Rick Steves is an iconic travel personality who makes Europe seem accessible for Americans. While his demeanor may appear relaxed, he can often be very hard working and dedicated.
In 1979, he expanded his piano teaching business by offering travel seminars and group tours; notes from these trips eventually formed the basis of his first book: Europe Through the Back Door.
He grew up in Edmonds, Washington
Rick Steves is best known as a travel expert and host of public television’s “Rick Steves’ Europe”, but the 68-year-old travel expert and host also calls Edmonds, Washington home. An active member of his community near Puget Sound near Seattle suburb Edmonds on the west coast. While running his multimillion-dollar European tour company and writing books is his full time occupation he still finds time for local activism such as supporting marijuana legalization – as an annual speaker at Seattle Hempfest as well as being co-sponsor, lead funder, and official spokesperson of Washington Initiative 502 Initiative 502.
Steves came from a modest working-class family and graduated from both the University of Washington and Columbia Law School with degrees. However, his true education came from travelling through Europe since 1973 – spending at least 120 days every year there! Since then he has become one of America’s premier experts on European travel; having written over 50 guidebooks and hosting an award-winning public television series about it. Steves is known for encouraging Americans to travel off-path so as to experience culture more fully when abroad.
Steves is known as a respected travel expert with over 80 employees and one million-plus subscribers at his travel company. His books have provided Americans an insight into exploring Europe while his television show has reached millions.
His charitable activities span an array of areas with poverty reduction as their goal. He supports various programs providing food for homeless populations as well as giving a percentage of royalties from one of his books to Bread for the World – an organization dedicated to fighting global hunger.
He advocates for the legalization of marijuana, believing it will reduce strains on our criminal justice system and generate tax revenues. He has spoken in support of legalizing it at various events and hosts a weekly podcast dedicated to this subject matter. Additionally, he is an annual presenter at Seattle’s Hempfest conference.
He’s proud of living in Edmonds with his wife June and their daughters Janis and Linda; all four belong to St. Peter by the Sea Lutheran Church.
He began his career as a travel writer
Rick Steves began his career as a travel writer, and his books remain bestsellers today. His writing encourages people to travel and experience foreign cultures; his books remain bestsellers today. Rick Steves has since become America’s leading authority on European travel; in addition to publishing books and hosting popular television show programs on Europe travel. Furthermore, Rick Steves Tours provides group tours throughout Europe.
Steves first book, Europe Through the Back Door (ETBD), was released for publication in 1979. He composed it at home using a rented electric typewriter, whiteout and some creative thinking. Though printed on cheap paper stock that left it looking somewhat incomplete, ETBD became an instantaneous success; selling out within months and leading to another edition being professionally typeset.
ETBD was an enormously successful venture, which led to the formation of an ever-thriving business which published more guides and developed an expansive mailing list. Now employing over 100 well-traveled employees, ETBD produces best-selling guidebooks as well as public television and radio shows as well as videos covering specific countries in Europe. Their website boasts free travel information as well as their Rickniks community that has grown considerably since that initial endeavor.
As his business expanded, Steves continued to write and update his guidebooks while also creating and hosting a popular public television and radio program he still hosts today. Additionally, he offers small group tours throughout Europe.
As well as writing and producing travel guides, Steves is deeply engaged with various social causes. His philanthropy primarily supports issues of social justice that assist those living in poverty; additionally he has long advocated for cannabis reform having tried traditional Afghani cannabis during his travels during the 1970s and found it enjoyable.
Although Steves displays a laid-back persona on television, his true character is much more intense and hardworking than expected. Additionally, his sense of humor shines through as well: dancing at events is something he often does and engaging public speaking events offer great opportunities.
He started his own company
Travel writer, radio host and television personality Rick Steves has amassed an incredible following for his guides to Europe. Not only is he an expert at showing travelers how to travel frugally but still enjoy all its rich culture, but his philosophy on travel differs significantly; instead of searching for big cities or museums first he advocates exploring small villages or museums instead. Furthermore he encourages open mindedness.
Rick Steves hails from Edmonds, Washington and has become one of the nation’s most beloved travelers. His first travel book was published in 1979 – Europe Through the Back Door was an anthology of notes and lectures from his travel classes. Travel with Rick Steves premiered as a public radio program featuring world travel in 1991 with guest experts providing expert knowledge along with listener call-in questions; since then it has inspired several podcasts as well as mobile applications.
Steves is also a successful businessman. He runs an internationally acclaimed tour company and sells several lines of products under his name, thus amassing a considerable net worth that includes assets such as his house and production studio in Edmonds.
Steves has become known not only for his TV work and books but also as an active philanthropist. He has donated millions to various organizations and charities such as YWCA and Luther Institute; in Lynnwood, Washington he even built Trinity Place – an apartment complex designed specifically to house homeless women and their children – through donations he made directly.
Steves lives in Edmonds, Washington where his office window overlooks his old junior high school. He spends one third of each year traveling around Europe researching, filming and updating his guidebooks; having written 110 books, 12 seasons of television show filming as well as creating audio walking tours and audio walking tour routes. Steves also boasts an active following on social media answering travelers’ queries and discussing new maps with his team – his eyes light up whenever discussing a map update!
He’s a workaholic
Although his TV show may make it seem otherwise, Rick Steves is not spending his days sipping wine and snacking on Spanish churros – in fact he works really hard! He has been known to slip script revisions under crew doors at 2 am in order to obtain feedback for breakfast the following morning. In addition, his travel schedule regularly shifts between misty forests of the Pacific Northwest and sun-baked cathedrals of Europe with four months out of every year spent traveling around – as part of his belief that travel broadens knowledge enlightened and democratizes knowledge; each year leading 30,000 travelers around Europe while his guidebooks feature distinctive blue-and-yellow spines which add color to bookstore travel sections alike!
Steves’ approach to travel is distinctively personal and engaging; his personality exudes life through every laugh he gives off. Although raised in a relatively sheltered pocket of America, travel has proved its power: shattering ethnocentrism, carbonating experiences and rearrange cultural furniture for him as it did others. Travel is his passion and it shows in everything he does – his energy can’t help but spread!
But he’s not without his critics: his television specials have covered controversial subjects like Iran’s war and Europe’s rise of fascism; often leading to heated discussions. Recently in an episode about Holy Land he called for greater understanding between Palestinians and Israelis; furthermore his stance against gay marriage caused advertisers to pull away.
However, Steves remains firm on his principles of budget travel. His primary interest lies in making sure his guides help people travel comfortably while his activism can make a difference in everyday lives – for instance when his local symphony orchestra faced financial strain he donated $1 Million over 10 years as part of an act of charity.
He’s a dedicated worker, but that doesn’t mean he neglects his family. Wee is an avid traveler; together they take several large trips each year – to Morocco where windstorms blew the windows out of their car; on luxury barge cruise through Burgundy; and hiking trips between remote lodges in Switzerland Alps.