Why food tours have become my family’s go-to choice for exploring new cities
Walking into a new city can feel a bit daunting, particularly with kids in tow. Should you dive into popular tourist attractions? Delve into the area’s history? Regardless of how much you prepare beforehand, it’s often a challenge to navigate, especially after a tiring journey compounded by jet lag.
Having traveled with my three children to various corners of the globe, I’ve found that food tours are our favorite way to explore a new destination. Initially drawn to them for their engaging and active nature, I thought food could entice my kids to participate. It’s tough to find activities that keep all my children entertained, and food tours seemed to offer just that. Plus, I genuinely enjoy them too!
Exploring a city through its culinary offerings is an excellent method to appreciate its traditions and culture. However, when we venture out alone, we often stick to familiar foods rather than trying something different. Language barriers can also lead to missed opportunities when it comes to understanding menus. This is precisely where food tours excel. They provide a chance for a local guide to introduce you to the culinary landscape and explain what you’re tasting. Here’s why I love taking my kids on food tours.
Discover hidden gems and bypass long waits at hot spots
Typically, a food tour kicks off by meeting your guide and exploring the city streets. You can sample popular dishes like crepes in Paris and po’ boys in New Orleans, along with lesser-known items like wild boar salami and pastries dusted with powdered sugar.
I love the convenience of these tours. The guide coordinates our visits, ensuring the food is ready upon our arrival, which is ideal for families since children are usually not great at waiting, even for something yummy. For instance, during a doughnut tour in Seattle, there was a lengthy line when we reached Daily Dozen Doughnut Co. in Pike Place Market. Our guide went straight to the front and got us our doughnuts in just a few minutes. We enjoyed our treats while strolling to the nearby Gum Wall (a quirky favorite among kids).
While we dine, the guide shares intriguing insights about the businesses we visit and their significance in the city’s culinary landscape. In New Orleans, we enjoyed gumbo at Coronet while learning about the differences between Cajun and Creole cuisines. A stop at a bakery in Bordeaux sparked a conversation about the region’s wine influence and how it inspired the famous canalés of the area. This blend of learning is engaging for both kids and adults.
Kids are more open to trying new foods on tours
I’ve noticed that on food tours, my kids are much more willing to try dishes they would typically avoid. Is it a bit of peer pressure? The desire to impress our enthusiastic guide? Whatever the reason, it’s always a delight when they willingly sample unique foods such as escargot and blood sausage. I was particularly proud when my 8-year-old exclaimed, “This smells like truffles!” while we were tasting cheese in Paris—and he was spot on!
No more planning hassles
As the designated family travel planner, I’m often responsible for organizing excursions, booking hotels, and arranging restaurant reservations. Food tours let me take a break from that tedious planning. We simply join the guide and explore local taco stands, meat markets, and beignet shops.
During our summer visit to Portland, Oregon, I wanted to explore the renowned food truck pods. However, I quickly realized they were scattered throughout the city, and we hadn’t rented a car. Thankfully, a biking food tour provided the perfect solution.
We gathered with our biking tour guide, where we got fitted with bikes and helmets before embarking on our adventure. Our first stop was at a coffee shop, where we enjoyed iced ube lattes and learned about the strong biking culture in the area, including various safety features we would encounter while riding. After that, we paused at a beautiful rose garden to discuss why Portland is known as the City of Roses, before heading to our first food truck pod for some delicious breakfast burritos.
It was a pleasant surprise when my teenagers started asking our guide questions about urban sprawl and gentrification in Portland. This made me appreciate food tours even more; they spark curiosity in kids and allow them to connect with locals who provide insights about the city that I might not know.
Food tours combine local history with great experiences
If your family enjoys history, you can usually find historical tours in most new cities you explore. However, I prefer food tours because they weave snippets of history into the experience overall.
For instance, on a food tour in Paris, we took a brief pause to refill our water bottles at one of the iconic Wallace fountains. Even after spending several days in the city, we hadn’t noticed that fresh drinking water was available on many street corners. Our guide explained that these decorative cast iron fountains were a philanthropic gift from Sir Richard Wallace when clean drinking water was scarce. They’re still in use today!
Guides are invaluable for post-tour recommendations
The guides leading food tours genuinely want you to have an amazing experience beyond their offerings. For instance, in Lisbon, our guide helped us make a reservation for a fado music show with dinner for the following day. In Paris, our guide shared his number and later sent us a list of recommended restaurants via WhatsApp. Having these local connections in a new city can be incredibly beneficial.
Tips for enjoying a food tour:
- Schedule your tour early in your trip so you can benefit from your guide’s recommendations as you continue your stay.
- Wear comfortable shoes, and don’t forget water and sunscreen.
- Arrive hungry! You’ll sample a lot of different foods, so you don’t want to be full before trying anything.
- Be ready to step out of your comfort zone and taste new things.
- Show appreciation by tipping your guide if you enjoyed their service.
Why food tours have become my family’s favorite way to see a new city originally appeared on FamilyVacationist.com.
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The views and opinions expressed in this column reflect the author’s perspective and do not necessarily represent those of YSL News. FamilyVacationist.com and TourScoop.com are operated by Vacationist Media LLC. Using a careful methodology for travel recommendations, we curate ideas for family vacations, vacation destinations, all-inclusive resorts, and traditional family trips, catering to all ages. TourScoop provides coverage of guided group tours, tour operators, and travel gear recommendations.
