TOP 7 US CITIES FOR A FOODIE GETAWAY

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because there are no unrealistic expectations. It’s all about spending time as a family, counting your blessings and eating all the food! I love a good Thanksgiving turkey or mashed potatoes as much as the next person, but it just so happens my favorite thing about traveling is sampling the local cuisine. I tied both loves together to bring you the Top 7 US Cities for Foodies.

New Orleans, LA

I still have dreams about a sandwich I had in New Orleans over 5 years ago. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! With culinary favorites like gumbo, jambalaya and beignets that are always missing something if you try to get them outside of Louisiana, New Orleans is the ultimate foodie destination.

The mix of high-end restaurants that put luxury twists on traditional Big Easy dishes and unexpectedly amazing hole-in-the-wall eateries like Mother’s (where I had that sandwich) will satisfy every diner. Take a food walking tour of the French Quarter to learn the surprising history behind top eats like po’ boys and muffulettas. And save room for dessert bread pudding, beignets and bananas foster can be found on almost every menu.

New York, NY

There is no better illustration of the American Melting Pot than walking through the streets of New York City. From Chinatown to Little Italy and Jewish Delis to Turkish street food, you can find the best of the best from every region of the world in one place. A visit to New York City can include meals inspired by just about every continent, country, and culture. It also boasts it’s own local favorites like pizza, bagels, hot dogs and New York style cheesecake.

And let’s not forget it’s the place where aspiring chefs go to perfect their craft! Whether you’re craving a loaded pastrami sandwich from the corner deli or a meal on dazzling white tablecloths prepared by a celebrity chef, New York City has you covered. Looking for something new and unusual? New York seems to be where the newest food trends get their start, so make sure to plan a stop for unicorn rolled ice cream or rainbow bagels.

Charleston, SC 

The last time I visited Charleston, I was surprised to learn that this small southern city was home to the most James Beard award winning chefs outside New York. The regional cuisine is a mix of the light and fresh flavors of a coastal city mixed with the heavy comfort of your Southern favorites with Caribbean and African flavors thrown in.

Though the city is proud of its well-preserved history, its chefs take pride in reinventing staple dishes like shrimp and grits and she-crab soup. Any visit to Charleston should be planned around your dining reservations — trust me, you’ll thank me later!

Miami, FL

Miami may not be the first (or even the second) place that comes to mind when you think of the best US travel destinations for foodies, but it should. Miami is currently one of the hottest food cities in the USA.

Although there are a lot of tourist trap restaurants, Miami has authentic and delicious cuisine with Cuban and Haitian food at the forefront. Add some fun only-in-Miami specialties like guava ice cream, key lime smoothies, and seasonal plates of stone crabs, and you’ll be well-fueled for your day on the beach or night on the town.

San Francisco, CA

Northern California is a great destination for anyone looking to enjoy a culinary retreat, but this article is entitled best CITIES for foodies, so I had to pick just one. San Francisco edged out nearby Napa and Sonoma because of its variety. Wine country was at the forefront of the farm-to-table movement and that has definitely made its way to the City by the Bay. But in addition to fine dining restaurants with fresh locally sourced ingredients, you can also find burritos in the Mission, dim sum in Chinatown, and old-school Italian fare. A weekend trip wouldn’t be complete without a visit to a local farmer’s market!

Chicago, IL

A stark contrast to San Fransisco’s plant-based paradise, the Chicago food scene is full of hearty, gooey, and iconic dishes. Deep-dish pizza, fully loaded hot dogs, Garrett popcorn, and Italian beef are all uniquely Chicago. The city is arguably the culinary capital of the Midwest!

Some of my favorite places to grab a bite to eat are in Greek Town. In the meatpacking capital of the world, you can get America’s best steaks and hot dogs, plus the destination-worthy local innovations: deep-dish pizza and Italian beef. But there are also Michelin-starred world-class fine-dining experiences, groundbreaking cocktail bars, line-inducing doughnut shops, and some of the best taquerias outside of Mexico. If all of that sounds overwhelming, don’t worry — soul-warming, hearty comfort food is still the heart of the city’s culinary scene.

Austin, TX

I would be remiss to not include a Southwestern city in a list of US food destinations. I chose Austin but, like the rest of the city, the food scene in Austin is best described as, well…a bit weird! Barbecue and Tex-Mex are go-to culinary categories, but don’t be afraid to try some chili or fried steak. Some of the best bites can only be ordered from the small army of food trucks roaming the city, so don’t worry about going hungry while enjoying the city’s live music scene.

Honorable  Mention: Hawaii

If you’ve read any of my list posts, you know I always have a hard time limiting myself to only seven destinations, so I always include an honorable mention. Our country’s most unique and budding culinary scene is in our newest state: Hawaii.

Because an entire state doesn’t really fit into the best cities category, I had to highlight it here. I mean, even if the ocean didn’t exist, the loco moco would still be reason enough to visit Oahu — this island delicacy is part eggs Benedict, part rice dish, part poutine and ALL parts satisfying. It’s a symbol of Hawaii’s spot at the nexus of Asian and Western cuisine cultures — a trend coming to fruition as the city undergoes what Conde Nast Traveler calls a “culinary revolution.” Of course, they highlight local ingredients, which means that pineapple finds its way into many menu items (and Hawaii finds yet another way into my heart).

If you’re a foodie looking to expand your culinary horizons, a family vacation to one of these these seven cities (…and one state) is the perfect excuse, but planning-it-all can be overwhelming, especially when all you want to do is sink your teeth into a beignet! From hotel reservations to gourmet eats, I can help you plan it all. If the idea of a vacation that you don’t have to plan sounds good enough to eat, schedule a complimentary (AKA free!) trip planning session today!

Who is Christina?

Meet Christina Vieira, a Traveler, a Planner, and a Mom. She is also the owner of Showcase the World Travel, a modern travel agency that helps busy Moms take the vacation they deserve without adding “planning it all” to their to-do lists.  After all, Mom should get to enjoy their vacation, too!

She specializes in Disney, the Caribbean, Europe, and has helped dozens of families have magical vacations that they will always remember. She loves traveling with her four-year-old, Annabelle. Her favorite destinations include Walt Disney World, Wyoming, and Prague.