When it comes to planning a trip to include a change of diet, we are spoiled for choice in America. While the home of fast food may mean that you never have to go hungry or even wait long, the treasure lies in the abundance of the country’s food sources and the variety of its inhabitants. These combine to offer gourmet and eclectic foodie treats all across the land.
Some places in the USA offer rare food experiences, while others simply are notable for the superb quality of gourmet adventures such as food tours and wine festivals. And there are the hidden gems of small towns that offer a surprisingly gourmet experience. Let’s go traveling!
Small Towns with Gourmet Experiences
Healdsburg, California. Located in Sonoma County wine country, it is known for its high-quality wineries and gourmet dining options such as SingleThread and Barndiva. As with all the small towns in this list, one finds a blend of charm and sophistication, and gourmet experiences that rival those found in larger cities.
Yountville, California. Famous for Thomas Keller’s world-ranking The French Laundry with its highly coveted 3 Michelin Stars, this Napa Valley town offers a range of gourmet restaurants and wine-tasting experiences.
Seaside, Florida. Home to several master chefs and casually gourmet food trucks, this little town along Florida’s Emerald Coast is known for its iconic architecture and luxury Seaside vacation rentals.
Aspen, Colorado. It may be best known for its skiing, but Aspen also has a vibrant culinary scene, with high-end restaurants such as Matsuhisa and Element 47.
Camden, Maine. This picturesque coastal town, a Hollywood location favorite with a rich cultural history, offers fresh seafood and fine dining at places like Natalie’s Restaurant.
Taos, New Mexico. Known for its art scene, Taos also offers exquisite Southwestern cuisine at restaurants such as the venerable Lambert’s of Taos, and the fresh-food Love Apple.
Stowe, Vermont. Famous for its ski resorts but actually a four-season town, Stowe offers gourmet dining experiences at places like The Bench and Hen of the Wood.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Breathtakingly scenic and a magnet for artists, this beguiling town also offers gourmet dining experiences at restaurants such as Aubergine and La Bicyclette.
Fredericksburg, Texas. Located in the Texas Hill Country, Fredericksburg is known for its wineries and gourmet dining options such as Otto’s German Bistro and Vaudeville.
Galena, Illinois. Deeply historic as the home of General Grant, and with architecture to match, Galena offers year-round recreation and a vibrant culinary scene. Look for gourmet restaurants such as Fried Green Tomatoes and Goldmoor Inn.
Mystic, Connecticut. Steeped in maritime history and with a beautiful waterfront, Mystic offers gourmet dining experiences and signature seafood from places such as Oyster Club and S&P Oyster Co.
Ephraim, Wisconsin. Upscale Door County is a peninsula surrounded by water, with waterfront attractions in abundance, and the little town of Ephraim offers a living-history feel of charm that many say makes it the best place in the county. You won’t lack for fine dining either, at restaurants like Trixie’s and The Wickman House.
Sedona, Arizona. Known for its stunning red rock landscapes, and a state park that captures the best of it, Sedona also boasts gourmet dining at places such as Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill and Cress on Oak Creek.
Rare Food Experiences
Some destinations are unique for their local catches and creations, as well as their other charms as travel destinations. Fairbanks, Alaska offers unique dishes such as reindeer sausage and king crab, while New Orleans, Louisiana, the home of Creole and Cajun cuisine, includes such rarities as alligator meat among its many offerings.
Portland, Oregon, is well known for its adventurous food scene, which produces such unusual offerings as the rare ice-cream flavors from Salt & Straw (like bone marrow and black olive brittle).
Charleston, South Carolina, is the heartland of Lowcountry cuisine, which makes it impossible to leave unsatisfied, with offerings that include she-crab soup and shrimp, clam, and oyster dishes. Meanwhile, Asheville, North Carolina, while known for its craft beer scene and farm-to-table dining, also pleases with unique offerings such as foraged mushrooms and wild game.
And uniquely, there is Santa Fe, New Mexico. Famous for its art and movie stars, America’s oldest capital city shows why it’s “the city different” with hundreds of restaurants and Southwestern cuisine creations that utilize ingredients of green and red chiles and blue corn.
Superb Gourmet Adventures
Finally, make a splash and go large with destinations that offer a mix of rare and unique food experiences as well as high-quality gourmet adventures catering to food enthusiasts.
Napa Valley, California. World-renowned wine country with gourmet food tours and wine festivals.
New York City, New York. Offers everything from Michelin-starred restaurants to diverse food tours in neighborhoods such as Chinatown, Little Italy, and Williamsburg.
Chicago, Illinois. Known for its deep-dish pizza, high-end steakhouses, and gourmet food tours.
Los Angeles, California. Home to a variety of food festivals, including the Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival, and a thriving gourmet restaurant scene.
Seattle, Washington. Famous for its seafood, Pike Place Market, and food tours featuring local artisans.
Austin, Texas. Renowned for its barbecue, food truck scene, and food festivals like Austin Food + Wine Festival.
Savannah, Georgia. Saturated in enchanting ambiance, Savannah offers gourmet Southern cuisine, with food tours that highlight local specialties such as pralines and fried green tomatoes.
Miami, Florida. Known for its vibrant culinary scene, with influences from Cuban, Haitian, and other Caribbean cuisines, along with food and wine festivals.
