Since 1973, Rick Steves has spent about four months a year exploring Europe. His mission: to empower Americans to have European trips that are fun, affordable, and culturally broadening. Rick produces a best-selling guidebook series, a public television series, and a public radio show, and organizes small-group tours that take over 20,000 travelers to Europe annually.

He does all of this with the help of a hardworking, well-traveled staff of 100 at Rick Steves' Europe in Edmonds, Washington, near Seattle.

When not on the road, Rick is active in his church and with advocacy groups focused on economic justice, drug policy reform, and ending hunger. To recharge, Rick plays piano, relaxes at his family cabin in the Cascade Mountains, and spends time with his partner Trish, son Andy, and daughter Jackie.

Fred Plotkin is the Italy expert other so-called Italy experts turn to for definitive knowledge. The New York Times say he is 'known by the cognoscenti for his renaissance mastery of two seemingly separate disciplines: music and the food of Italy'.

His books on opera, classical music, Italian food, wine, and art provide enlightenment and pleasure for readers the world over. He divides his time between homes in New York and Italy, and in opera houses everywhere..