Vicarious travel
4 great travel series to stream while you’re stuck at home
Vacation plans dashed? Sheltering in place? May we suggest some vicarious travel? This is the perfect time to stream some new, or new to you, travel shows, from a photography-centric take on the planet to the irrepressible David Chang, who whisks four famous friends — Kate Mckinnon, Seth Rogen, Chrissy Teigen and Lena Waithe — on cultural explorations around the world. Here are four fab options. (And hopefully, you too will be sampling smorrebrod in Copenhagen and durian in Phnom Penh for yourself before too long.)
‘Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner’
Chef David Chang first sprang to fame with his New York City-based Momofuku restaurant group, then added TV celebrity to his portfolio with the debut of PBS’ “Mind of a Chef” and Netflix’s “Ugly Delicious.” Last fall, he surged back to the small screen with a new entry, “Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner,” which takes him around the globe. He rides camels, explores the medina and makes a tagine with Teigen in Marrakech, explores the markets of Phnom Penh with Mckinnon, and does Los Angeles with Waithe. (Head’s up: Like “Ugly Delicious,” this one has some language that may not be appropriate for kids.) Four episodes available now for streaming on Netflix.
‘Somebody Feed Phil’
It’s impossible to resist Phil Rosenthal, the creator of the Emmy-winning comedy “Everybody Loves Raymond.” He’s spent the last 15 years indulging another passion — gastronomic travel — first via the PBS series “I’ll Have What Phil’s Having,” which earned him a James Beard award, and then with Netflix’s “Somebody Feed Phil,” which finds the endearing, intrepid traveler hoofing it to a hummus shop in Tel Aviv, sampling smorrebrod in Copenhagen and taking in the delicious sights of Lisbon. The first two seasons are streaming on Netflix now, with a third set to come this year.
‘Tales by Light’
If you’re transfixed by travel photography, whether it’s in the pages of National Geographic or the drone-shot screensaver on your Apple TV, this is the travel series for you. It’s a look at the world through the eyes — and lenses — of photographers from Australia and North America. You’ll soar to the Himalayas, go deep with marine predators in the Bahamas and learn the stories behind the images. All 15 episodes, shot between 2015 and 2018, are streaming on Netflix now.
‘Travels with Darley’
PBS has long been the home for travel series, from the long-running “Rick Steves’ Europe” series to Sausalito chef Joanne Weir’s “Plates and Places” — and this one hosted by Darley Newman, who explores the world with local guides. The series has taken viewers on three dozen jaunts, so far, from California’s Central Coast to Brussels and Hong Kong, exploring not just food, but music, culture and tradition. Filming for her seventh season has already begun, but you can catch up on her adventures on PBS and Amazon Prime.