There is no better way to nourish body and soul than to take your five senses on a culinary vacation. And there is no better place to do it than in New York State! New York抯 culinary credentials are impressive, dating back to the building of the Erie Canal when thousands of immigrants and their recipes moved into the state, creating a legacy of diverse dishes and rich cultural traditions.

What exactly is a culinary vacation? Is it where Chardonnay meets Sole in the summer moonlight at a winery? Or perhaps where garlic meets garlic-lover at a festival? Or just maybe it抯 tricking your teenage kids into learning to cook in a recreational cooking class. Now there抯 an idea! Actually it抯 all of these and more.

Where food intersects with culture, creativity and adventure is where you抣l find the culinary explorer. Epicurean travel includes recreational cooking programs, winery adventures, food festivals and restaurant dining. It can range from the sophistication of haute cuisine to the thrill of the grill at a barbeque or cooking class. It encompasses people, customs and most importantly, the art of good eating.

The best way to experience customs and people is through cuisine, and you can see the world and meet its people by traveling the width and breadth of New York State抯 eleven vacation regions: Adirondacks, Capital-Saratoga, Catskills, Central-Leatherstocking, Chautauqua-Allegany, Finger Lakes, Hudson Valley, Greater Niagara, Long Island, New York City, and Thousand Islands-Seaway (where Thousand Islands dressing comes from). Each region possesses cultural and culinary flavors interwoven with its own distinct natural beauty ?breathtaking mountains, pristine beaches, luscious forests, and quiet valleys with rolling hills and meandering rivers. From fresh pasta, focaccia, and waterfalls to wineries, hayrides and the polka, New York State is the nation抯 kingdom of cultural and culinary diversity paired with awesome scenery and seasonal fun.