Let Your Foodie Obsessions Determine Your Next Destination
Helen Gabbard • November 26, 2025
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I'm going to level with you, as much as I love to visit art galleries and other cultural sights when I travel, if you've ever chosen a vacation destination based on a dish you saw on Instagram at 2 a.m., we need to talk. Most people plan trips around museums, beaches or those extremely photogenic doorways that are all over Pinterest. Meanwhile, I'm planning an entire European itinerary around food and wine festivals, and I just think it is more fun.
Forget the Eiffel Tower, Where's the Good Bread?
Here's the thing about immersive food travel: it's not about being pretentious or hunting down Michelin star restaurants, it's about understanding the best meal of your life might come from a guy named Juan ducking under steaming pans on a sidewalk in Mexico or in the home of a family in Morocco cooking delicious Berber meals. No reservations. No dress code. Just pure, unadulterated deliciousness. This is the kind of travel where you follow your nose, even if it leads you somewhere your Google Maps insists doesn’t exist, and through neighborhoods you can't pronounce. Where you trust random grandmothers more than TripAdvisor and genuinely consider "but what about the food?" as a valid reason to miss your flight home.
Find Your Food Soulmate: Destination Edition
The beautiful thing about being food-obsessed is that it gives you a very legitimate excuse to go literally anywhere. Let me break this down by obsession type:
Are you a bread person? Then it’s Paris — but not the Paris you're thinking of. Forget the Eiffel Tower Instagram spot. Head to the eastern neighborhoods from Bastille to Belleville, where immigrant bakeries are creating stuff that would make a traditional French baker clutch their pearls. In the best way possible.
Does good seafood make you emotional? Head to Galicia, where fishermen risk their lives climbing slippery cliffs to harvest barnacles. These people are more committed to seafood any other destination I have ever experienced.
Do you lose your mind over seasonal ingredients? Oaxaca after the rainy season is food heaven. Everything is aggressively green and lush, and there's a dish called sopa de guías made from squash vine tendrils that are only available for about three weeks. It's the food equivalent of a limited-edition sneaker drop, except you can eat it.
Like your food with a side of complexity? Istanbul spans two continents and has a knack for combining various culinary traditions into something that will make you question everything you thought you knew about Turkish food.
When a Day Trip Just Won't Cut It
Can we talk about how weekend trips are almost useless for real food exploration? You need time. You need to meet the buffalo mozzarella makers and eat so much pasta you enter an altered state of consciousness. This is why week-long food pilgrimages exist. Picture yourself in Campania, eating your way through every possible iteration of mozzarella while learning about ancient cheesemaking techniques from people whose families have been doing this since before America was a thing. Or imagine bouncing between cosmopolitan Athens (where the food scene is thriving and modern) and Tinos Island (where they're still doing things the way their great-great-grandparents did). It's like time travel, but with better snacks.
The Backstreets Are Where It's At
In my opinion, the best food is always where tourists aren't. In Barcelona during All Saints' Day locals eat sophisticated little marzipan cookies called panellets with roasted chestnuts and sweet wine. In Mexico City's Jamaica Market during Day of the Dead, there are temporary stalls with tin roofs pumping out hundreds of traditional tamales while the whole place smells like marigolds. This requires insider knowledge, perfect timing and possibly a willingness to elbow your way through a crowd, but I promise it's worth it.
These experiences don't show up on your hotel concierge's recommended list. They happen at 6 a.m. in a market you got slightly lost finding, and they happen in a family-run café where the menu isn't translated and you point at what the person next to you is eating.
You'll Return Home Different
Fair warning: once you travel like this, you become the person who can't eat airport pizza without launching into a story about “this one time in Naples.” You learn that cuisine is edible history and that every dish is a story about geography, survival, celebration and people refusing to let their traditions die, even when the world keeps changing. You come back understanding why someone wakes up at 3 a.m. every day for 40 years to bake, or why food tastes better when you're sitting on a plastic stool at a street stall in awe of the deliciousness you’re tasting.
