Rick Steves: Helping millions explore Europe

Now, Steves has more than 30 titles and Amazon.com lists his titles at the top of almost any travel book list.

Unlike other travel-book authors who update their books by calling, faxing or e-mailing hotels and restaurants, Steves said he and his staff visit each location to taste the food, check the mattresses and look to see if the bathrooms are still clean.

From the guide book research, Steves realized he had rich material to produce a series of television shows.

Today, Steves, with his signature glasses, backpack and moppish head of blond hair, has become a fixture on the PBS stations where the show has aired for 15 years. It is seen on 312 stations reaching 95 percent of U.S. markets.

He's extending his public broadcasting reach with a new, hour-long radio show, aired in 17 markets. The show - what Steves hopes will be the travel equivalent to Car Talk, the popular call-in automative program - set a new record for the amount of Saturday afternoon listeners at KUOW, the public radio station in Seattle where the show debuted.

"On the face of it, this is a project that could be really valuable to local public radio stations and really appealing to public radio listeners," said Israel Smith, a public radio consultant.

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Steves reaches fans like music teacher Carla Rutschman, 59, of Bellingham, a self-proclaimed "Ricknik" who travels to Europe about twice a year.

She owns all of his TV shows and recently donated $150 to her local PBS station to get an advanced copy of Steves' "European Christmas" special. She's not alone.

Steves' has become a mainstay of public television fundraising and regularly travels the country to appear on pledge drives.

"I want to be a cash cow for public broadcasting," he said.

Tom Doggett, vice president of TV programming for Oregon Public Broadcasting, said Steves ranks among the top three fundraisers.

Steves is looking for even more ways to amplify his vision. Along with the radio show, he's just produced a series of podcasts, free, downloadable audio files, featuring tours of the Louvre and other Parisian destinations.

If anything, Steves' legions of fans may have followed him too closely.

Visitors to the tiny Italian coast towns in Cinque Terre may not find Italians eating in the charming restaurants Steves talks about. Instead, they may find a room filled with American tourists, their Rick Steves guidebooks tucked under their arms.

But Steves already is planning his next trip to Europe this summer. He'll likely be stealing lunch from breakfast before setting out to look around corners, test mattresses and find the latest undiscovered town.

"It's a wonderful way to spend your days," he said.

On the Net:

Europe Through the Back Door: http://www.ricksteves.com/

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