Steves: A walk across Prague

Known as the “Golden City of 100 Spires,” Prague boasts a fairytale medieval Old Town, historic churches and synagogues, and perhaps Europe’s largest castle.

Volcano Watch: The USGS review process: Checking and verifying our information

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is part of the U.S. Geological Survey, the science agency of the U.S. Department of Interior. Our job is to obtain and share science-based information about the volcanoes of Hawaii and American Samoa and earthquakes across the state. What are the different types of information that HVO provides and how do we ensure its accuracy?

Let’s Talk Food: Holiday gatherings

As we gather with family and friends, we often need to think about a dish to bring with us. It is such a local tradition not to go to someone’s home without taking a little something with us.

Rick Steves: Andorra: Not Lost in the Pyrenees

High in the mountains where France and Spain come together, I drove and drove. My goal: to stand atop a ridge looking into a rugged mountain-ringed basin where nature cradles an ancient tribe. There was an age when these pint-sized kingdoms were commonplace. But today, only a few survive. I finally reached my destination, deep in the rugged Pyrenees Mountains. Before me stretched the principality of Andorra.

Let’s Talk Food: Soup dumpling

Din Tai Fung Restaurant is a Taiwanese restaurant with 16 locations in the United States (but not in Hawaii). That is only a fraction of its 165 locations around the world, which include Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.

Christmas in three European countries

In Europe, “Christmas” (or the local word for it) refers not to the day but the whole season, which stretches well over a month — not to extend the shopping season, but to fit in the many holy days and festivities.

Volcano Watch: How have eruptions shaped Hawaii? Volcano Awareness Month 2025, with a twist

The USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitors the six currently active volcanoes in Hawaii, but past eruptions have shaped all of the Hawaiian Islands. Join us in January 2025 for Volcano Awareness Month, an opportunity to learn about volcanic activity in Hawaii over the past year and beyond, or — new for this upcoming edition — submit art or poetry recognizing Hawaii’s volcanic history.

Plant of the Month: Hawaiian Sweet Potato

You might want to consider planting a Hawaiian heritage plant that can add an attractive ground cover that is good for your garden while providing an edible staple that is good for you. Known in Hawaii as ‘uala, Hawaiian sweet potatoes were such an important part of a healthy diet that early Polynesians brought them with them when they first settled here in the 6th century.

Let’s Talk Food: Foods of Australia

My son Reid had to work in Sydney, Australia so at the end of his work week, he had planned to take a few days off so he could show me around and meet up with some of his fellow workers.