Ready...Set...Vacation! with Erik the Travel Guy

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Travel Tip - What's Free In Las Vegas

Las Vegas, renowned for its glamour and extravagance, also offers plenty of free attractions for budget-conscious travelers. One of the city's most iconic attractions, the Fountains of Bellagio...

Notes From The Road - Spring Break

Greetings fellow fun-seekers! As someone who loves exploring new destinations, I can't emphasize enough how important it is to book your spring break travel plans as early as possible. Why?

Explore the United States!

National parks, small towns, big cities, beaches, forests, desserts, this country is big and diverse! Get out there and explore! 

Travel Tip - What's Free In Boston

Boston, the historic gem of New England, is a city that effortlessly blends its rich history with a thriving contemporary culture. For budget-conscious travelers or locals looking for affordable entertainment, Boston offers an array of free activities that are both enjoyable and enriching.

Jazzed Up In New Orleans

Welcome to my unforgettable journey through the enchanting streets of New Orleans! In this teaser video, I give you a taste of what you can expect on your next visit and on our full episode of Beyond Your Backyard. 

Notes From The Road - Hello Fall

Greetings fellow travel lovers! I hope your Summer was as enchanting and rewarding as mine was. If you are a parent, then this time of year is a little “calm before the storm”. The school schedules...

Greetings From Home

Greetings fellow travel enthusiasts! This has been a tough week for my family and me as my brother passed away unexpectedly. 

How To Make A Chicago Style Hot Dog

Travel and food? You bet! This is an iconic Hot Dog and I love it. It's easy to make and oh so delicious! In this post you'll learn what you need and how to prepare this amazing dog!

Travel Tip - How To Drive On A Two Lane Highway

Picture this. You made the decision to take a family vacation. You booked all the arrangements, packed the car and are setting out for fun, excitement and much needed relaxation.

Beyond Your Backyard - Gettysburg, PA

We are jumping in the time machine in more ways than one! This is the very first episode of my PBS television series Beyond Your Backyard. My fifth grade math teacher haircut and I travel to Gettysburg, PA

Civil War Sites To Visit

Over the years, I have traveled to many civil war sites, battlefields and museums. It never gets tiring because I always learn something new. Fortunately, a number of historic sites have been preserved for posterity and here are just a few of my favorites. 

Beyond Your Backyard - Boone, NC

Travel to the hill country of the mid-Atlantic to unlock the secrets of Boone, North Carolina. Rustic scenery, fascinating frontiersman history, Bluegrass music and delicious country-chic comfort food are all on the menu.

Travel Tip - What's Worth It In Las Vegas

Las Vegas has made incredible strides when it comes to renovating its “Sin City” reputation into something more family-friendly.

Destination Spotlight - Chicago, IL

Chicago is a classic American city filled with unique neighborhoods, stunning architecture, delicious food and lots to see and do!

Vacation Merchandise - Kids Busy Bags!

Keep your kids busy, engaged, happy and entertained during your flight with this Kids Busy Bag and Amenity Kit! Perfect for long car rides, flights or rainy days indoors!

Destination Spotlight - Lafayette, LA

Lafayette, LA isn’t called the “The Happiest City in America” just because it sounds good. It earned that name by being a community filled with good people who greet visitors with warm smiles, delicious food, and authentic, inclusive Cajun culture. By simply walking the streets of Lafayette, you will see what I mean. 

Beyond Your Backyard - Muskogee, OK

On this edition of Beyond Your Backyard, I find out why so many people are “Proud to be an Okie from Muskogee.” The crew and I travel to this quaint Oklahoma town to learn about the history of the Girl Scouts, the Trail of Tears and the local country music connection.

Travel Tip - Car Rental

We’ve all been there. We arrive at our destination, we get our bags (unless you’ve paid attention and only brought carry-on luggage), and you trudge your way over to the Rental Car Center.

How To Take A Roadtrip

Thinking about embarking on a great American roadtrip? Watch this video with a few hacks first! 

Travel Hack - How To Drive In A Foreign Country

Let someone else do the driving in foreign countries. This videos gives you all the facts to consider when planning a trip to a foreign country and whether (or not) you should rent a car.

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Erik Hastings Biography

Erik Hastings, a.k.a. "Erik the Travel Guy"

Erik “the Travel Guy” Hastings is an EMMY award-winning television personality who speaks directly to consumers who can't afford to "get their vacations wrong". He is the host and managing editor of three internationally syndicated television series; "Beyond Your Backyard", “Food for Thought” and “Cruise Food”.

Erik leads an incredibly talented team of industry pros and is the editorial driving force of his platform. While the travel industry directly supports millions of families worldwide, Erik believes travel makes the world a better place. Through exploration and discovery, he has learned that travel brings cultures together and he eagerly shares that spirit with his viewers.

In 2005, Erik launched his own production company that specialized in creating high-quality, low-cost travel videos for online distribution, which has added “world traveler” to his resume. This enterprise encapsulates all of Erik’s true joys by combining video production, writing, discovery, adventure, performing and interacting with fascinating people in some of the most inspiring and beautiful travel destinations in the world. Since inception, he has amassed an impressive client roster including Hertz, The Greenbrier Resort, CruiseOne, Carnival, Pinehurst, Iberostar, and countless official tourism bureaus throughout the world.

In 2017, Erik and his creative team began production on "Beyond Your Backyard", a new educational travel series for Blue Ridge PBS. The series debuted in April of 2018 on Blue Ridge PBS and other public broadcasting stations and quickly gained national attention and new affiliates. Today, the series is seen by millions of viewers nationwide. The series is syndicated by NETA and carried on the CREATE Channel. In its first season, the series was honored by the industry with two EMMY awards for the show and its host.

In 2022, Erik formed a new venture (4:55 AM Entertainment Co.) with his longtime friend and creative partner Jason Zumwalt. His new company produces two series: “Cruise Food” and “Food For Thought”.

Erik spends (on average) about 25 weeks on the road per year. When he's not traveling, he spends time with his two daughters in the New York City area.

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