Hosts' Favorite Travel Moments of 2012

"It was a simple moment, but it really stands out to me. I was sitting on a tiny bench in a small, dirt-floor outdoor cafe in Jimma, Ethiopia. It was early morning after an all night drive and I was sipping a cup of dark coffee and realizing, wow, we made it."

"The moment I touched down in Maui and felt the spirit of the island. It was something I will never forget. If I went to Maui as a kid, I would have never left. Plus, I got a chance to spend a night at the Maui Four Seasons; it didn't suck!"

"I have many great travel moments, but I'll have to say in 2012 one of the best was the opportunity to travel to Vegas and the Grand Canyon and for the first time in my career as a truck driver. I experienced things I never did before, while working with the Travel Channel.

"Wow, 2012 took me all over the place, but I'd have to give it up for Miami. We shot some great Off Limits segments there one week -- alligators, sugarcane, tunnel engineering, and firefighting. Off-hours were spent in a beachside hotel overlooking the flat, beautiful, un-hurricaned Atlantic. Smoked a fine cigar on the balcony under the stars, breaking rules -- and it was great.

"My favorite travel moment of 2012 was in Santa Cruz, CA. After work, I was to trying to meet up with Laurence and Sally for dinner. I was in an Irish pub and asked the server if my flashy friends were there. She looks at me and says, "Hunny everybody here is flashy." It was at that moment I remembered that I was in California."

"There has been so many this year, but hands down it was being in Malibu standing next to Dick Van Dyke (who I have been a big fan of since Mary Poppins) as he was laughing out loud and the children were screaming and running from our monster."

"My favorite moment of traveling in 2012 was going to Salem, MA, by myself and hunting the graveyards where the witches were buried and the whole town. I was all alone with the spirit that roams Salem. What an experience I had connecting with the past. It's one of my favorite places to be me."

"For me -- my best travel moment just occurred! Man v. Food has become a huge hit in the UK! It's on 3 different networks! I got a chance to go over, meet my fans there, do some press, etc. For a kid from Brooklyn who's lucky enough to be successful in the field of his choice, and to live his dream every single day IN HIS OWN COUNTRY -- what an honor and privilege it was to meet the folks abroad who really love and appreciate the shows I make and my fun and sometimes goofy persona on camera. Such an adventure and a total love-fest! I shall return!

"Traveling to Carmel, CA, and hanging out on the beach with my wife Veronique and daughter Annabelle. I was in between filming an episode for Ghost Adventures. This was great down time and very relaxing."