Will Travel for Food: Culinary Festivals & Tours

Culinary tourism is bigger than ever and planning a trip around your appetite can make your next getaway especially delicious! Skip the calorie counting and enjoy one of these fantastic food themed events.   

The Chardonnay Symposium
Santa Maria Valley, California
Friday, June 29 - Sunday, July 1. $15-$95
You're probably not too surprised to learn that Chardonnay is America's most popular wine - it appears on virtually every wine list. Learn more about California's most planted and most produced varietal at this celebration of all things Chardonnay! From a Grand Tasting featuring Chardonnays from 50 wineries to a BYOC (Bring Your Own Chardonnay) gourmet barbecue, the Chardonnay Symposium sounds like the perfect California escape. Santa Maria Valley is nestled in the foothills of Santa Barbara wine country in the heart of California's Central Coast.

St. Martin's Courtyard Global Food Festival at Covent Garden
London
Saturday, July 14. Noon-5PM
Free!
Leave the heavy duty workouts to the athletes training for the Olympics - get your workout wandering from one delicious dish to another at the St. Martin's Courtyard Global Food Festival. Paying tribute to the cultural diversity of London, Bill's, Cantina Laredo, Dishoom, Dalla Terra, Jamie's Italian and Suda restaurants, will be hosting tastings, demonstrations and activities that will transform St Martin's Courtyard into a vibrant open air street food market in the heart of London. Enjoy complimentary Lime Paloma El Jimador Tequila Cocktails, free cucumber sandwiches, and more. In between snacks, get your exercise shopping at boutiques like L.K. Bennett, Massimo Dutti, and Pretty Ballerinas.

Atlantic City Food & Wine Festival
Thursday, July 26 - Sunday, July 29.
Individual tickets $45-$149. Packages, including hotel accommodations starting at $960.
The Boardwalk, the beach and plenty of eats - the Atlantic City Food & Wine Festival has it all! Events include a Bizarre Brunch with Andrew Zimmern, Gospel Brunch with Paula Deen, Meat Loaf Live at the House of Blues, Dinner Impossible with Chef Robert Irvine, wine tastings and much more!


A Taste of Tuscany - Culinary Tour
July 1-7, October 14-20, and December 28 - January 3.
Prices start at $4295 for double occupancy ($795 single supplement). Includes first class accommodations, all breakfasts, some lunches & dinners, land transportation during trip, cooking classes, and more.
Take your tastebuds to Tuscany and visit with a cheesemaking shepherd, take a cooking class in a farmhouse kitchen, stroll vineyards in Chianti, and taste locally pressed olive oil in Montepulciano. The tour also includes visits to legendary sites such as the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio, and village streets depicted in the popular book Under the Tuscan Sun. This tour is offered by Classic Journeys - a highly regarded tour operator that was included in Travel+Leisure magazine's 2011 list of "World's Best Tour Operators." They also offer culinary tours in Provence, Amalfi, Napa, and Sonoma.