So, Where Should You Go?
Simple. Ask yourself where your brain goes when it's supposed to be focusing on work and all you can think of is a dish you saw on TikTok. Which cooking technique or show keeps you up until midnight watching YouTube videos? Start there. Find the places where these dishes aren’t just available, they’re celebrated, revered and perfected over centuries. Then, look for experiences that are hands on like cooking classes with home cooks, market tours at places where locals are shopping, farm and producer visits, multi-day trips timed for harvest seasons … anything to get you closer to the mouthwatering action.
And, for the love of everything delicious, find guides who are local to the destination. People who can text their aunt to get you into that place that technically isn't open but makes an exception for friends. People who know which vendor has the best tamales, which week the squash vines are perfect and what time to show up at the market before everything good is gone. Just as importantly (for me anyway), find the wine that will pair best with a particular dish. As Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin said, “A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine."
The bottom line is, your desire to plan an entire trip around food is not weird (okay, maybe it's a little weird, but in a good way). Follow your taste buds into the backstreets, family kitchens, early markets and festivals you didn't know existed. Let your flavorful obsessions lead you to places you might get a little lost but trust the locals to help you find your way. Great travel stories start with lines like, "I have no idea what this is, but it smells incredible."
The “must-see” destinations that inevitably wind up on every traveler’s bucket list are classics for a reason. They often house some of the world’s most iconic attractions and become synonymous with one another — Rome with the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain; Paris with the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre; London with Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey. While these sites warrant their own special moment on the itinerary, some visitors may be in search of experiences that go beyond the touristy stops. For those adventurers, check out these underrated excursions in some of the most popular destinations around the world. In The Caribbean and Mexico Playa del Carmen, Mexico With idyllic temperatures and gorgeous scenery, there’s no better place for a walking tour than Playa del Carmen. However, this isn’t any old stroll through the local streets, it’s interactive. An app-guided tour hosted by Let’s Roam, the Playa del Carmen Scavenger Hunt takes visitors on an exciting journey through some of the area’s most significant attractions, including ancient Mayan ruins, vibrant markets, Main House and the Tequila Museum. Visitors learn about Playa del Carmen’s history, art and hidden gems through the scavenger hunt, solving clues, cracking codes and answering trivia questions along the way. A city-wide leaderboard adds an element of competition, while different challenges keep the tour engaging for travelers of all ages. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Sitting on a white-sand beach with a tasty bev in hand is certainly one way to soak up Punta Cana's landscape, though travelers who aren’t afraid of getting dirty may find a spin in Macao buggies to be more their speed. Hosted by Punta Cana Tours , this excursion takes visitors on the adventure of a lifetime, tearing up the Dominican backroads. Visit a plantation for an introduction to some of the country’s most sought-after produce, including cacao, coffee, tobacco and mamajuana; head to a secluded cave with a subterranean river to cool (or wash) off; then finish the day at Macao Beach. The dirt roads along the way are known to get muddy, and Punta Cana Tours encourages its guests to revel in the scenery and embrace the rugged journey. Europe Barcelona, Spain History isn’t only found in preserved buildings or buried artifacts — in Barcelona’s case, it’s found behind hidden doors and unmarked alleys. Visitors interested in exploring the city after dark can step back in time with a tour of some unique speakeasies , learning about Catalan culture, traditional cuisine and Barcelona’s nightlife along the way. A local guide will take small groups from place to place, sharing stories on the history of speakeasies, the influence of prohibition culture and the development of the city through time, all while guests dine on authentic tapas and sip classic drinks like Spanish wines, cava or sangria. London, England Afternoon tea and visiting London’s iconic sites in one excursion? Yes, please! Visit London combines two fan-favorite activities with Brigit's Bakery Afternoon Tea Bus Tour , taking travelers on a 90-minute ride around the city on a traditional double-decker bus. Over the course of the tour, passengers can dine on an assortment of delicate eats, tasty finger sandwiches, decadent cakes and a hot beverage while taking in the unparalleled views of Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, the House of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and more. The Afternoon Tea itinerary is a classic, though Brigit’s Bakery also offers specialty experiences