The bold. The beautiful. The fat bear.
Voters have a lot to weigh: leadership qualities, policy agenda, experience. But over the past decade, one race has been defined by the amount of wild salmon that can be smashed into a mouth.
Steves: Iceland’s rugged beauty comes from within
Iceland’s remote location and harsh climate aren’t exactly welcoming. But its striking scenery, draped with glaciers and punctuated by craggy peaks and steamy geysers, makes this destination increasingly attractive to nature-loving travelers.
Viewfinders make fall foliage pop for the colorblind in Virginia
Like so many other leaf-peeping enthusiasts, Tim Yates ventured out to Virginia’s Smith Mountain Lake State Park late this summer to see the early whispers of the fall foliage, which would soon give way to bright bursts of orange and red.
A pygmy hippo is stealing hearts (and biting zookeepers)
Defiant, sassy, slippery, chubby, loves to scream. We can all relate.
This fish evolved legs that it uses to taste stuff on the seafloor
The sea robin has fascinated scientists for decades. It has the body of a fish, the wings of a bird and the legs of a crab.
Visit artsy, urban Antwerp
Belgium’s capital, Brussels, is undeniably a great place to get a feel for modern-day Europe. But as the capital of the EU it’s an international hub that doesn’t give you a sense of Belgium per se. My favorite place to feel the pulse of modern Belgium is Antwerp, the port city north of Brussels. It’s an honest, what-you-see-is-what-you-get place with a true sense of local identity.
The power of a smaller breast
The women walk into the surgeons’ offices with photos cued up on their phones. Miley Cyrus. Keira Knightley. Bella Hadid. “I want my breasts to look like this,” they say. They’ve already spent hours on YouTube watching plastic surgeons’ infomercials; on Instagram poring over before-and-afters; and on TikTok, where an army of ordinary women post about their breast reductions. “Ask me,” they say — whether their nipple sensation has changed, what their boyfriends said, whether they cared.
Time travel on Rome’s ancient Appian Way
It’s fitting that it was the expansion-minded ancient Romans who built Europe’s first super highway — they understood the value of good roads to growing an empire. And the Appian Way, begun in 312 BC, was the engineering wonder of its day. It connected Rome with Capua (near Naples), ignoring natural contours and running in a straight line for much of the way. Eventually it stretched 430 miles to Brindisi — gateway to the East — where Roman ships sailed for Greece and Egypt.
Japan tries to reclaim its clout as a global tech leader
China’s envy-inducing success in using industrial policy to expand its economy and finance green manufacturing has helped kick off a fevered scrimmage among nations to develop and protect their own hometown businesses.
Let’s Talk Food: Popping corn
It is believed the first use of wild and early cultivated corn was used for popping.
Norway’s fjord country blends serenity, grandeur
Though I initially came to Norway to visit relatives — three of my grandparents grew up there — nature is the real draw here, even for those with family ties. It’s a land of intense beauty, with famously steep mountains and deep fjords carved out and shaped by an ancient ice age.
Has the spread of tipping reached its limit? Don’t count on it.
Americans are being asked to tip more often and in more places than ever before: at fast food counters and corner stores, at auto garages and carwashes, even at self-checkout kiosks. That has rankled many customers and divided employers and tipped workers.
Steves: Exploring Croatia’s coastal delights
Ilove the knack Croatians have for taking a humble stretch of craggy shoreline and turning it into a wildly romantic bar or café. In the coastal town of Rovinj, several bars and restaurants offer tables atop the town’s rocky seawall, and some provide you with a pillow — an invitation to find your own nook in the rocks overlooking the bay. As the sunset fades and the flames from tealight candles seem to brighten, you realize just how easy it is to enjoy a luxurious moment on the Adriatic coast.
Let’s Talk Food: Did you know?
Did you know that avocado trees need moderate to high amounts of water to thrive? A 10-foot tree needs about 10.3 gallons a day. Planting them on this island where we have an abundance of water seems to be a great agricultural crop.
Heat kills thousands in the U.S. every year. Why are the deaths so hard to track?
After a string of scorching days in June 2023, the body of an 88-year-old man was discovered in his home in Maricopa County, Arizona. His air-conditioner, set to 70, was blowing hot air. The temperature inside was nearly 110 degrees. Maybe he had heart problems. Maybe a different organ broke down. Maybe he was taking medications that did not work as they should. Did extreme heat cause or contribute to his death?
Rick Steves: Vibrant, historic Dresden is worth a detour
Intriguing Dresden, Germany, winds up on far fewer American itineraries than it deserves to. Don’t make that mistake. Since its horrific firebombing in World War II, the city has transitioned to a thriving cultural center that’s well worth a visit. Even with only a day to spare, Dresden is a doable side trip from bigger attractions like Berlin or Prague.
Hard work and fizzy drinks: What it takes to live past 110
One of the oldest men in the world died in August at the age of 111. The man, John Farringdon, was born about a year after the Titanic sank.
Sports and music tourism will soon represent a $1.5 trillion economy
If you’ve lost track of how many people in your orbit have recently posted pictures of themselves at a Formula One race or Taylor Swift concert, chances are you’re not alone. According to new research from Collinson International Ltd., which owns Priority Pass and LoungeKey airport lounges around the world, sports and music tourism are growing at unprecedented rates and are forecast to represent a $1.5 trillion industry by 2032.
Steves: Europe’s authentic, lively second cities
Each European country has its marquee city that attracts the vast majority of travelers — think Rome, Paris, Amsterdam. And all too often, that tourist-pleasing destination is a traveler’s one and only stop.
Steves: Amboise’s Loire delights and Leonardo da Vinci sights
As the Loire River glides gently east to west, officially separating northern from southern France, it has come to define one of France’s most popular tourist regions.
