by Adrian Northrup
Summer may be winding down, but that doesn’t mean your traveling has to. Explore the untouched depths of the earth, visit restaurants across the country and experience unforgettable culture from your own home, via television.
TV shows offer viewers a look at a different world without even having to leave their couch. Here are some of Tango Diva’s picks for travel TV shows. Check your local listings times and showings in your area.
Samantha Brown: Passport to Great Weekends
Want to go on a vacation but only have a weekend? Travel Channel’s Samantha Brown explores cities across the globe in just 48 hours on Samantha Brown’s Passport to Great Weekends. “Sam” provides viewers with insider tips about hotels, restaurants and activities about the destination. She also meets up with locals from the city for insider tips.
For more information, visit Samantha Brown on the Travel Channel Web site.
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
Looking to for an authentic culinary travel experience? Travel Channel’s Anthony Bourdain eats and drinks his way through global locations, both off-beat and touristy. Local hosts guide him through an authentic culinary tour, challenging his taste buds and gastronomic strength. He also gives viewers information on the cultural background of the location and its influences on its cuisine.
For more information, visit Anthony Bourdain on the Travel Channel Web site.
Want extreme? Follow the Discovery Channel’s Bear Grylls across the globe, where he shows viewers how to survive with almost nothing. Bear is left in the depths of the wilderness and must find his way back to civilization. From swimming in freezing waters in Siberia to sleeping in a deer carcass in the Scottish Highlands, Bear will teach you what to eat, where to sleep and how to avoid disasters.
For more information visit the Man Vs. Wild Web site.
You’ve never seen nature like you will on Discovery Channel’s Planet Earth series. The Emmy-award winning program took over five years to create, and shot footage in over 200 countries. Special camera lenses and high-quality picture offers viewers unseen footage of the wilderness. Actress Sigourney Weaver narrates the series.
For more information, visit the Planet Earth Web site.
Taking a road trip in the near future? Join the Food Network’s Guy Fieri on Diners Drive-ins and Dives as he cruises through U.S., visiting classic diners, shacks and restaurants. From the deep South to Seattle, Fieri seeks out locales still making food the old-fashioned way, home cooked and made with love.
For more information, visit the Diners, Drive-ins and Dives Web site.
On a budget, but love to eat? Tune in to Rachael Ray’s $40 on the Food Network. Rachael travels to a destination city, either in the U.S. or aboard, and can only spend $40 on breakfast, lunch and dinner (and sometimes a snack). Her picks vary from to five-star cuisine restaurants to hole-in-the-wall diners. She also usually tries to include the local fare in her dining, and give future travelers insider tips on how to eat fabulous at an affordable price.
For more information, visit $40 a Day with Rachael Ray on the Food Network Web site.
If you want an authentic look at a location, tune into PBS for Globe Trekker. Inspired the Lonely Planet travel book series, Globe Trekker documents the travels of a traveler, acting as the host and tour guide, and their experiences at their destination. The travelers guide viewers through all sorts of cultural experiences, varying from weddings to festivals.
For more information, visit the Globe Trekkers Web site.
Travelling to Europe? Tune into PBS’s Rick Steves’ Europe with European travel expert and host Rick Steve. Steve guides viewers through European cities, both well-known and small villages. He suggests tourists become momentary locals, saving themselves money. Alternate tourist attractions and destinations are highlighted to give viewers a more authentic look at the European city.
For more information, visit Rick Steve’s Web site.
