Dear Traveler, 

One of the hottest trends in travel is culinary tourism – immersive experiences where you dive deep into a region’s culture through food and wine. 

Culinary vacations are so much more than just sitting at a restaurant and ordering something off a menu. These are intimate experiences where you engage with the food at a pace that enables one to truly savor the destination. That isn’t just eating it; it’s making it, it’s shopping for it. It’s learning many nuances from world-class chefs and wine-makers in the region you’re visiting. It’s recognizing that the tastes of a region embody the cultural uniqueness and even an identity that you’ll seldom have the chance to savor if just passing through from one site to the next.

I have often said that people generally plan travel and purchase a trip based on the sights they want to see.  But so often over the years, I’ve witnessed the highlights and fondest memories resulting from human interactions and immersion in the cultural fabric of a destination.

Through a culinary-themed tour, or even just tacking on a culinary experience pre or post your primary sightseeing itinerary, you will learn the delicious secrets of regional cuisines, relish the adventure of extraordinary tasting menus from top culinary artisans, enjoy intimate foodie tours and farmers markets, experience premium wines through orchestrated VIP tastings – and of course, hands-on cooking classes with talented chefs. 

Here’s a birds-eye view of some popular foodie destinations, as well as culinary trips you can exclusively book through AAA Travel: 

• One very popular foodie destination, for example, is Santa Fe. It sits at the intersection of Native American, Spanish, Mexican, and European cultures, and its ambience is so unique it’s earned the nickname, “The City Different.” For that reason, it’s a culinary capital – so if you book a food tour there you can expect hands-on cooking classes that really give you a feel for Southwest culture. Meanwhile, you can also explore the city’s culture and historic landmarks, along with its considerable art scene. Learn about the Taste of Santa Fe Culinary Retreat with AAA. 
• Another great example is New Orleans. You can’t get creole cooking like it anywhere else in the world, with its blend of French, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Spanish, and African influences. If you love foods with a “kick,” you’ll love this culinary getaway. And because these tours are all about the experience, you’ll learn a lot in your cooking classes – including how to add your own Cajun twist to every day meals you can make when you’re back at home. Learn more about the New Orleans Culinary Getaway with AAA. 
• And of course, Italy! The mecca of exceptional wine and top tier food experiences. Learn from the locals how to make homemade pasta recipes passed from generation to generation, while sipping on a regional wine specifically paired with the evening’s meal. 

The most important thing when it comes to tours like these is that you want a comprehensive experience. You can’t just book back-of-house cooking classes on your own, let alone a wine-making course in Italy or an immersive shopping trip to a farmer’s market in the French countryside. You might be able to piece these things out, of course, but when you want to maximize your experience for the best value, you’ll want to work with an experienced travel agent. 

We’ve got more tips and a full list of different culinary trips we think you’ll love at AAA.com/Travel. And if you like what you see, you can contact an agent right there and then.

Happy Food Travels, 

Joe Maloney
VP of Travel