By If you're anything like us, the food is an incredibly important part of any vacation. So, why not plan a trip around the food? Saveur just released its annual Culinary Travels Awards focusing on the best foodie destination cities with populations less than 800,000, which doubles perfectly as a guide to planning your next domestic adventure.
New Orleans, LA
In first place, the "Expert's Choice," is unsurprisingly, New Orleans. The city is known for its incredibly unique and cultural dining options, and the Saveur team is particularly enamored with hotspots like mainstay Galatoire's and Commander's Palace. But it's not just traditional local fare that earned the editors' love — Dong Phuong Oriental Bakery's Vietnamese was also mentioned, alongside "bowls of steaming pho at Phò Tâù Bay."
Portland, OR
Next in line, the "Readers' Choice," is Portland, OR, a city that's been stepping up its food game in leaps and bounds over the past five years. "Here," says Saveur, "odd is the norm and funky is fair game," leaving room for restaurants to be as creative as they are palate pleasing. Fresh ingredients rule the roost in the Pacific Northwest city, and the chefs at restaurants like beloved Le Pigeon and indulgent doughnuttery Voodoo Donuts earned the city very high marks.
These two are serious standouts, but there are plenty of other great towns across the country that received notable mentions for their distinctive food offerings and experiences. The Huffington Post dished on the reasons these runners up are really must-visits, too.
Seattle, WA
Pike Place, the renowned food market, is an experience in and of itself, but Seattle is also home to comfortable neighborhood spots, great coffee shops, and even top-notch beer selections.
Charleston, SC
Charleston combines down-home Southern-style food with a modern sensibility for a totally unique dining destination. Hotspots like Butcher & Bee and Hominy Grill earn Charleston a spot amongst the best.
Boston, MA
Chowder aside (though that's worth a mention, too), Boston is known for its cheap brewery tours and fresh, local ciders. Perfect for fall!
Atlanta, GA
Atlanta is all about getting comfortable. Whether you're chowing down on the sandwich the Huffington Post deemed "best grilled cheese ever" at Smoke Ring or savoring the simply fantastic grits, Atlanta has a ton of beloved dishes to indulge in.
Washington, DC
D.C. isn't just a political hub — it's also home to a huge variety of modern cuisine, ranging from the Indian fare at Rasika to the chorizo risotto at Tico.
Asheville, NC
Asheville has two major components that make it perfect for your food-focused trip: First, lots of brewery tours, and second, specially designed eating tours to satisfy your every craving.
Honolulu, HI
This pick really needs no explanation — in Hawaii, the freshest fish are prepared with an extraordinary array of ingredients spanning American and Asian cuisines. And add all that to the intensely relaxing tropical ambiance? Yes, please!
Providence, RI
Providence, RI has an absurd amount of doughnut shops per capita. Need we explain further?
Minneapolis, MN
An international city to its core, the Minneapolis food scene is just getting started. There are uber-affordable spots alongside higher end dining destinations, as well as an abundance of "whimsical pastries."
Portland, ME
The Harbor Fish Market is known for its incredibly fresh fish, straight out of the ocean. It doesn't get much better for seafood lovers.
Louisville, KY
Bourbon, bourbon, and bourbon, of course. But in addition to the standout spirits, Louisville has a great farm-to-table culture, among other attractions.
What would you pick as your favorite dining destination?
[h/t Huffington Post
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