such as the Bombay Sapphire Gin or Paddington Afternoon Tea Tours. Travelers visiting this timeless destination around the holidays should keep their eyes peeled for a Christmas-themed option of the excursion as well. United States New York City, New York A thriving metropolis where resilient residents pursue their futures while the legacy of its founding immigrants endures, New York City embodies both the past and present forms of the American Dream. As such, the part of the city that truly started it all is often overshadowed by neon signs and sparkling attractions: Ellis Island. The first primary immigration processing station in the U.S., Ellis Island houses some pivotal pieces of history, including those found in the hospital. With Untapped New York , this three-and-a-half-hour tour takes visitors around the island, exploring abandoned buildings not accessible to the public and offering guests a different look into America’s heritage. Miami, Florida Many visitors are aware of Florida’s Everglades, but their importance is lesser known. The area is home to dozens of threatened and endangered species, also acting as a key contributor to Florida’s economy — the Everglades not only encourage biodiversity but also financially support the locals. So, for the brave souls who don’t mind getting up close and personal with an 800-pound reptile, the Everglades Airboat Tour is the perfect opportunity to explore this underrated element of the Miami area. Visitors can book for a one, one-and-a-half or two-hour timeslot, navigating the swampy waters to observe the native critters. Alternatively, airboat tours at night are available, showing travelers the Everglades’ nocturnal activity underneath glowing stars. Asia and The Pacific Tokyo, Japan Perhaps not the cultural component most travelers associate with Japan, the Tokyo Samurai Experience is a riveting four-hour tour exploring an overlooked element of the country’s identity. Offered by the local agency Magical Trip, the excursion is perfect for visitors interested in samurai culture, martial arts or Japanese history. The tour begins with a walk through the Kagurazaka neighborhood (where many samurai residences were built), then moves into a beginner-friendly samurai fighting class. Professional instructors teach travelers the basic movements, with a chance to practice their newfound skills at the end. After working up an appetite, visitors are treated to a meal at a nearby 70-year-old traditional Japanese house. Bali, Indonesia Wellness is at the crux of many Bali itineraries, though exploring spiritual tradition can be an equally formative experience for visitors. The Uluwatu Sunset, Kecak Dance, and Jimbaran Dinner private tour offers exactly that. First, guests tour the Uluwatu Temple to learn about Mpu Kuturan’s spiritual influence on the local people before moving on to watch a kecak dance. Kecak is a traditional Balinese experience, combining drama, dance and vocal music to tell a story (often based on the Ramayana epic), with the male dancers acting to a rhythmic “cak-cak” sound. After the captivating performance concludes, travelers finish up at Jimbaran Beach, where they can explore some of Bali’s eclectic cafes and night markets. Latin America San José, Costa Rica While adventure awaits around every corner in San José, it’s important that visitors take a moment to slow down and explore Costa Rica from another perspective. The Hacienda Doka Coffee, Grecia & Sarchí Tour is one way to do that, taking guests right outside the city to Hacienda Doka, one of the largest coffee plantations in the country. Visitors will learn about the “golden beans” grown on the estate, which are considered some of Costa Rica’s best, and then fuel up with a traditional lunch of salad, rice, beans and meat. In the second phase of the eight-hour tour, travelers embark on a journey to Grecia, nestled in a picturesque mountain range, and take some time to wander the historic streets and unique sites. The tour concludes in Sarchí, birthplace of the traditional art form of the same name and home to many local artisans who continue to make the craft. From farm to photo ops, this excursion is sure to showcase Costa Rica’s rugged beauty. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Hang ten, dude! Surfing is a popular sport in Rio de Janeiro, attracting locals and visitors alike from all over the world. Not only is visiting Rio the perfect opportunity to check off a bucket-list item, but the prevalence of surfing culture provides travelers with a glimpse into Brazilians’ everyday life and their communities. A private lesson with Rio Adventures is a great place to start — the one-hour session takes place at Barra Beach (ideal for beginners) and opens with an introduction into the basic movements of surfing. Once travelers are feeling confident, they can hit the water and try their hand at catching a wave or two. About the Author Samantha Anderson is the editorial intern for VAX VacationAccess. When she’s not on the soccer field or curled up with some coffee reading the latest book, she likes to experiment with fun recipes in the kitchen and indulge in a healthy dose of reality TV. Samantha is new to the industry, though a strong zest for travel has her constantly researching unique destinations to inspire her next great adventure.
