PBS - Weekend Explorer

Destinations

Join the adventure as “Emmy awarded” host Jeffrey Lehmann takes you to incredibly scenic destinations throughout North America and the world in the award winning Weekend Explorer television series. Each episode features a unique destination and searches out that area’s best kept secrets as well as exploring traditional landmarks. Experience the new spirit of travel, while learning from an informative and humorous narrative that includes culture, history, nature, and wildlife.

Alaska
California
Colorado
Maine
Massachusetts
Michigan
Montana
New Mexico
Nevada
Utah

China
England
Wales

Alaska

Seward, Alaska
Jeffrey Lehmann explores the incredible scenery of Alaska's wilderness by train, horseback and even rides with a dog sled team that competes in the world famous Iditarod. As he makes his way from land to sea, he plays with a giant Steller sea lion and whitewater rafts through a glacier-fed river.

Homer, Alaska
Host Jeffrey Lehmann takes viewers canoeing on the Swanson Canoe System before "flight-seeing" over the Alaskan wilderness in a helicopter that lands on a glacier. He battles a giant halibut and kayaks among majestic bald eagles. On land, he digs for razor clams, watches waves of salmon as they spawn and views a brilliant red sunset over a smoldering volcano.

For a Travel Planner to this or another Weekend Explorer destination click here.

California

Santa Monica, California
Visit “America’s Beach” where the healthy lifestyle for which Southern California is known was made famous. Surf with professional surfer turned restaurateur, and then head to the local Farmer’s Market. Roller blade along the beach with roller blading legend Debbie Merrill, and watch 78 year old skateboarder Liz Bevington, the “Skateboarding Momma”. Head to the beach made famous by Baywatch, and work out at Muscle Beach with world renowned weightlifter Jack Le Lanne.

Mammoth, California
Jeffrey Lehmann searches for bears and learns how Mammoth's residents coexist with the bears that live in their community. He explores the beautiful and serene Sierra mountains and surrounding areas via horseback, mountain bike and on an exciting off-road vehicle tour while taking in majestic Yosemite National Park by air.

Eastern Sierras
Host Jeffrey Lehmann hikes to a High Sierra lake for trout fishing on the trail to the highest peak in the contiguous United States. He also explores the rich history of the Eastern Sierras from the Alabama Hills - the site of famous movies starring John Wayne and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. - to the internment of Japanese Americans at Manzanar during World War II. He also discovers the secrets to surviving in the wild west at the ghost town of Bodie.

Catalina Island, California
Jeffrey Lehmann takes a Jeep ecotour and introduces viewers to the many animals of the island, including bison and the endangered Catalina Island fox. In a once-in-a-lifetime experience, he hand feeds a wild yellowtail while scuba diving. He also kayaks and zodiacs to beautiful and remote island locales and dives to a breathtaking underwater preserve.

San Diego, California
Jeffrey Lehmann visits several local landmarks, including Cabrillo Monument and the Star of India. He rides horseback in a historic California Rancho, mountain bikes in Cleveland National Forest and swims with sea lions off the Coronado Islands in Mexico. Viewers learn about the native Kumeyaay Indians, as well as the excitement of flying in a barnstorming plane.

Eureka, California
As he continues his exploration of California, host Jeffrey Lehmann visits incredible Fern Canyon on foot, expansive Moonstone beach on horseback, Trinity alps in a whitewater raft, the California redwoods on a mountain bike and Humboldt Bay by kayak. Jeffrey Lehmann takes viewers to the Bigfoot Museum.

Redding, California - Coming Winter 2004
Jump a wave wakeboarding, experience the thrill of waverunning, and enjoy BBQ cooking in a hot tub while houseboating on scenic Lake Shasta. Tour one of the US’s largest dams, walk among giant ancient stalactites in Shasta Caverns, explore the wildlife of Turtle Bay, and catch a rainbow trout while enjoying a fishing float trip.

For a Travel Planner to this or another Weekend Explorer destination click here.

Colorado

Durango, Colorado - Coming Winter 2004
Take a historic train to the picturesque old mining boom town of Silverton, enjoy a cooling splash while careening down river whitewater rafting, soar like an eagle over the Rockies in a glider, jump off the same cliffs as Paul Newman and Robert Redford in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”, mountain bike in a spectacular scenic wilderness area, hit the trail on horseback through fields of countless wild flowers, and relax in a natural hot spring once popular with stars like Marilyn Monroe.

For a Travel Planner to this or another Weekend Explorer destination click here.

Maine

Greenville, Maine - Coming Winter 2004
Visit the graveyard in Stephen King’s hometown, canoe within feet of a moose and her new born calf, kayak to a bald eagle’s nest, whitewater raft down a formidable and scenic river, cruise scenic Moosehead Lake on a historic ferry, and fly over scenic mountains in this remote and lightly populated area of Maine.

For a Travel Planner to this or another Weekend Explorer destination click here.

Michigan

Mackinac Island, Michigan - Coming Winter 2004
Travel back through time to this picturesque Victorian age island where cars are outlawed and the horse drawn carriage is the primary transportation. Visit the Grand Hotel, where the movie classic “Somewhere in Time” with Christopher Reeve was shot. Go horseback riding and mountain biking through the nation’s second National Park, learn how the island’s world famous fudge is made, explore one of America’s early forts, and take a scenic sail on one of the Great Lakes.

