A moment of "Craic" at Dunluce Castle on the Antrim Coast. Dale, Margaret, Trese, Neil and Chris show off their dance moves (and comfy footwear). 
The greatest souvenir is a broader perspective and greater appreciation for the place we call home." - ​Rick Steves, 2020 Tour Reunion 
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WILL THE REAL RICK STEVES PLEASE STAND UP? The man himself! 13 of us gathered in Edmonds, WA for the Rick Steves Tour Reunion at the end of January. Left to Right: Harry, Karen, Rick, Robin, Ellyn, Karen, Trese, Dale, Jane, Joe, Rick, Margaret, Kristi and Neil (not pictured: Todd).
A Limerick by Tour Member Liz

​Passing castles on green hills galore
Our heads stuffed with history and lore
If the facts ever fade
The buddies we've made
Will prompt Joe to repeat and restore!

A few cool facts about Rick Steves Tours!

  • 2019 was the biggest year yet - 30,000 travellers enjoyed their own Rick Steves Tour experience.
  • Of these, 1/2 were returnees!
  • Rick Steves offers 40 itineraries.
  • Italy and Ireland are the most popular destinations.
  • 150 Rick Steves Tour Guides gather in Edmonds, WA each year to connect, learn and refine tour iteneraries. Rick takes advantage of having all of this vast knowledge on his doorstep and records half of his radio segments for the year during this one week!
  • 2020 Tours will focus even more on experiences with the goal of adding more value-per-tour-day.
  • Demand is growing! Rick Steves has carefully considered balancing growth with quality and has made a commitment to not compromise quality for the sake of growth.



​​Rick Steves Tour Reunion
We get a magical moment from Spain!
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  • Rick Steves Climate Commitment is a self-imposed tax to offset the carbon impact of travel. About $30 per tour member (almost One Million Dollars a year) is invested in a carefully curated group of non-profits dedicated to fighting climate change.
  • Rick Steves takes his own tours! This year, he is bringing 25 relatives on the three week Best of Europe Tour - staring in Amsterdam and ending in Paris. (He sheepishly remarked that he felt a little sympathetic for the guide who would be leading them!)
  • Coming Soon! Best of Poland in 10 Days. Reunion attendees had the opportunity to sign up for the final "Dress Rehearsal Tour." What's even cooler? Half the proceeds (over $50,000) of the fall tour will be donated to Lawyers and Collars, helping to protect voter rights in the US.
  • Hundreds (thousands?) of Tour Alums gather in Edmonds, WA at the end of each January for the Rick Steves Tour Reunion. 
  • There are Tour Reunion Parties & Welcome Reception (photo gallery at right) as well as a full slate of "Test Drive a Tour Guide" Travel Classes.
  • At our Tour Reunion Party (London, England, South England, Scotland, Best of Ireland, Scandinavia, St. Petersburg-Tallinn-Helsinki) fun prizes were awarded for the Tour Group with the most members attending (15!), the person who had travelled the furthest to attend (Ontario, Canada) and the person who had taken the most Rick Steves Tours (20!). TWENTY!! #Lifegoals​

An evening of Irish Dinner, Drinks and Craic

We had 13 (including Joe and his lovely wife) tour members reunite at the Tour Reunion Party on Friday. We enjoyed the Rick Steves Welcome Reception and had dinner out as a group.

Saturday was spent exploring Edmonds, taking Test-Drive-a-Tour Guide Classes, and culminated in Dinner, Drinks and Craic at the Trainers!

Irish Blessings for your Journey

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The lovely thank you Joe wrote us at the end of the tour.
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

May good luck be with you Wherever you go,
and your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow.

May your days be many and your troubles be few,
May all God’s blessings descend upon you,
May peace be within you,
May your heart be strong,
​May you find what you’re seeking wherever you roam.
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May you have the hindsight to know where you’ve been
the foresight to know where you’re going
and the insight to know when you’re going too far.
Thank you Rick Steves for making journeys like this possible!

​And, thanks for traveling with us,
Slán agus beannacht (Joe's Sign off means: Goodbye and God Bless You)
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Niall and Criostina
​(Neil and Kristi)
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