Some of my fondest travel experiences have been centered around food and drink. And when I’m planning a new adventure, I don’t skimp when it comes to grastronomy research.  Here are some of my favorites.

In Rockland, Maine at Archer’s On The Pier  the King of Clubs lobster club is stuffed full of sweet juicy lobster. Owner Lynn Archer even beat Bobby Flay in a televised Throw Down with this huge, tasty sandwich. The location and view are an added bonus.

Down a dirt road in Ava, Illinois you will find Scratch Brewing Company a farmhouse brewery making beers with ingredients grown on site or foraged nearby. Think fresh Basil Ale paired with a margherita pizza or a Meadow Saison brewed with wild flowers. They even have a single tree series where they use sap in place of water and include nuts, leaves and bark in the brewing process.  

For those of us with a sweet tooth, chocolate is usually the answer. In Madrid, New Mexico – a past ghost town and now fun stop on the Turquoise Trail – there’s Shugarman’s Little Chocolate Shop. They offer creations like lavender chocolate bark, mango chili dark chocolate and green chili cashew milk chocolate.  

In storybook Carmel, California you can grab a sophisticated snack at The Tuck Box. We enjoyed housemade scones served with whipped cream, preserves and Tuck Box Ceylon black tea.

Traveling can be so delicious.