Overview

Join experienced travel photographer Bob Krist on a 28-episode journey through the Azores, Mexico, Maine, and Venice, exploring the tapestry of cultures, enduring customs, and stunning landscapes that make each region so unique.

How deep do our vacations actually go? Are we ever really in touch with the local customs of the regions we visit? Do we talk with local artisans, lighthouse keepers, oyster shuckers, and farmers who live and work there year-round? And what would a more immersive and authentic travel experience even look like, anyway?

In Bob Krist’s Off the Beaten Path, join retired travel photographer Bob Krist on a 28-episode journey stretching across two continents and four countries. Begin your tour in the Portuguese Azores, an archipelago of islands 870 miles west of Lisbon, where you will sample wine and cheese, tour naval museums, and explore stunning luscious landscapes. Then, head southwest to Central Mexico to participate in cowboy pilgrimages, Lent festivals, and monarch butterfly tours. Afterward, experience the great state of Maine beyond Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, traveling up and down coastlines, ferry routes, and highways to get a sense of day-to-day life in one of America’s most beautiful states. And end your whirlwind excursion with Venice during Carnival season, going behind the scenes of one of the most famous Lent celebrations in the world. This series isn’t just about seeing sights; it’s about experiencing them in-depth.

But there’s more. Although Bob has arranged the tour schedule, it’s the locals who serve as your eyes and ears on the ground. Chat with winemakers and dairy farmers in the Azores. Sit down with artisans in Central Mexico to see how guitars and sculptures are made. Ditch the lobster roll hunting to get to know the ferry captains and oyster farmers of Maine. And talk to photographers, mask makers, and costume designers about the intricacies of their craft in Venice. Across 28 episodes, the people of the Azores, Mexico, Maine, and Venice will be your best and most knowledgeable guides. It’s through them that you’ll really get to know your destinations—all from the comfort of your home.

Course Structure

01: Azores: The Calderas of São Miguel

Join Bob Krist and guide Daniel Cabral of Greenzone on a journey through the Azores, an archipelago of small islands between Europe and America. Start with São Miguel, the largest island in the collection, taking in the breathtaking calderas, pristine lakes, luscious plant life, and seaside villages that make the Azores unique.

Duration: 6 min

02: Azores: The Tea Plantations of Europe

There are only two tea plantations in all of Europe; and lucky for you, they’re both in São Miguel. Pay a visit to the larger and older plantation, Gorreana, where you will sit down with sixth-generation tea farmer Madelena Mota for a crash course on tea history and production.

Duration: 5 min

03: Azores: Lighthouses of the Gulf Stream

While lighthouses sit empty in the United States, most lighthouses in the Azores—and throughout Portugal—are still manned by naval personnel. Explore lighthouse life and lore with Rui Melo, one of many Farol do Arnel lighthouse keepers still posted at the northeast part of São Miguel.

Duration: 5 min

04: Azores: Days of Wine and Amoroso

Visit a master winemaker before (virtually) sampling some Generosa wine. Then, take a trip to Pico, a long stretch of ancient lava rock vineyards that doubles as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to learn about the storied history of Posada wine and winemaking in the Azores.

Duration: 9 min

05: Azores: Whales, Tales, and Sails

Hop on a ferry for a day trip to Horta, the main city on the Azores island of Faial and a popular stop for sailors due to its protected harbor. Explore the art, history, and geography of the region before stopping for a tour of the impressive Scrimshaw Museum collections.

Duration: 5 min

06: Azores: The Bulls of Terceira

Visit Terceira, an island of rolling hills, patchwork green fields, long-dormant volcanic cones, and—most important—hordes and hordes of free grazing cattle. Dig into the long history of the Tourada à corda—an old bull run tradition wholly unique to the island—before exploring Terceira’s show-stopping cheese and culinary specialties.

Duration: 9 min

07: Azores: Feeling Saudade in the City

Founded in 1478, Angra do Heroísmo is a stunning island city bursting with churches, monasteries, manor houses, and palaces. Tour this designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of its most beautiful attractions—Captain General’s Palace. And finish with a walk through the Duke of Terceira Garden to experience the full beauty of the city.

Duration: 5 min

08: Azores: Portugal’s Garden Oasis

Visit the eastern part of São Miguel Island, emblematic of the lush flora, bubbling hot springs, spectacular viewpoints, and charming villages the Azores islands are famous for. Experience beautiful scenes and delicious geothermal-cooked dishes as you make your way to Ribeira dos Caldeirões Park, the Terra Nostra Garden, and the wildlife oasis of Ilhéu de Vila Franca.

Duration: 10 min

09: Mexico: The Concheros Celebration of Spring

Join Bob and narrator Fabiola Stevenson—a Mexican American actress—on a tour of San Miguel de Allende, a colonial town in the Bahia region of Mexico. Kick-off spring by attending the Concheros, a historic festival complete with intense rhythmic drumming, colorful costumes, and pre-Columbian dance troupes.

Duration: 8 min

10: Mexico: Cowboys of the High Desert

The Mexican cowboy, known as a charro, is an iconic figure. Learn all about the Charrería Mexican rodeo before taking a ride with thousands of cowboys and cowgirls across the dusty Bahia Desert to a high, mountain-top shrine in a pilgrimage called the Cabalgata of Cristo Rey.

Duration: 13 min

11: Mexico: Holy Week in the Bajío

The Christian Holy Week is one of the most important religious observances in Mexico. From Palm Sunday to Easter, the cities and towns in Bajío host a variety of celebrations and ceremonies. Visit several to immerse yourself in their Holy Week traditions, which range from profoundly spiritual to downright explosive.

