Look at what's behind Carnival and Mardi Gras celebrations around the world by learning about the festive season's origins and customs in Germany's Rhineland. Then hear what's been added to the World Monuments Fund's latest "watch list" of endangered cultural sites around the world. And get recommendations for must-see experiences in Alaska, along with tips for planning adventures across the Last Frontier.

• German tour guide Fabian Rueger
• Gene Openshaw, co-author of the Rick Steves art guide books
• Bénédicte de Montlaur, President & CEO of the World Monuments Fund
• Anchorage-based travel writer Lisa Maloney

• 2025 Karneval events in Cologne, Germany were scheduled to start on Thursday, February 27.
• Gene Openshaw is the author of "Michelangelo at Midlife: Chasing the Tomb of Julius II," and co-wrote with Rick "Europe's Top 100 Masterpieces: Art for the Traveler."
• 2025 is the 60th anniversary of the World Monuments Fund.
• The complete 2025 Watch List of endangered cultural sites, issued in January by WMF.
• Several sites along the east coast of Africa, known as the "Swahili Coast," are included on the 2025 Watch List.
• Lisa Maloney writes the Alaska guidebooks "Moon Alaska," "50 Hikes Around Anchorage," and "Day Hiking South Central Alaska."
• Lisa also maintains the "Come to Alaska.net" website to help with tourism planning.
• Chena Hot Springs Resort is located 60 miles from Fairbanks.
• The Iditarod sled dog race has relocated the race restart to Fairbanks in 2025, due to insufficient snow conditions on part of the usual trail routes. 2025 also marks the centennial of the original serum run dogsled relay to Nome.