Gene Openshaw
Gene is a writer, composer, and lecturer on art and history. Specializing in writing walking tours of Europe’s cultural sights, Gene has co-authored a dozen of Rick’s books and contributes to Rick’s public television series. When not traveling, Gene enjoys composing music, recovering from his 1973 trip to Europe with Rick, and living everyday life with his daughter.
Steve manages tour planning for Rick Steves’ Europe and co-authors the France guidebooks with Rick. Fluent in French, he’s lived in France on several occasions, starting when he was seven, and has traveled there annually since 1986. Steve’s wife, Karen Lewis Smith, who’s an expert on French cuisine and wine, provides invaluable contributions to his books, as do his two children.
Mary caught the travel bug as a child living in London, and later, as an exchange student in France. Born a Seattleite, Mary now confidently calls herself a Parisian. Deeply in love with a Frenchman, and a mother of two, she occupies her free time hunting for the city’s best baguette and digging at the root causes of Franco-American cultural miscommunications.
Ben experienced his first taste of European travel when he was three, exploring medieval castles with his parents. Returning after graduation, he was hooked and has spent much of his time since exploring Europe independently and leading tours for Rick Steves. When not living out of his backpack, Ben splits his time between Rome and Seattle.
The son of Norwegian immigrants, Glenn was born to explore. Having roamed throughout Europe and Scandinavia, and rubbed elbows with countless locals, it’s fitting he’d now work for Rick Steves as a guidebook editor and researcher. Glenn currently lives in Seattle.
Tom edits and researches guidebooks for Rick Steves. As a young lad, he acquired an affinity for Dutch and Belgian culture, thanks to Paul Verhoeven movies, Belgian chocolate, and his dad’s war stories about the Battle of the Bulge. Tom has lived and worked in London, Paris, and Germany, and now makes his home in Seattle with his wife Julie.
Cameron writes and edits guidebooks for Rick Steves, specializing in Eastern Europe. For this book, Cameron updated the chapters on Bavaria, Rothenburg, Vienna, Salzburg, Venice, and the Cinque Terre. He lives in Seattle with his wife Shawna.
Suzanne, an editor with Rick Steves’ Europe, began her travel career riding in a station wagon with her six siblings from Michigan to Florida. Since then, she’s broadened her destinations to include much of Europe and parts of Asia. A librarian by training and a longtime editor of art publications, she’s happiest when she has a red pen in one hand and a book in the other. She lives in Seattle with her husband and son.
Kristen, a native of Seattle, first came to Europe as an exchange student, studying theater. Many years later, she has become fluent in French, German, Champagne, and foie gras. She’s been leading tours and researching guidebooks for Rick Steves since 2000. After stays in southern France, Berlin, and Paris, she now lives in Seattle with her husband, Sylvain, and their daughter, Charlotte.
Having studied French for many years and lived in Brittany, Amy now jumps at the chance to travel to France. For the rest of the year, Amy helps plan and manage tours in the Rick Steves tour operations department and lives near Seattle with her husband, Jeremy.
Gretchen lived in St. Andrews, Scotland, for one year, where she studied philosophy and medieval history; her subsequent addiction to Scrumpy Jack and trifles have kept her coming back ever since. Raised in rural California, she now lives in Seattle and is the content editor for ricksteves.com.
Cary discovered international travel during college and has been feeding her wanderlust ever since. A former teacher, she believes that Europe is the best classroom for those who travel with an open mind. When not researching guidebooks or leading Rick Steves tours, she lives in Dallas planning her next adventure.
Ian has worked with Rick’s guidebooks since 1993, after starting out with Let’s Go and Frommer’s guides. Originally from Upstate New York, Ian speaks several European languages, including German, Italian, and French, and makes his home in Reykjavík, Iceland.
Mozart, palaces, castles, mountain hikes, and crystal-clear lakes are just a few of the things Kevin enjoys in Austria. When he isn’t indulging in hearty Austrian meals or a refreshing swim in Hallstatt, he can be found assisting a Rick Steves tour or answering travel questions at Rick’s Travel Center in Edmonds, WA.
