Hello travelers! Are you having leftover lasagna from the night before again… or is that just me? These days cooking, cleaning, and buying groceries has me dreaming of taking a vacation where all the food is cooked for you and phenomenal! Plus, there are exquisite drinks and even wine tastings! Anyone else dreaming of a culinary focused vacation? If you are, or you are intrigued by this new idea, I have some recommendations!
Where would you want to celebrate your next milestone anniversary or birthday – or your next girls’ trip? Maybe you’re into wine or craft beer tasting, Italian cooking classes or just exploring foods from diverse cultures. Buckle up, here we go, taking our taste buds around the world!
Napa Valley, CA
My first recommendation is based on an upcoming trip I am taking to Napa, California to celebrate my brother’s milestone birthday (we won’t say which one!). Napa Valley has over 400 wineries and vineyards, 90 urban tasting rooms in a beautiful countryside setting with great weather year-round and Michelin-rated restaurants. It is the ultimate picturesque wine-lover’s get-away! We are staying at the lovely Archer Hotel in the heart of downtown Napa where wine country meets chic in a more urban setting walkable to several amazing restaurants. I especially love the rooftop bar and even the rooftop spa there! Do not worry – I will try both for you! There are so many other hotel options in Napa if you are not feeling the urban vibe. Stay tuned on our social media platforms because we will be featuring my trip later this month including vineyard visits that you cannot make on your own because they are not open to the public!
Italy
My next recommendation is obviously Italy! We are dreaming about a private tour that goes from Piedmont to Tuscany to Florence. There is so much sprinkled into this itinerary – an amazing private Italian cooking class, an epic Tuscany winery tour, truffle hunting, seeing olive oil or balsamic vinegar being made and more. Experience all of this while staying in a variety of luxury hotels along the way like the 5-star hotel The St. Regis Florence which is on the banks of the Arno River with views of the hills of Tuscany. Italy is a MUST for any world travel lover! The mouth-watering pastas, artisan pizzas, crisp and fresh wine, beautiful vineyards and scenery, unique pastries, and tiny cappuccinos are better in Italia! This is a bucket list vacation of a lifetime!
Cruise
It is not an OnPoint blog without mentioning a cruise! We love cruises but especially a wine tasting culinary adventure cruise!! I especially love AMA Waterways and they have 2024 wine and culinary focused cruises to a variety of places like France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, and Germany to name a few. I am especially eyeing the cruise from 7-night cruise with 2 nights in Budapest pre-cruise and 3 nights in Prague post cruise! This cruise boasts tastings of Apricot brandy and chocolate tasting in Dürnstein, an exclusive wine festival in Spitz, and Czech beer tasting are only a few of the epicurean experiences you will indulge in. A luxury cruise with a focus on wine and culinary indulgences all the while sailing through beautiful scenery and stunning cultures? Let me sign you and your friends up!
Mexico
Take a culinary journey through Cancun, Mexico, and Los Cabos with tons of surf and turf meals and fine wines all while enjoying live music on the bay. You will get the chance to step inside a mystical 10,000-year-old cavern for an exotic dining experience. Ancient Mexican and international cuisine stand out. Relish flavors from the earth and sea, discovering traditional ingredients such as huitlacoche, lima, a variety of peppers and local gourds. We like the NIZUK Resort & Spa Cancun and the Viceroy Los Cabos. Both have stunning beach views and are perfectly integrated in these culinary stops in Mexico!
Really the possibilities are endless when it comes to culinary travel. I hope these ideas have sparked your interest. Let us get to brainstorming and planning your next foodie adventure! Reach out to book your complimentary travel consultation call today!
Cheers,