Americans’ love affair with food and wine revealed
February 14 in the Big Apple.
If, like my husband and me, you’ve sped hundreds of miles up a craggy coast for a succulent Maine lobster; raced across the entire state of North Carolina for a rendezvous with ribs; or traded your last two-bits for a slice of shoo-fly pie in Pennsylvania Dutch country; it will come as no surprise that 60% of American leisure travelers are planning to do the same sometime soon.
The first-of-its-kind national survey on culinary tourism by the Travel Industry Association (TIA) shows that 27 million American leisure travelers engaged in culinary or wine-related activities while traveling within the past three years. That number will more than triple in the near future, according to survey responses, as travelers plan their trips around unique and memorable experiences.
Can't think of a trip that didn't involve food? For the purpose of the study, culinary and wine experiences were more narrowly defined to include things like cooking classe
s, dining out for unique experiences, visiting farmers markets, gourmet food shopping, attending food festivals, participating in winery tours, driving a wine trail, tasting locally made wines and attending wine festivals.
Respondents also said they like to take in regional and local cuisine, immerse themselves in the local culture, and bring back regional foods, recipes and wines to share with friends and family.
The top 15 destinations for food-related travel visited by the respondents (in order) include: California (14%), Florida (10%), New York (7%), Texas (6%), North Carolina (4%), Georgia (4%), Louisiana (3%), Illinois (3%), Nevada (3%), Pennsylvania (3%), Washington (3%), Hawaii (3%), Michigan (2%), Arizona (2%), Virginia (2%).
The top 12 destinations for wine-related travel visited by the U.S. respondents in the survey include: California (31%), New York (10%), Missouri (5%), North Carolina (5%), Oregon (5%), Pennsylvania (5%), Washington (4%), Virginia (4%), Texas (4%), Florida (2%), Michigan (2%), Ohio (2%).
Edge Research conducted the survey for the TIA, Gourmet magazine, and the International Culinary Tourism Association.
In addition to the lead sponsors, this comprehensive research was sponsored, in part, by the Albuquerque Convention and Visitors Bureau, Arizona Office of Tourism, California Tourism, Greater Miami Convention 
and Visitors Bureau, Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Bureau, National Restaurant Association, North Carolina Department of Commerce, Ohio Division of Travel and Tourism, Oregon Culinary Tourism Association, Pennsylvania Tourism Office, Professional Association of Innkeepers International, Savannah Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Virginia Tourism Corporation and the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development.
An executive summary of the report is available from the Travel Industry Association
For more information and trends in culinary tourism, see Culinary Tourism, The Hidden Harvest a white paper by Erik Wolf, president and CEO of the International Culinary Tourism Association.
What's new on the culinary trail? Learn about Pennsylvania Dutch Flavor Fest
Lisa Gensheimer, Travel Correspondent:
The Culinary Tourist appears every other Thursday and by chance in Gather Essentials: Travel. Explore all 50 states with award-winning documentary producer Lisa Gensheimer as she discovers the fun, food and people she meets along the way. Whether you're visiting the home of a faraway friend, stopping for directions at a roadside market, or on holiday in an exotic location, richly layered experiences await. A published author, Lisa has several new projects in the works, including a cultural cookbook and companion travel DVD. Read more about Lisa's work at MainStreetMedia.tv and at Forest Press Keep up with Lisa's postings and Gather activity by joining her Gather network. Just click here and select the orange Connect button on the left-hand side of the page. You will find Lisa and other Travel Correspondents, plus expert tips and plenty of other travel lovers, at Gather Essentials: Travel
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Comments: 42
WE all travel for food, however indirectly. My last visit to Portsmouth (restaurant review will appear here soon) I drove 25 miles North into Maine for the best Lobster Roll (from a best food of each state book) at the Maine Diner. I've eaten breakfast there many times - the lobster roll was a first for me - and - I AGREE!
(now I need to try that fish sandwich you wrote so eloquently about!)
Loved the article, and thank you for the link!
Maybe we as a State are still on the infant stages of this moving trend, but it is definitely alive and seems to be growing!
10 years ago this summer, we held our first cooking classes in our B&B/cooking school aimed especifically to travelers who would stay at our Inn for several days and attend a series of cooking classes. We would take them to the farmer's market and the Suisan Fish Market auction. We would visit the local winery up in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and we visited several small farmers in our area where we bought produce to use in our classes.... It was a lot of fun and I miss it!
Mr. Bill--I will try not to spill the beans, but yes, we will learn how to roast coffee!
Jennifer--What's your favorite New Jersey winery?
Richard--We visit the Finger Lakes wineries at least once a year, usually during the vintage car races at Watkins Glen or Columbus Day weekend.
