Delicious Adventures for Food-Loving Families

Does your family love food or have favorite types of food?! Why not make a vacation out of it?

Culinary travel has become an excellent way for families to explore the world through their taste buds. There are so many ways to incorporate food into your family vacation, from trying foods specific to a city or region to exploring food markets to taking cooking classes to learn how to prepare local meals.

A food-themed vacation can encourage both kids and adults to try new foods and experience the ingredients and flavors of the local culture and traditions.

While you may have a favorite city around the world that your family visits, immersing yourself in the destination’s cuisine can often make it feel like the first time you’ve visited.

There are opportunities in every city around the world, use this article as a starting point to inspire your family’s tasty travel. Talk to your travel advisor and Google the destinations you’re visiting to get more specific about the local foods and food traditions.

When planning a food-focused family vacation, the world is truly your oyster (or pizza, or taco, depending on your destination!). Let’s explore some food-focused vacation adventures your whole family can enjoy.

Types of Culinary Vacations

1. Foodie Cities

Some cities are known for their culinary scenes, offering a wealth of options for food-loving families. Places like New York, Paris, Tokyo, and Bangkok are full of dining adventures. In these cities, you can enjoy everything from Michelin-starred restaurants to bustling street food markets.

With New York being such an ethnically diverse city, families can sample a range of cuisines, from classic New York-style pizza and Jewish delis to authentically prepared foods from nearly any region of the world. New York City features ethnically rich neighborhoods, including Chinatown (Lower Manhattan), Little Italy (Lower Manhattan), Little Dominican Republic (Washington Heights), Little Greece (Astoria, Queens), Little Pakistan (Kensington, Brooklyn), Koreatown (W 32nd St, Manhattan), and more.

In Paris, even the pickiest eaters will be won over by a fresh, warm croissant from a boulangerie or a yummy crepe from a stand in the Tuileries Garden.

New Orleans has a blend of Creole and Cajun cuisines where you can explore po’boys, jambalaya, muffulettas, beignets, and gumbo.

2. Destinations Known for Specific Foods

Some places are famous for particular foods, offering unique experiences for culinary vacations and experiences. Visiting these destinations allows families to dive deep into the history and culture surrounding iconic dishes.

A New York City bagel, pizza in Naples (where it was invented), ramen in Tokyo, tapas and paella in Barcelona, currywurst in Berlin, Pad Thai in Bangkok, Tacos al Pastor in Mexico City, Philly Cheesesteaks in Philadelphia, and Maryland Blue Crabs in Baltimore just to name a few.

Of course, each country has its own cuisine traditions, perhaps go beyond what you might find on a typical menu in the United States and order something authentic to that country.

3. Food Factory Tours, See How It’s Made

Factory tours can be educational and delicious, making them perfect for families. Popular options include chocolate factories, cheese-making facilities, and ice cream plants. These tours often combine hands-on activities with tastings, engaging children in the food production process.

Here is a small sampling of world-famous brand tours, tastings, and factory tours your family will love.

Ben & Jerry's Factory - Waterbury, VT (ice cream)
Bush’s Visitor Center - Chestnut Hill, TN (baked beans)
Cape Cod Chips - Hyannis, MA (potato chips)
Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory - San Francisco, CA (chocolate)
Goodrich’s Maple Farm - Cabot, VT (maple syrup)
Hershey's Chocolate World - Hershey, PA (chocolate)
Jelly Belly Factory - Fairfield, CA (jelly beans)
Sriracha Factory - Irwindale, CA (hot sauce)
Tabasco Factory - Avery Island, LA (hot sauce)
Tillamook Creamery - Tillamook, OR (cheese and ice cream)

Barilla Pasta Factory - Parma, Italy (pasta)
Cadbury World - Birmingham, England (chocolate)
CupNoodles Museum – Yokohama, Japan (ramen noodles)
Haribo Factory - Bonn, Germany (gummy candies)
Heineken Experience - Amsterdam, Netherlands (beer)
Kikkoman Factory - Noda, Chiba, Japan (soy sauce)
Neuhaus Chocolate Factory - Brussels, Belgium (chocolate)
Twinings Tea Factory - Andover, England (tea)

4. Regional Food Tours

Exploring a region through its cuisine can be an exciting way to experience local flavors and traditions. For instance, a BBQ tour of the American South could take families through states like Texas, Tennessee, and North Carolina, sampling different styles of barbecue and learning about regional cooking techniques.

A Southwestern Cuisine Tour through New Mexico and Arizona introduces your family to the rich tapestry of Southwestern cuisine, including influences from Mexican, Native American, and Spanish traditions through enchiladas, salsa, elote, and chimichangas.

Each region of a country has its specialties, like Italy. Emilia-Romagna is a food lovers’ region in northern Italy. In the capital city Bologna, you can enjoy their specialty pasta and sauce, tagliatelle with Bolognese sauce or tortellini, and Mortadella which is Bologna. In Modena, the home of Balsamic Vinegar, you can visit producers to learn about the traditional vinegar and see the aging process. Parma is home to Parmigiano-Reggiano, the “King of Cheeses,” and Prosciutto di Parma, Parma ham. Lambrusco wine is also from this region.

5. Food Festivals

Food festivals can be an excellent centerpiece for a family culinary vacation.

The Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland, Maine, from the end of July to early August, is a great reason to explore New England in the summer. The seafood fest has a Lobster crate race, seafood cooking contest, and parade.

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival in Orlando, Florida takes place every Fall. You can travel around Epcot’s world to taste global cuisines while enjoying the park.

Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany, from late September to early October, offers a carnival atmosphere, parades, traditional Bavarian foods, and family-friendly beer tents during the day.

6. Food Tour of Any City

Another fun thing to do on any vacation is to add on a food activity.

In most cities, you can find food tours and guides. They are a great way to tour the city, get the local history and culture of the destination, and try the regional specialties all with a local guide.

Many destinations offer family-friendly cooking classes, like a Paella class in Barcelona, Spain, where you can learn to make local dishes together.

Exploring local food markets is a great way to experience local flavors and ingredients. It's also an opportunity to let kids choose new foods to try.

Tips for Planning & Making the Most of Your Culinary Vacation

• Create a Family Food Bucket List:
  Have everyone in the family research the destination and each family member pick their must-try foods or experiences. Then, turn it into a fun game to try them all during your trip. 
• Balance Food Experiences with Other Activities:
  While food can be a central theme, intersperse culinary activities with other forms of entertainment to keep everyone engaged.
• Make Reservations Early:
  Popular restaurants and experiences often book up weeks or months in advance, so be sure to plan ahead.
• Implement the "One Bite" Rule:
  When trying new foods, encourage everyone to try at least one bite without pressure to finish. Then, celebrate their willingness to try new things, regardless of whether they like the food.
• Everyone Orders a Different Dish:
  A tradition in our family is that no one at the table orders the same dish, allowing us to try a bite of several different things on the menu.
• Document Your Journey:
  Encourage kids to keep a food diary and take photos of all the dishes and experiences. Or keep a family food journal together. At the end of each day, discuss your favorites. This can be a fun way to remember your trip and inspire future cooking projects at home.

Whether you’re planning an entire vacation focused on food or incorporating elements into any vacation, culinary travel offers families a fun and tasty way to explore the world while encouraging exploration and open-mindedness.

Delicious Adventure Awaits!