The Rhine River: Raging with history

Jostling through crowds of Germans and tourists in the Rhine River village of Bacharach, I climb to the sun deck of the ferry and grab a chair. With the last passenger barely aboard, the gangplank is dragged in and the river pulls us away.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.