are there any authors similar to Bill Bryson?

Your step-dad has good taste!

Redmond O'Hanlon has a very similar writing style, but his travels tend to be a little more adventurous than Bryson's - the Congo, the Amazon, the Borneo jungle etc.

He has a background in Natural History, so his writing is full of wonderful detail about the wildlife on his travels.

O'Hanlon's books are an entertaining mix of genuine peril and comic misadventure.

'Into the Heart of Borneo', 'In Trouble Again', 'Congo Jouney' and 'Trawler' are all well worth a read.

Robert Twigger is an English poet who had a bit of a mid-life crisis while teaching in Japan and decided to apprentice himself to a Martial Arts dojo full-time, on their toughest course.

He wrote about his time there in 'Angry White Pyjamas': really funny and a fascinating picture of Japanese life.

He has since tried to claim the Roosevelt prize for finding the world's longest python, in 'Big Snake', and travelled across Canada in a birchbark canoe, in 'Voyageur'.

His style is a little brasher and less cosy than Bryson's, but highly entertaining.

Hope that helps!

William Dalrymple is similar in some ways.