Find out the history behind Mardi Gras and the carnival season, the way they observe it in Germany's Rhineland.

What the Catholic Church allows you here is to see what anarchy and chaos and hell will be like

before you become a good person again through your fasting.

Here how for the last 60 years the World Monuments Fund has been helping to preserve historic sites around the world that are at risk of disappearing.

Preservationists are not people who are preventing you from doing what you want to do. Preservationists are people who highlight the value of heritage for your community.

And get tips for enjoying the top sites of Alaska, the way the locals do. You can still see the same wildlife and scenery from riding a state ferry

as you would from an expensive cruise ship.

And the very first thing I saw was a humpback whale,

just flying through the air in a full breach and smashing back down into the water.

It's all in the hour ahead on Travel with Rick Steves.

Come along.

We'll find out which important heritage sites around the world

are at the greatest risk of disappearing.

And an Alaska guidebook author recommends her favorite places

and experiences in the great land.

But let's start today's travel with Rick Steves recognizing that you don't have to go to New Orleans or Rio to celebrate carnival and Mardi Gras,

though it could certainly help.

In many communities around the world, carnival season leads up to Fat Tuesday,

before Ash Wednesday ushers in

a more sober time heading into Easter.

For a look at how carnival is observed

in Germany's Rhineland,

...