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With foodcations and other culinary trips on the rise, we recommend some of the country’s most elite gastronomic events and tours for epicurean retirees.
By
Drew Limsky
published
28 March 2026
in Features
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Food Network NYC Wine & Food Festival at the Seaport.
(Image credit: Getty Images)"Food tourism is the act of traveling for a taste of place in order to gain a deeper sense of place," decrees the World Food Travel Association. And by all accounts, culinary vacations — aka "foodcations" — are booming in popularity. Leisure Group Traveler says that food quality is a "key factor" accounting for 60% to 80% of travel decisions — so why not go straight to the savory source for wine and food tastings, lectures, seminars, private parties, and cooking demos? Designated food weekends and tours abound around the U.S.
More than 40 years old and still going strong, the Aspen Classic has enjoyed the longest legacy among national multiday culinary events. From New York to California, many have followed in its wake. For the last 15 or so years, food photos on social media (i.e., food porn) have only fed the interest in cuisine-influenced travel.
Brett Friedman is the founder and CEO of Agency 21 Consulting (aka a21), and he’s a key player in this exalted space: A21 is the production company behind the esteemed Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival, overseeing the event’s programming, operations, partnerships and overall guest experience.
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Sign upA21 also produces other major food festivals, such as the South Beach Wine & Food Festival and the New York City Wine & Food Festival, making it one of the premier producers of large-scale culinary experiences.
We spoke with Friedman and other experts and handpicked five of the tastiest and most acclaimed gastronomic experiences in the U.S.
1. Aspen Food and Wine Classic
The takeaway: "The granddaddy of all food and wine events is the Aspen Classic," Friedman says. Now in its 43rd year, the 2026 edition includes Tyler Florence and Nancy Silverton. Luxury travel advisor Becca Hensley recalls: "One year I went, and my favorite Texas chef from Houston was there: Chris Shepherd. He’s an all-star. The chefs are Michelin-starred, James Beard nominees, and rising talents." Hensley notes that Bobby Flay will return this year.
When it's happening: June 19–21, 2026
How to get there: Aspen/Pitkin County Airport is located three miles from the center of the city. Flights go to several cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago, and Denver. (Check schedules; some routes are seasonal.)
Where to stay: "Stay at The Little Nell or Hotel Jerome to see and be seen," Hensley advises. Hotel Jerome is a member of the Auberge Collection — a brand founded in the culinary capital of Napa Valley, Calif.
Beyond food and wine: Though established as a ski destination nearly 100 years ago and now one of Colorado’s toniest winter vacation retreats, Aspen offers plenty to do in summer. Activities include hiking one of the many trails around the Roaring Fork Valley, as well as rafting, kayaking, biking, mountain climbing and fly-fishing.
Want to be up in the air? Try paragliding and hot-air ballooning.
2. Sonoma Food Tour: Walking Food, Wine & History Tour
The takeaway: It’s little surprise that Sonoma came up with one of the most highly regarded culinary tours in the country. Sonoma Valley and adjacent Napa Valley are arguably among the most justifiably prestigious gastronomic and viticultural capitals in the U.S. Francis Ford Coppola Winery and Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery are standouts.
In addition to fine wines, the Sonoma food tour includes artisanal cheeses, chocolates, locally made olive oils and balsamic vinegars. The weekend three-hour-a-day tours are limited to 10 people.
When it's happening: Every Thursday through Saturday in 2026.
How to get there: The quickest route from San Francisco takes little more than an hour, but it’s more fun to drive north along the coast (explore Stinson Beach and Bolinas), even if it takes longer. Both routes are accessible via the eyepopping Golden Gate Bridge. Rent a convertible.
Where to stay: The uber-lux Montage brand, founded at the incomparable Laguna Beach, Calif., destination, enjoys a sister hotel in Healdsburg, CA, the center of Sonoma Valley. More intimate accommodations can be found at the Gaige House Inn in Glen Ellen.
Beyond food and wine: Breathtaking hiking trails can be explored at Armstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve. The Sonoma Coast State Park offers sunbathing, birdwatching, kayaking and horseback riding.
For the literary-minded, check out Jack London State Historic Park, which contains the White Fang author’s cottage and other historic buildings. (See the 1982 Diane Keaton film Shoot the Moon to get a sense of the site).
3. Food Network NYC Wine & Food Festival
The takeaway: Now in its 19th year, this five-day marathon of 50 events, now held at New York's Seaport, lands during one of Manhattan’s most seasonable months, making it the ultimate time to taste the best of the city. A dinner hosted by Daniel Boulud is sold out, but you can still grab a ticket for dinners hosted by Eric Ripert and José Andrés.
When it's happening: October 14–18, 2026
How to get there: In addition to JFK, you can fly into LaGuardia Airport or Newark Airport; both have experienced substantial upgrades, including enhanced and varied food offerings.
