The Year of Culinary Travel?

Travel trend predictions for 2013 are here.  And while culinary tourism has been on the rise for the last decade, foodie-focused trips now seem to be at the forefront of people’s minds and wish lists when it comes to where to travel next.  In fact, an article in Budget Travel called out culinary tourism as a top travel trend for 2013.

So what exactly is culinary tourism?  Imagine yourself on a walking tour of lively Buenos Aires, where you eat your way through the city while having one-on-one conversations with some of the top chefs in the region.  Or perhaps you’ll find your way to a farm in New Zealand where you’ll spend a week experiencing rural life on a full-scale sheep ranch or vineyard.  Culinary travel is learning about an area’s culture and history through hands-on food adventures.

And one of the companies on the forefront of this trend is Whole Foods Market, which will be launching food-related trips around the world this spring through their new travel company, Whole Journeys.  Offering both domestic and international trips, Whole Journeys aims to offer travelers “through-the-back-door” experiences with their “Active Foodie” adventures and “Hands on Cooking” excursions.  Not only will travelers have the opportunity to indulge in local delicacies and maybe throw on an apron while mingling with chefs, farmers and winemakers, but they’ll also get to hike, bike and raft their way through some of the best travel destinations on the planet.  That’s a good way to work off all of that tasty food and beverage.

So, if you’re somebody who’s interested in planning a foodie adventure for 2013, you might want to check out some of the awesome trips offered through Whole Journeys. They’ve got trips lined up close to home in the U.S. and as far away as China, with everything from Turkey, Spain, Italy and France in between.

Full disclosure: OARS has partnered up with Whole Journeys on their Savor the Salmon River Idaho trip, a 6-night, 7-day rafting trip through one of the West’s most scenic river canyons, complete with a chef who prepares regionally-sourced gourmet meals each night. 

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