Sonia--The responses surprised me, too. I am just going to have to finagle a trip to Hawaii. I would love to learn more about the Suisan Fish Market auction. Why don't you start the classes up again? Sounds like there is a huge market for that, too.
most interesting. I was a bit surprised that neither Massachusetts nor Maine made the top of the list, but think all the states which are there, at least ones where I've lived and visited, are good choices.
you're working on a cultural cook book? I'd like to know more about that.
For those concerned that their state did not make the list, remember the list was only the top 15 states reported by the respondents. Visitors to your state may have been preoccupied with other things.
I notice that Colorado, a year-round mecca for visitors, is not mentioned, even though Aspen hosts one of the older and very revered foodie celebrations in the country, plus you will find many more festivals all across the state.
My conclusion is: That many visitors to Colorado are so concerned with gulping the vapor thin air, they forgot to mention the wonderful cuisine of my home state when filling out the questionaire!!!
I suspect that many other visitors to your states, recall the beaches, golf links, spas, theme parks, and other tourist attractions when they respond to such surveys.
The report goes on to say there is a high correlation between travelers who seek out regional wine and food and those who visit museums and national parks, participate in outdoor recreation, and immerse themselves in the local culture.
Culinary travel is the soup du jour, but for those of us who really want to get to know a place, it doesn't matter what you call it—culinary tourism, ecotourism, or geotourism. We crave new experiences that engage all the senses, introduce us to interesting people, and create a sense of wonder about our world.
Often, those experiences are in your own backyard. Tell me about your favorite culinary adventures here, or drop me a line on email. I'll do my best to include them in a future column.
And be sure to mark your calendar now for a contest we'll be hosting during See America Week, May 12-20.
I am hoping for an in-depth report on the coffee roasting and brewing from your upcoming journey. I suppose I could look the how-to's up online, but would rather like to hear your first hand account and insights.
Andy, you seem to be a grumpy transplant lost in suburbia and quite out of touch with the reality of foodstuffs and cuisine in regards to Colorado. Weld County on the northern plains of CO is ranked in the top 10 counties in the country for agricultural production, it also home to the hops that flavours not only the Rocky Mt Spring water of Coors, but also Bud, Miller, and many other American brews. CO has long been known for its beef that ranges on the high meadows of native Timothy grasses, plus the mighty buffalo resurgence began in CO. Rocky Ford Cantaloupes are the sweetest in all of North America, possibly the world. Peaches apricots and a variety of succulent fruits from the slopes of Grand Mesa and Grand Valley, Olathe corn, seasonal crops long admired and desired by true gourmets around the country, and the list goes on and on.
I would like to move my discussion off Lisa's article, so as not to dilute her article. Those that wish to continue can follow along by clicking Food Festival & Cuisine in Your State.
I was surprised to see N.C. listed for the wine. I didn't think that many people realized that we even made wine here. By the way, we have great moonshine too! ;)
Other than that, I've never signed up for anything just for the food. I used to drive clear across town when I lived in upstate New York for a bowl of clam chowder at a particular place. I also have to stop at a Sport Fishing place when in San Diego called "Fisherman's Landing" just to visit the fish market and restaurant/deli there for a Rock Cod sandwich; that and see what anybody caught when the boats come in.... ;-)
Interesting article, thanks.
FYI - I had a fantastic meal at the Red Newt Bistro, one of the best I've had in this country, and it is just 9 miles above Watkins Glenn on the east side of Seneca Lake. If you can - I seriously recommend eating there! I hope to be able to go again. I wrote about it for the Spring issue of Life in the Finger Lakes. My original version appeared as my entry to food writing (the magazine needed a MAJOR rewrite) and may come back here again soon.
Thanks again for this article - I really enjoyed it.
one of my favorite places to eat is Veggie Planet in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It's actually the food part of the venerable and celebrated music venue Club Passim. there's music and history just in the air there, as well as good cooking. http://www.veggieplanet.net/veggieplanet.htm but I'll go there for lunch too (music's in the evening) because the food's so great. roasted butternut squash, carmalized onions, sage, asiago, and creamy goat cheese, on a whole wheat pizza crust, for example.
Sounds much warmer and more inviting than where I'm headed this afternoon--to the Ice Festival on Chautauqua Lake. Music, history and whole wheat pizza laden with roasted veggies and cheese? It doesn't get much better than that!
Its a lot of fun and I do at least 5-6 or those a year.........more than than and it gets to be a chore ;-)
Shannon - Michigan? Just because OHio only has 2% of wine tourism doesn't mean we aren't better in everything :)
Great article! It was beautifully written, and I was surprised at some of the top food and wine destinations. Did you have to include the dessert table picture? Time to raid the fridge...
Christine--Thanks for stopping by. Definitely a good group here! Festivals are, well, festive, but off-season visits can be just as enjoyable. I like talking with growers, winemakers and restaurateurs in person when things aren't so hectic.