Duration: 13 min

12: Mexico: The Epic Journey of the Monarchs

Where do all the monarch butterflies go in the winter? Unearth one of nature’s most impressive migration stories by visiting the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve—another UNESCO World Heritage Site—where millions of butterflies visit annually. Then, sit down with Jaime Hernandez to learn about how you can protect the world’s butterflies.

Duration: 6 min

13: Mexico: Festival of the Exploding Hammers

The small mining village of San Juan de la Vega celebrates Carnival—also known as Mardi Gras—with a bang. Experience the so-called Festival of the Exploding Hammers without the requisite safety equipment, digging into the fascinating lore and public safety logistics behind an enduring Lent spectacle.

Duration: 3 min

14: Mexico: The Master Craftsmen of Michoacán

Join Bob on a visit to the Michoacán state in Central Mexico, home to the Indigenous Purépecha people whose ancestors formed one of the great civilizations of Mesoamerica. See for yourself why the villages around Lake Patzcuaro are so famous, from their renowned crafts and artwork to their stunning natural landscapes.

Duration: 12 min

15: Mexico: The Jungle Xanadu of Las Pozas

About 28 miles north of Mexico City lies a spectacular garden tucked away in the mountains of Xilitla, willed into existence by an eccentric Englishman named Edward James. Go on a mystery tour of the surrealistic sculpture park Las Pozas, a group of whimsical, concrete structures that covers over 80 acres of subtropical rainforest.

Duration: 5 min

16: Maine: The Spectacular Coast

Travel north to experience the sights and sounds of coastal Maine, home to lobsters, lighthouses, and some of the prettiest villages in the United States. Join Bob—a 5-year Maine resident himself—and photographer Ben Williamson for an introductory look at some of the most charming locales and beautiful scenery the Pine Tree state has to offer.

Duration: 11 min

17: Maine: Life on the Islands

Ferry captain Gene Willard joins Bob to explore some of Maine’s 4,000 islands—15 of which have full-time residential populations and rely on ferry routes to connect them to the mainland. Catch an insider tour of the history and wildlife of the islands of Maine, from their blue heron populations to their gun batteries.

Duration: 6 min

18: Maine: The World’s Largest Rotating Globe

Take a road trip with Bob up Route 1, the mother road of Maine. Kick off your journey by visiting one of the state’s most engaging and eccentric roadside marvels: Eartha, a whopping four-story rotating globe. Join Eartha’s keeper Scott Dyer to explore the history and mechanics behind this otherworldly roadside wonder.

Duration: 7 min

19: Maine: Collecting Americana

Link up with retired art professor and museum curator John Fawcett on Route 1 for a tour of Fawcett Museum’s extensive collection of 20th-century toys and Disney memorabilia. Take a look at some of John’s rarest items and discover where he finds his pieces and what inspired him to create this impressive roadside wonder.

Duration: 7 min

20: Maine: The Indigenous Wild Blueberry

The last roadside attraction stop on your winding Route 1 road trip is quite the treat. Sit down with farmers Dell and Marie Emerson to examine the history of fruit farming in Maine, before taking stock of all the wonderful surprises and scrumptious goodies at this delightfully eccentric blueberry emporium.

Duration: 9 min

21: Maine: Riding the Revived Railroads

Maine’s train system was unusual compared to the rest of the United States in the 19th century. Bob takes you back in time to see how the train industry changed Maine and how Maine changed the train industry. Then, you’ll meet some folks who are trying to restore Maine’s history, track by painstaking track.

Duration: 10 min

22: Maine: How Oysters Came Back from the Brink

When most people think of Maine, they think lobsters—boiled, baked, or chopped up, and stuffed into rolls. But not so fast! Join Bob and a crew aboard an oyster dragger to learn about the tenacity and toughness of oyster harvesters, before joining Andy Rogers for a private oyster shucking demonstration on the river.

Duration: 12 min

23: Maine: The Artists of Monhegan Island

Hop on the ferry to explore Monhegan Island, a sparsely populated artist’s paradise located 12 miles off the coast of Maine. Tour the island’s stunning coastlines. Explore the local museum. And talk to some innkeepers and painters to get a sense of what life is like on an island so few call home.

Duration: 12 min

24: Venice: Carnivale over the Centuries

As they say in Venice, “A carnevale ogni scherzo vale” or rather: “During carnival, anything goes.” It’s a saying that perfectly sums up the energy and excitement as Venetians and visitors alike celebrate one of the city’s most cherished traditions. Join Bob for a behind-the-scenes look at the Carnevale di Venezia.

Duration: 3 min

25: Venice: Making the Masks of Carnivale

An authentic Venetian mask is made of paper-mache. The entire process—from the initial molding to all those last-minute details—is done by hand, usually by a master craftsman. Sit down with one such craftsman to learn about the history and art behind Venice’s iconic Carnevale masks.

Duration: 8 min

26: Venice: The Costumes of Carnivale

With masks come costumes, too—feathered hats, embroidered shirts, satin gloves, even animal tusks. Meet Cindy Peterson, a 28-year veteran of Carnivale, along with a swath of other festival legends to tear into the history and nature of dress at one of the most fabulous Lent celebrations in the world.

Duration: 16 min

27: Venice: Capturing the Spirit of Carnivale

What is the best way to capture the magic, mystery, and exuberance of Venetian Carnival? Work with two world-class photographers—incredibly well-respected among veteran costumers in Venice—to hone basic but extremely important photography skills. Play with light, setting, and even props to see how you can do celebrations like the Carnevale di Venezia justice on film.

Duration: 9 min

28: Venice: The Future of the City of Canals

Although the Carnevale di Venezia has been around for over 1,000 years, past performance is no guarantee of future results. The twin juggernauts of sea level rise and mass tourism continue to threaten Venice. Wrap up your travel journey by seeing how Venetians are mobilizing to protect the city they know and love.

Duration: 7 min