Five of America’s most delicious food and wine festivals
The United States is a melting pot of cultures and cuisines, making it the perfect destination for foodies and wine connoisseurs. Here are the top food and wine festivals to check out during your motorhome trip across the country.
1. Feast Portland
Image: COD Newsroom (own work), (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr
Before you cruise south along the west coast, take your Portland motorhome rental to one of the most exciting food festivals in the country. Feast Portland, held every September, celebrates the wine and cuisine of the Portland and Oregon regions in a quirky and fun way. Get involved in one of the hands-on cooking classes with names like “Pie Goals” and “Brunch with Benefits”, get a group together for some bar trivia, or get involved in the largest cookout you’re ever likely to encounter. You’ll also have the chance to talk to the owners of local wineries, breweries and distilleries and taste their specialities.
There’s also plenty to do in Portland and the surrounding area once you’ve had your fill of delicious food. Explore the city’s abundance of urban greenery, keep the food theme going by checking out the food trucks at Portland Mercado, or get your inner nerd on at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.
Your closest motorhome pick up points are Portland and Seattle.
2. New Orleans Wine and Food Experience
Experience the best southern food at the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience (NOWFE). This festival is held every April and hosts interactive food experiences, along with 1,000 wines from around the world you can sample. Real wine connoisseurs can book an intimate dinner with food and wine pairings, and learn about the wine-growers and chefs. For a true New Orleans experience, join the Royal Street Stroll, a wine-themed parade along Royal Street complete with wine and food tasting tents, live jazz music, art and rare antiques.
There are plenty of exciting things to do in New Orleans should you arrive a few days before the festival begins or want to hang around afterwards before continuing on your United States motorhome adventure. You can’t visit the birthplace of jazz without visiting an iconic New Orleans jazz bar. Get your culture fix by attending a theatre show or take a stroll through the historic and happening French Quarter.
Make this festival a pit stop on a campervan trip through America’s southern states, picking up your motorhome in either Houston or Atlanta.
3. LA Food Fest
Image: Jen Arrr (own work), (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr
LA Food Fest has been going strong since 2010 and serves up delicious cuisine from the best local producers on the west coast over a single day in September. Sample delectable food and beverages from around the globe, including churros, fried chicken, Nepalese tea, sushi, New Haven style pizza, gourmet burgers, paella, poke, garlic lobster fries and tacos. When you’re in need of a cold beverage, head to the Oktoberfest Biergarten or the Wine Garden. There’s also a picnic field where you can sit and enjoy a feast and soak up the atmosphere.
If you can still walk after indulging in all of this goodness, get out and about and explore the area in your LA campervan. Soak up the sunshine in Santa Monica, bring out your inner kid at Disneyland, walk down the Hollywood Walk of Fame, or simply drive around the Hollywood hills and check out all the incredible homes.
Pick up your motorhome when you arrive in Los Angeles, or rent one in San Diego or San Francisco.
4. Taste Washington
Taste Washington is the largest single-region food and wine event in the United States, so this is definitely one worth adding to your itinerary. Hundreds of wineries, restaurants and culinary exhibitors gather each year in March to show off the very best bites and brews the Pacific Northwest has to offer.
The festival’s Grand Tasting is one of the highlights, giving visitors the opportunity to sample over 230 Washington wineries and food from more than 65 restaurants. There are also exclusive VIP experiences and live cooking demonstrations run by the region’s top chefs. Food trucks and a dessert bar also make a delectable appearance, serving up everything from waffles to empanadas.
Rent a campervan in Seattle and head south towards Los Angeles for a truly epic west coast road trip.
5. Charleston Wine and Food Festival
Image: Fast Forward Event Productions (own work), (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr
Get a taste of the best food and wine in South Carolina at this annual festival, held over five days every March. The Charleston Food and Wine Festival gathers celebrated local chefs and winemakers to deliver practical cooking classes, beverage-making workshops and educational excursions. The heart of the festival is the Culinary Village, where you’ll find an array of delectable delights to taste and sip, along with live demos, music and shopping. Indulge your personal tastes by attending one of the signature events or dining experiences that focus on specific cuisines and beverages.
Post-festival, continue on a road trip down the Florida coastline, or north to New York and explore the stunning attractions along America’s east coast.
Your closest motorhome pick up points are Atlanta and Orlando.
Is your mouth watering yet?
Written By: Kristof Haines
It’s funny how motorhome memories stick with you. I can still recall a motorhome vacation my family took when I was five years old and how awesome I thought I was, tucked away in a loft bed above the cab. From revealing unique destinations to providing tips and tricks, it’s my mission to help others build great motorhome memories too.
It’s funny how motorhome memories stick with you. I can still recall a motorhome vacation my family took when I was five years old and how awesome I thought I was, tucked away in a loft bed above the cab. From revealing unique destinations to providing tips and tricks, it’s my mission to help others build great motorhome memories too.
