Food in the United States: Tasty Vacations

I have been all over the United States and I must say that it is beautiful, and tasty too! I went to culinary school in Vancouver, B.C. and worked as a chef in the Napa/Sonoma area and I have loved every minute of it. There are so many places to see and experience close to home, so why bother with all the extra traveling? Here are a few reources that I took advantage of to help me during my travels.

InfoHub.com
This site has tons of packages and trip information throughout the U.S. and the rest of the world. There are tours in almost any state for wine and/or food. There are things to do for hikers, bikers, walkers and relaxers alike to experience what these places have to offer while staying physically active too.

Wine
One of the first wine areas that I visited was the Okanagan in British Columbia. The wines there are fantastic, paired by the beautiful scenery and nice people. I loved the ice wines in particular and there is one by Jackson-Triggs that I have found at wine stores in the U.S.. To see more trips to British Columbia, many U.S. states and more, jut click the link above and take a look for yourself.

Napa Wine Tours
From antique limo tours to hot air balloon rides, this site has a tour for anyone visiting California. There are even motorcycle tours and jeep tours through vinyards and wilderness. If you are coming from the bay area there are bus tours that take you on the scenic drive to the wine country. This site offers a wide variety of tours and activities and you can set it up right online.

Balloon Rides in Napa

I have personally been on one of these balloon rides and loved every minute of it. The whole balloon crew was very friendly and accommodating to any needs of their "ballooners" and had everyone ready to go on time, bright and early in the morning. You start off with coffee and a muffin and a ride to the balloon take off site. The ride is lovely and serene, and seems to fly by quickly! (No pun intended.) After the flight you are taken to a cafe to sit outside and enjoy a lovely brunch with champagne. This special balloon trip was also recognized by Giada DiLaurentiis on her Food Network Show, Weekend Getaways. This is a great opportunity to break free of the usual tour and do something you wil remember for a lifetime.

The Wine Train
The Wine Train is well known throughout Northern California as just "one of those things you do" when in the wine country. It is a leisurely and tasty way to see the sights and taste the flavors when you are too tired to take any more hikes, bike rides and early-morning balloon rides! This train is a restaurant that takes you on a scenic tour of the Napa Valley while enjoying a delicious 3 or 4 course meal. There are also different cars for different dining needs such as wine tasting or just to order off of the A La Carte menu. A very touristy, but fun thing to do.

Chicago Restaurants
Toprestaurants.com is a great resource for any city, but here I have it set to let you know about the great places of Chicago. Being from Milwaukee, it was always fun to hop on the short train ride to Chicago for a great day of shopping on Michigan Avenue and then out to a great dinner. I listed this site because it's one of the few that actually have the good restaurants without having to sort through a list of low-end Italian retaurants and burger joints. However, they did miss 2 of my favorite restaurants that you can't miss if you have the opportunity: Frontera Grill and Alinea.

Frontera Grill
This restaurant is owned by Chef Rick Bayless who is well known for his Mexican style cuisine, and has been on Iron Chef America. You can dress up or stay casual in this restaurant while you sip smooth margaritas and dine on colorful, authentic Mexican cuisine.

Alinea
Wow, wow, wow. This restaurant owned by chef Grant Achatz is a huge step above the rest. Achatz is known for his extraordinary cuisine, molecular gastronomy, and creating his own utensils and modes of eating. The price is a little higher than many restaurants, but this is an experience, not just a dinner. A must see/taste/experience.


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