Culinary traditions can often enrich a destination. Help your family develop a taste for travel with local specialties from across the country. Here are five tasty ideas to consider.
1) Memphis, Tenn. A visit to this Southern gem may well include a stop at Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley. Not only did the Memphis Flash love music, but he was also well-known for his passion for creative comfort food. Not far from his legendary digs, you’ll find the Arcade Restaurant, a ’50s-style, family-owned diner that serves Elvis favorites including his go-to sandwich: fried peanut butter and banana on Texas toast. Bacon is always an option.
Contact: arcaderestaurant.com; memphistravel.com
2) Phoenix-Scottsdale, Ariz. There are plenty of reasons you’ll need to hydrate in the Valley of the Sun. Add sampling local salsas and chile-infused treats to the list.
The TeePee Tap Room has been the choice of presidents and is a family favorite for those seeking homemade Mexican food since 1958. The Mission, Barrio Queen and La Hacienda are also popular.
Contact: experiencescottsdale.com; visitphoenix.com
3) Kansas City, Mo. You won’t want to visit this Midwestern town without savoring a dry-rubbed, slow-smoked slab of barbecued ribs. There are more than 100 establishments blending a mouth-watering combination of flavors and styles, according to the Kansas City Barbecue Society. Among the favorites: Wabash BBQ, BBQ Shack and Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue.
Contact: visitkc.com
4) The California coast. A road trip along the Golden State coast is an American favorite.
Hungry? Expect fresh produce, fish and small-batch ice cream. To help sort through the wealth of options, the culinary insiders at Open Table have created a Summer Road Trip guide to great dining from San Francisco’s Zuni Cafe to San Diego’s Bottega Americano with plenty of savory stops in between.
Contact: blog.opentable.com; visitcalifornia.com
5) Rhode Island. The Ocean State has a long history of cultivating oysters. During a New England adventure, learn about the recent boom in aquaculture and how oysters make their way from shallow waters to an icy serving platter.
Whether you slurp those shucked in a dockside seafood shack or at top spots like Hemenway’s in Providence, your family will gain a new appreciation for this fresh delicacy.
Contact: visitrhodeisland.com; hemenwaysrestaurant.com