Universal Destinations & Experiences announced the attractions, shows, food & beverage and merchandise experiences that will be featured in the all new Universal Kids Resort – a regional theme park specifically designed for families with young children. The theme park will open in 2026 in Frisco, Texas. Universal Kids Resort will feature seven themed lands including DreamWorks’ Shrek’s Swamp, Jurassic World Adventure Camp, Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom, Illumination’s Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club, DreamWorks’ TrollsFest, DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots Del Mar and the Isle of Curiosity. “When creating Universal Kids Resort, we leaned into that childlike curiosity and invited play to be our guide,” said Molly Murphy, President of Universal Creative. "Every detail was designed through a child’s eyes from signs at their height to colors that invite them in. The result is a park that celebrates the joy of being a kid — where imagination isn’t just encouraged, it’s embedded in every attraction, space, and experience.” Jurassic World Adventure Camp At Jurassic World Adventure Camp, the curious Ankylosaurus, Bumpy, has gone missing, so families will zoom through twists, turns, peaks and valleys on Jurassic World: Cretaceous Coaster to help find her. Mr. DNA’s Double Helix Spin will take families on a twisting and turning journey. Kids and their grown-ups can also enjoy the Pteranodrop, an exciting ride that gives brave adventurers a bird's eye view of the park from high above. The Jurassic World Canteen will help tame T. rex-sized appetites for carnivores and herbivores alike. Jurassic World Outfitters will offer families the chance to gear up for some dinosaur-sized adventures with toys, accessories and more. From meeting a newly hatched baby dinosaur to climbing up the Jurassic World Lookout Towers play area or having fun at Paddock Play, kids and their grown-ups will have many ways to explore. Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom Jellyfish Fields Jamboree will be a vibrant attraction where kids and their families hop aboard their very own Jelly Angler to bounce around with the one and only SpongeBob SquarePants. Barnacle Bus will showcase Bikini Bottom’s sights and residents while Bobbing Barrels will feature water cannons for families to blast water at each other as they spin around. Of course, no day would be complete in Bikini Bottom without a boating lesson, so Mrs. Puff’s Boating School will have the class taking a spin through her specially designed course. Then for hungry Bikini Bottom visitors, Goofy Goober’s will offer guests chicken sandwiches, salads, hot dogs and sky-high sundaes. A sunken wooden treasure chest will be the home of Barg’N-Mart for all the nautical nonsense anyone could wish for, including sunny day apparel, toys, plush and more. With opportunities to meet SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Star and Sandy Cheeks, explore Mussel Beach for some rest and more, it’ll be the best day ever. DreamWorks’ Shrek’s Swamp The attraction Shrek & Fiona’s Happily Ogre After will take kids and their families on a special ride through the story of how Shrek met Fiona. Built by Shrek for their triplets, families will ride along to relive the quest to rescue Princess Fiona, with help from Donkey of course. For ogre-sized appetites, Shrek’s triplets’ favorite eats will be served at Swamp Snacks including the Shrekzel. For swamp apparel, accessories and plush for the whole family, Triplets Treasures will allow parents to shop for themselves along with matching and complementary outfits for their growing ogres. Kids and their grown-ups will also have a chance to meet Shrek and Fiona. Two interactive play areas, Shrek’s Swamp Rompin’ Stomp and Shrek’s Swamp Splash & Smash, will allow kids to stomp and/or splash away. Illumination’s Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club Next, guests step into the mayhem of a spirited water battle, full of unexpected surprises that only Illumination’s iconic Minions can deliver. Grab a water blaster and join the action. A game of golf and a boat cruise are far from relaxing at the Minions Bello Bay Club. Find yourself in the splash zone on the Bello Bay Cruise as you witness the antics between the Yellow Minions and their Purple counterparts. Then, take the wheel and hold on tight as the competition spins out of control at the Bello Bay Golf Cart Derby. Choose your side with pride by visiting Bello Bay Boutique