Every time a birthday comes around, I stop and think about what I’ve done, especially all the food and travel experiences, and what else I’d like to do. Anyone who knows me knows that my birthday is a non-stop celebration. I spent all of June celebrating my birthday.
Some may think this is too much or self-indulgent, and frankly, it is. I couldn't care less; I keep doing it year after year and have no plans to stop as long as I'm breathing.
As I reflect, this year I started thinking about some of the amazing and memorable food and travel experiences I’ve had around the world. I thought it might be fun to share some of my favorites. People always ask, “What's your favorite destination?” or “Where's the best place you've ever eaten?” I admit I hate these questions because it's so hard to choose. However, there are some of my favorite, memorable things that are worth sharing.
I hope my favorites inspire you to create your own unforgettable experiences. Here they are in no particular order…
My favorite food and travel experiences
Barge cruise for my 50th birthday
Many people have heard this story before. For years I had dreamed of cruising on a barge when I turned 50. I imagined a small boat sailing the canals of France with friends. We'll be drinking champagne, enjoying the French countryside, eating lots of delicious food, and, of course, celebrating my birthday.
We researched, planned and ultimately selected the perfect barge cruise for us. one French countryside waterway French Burgundy Cruise. Sadly, no other friends wanted to join us. I admit it was a little pricey, but we took advantage of the “buy one get one free” promotion which seemed like a steal to us at the time.
It ended up being one of my favorite food trips. We became friends almost immediately with the 10 other passengers on board. I remember someone asking us why we chose to be on such a small boat and not knowing anyone. Aren't we afraid that we won't get along? What if they don’t like us or our way of life? We laughed and said everyone liked us and we would be fine, which we were. You can read all about it here. This is one of my best food experiences.
Since then we have gone to two other places French barge cruise. It’s a great slow-paced way to see the French countryside, relax and meet new people.
Hot air balloon and boat tours in Turkey
When I was working as a consultant for Global Media, one of my stops was Istanbul. When the time came, Diana joined me and we spent two weeks there Türkiye. It’s been a journey full of exploration, delicious food, and meeting some amazing people.
Highlights of the trip were staying at a cave hotel and taking a sunrise hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia (the birthplace of Diana’s grandfather). At sunrise, in the tranquility of a hot air balloon, you can enjoy a unique view of this mysterious landscape. It’s worth getting up early to experience it.
Another memorable experience from this trip was renting a gulet (wooden boat) for half a day. bodrum and sailed around the Aegean Sea. We had the big boat to ourselves except the captain and his first mate, who cooked fresh snapper on the deck, which we enjoyed with ice-cold Greek beers. We swam a few times in the sea, took a nap on the deck and had afternoon tea. It was one of the most relaxing things we have ever done. When I feel stressed, I think of floating on the ocean, with the sun shining on my face, carefree. I feel no pressure instantly
Yellowstone Country Food Road Trip
In the heyday of our travels for the foodie traveler, we were lucky enough to be invited on many food and travel experience press tours, hosted tours and sponsored tours. Sometimes we are lucky enough to not only experience a new destination, but make lifelong friends in the process.
One of those trips was our first trip to Yellowstone Country with our host, Robin Hoover. We meet Robin when she comes to Chicago for a roadshow that showcases all the wonders of Yellowstone country to travel writers. Of course, we were interested in the food they had to offer and Robin had a lot to tell us. She insisted that we needed to visit and that she would be our tour guide.
We soon found ourselves stranded on a plane heading west. This is an unforgettable week-long food tour as Robin drives us across Montana to experience Bozeman, Livingston, Big Sky, chico hot springsbig timber, and everything in between. Pro tip: bring your stretchy pants, there’s plenty to eat! You can read all about our food discoveries, including my favorite, huckleberries, right? here. We even got to meet the governor at a wine tasting event!
We enjoyed the trip so much that we later returned to Montana next winter Experience Yellowstone from a whole new perspective (spoiler alert: it’s breathtaking, quiet, and breathtaking). We highly recommend visiting this iconic national park and surrounding areas at any time of year.
Thank you Robin for introducing us to Montana, one of the best foodie destinations out there (we even considered moving there, but that’s a story for another day), and more importantly, for being a great friend.
Thanksgiving in New York City
Several years ago, when Diana was a member of the Metropolitan Club of Chicago, we enjoyed its many benefits. One of the highlights was making a Thanksgiving dinner reservation at the James Beard House in New York City. Of course, we decided to take a long weekend. We saw Macy's Thanksgiving balloons being inflated the night before. We dined at the 21 Club (also a membership benefit), saw a few Broadway shows, and had a great time.
Thanksgiving dinner at the James Beard House is one we will never forget. Several chefs from across the country are responsible for creating their favorite Thanksgiving treats. There were plenty of cocktails and appetizers, followed by lots of courses and great conversation around our table of ten. I was so full that I couldn't finish the last few bites of my dish, and one of my tablemates quietly asked me if I was done. They want my last two bites! This is an argument. I honestly don’t remember ever feeling as full as I did that night in my life. We ended up walking back to the hotel (in high heels) and eating some delicious meals. However, I have no regrets. I would do it again without hesitation.
Christmas market in Italy
It's no secret that I love Christmas market. I've been to dozens of them Europe and America and I loved every single one of them. This is a unique food and travel experience, with each market having its own charm and flavor. this german christmas market Maybe this is where it all started, but our road trip through northern Italy just to explore the Christmas markets made me smile with joy.
While you can still enjoy mulled wine, sausages, and German specialties, these markets also feature Italian food and wine that are out of this world.
One of the highlights was a trip to Tres Marchetti Trattoria in Verona, where the owner was a former opera singer. He mesmerized us with his singing and served us a chef's tasting menu that we still dream of.
We also tasted the original Stracciatella ice cream at La Marianna's in Bergamo.
Our itinerary included Merano, Bressanone-Brixen, Bolzano, Trento, Arco, Verona, Milan and Bergamo. You can read all about it and plan your trip here here.
Let's go!
I admit I enjoyed reliving these experiences again. We've had many, many other food and travel experiences, and they've all been great. These are some very special, once-in-a-lifetime experiences that stand out.
I hope that by sharing this with you, I'll inspire you to get out there and experience the world. Do something different. Even if it’s just a few hours road trip from home. You'll be surprised how much it can change your mood, change your perspective, and maybe even change your perception of the place you visit.
Wherever you go, whatever you do, go now, don't wait!
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