Where to stay: Iconic yet discreet, the Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park has a boutique feel even though it’s a flagship of a major global luxury brand. This reporter once walked into the lobby lounge to see Billy Joel seated at the piano, performing "New York State of Mind." You can walk a few blocks to the entrance of The Plaza, where Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford made their final teary goodbyes in The Way We Were (1973).
Beyond food and wine: Central Park is right at your doorstep: You can rent a bike, hire a horse-drawn carriage, take a run, navigate the lake in a rental boat (with oars), or cab it up to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which ranks as the most encyclopedic museum in the country.
4. Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival
The takeaway: This one-of-a-kind oceanfront gathering typically occurs in mid-winter. This is your best shot at beautiful weather in South Florida.
The 25-year-old, four-day event features appearances and cooking demos by Food Network personalities — and more than 500 renowned and rising chefs from Miami and around the world. Events are located in South Beach, the renowned Art Deco section of Miami Beach (and Greater Miami).
When it's happening: This year, it was held on February 19-22, 2026. The next edition will be held February 25-28, 2027.
How to get there: Miami International Airport is blissfully close to South Beach (as fast as 25 minutes, depending on time of day — try to avoid morning and afternoon rush hours, though). During festival weeks, the MacArthur Causeway connecting Miami proper to South Beach can be slow going.
Where to stay: South Beach’s National Hotel, even though it dates from 1939, is still something of a hidden treasure. It’s serene because it’s adults-only. The hotel’s chill pool bar and restaurant serve up high-quality healthy dishes, and the atmosphere is tropical nirvana. The National’s skinny, sui generis swimming pool is legendary for its beauty, low-key extravagance and 200-foot length. An adjacent, smaller, square pool attracts the well-behaved cocktail crowd.
Beyond food and wine: Miami Beach, located on a barrier island, is not a neighborhood of Miami, as some assume. It’s a distinct city. South Beach, a southerly area contained within Miami Beach, is one of the greatest architectural and historic districts in the world. It boasts over 800 historic buildings, most of them human-scale (one to four stories).
Once you get off the three commercial streets closest to the beach (the water and sand quality are incomparable for an urban beach), you’ll find a quiet, residential area stocked with art deco, Mediterranean Revival and Miami Modernism (MiMo) apartment and condo buildings in vibrant colors. The neighborhood is flat, so you can walk or bike ride almost anywhere.
Meridian Avenue is shaded by a canopy of oak trees and is easily one of the most enchanting streets in the state. Pedestrian Lincoln Road Mall is full of boutiques and restaurants, though save your Neapolitan pizza cravings for top-rated La Leggenda, just a few blocks away.
5. Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival
The takeaway: Boasting arguably the most breathtaking backdrop to any culinary event, the coastal location of the upcoming 15-year-old Pebble Beach Food & Wine is a premier selling point — that, and the celebrity chefs it recruits.
On tap for this year: Kaoru Chang, Michael Chang, Marcus Glocker, and Rocco DiSpirito. "The intimate moments, such as our seminars and curated dinners, are best in class," Freidman says, "and I cannot emphasize enough how dynamic and diverse the culinary talent is this year."
When it's happening: April 9–12, 2026
How to get there: After landing, it takes more than two hours to drive south from SFO to Pebble Beach Resorts, the crown jewel of the Monterey Peninsula. Monterey Regional Airport also offers flights up and down the California Coast, as well as to and from Las Vegas, Denver, Chicago, Dallas, and Phoenix.
Where to stay: The celeb-filled Lodge at Pebble Beach and Inn at Spanish Bay are two of the most revered beachfront resort hotels in the state. The boutique Casa Palmero (only 24 rooms and suites) is a good choice for privacy and discretion.
Beyond food and wine: Pebble Beach boasts some of the most prestigious and scenic golf courses in the world, including Pebble Beach Golf Links, Spyglass Hill Golf Course, and the Links at Spanish Bay. Nearby, be sure to explore the ultra-charming Carmel-by-the-Sea, with its wide, sandy cove. The self-guided 17-Mile Drive (from the lovely, often overlooked Pacific Grove to Pebble Beach) offers gorgeous views of the Lone Cypress, Spanish Bay, and stately mansions. Car enthusiasts will note the heavy presence of Lexus vehicles on the road and at the hotels. Lexus is a legacy partner of PBFW and of Pebble Beach Resorts, Friedman noted.
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Drew LimskyContributorDrew Limsky joined Kiplinger Digital as a freelance retirement writer because he believes that every day offers opportunities to make better financial decisions, and that it’s never too late to learn how to enhance your financial position and lifestyle. Drew is the former editor of Lexus magazine, Cadillac magazine, South Florida Business & Wealth, Business Jet Traveler, Interiors South Florida, and Mariner (for Holland America). Drew’s writing credits include The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, LA Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Yahoo, Worth, AD, Robb Report, Metropolis, Men’s Journal, and Business Insider. An Emory grad, Drew earned his JD and PhD at NYU, and lives in Miami Beach, Brooklyn, and Cape Cod.