TV has the power to influence how we see cultures, societies, and entire groups of people, and for many adventurers, it can also help spark the travel bug that will often last a lifetime. Through travel shows, viewers get a first-class ticket to experiences happening all around the world, but until recently, the point-of-view has largely been seen solely through the eyes of white travel hosts and experts.
As black travelers continue to make their presence known, there are also more shows with black hosts that invite audiences to see more of the world from a fresh perspective. Kellee Edwards became just the second black woman to host a show on the Travel Channel with Mysterious Islands, which premiered in January and is set to return soon, and if you want to see the world through the eyes of black travelers, here are a few more shows you should be watching now.
RELATED: Kellee Edwards Is Making Travel Channel History
No Passport Required
You don’t have to leave the States to get an international experience. Famed New York chef Marcus Samuelsson hosts No Passport Required, a food-centric show on PBS in its first season where Samuelsson visits multicultural communities in cities like Detroit, New Orleans, and Chicago to discover how global cuisine has helped shaped the flavor and cultural landscapes of cities around America. From learning about the Indo-Guyanese cuisine of Queens to getting a deeper understanding of the Haitian influence in Miami, this show celebrates the beauty in America’s diversity.
Watch No Passport Required HERE.
Ainsley Eats The Streets
There’s only one season of Ainsley Eats The Streets on Netflix, but the show, which follows British chef Ainsley Harriott as he samples street food in destinations like Istanbul, Madrid, Osaka, and Barbados, is packed with imagery that will make you hungry for your next meal and your next trip. Explore fusion fare in Malaysia and learn about Icelandic seafood cooking techniques that have Viking roots in this 13-episode series.
Watch Ainsley Eats The Streets HERE.
Nourish
Nourish is a Facebook Watch show from PBS, and it illustrates how travel, food, history, and science all work together. Hosted by Dr. Howard Conyers, a rocket scientist for NASA and a BBQ pitmaster, Nourish is the kind of show for travelers that want to dive deeper into a destination’s culture. From highlighting the Gullah Geechee food traditions in South Carolina to learning the secret behind the perfect gumbo in New Orleans, this show doesn’t just show you about a culture’s food, it will explain how the food came to be.
Big City, Little Budget
One of two shows on Facebook Watch hosted by Oneika the Traveller, Big City, Little Budget schools budget-conscious travelers on how to make the most of trips to places like Manhattan, San Francisco, and Houston without breaking the bank. Get tips on where to find great, cheap food, low-cost attractions, and reasonable accommodations, and watch Oneika’s other Facebook Watch show called One Bag and You’re Out to learn the science of packing the perfect carry-on bag.
