A Celebration of Canadian Music, disc 4 (Artists and Styles of Historical Importance) (collection) / CBC-Sony Special Music Products
• Young Canada Singers, "Canada: A Centennial Song," / 1967 single release by Quality Records Ltd. for the Canada Centennial Commission (YouTube recording)
• * French Rockin' Boogie, "Bye Bye Mon Nèg'," Zydeco (collection) / Putumayo
• The Radiators, "Long Hard Journey Home," Tremé: Music from the HBO Original Series (soundtrack) / Rounder
• Louis Armstrong, "Tin Rood Blues," New Orleans (collection) / Putumayo
• Snooky Pryor, "When the Saints Go Marching In," In This Mess Up to My Chest / Antone's Records
• Rebirth Brass Band, "Take It To the Street," Treme: Music from the HBO Original Series (soundtrack) / Rounder
• James Booker, "African Gumbo," Louisiana Gumbo (collection) / Putumayo
• Kermit Ruffin, "Drop Me Off in New Orleans," New Orleans (collection) / Putumayo

* Indicates filler music used during internal breaks on the broadcast

• At 20:45, Rick Mercer says Canada is a bargain for Americans due to the significant difference in value between the Canadian and US dollar, which, at 23:00, he says is about 30 cents on the dollar.
• At 23:16, Rick Mercer mentions that tourism draws to Toronto include one of the world's largest Pride parades and the big Caribana festival.
• Caller Tony, at 32:52, recommends visiting Tofino on the British Columbia coast "in the winter" to watch dramatic storms, when accommodation pricing is considered high season.
• At 34:25, Rick references "recent awareness" of disproportionate representation of small states and provinces.
• Rick says "Happy Canada Day" to caller Tony at 36:02, and to Rick Mercer at 37:33.