and fashion yourself with Team Yellow, Team Purple, and other themed merchandise. And after all that mischief, you can recharge at Bello Bay Bites with some tasty Minion-themed snacks. Capture the fun with photos at the Minion meet and greet, discover playful Minion moments, and experience surprising water features at Illumination’s Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club. DreamWorks’ TrollsFest For even more fun, kids and their families can move, giggle and groove at King Trollex Techno Dance Party, an indoor interactive experience, or lead sound check and learn dance moves at a Trolls-themed amphitheater stage show. They can also hop on board Rhonda’s TrollsFest Express to twist and turn through the festival grounds on an armadillo bus ride, and they can soar above TrollsFest on the colorful ride Hair in the Clouds, featuring a mix of flower-faced balloons. Then for TrollsFest food, Trolls Eatz! will serve up a symphony of flavors in family-approved bites. BroZone Cones will offer ice cream from TrollsFest’s coolest boy band. To get ready to take center stage, Sparkle Shine Glitter Glow will offer the unique Troll-ify Me! experience, the ultimate Trolls makeover for kids’ and grown-ups’ hair to be in the clouds and their sparkles to be loud via headbands, apparel, make-up and more. For those looking for a more subtle look, Mr. Dinkles’ Market will feature colorful, concert-ready t-shirts, souvenirs and more. Families can also meet Poppy, Branch and the rest of the DreamWorks’ Trolls gang, and two interactive play areas, Poppy’s Playland and Trolls Critter Crawl, will offer good Trolls-fashioned fun. DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots Del Mar Small heroes unite at DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots Del Mar where Swings Over Del Mar will have guests flying high. Kids and their families can also enjoy Mama Luna’s Adopt a Kitty Day! where they’ll be able to see Puss in Boots in his greatest adventure yet as he returns to the village of Del Mar for a spectacularly silly puppet performance. For small heroes’ appetites, Comidas y Leche will serve up Puss in Boots’ approved eats. Then, purr-fect apparel awaits in Mercado de Perrito while candies and treats will make Tienda de Dulces the sweetest spot in Del Mar. Families can also meet the fearless hero himself along with Mama Luna, Perrito and friends. In addition to the park’s many play areas, Universal Kids Resort will feature multiple sensory gardens designed to give children and families opportunities to pause, reset, and connect. Isle of Curiosity The Isle of Curiosity will serve as the gateway to the other themed lands at Universal Kids Resort. Gabby’s Cat-Tastic Dance Party! will allow kids and their families to boogie with Gabby from DreamWorks’ Gabby’s Dollhouse. Cakey’s Cupcakes will serve up a variety of cupcakes in chocolate, vanilla and rainbow while the Universal Kids Resort Café will be a colorful spot to fuel up whether it’s sitting down and relaxing or grabbing bites for the road. The flagship Universal Kids Resort Store will be the one-stop-shop for gearing up for the day or finding best-of-the best from each themed land and a variety of merch inspired by Gabby’s Dollhouse to dress the part for their meow-zing adventures ahead. “Universal Kids Resort is a place where kids are accepted just as they are, free to dance, dream, and play without limits or judgment,” said Brian Robinson, Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Officer at Universal Creative. “For many, it will be the first time the worlds they’ve only seen on screen come vividly to life — moments that ignite creativity, confidence, and joy. It celebrates all the best parts of being a kid, the laughter, the curiosity, the courage to be unapologetically yourself, and in doing so, invites a new generation into the incredible thrills of Universal.” Universal Kids Resort Hotel As a place to stay and relax just steps away from the park, Universal Kids Resort Hotel was designed with families in mind. Rooms will sleep up to five or six guests. Standard Queen, Deluxe Queen and Signature Queen rooms will each offer a twin-over-full bunk bed and a queen bed. Family suites will offer a king bed in a separate bedroom, a queen pullout sofa and a twin-over-twin bunk bed along with an eating area. Curiosity Café will be a quick service restaurant offering hotel guests meals throughout the day. A full-service bar, outdoor pool, fitness room and a game room will round out the hotel amenities.
