Summer is just around the corner and you know what that means: time to start planning for summer vacation. If you’re anything like me, you plan your vacations around food. As I always say, one of the best things about travel is exploring new cuisines. Here are some summer travel tips for all of you foodies out there.
Head To Wine Country
Good wine and good food so often go hand-in-hand. Luckily, summer is the perfect time to go winery hopping. Consider going to an area that is packed with wineries, so that you can hit several on your trip. California – especially the Napa and Sonoma regions – is always a good choice. Oregon is increasingly becoming a wine lover’s paradise as well. The truth is, wineries are popping up all over the U.S. and your perfect wine country vacation might be closer than you think. And where there are lots of wineries, there are sure to be a lot of fine restaurants around. Pro tip: if you are planning on doing a lot of drinking, consider looking into a wine country tour bus. This way, you can enjoy yourself without having to worry about driving after.
Make An Itinerary Based On Your Favorite Cuisine
One of the best things about this melting pot we call America is all the different cuisines it has to offer. If you are planning a food-centric summer vacation, consider planning a trip based on your favorite foods. If, like me, you can’t possibly get enough Mexican food, plan your dream road trip through the Southwest. Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and Southern California are all safe bets for great Mexican (And of course–Mexico itself isn’t too far away). If barbecue is more your thing, you might want to take an epic Southern road trip. You can even get super specific with it: Chicago for deep-dish pizza, New England for fresh seafood, or Nashville for “hot chicken.” Hungry yet?
Book Reservations In Advance
I always tell my foodie friends to book any necessary reservations well in advance of your departure. If you are going to be hitting up New England lobster shacks or streetside taco stands, this probably isn’t as crucial. But if you are looking to snag a table at an “it” restaurant in a city like New York or San Francisco, you may find that you have to make your reservations months in advance. While making reservations ahead of time has always been an important part of foodie travel, it has become even more so in recent years, as staffing shortages and social distancing issues still persist. I personally like to use Open Table for all my restaurant reservation needs.
Don’t “Overplan”
As a Type-A foodie, I plan my summer restaurant trips down to every meal and pit stop. I often wish I didn’t. I encourage you to leave some room for spontaneity in your travels. If you’re walking to that place you read about in the guidebook and you pass a place that is packed with locals – a place that seems too good to pass up – grab a spot in line. It might be your next great meal! If you want more summer travel tips, then tune into my podcast by following the link below.
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