Welcome
Hello, or should we say "ciao", "hallo", or "bonjour"! We are the Picketts, a family of four from Raleigh, North Carolina. Our names are Caroline (21) and Megan (18) and we are full time students at UNC Chapel Hill (GO HEELS!). Megan graduated from high school in June of 2025 and this was her graduation trip! All our thanks go to our parents, Mark and Farrah, who took us on this amazing trip! It was a unforgettable two weeks and a great introduction to overseas travel. After lots of gelato and 1,395 pictures, we are here to share our trip. We hope you enjoy seeing our experience as we all worked together to make this scrapbook something to remember!
Why a Rick Steves Tour?
Our decision to book a Rick Steves' Tour was based on our dads long-standing admiration for Rick's travel philosophy, honed through years of watching his PBS shows and online presentations. We both remember the countless mornings of waking up and already hearing our Dad watch Rick Steves on the living room TV (we can recognize his voice from anywhere). Our dad respects his knowledge, no-nonsense travel method, and how he supports local communities and his staff. A major draw was the tour's structure, which balanced efficient coach travel between destinations with accommodation in centrally-located hotels, ensuring we could fully immerse ourselves in the unique atmosphere of each amazing city.
Us when we hear you're booking a Rick Steves tour!!!!
4
Countries Visited
1,395
Pictures
Taken
20+
Gelatos
Consumed
0
Times Pickpocketed
Meet the Pickett Family
Mark
A Rick Steves super fan! Dad bought Rick's books and watched his Youtube videos, ensuring we were well-prepared! The money belt also traveled with us the whole trip.
Farrah
An avid Facebook user! Mom ensured our trip was well documented. While tedious at times, we have her to thank for all these photos!
Caroline
The gelato connoisseur! I made sure to find desserts in each city to end the day with a sweet treat. Best gelato goes to Gelateria Gallonetto in Venice!
Megan
The videographer! Megan videoed our trip (getting 20 hours worth of content to edit into a 1-hour travel video, which can be found on the final page!). Tiktok and F1 were her guides to Europe.
Watch out for one of our dogs, Myles!
He is going to give some good travel tips, so don't miss out!! Plus, he's got a cute hat on, so how could you not listen to him?