Pulitzer Prize winner Beverly Gage explains how a road trip to the places where history happened can renew your faith in American progress, without ignoring an honest assessment of the nation's past. And the good folks from Atlas Obscura share some of their favorite quirky and unique American roadside attractions. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Hear from two Roman tour guides about what to expect on a first-time trip to Italy, and how to make it the adventure of a lifetime. Then get a taste of life in France's rural southwest as author David McAninch explains how spending the better part of a year in Gascony taught his American family to slow down and savor their time together. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

A Belfast-based tour guide points out the places where native son Van Morrison found inspiration for his music and poetry. Then a Romani author tells us about the variety of communities within her culture, both on the continent and in the US. And an adventure traveler shares some of his favorite scenic hikes in Europe. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Hear why one writer chooses to invest the time in crossing America by train instead of hopping a quick flight. Then discover what taking high-definition photos of Earth from space revealed to a veteran astronaut. And get inspired to view the Renaissance treasures of Florence. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

A master stonemason considers the great sites of Europe and shares what these enduring structures can teach us about permanence, craft, and human ambition. Then an Italian tour guide sheds light on the Dolomites, the spectacular setting where Italian, German, and Ladin traditions meet. Plus, an aficionado of American road trips tells us about efforts to revitalize historic Route 66 as a national heritage trail. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Celebrate Bastille Day with French guides. They'll explain the impressionist techniques perfected in the early 20th century, provide insider advice for designing the perfect Parisian itinerary, and help tackle the immense collection at the Louvre. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.