What the New Rankings Mean for You If “safe, easy, and inspiring” is your 2026 brief, the newest data lands with good news. B erkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (BHTP) just released its annual Safest Places for Travelers research—and there are some notable shifts. Headline: The Netherlands takes the top spot for countries, and Reykjavík, Copenhagen, and Zürich lead the city list. Safest countries (top 10): Netherlands Australia Austria Iceland Canada New Zealand UAE Switzerland Japan Ireland Safest cities (top tier): Reykjavík , Copenhagen , Zürich (with long-time stalwarts like Tokyo and Singapore still ranking strongly). How BHTP builds the rankings (and why they matter) BHTP blends traveler survey data (how safe people actually felt on the ground) with external safety indices (infrastructure, health care access, risk metrics, etc.). That combination makes the list especially useful for families, first-timers, and anyone who wants solid logistics with low friction. What changed for 2026 The Netherlands jumps to #1. Think immaculate rail links, bike-first cities, and traveler-friendly English—plus cultural depth beyond the big hitters. UAE breaks into the top 10 at #7, reflecting years of investment in safety and visitor infrastructure. Northern Europe still dominates cities: Reykjavík and Copenhagen remain gold standards for walkability, transit, and low petty-crime rates. If you’re trip-planning, here are smart, safety-forward routes Netherlands (7–9 days): Amsterdam → Haarlem → Leiden → Delft → The Hague (day trip to the beach at Scheveningen). Rail-only, no car required, museum passes + canal hotels for stress-free logistics. (Yes, tulips in spring are as good as you’ve heard.) Austria (7–10 days): Vienna → Wachau Valley → Salzburg → Salzkammergut. Scenic rails, tidy timetables, and lake-town stays that feel like a deep breath. Iceland (5–8 days): Base in Reykjavík; combine Golden Circle with an overnight on the South Coast. World-class emergency services and clear road guidance make self-drives approachable in the right season. Copenhagen + Southern Sweden (6–8 days): Copenhagen → Helsingør → Malmö/Lund via Øresund bridge. Smooth cross-border trains, bike culture, and design-forward hotels. Japan (8–12 days): Tokyo → Hakone → Kyoto. Add a JR Pass segment and stay near major stations for maximum ease and safety. Practical tips for “safe and smooth” travel in 2026 Lean on rail where possible (Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Japan): reliable schedules minimize the usual travel hiccups. Book walkable bases near central stations/old towns—better lighting, more people around, easier late-evening returns. (This also reduces rideshare dependence.) Pack admin smarts: photocopies of passports, offline maps, local emergency numbers saved in your phone. Match season to your style: shoulder seasons = fewer crowds and typically calmer logistics in these already order-loving places. Why this list aligns with how I plan trips My itineraries prioritize frictionless movement (good transit, central hotels), clear day-by-day pacing, and local texture—the exact strengths highlighted by BHTP’s top destinations. If you’re the “I want easy, authentic, and well-run” traveler, these picks make your life simpler before you even leave home. Let Joy in the Journey Travel design your tailored itinerary! Book Now Your Complimentary Discovery Call!