For a Travel Planner to this or another Weekend Explorer destination click here.

Massachusetts

Cape Cod, Massachusetts - Coming Winter 2004
Bike along a beautiful beach on the Lower Cape, blow glass at the factory that revolutionized the glass industry, cruise off Hyannis and view the Kennedy compound, walk on an interesting island where a field of green grass is covered daily by high tides, get splashed by a humpback whale as he “backstrokes” off Capetown, and take an off-road tour in the Dunes of the Cape Cod National Seashore.

For a Travel Planner to this or another Weekend Explorer destination click here.

Montana

Whitefish, Montana
Walk among the canopy of an old growth forest in a unique eco-tour, enjoy world class cuisine at a historic lodge, kayak among the pristine Rocky Mountains, fly fish on the longest wildest river in the U.S., mountain bike to the top of Big Mountain to a scenic vista overlooking the Canadian Rockies, and view mountain goats, moose, and bear in spectacular Glacier National Park, and try the new sport of mountain scootering.

For a Travel Planner to this or another Weekend Explorer destination click here.

Nevada

Laughlin, Nevada
Go house boating on Lake Mojave and enjoys the sport of water skiing. Explorer the Colorado River on kayak, wave runner, and jet boat. Meet Don Laughlin, the town’s namesake. Visit nearby Oatman, AZ where wild burros roam the streets, explore a giant mine, take a stage on old Wild West coach trails, and visits the London Bridge.

For a Travel Planner to this or another Weekend Explorer destination click here.

New Mexico

Santa Fe, New Mexico
Llama trek in the serene and beautiful Sierra de Cristo mountains, learn about chili at the Santa Fe School of Cooking, mountain bike through a ghost town along the Turquoise Trail, explore an ancient Pueblo Indian ruin, horseback ride during a stunning sunset, learn about Georgia O’Keefe, meet an up and coming artist, and relax in a unique outdoor Japanese spa.

Ruidoso, New Mexico
Jeffrey Lehmann invites viewers to feel the rush on a Harley motorcycle following in the path of notorious outlaw Billy the Kid. He explores New Mexico's beautiful mountain slopes and deserts, including the sand dunes of gigantic White Sands National Monument. Jeffrey Lehmann tries his luck striking it rich panning for gold and betting on a horse at famous Ruidoso Downs.

Carlsbad, New Mexico
Jeffrey Lehmann explores the world famous Carlsbad Caverns with some wild caving and experiences the spectacle of the Caverns at dusk as thousands of bats leave the cave complex for the night. He continues along on the Pecos River via paddle boat and rock climbs at Sitting Bull Falls.

For a Travel Planner to this or another Weekend Explorer destination click here.

Utah

Kanab, Utah
While rappelling and swimming in the scenic slot canyons of Zion National Park and riding a mule into the mystical red spires of Bryce Canyon, host Jeffrey Lehmann takes viewers on a wild and scenic journey, including a flight over the majestic Colorado River. He also hikes the Coral Pink Sand Dunes and learns how Hollywood saved the city of Kanab.

Elk Meadows, Utah
Jeffrey Lehmann takes viewers through a winter wonderland on snowboards, snowmobiles, cross country skis and snow shoes. Along the way he teaches viewers how to avoid being caught in a deadly avalanche and finishes his journey with a helicopter ride over scenic Bryce Canyon.

For a Travel Planner to this or another Weekend Explorer destination click here.

China

Hong Kong – City of Life
Discover China’s most cosmopolitan city, and visit one of the tailor shops for which the city is famous. Dance at a night club in the popular Lan Kwai Fong district, explorer a quaint traditional fishing village, hike in a beautiful lush jungle to a mountain top that features a gigantic bronze Buddha, and see the unique and interesting Bird Market.

Hong Kong – Dragons
Search out the mythical dragons for which China’s most cosmopolitan city is known. Look for the very rare wild pink dolphins of Victoria Harbor, learn about the ancient tradition of tea, visit the popular Fish Market where Koi fish are often sold for over $40,000, shop in the popular Night Market, explore a traditional Chinese apothecary, and experience the exciting International Dragon Boat Races.

For a Travel Planner to this or another Weekend Explorer destination click here.

England

Windermere, England
Visit the birthplace of Peter Rabbit and the other Betrix Potter characters in this most English of countrysides. Sail on beautiful Lake Windamere, work with endangered birds at the World Owl Trust, hike the dales with the bizarre looking Highland Cattle, learn about the devilish tricks of the real Tom Fool at Muncaster castle, and meet the “World’s Biggest Liar” in beautiful Eskdale National Park.

For a Travel Planner to this or another Weekend Explorer destination click here.

Wales

Conwy, Wales
Tour this scenic country from a base in historic Conwy, a town that sits within the protective walls of a majestic Medieval castle. Horseback ride a mountain that overlooks the scenic Irish Sea, hike in a national park with wild goats and a bizarre looking type of Seal, and visit a local woolen mill that takes wool from the sheep’s back all the way to tweed blazers.

For a Travel Planner to this or another Weekend Explorer destination click here.