Taste Your Way Through the Journey: Why Food & Wine Are Part of the Adventure

Some of my favorite travel memories aren't attached to a famous monument or a perfectly planned excursion. They're connected to a table. A glass of wine I had never tried before. A little restaurant we stumbled upon because we were hungry. A local dish we couldn't pronounce. A long lunch that somehow turned into an afternoon. And, of course, the person sitting across the table sharing it all with me.

For us, food and wine aren't simply something we fit into a trip. They're part of the way we experience a destination.

Don't Just Visit a Place: Taste It!

When I'm planning a trip, I absolutely want to see the landmarks. I'm going to visit the beautiful churches, museums, historic neighborhoods and all those places we've traveled so far to see. But I also want to know:

What do people eat here? What do they drink? Where do the locals go?

Because food tells you something about a place that a guidebook simply can't.

That tiny trattoria in Italy, fresh seafood near the water, tapas and wine in Spain, a vineyard tasting, or even a simple pastry and coffee at a neighborhood café can become one of the memories you talk about for years.

Leave Room for the Unexpected

I'm a planner. I like reservations, itineraries and knowing what we're doing.

But I've also learned not to plan every meal. Some of our most memorable experiences have happened because we wandered down a street, spotted a restaurant filled with locals and thought, Let's try it. Those spontaneous moments are part of the fun.

Have the special restaurant reservations you don't want to miss—but leave a few openings in your itinerary for discovery.

Make One Meal an Experience

On every trip, I love the idea of choosing at least one food or wine experience that is more than simply dinner. It might be a vineyard visit, cooking class, food tour, chef's tasting menu, market tour or dinner somewhere with an incredible view.

You're not just buying a meal. You're creating a memory.

And years later, you may not remember exactly what you ordered—but you'll remember how you felt sitting there.

Ask the Locals

One of my favorite travel tips is also one of the simplest:

Ask people where they eat. Not necessarily, “What's the best restaurant?”

Try asking, “Where would you go for dinner tonight?”

Your hotel bartender, driver, tour guide or shopkeeper may send you somewhere you never would have found on your own. And those are often the places I love most.

Try Something You Can't Get at Home

Travel is the perfect excuse to be a little adventurous.

Order the regional specialty. Try the local wine. Visit the market. Share several dishes so everyone gets a taste. You don't have to love everything. That's part of traveling too!

Sometimes the story about the thing you didn't like becomes almost as memorable as the fabulous meal you did!

Bring the Experience Home

This may be my favorite part. Whenever possible, I bring a little culinary inspiration home with me, not necessarily in my suitcase, but in my kitchen. A dish we loved might inspire a recipe. A bottle of wine may introduce us to a new varietal. A beautiful presentation may give me an entertaining idea. Suddenly, one evening at home can take you right back to that wonderful trip.

Travel Is About More Than the Destination

There will always be another landmark to see and another item on the itinerary.

But sometimes you need to sit down. Order the wine. Try the food. Toast the person you're traveling with. Look around and realize:

We're here.

Because ultimately, travel isn't about checking places off a list. It's about collecting experiences, discovering flavors, meeting people and sharing moments with someone you love.

And if there's a wonderful glass of wine involved?

Well...that makes the memory even sweeter. Cheers to the journey!