Let’s talk about something that will give you a fun reason to leave the house: food trails! These trails are the perfect excuse for a day trip or a vacation—whether you’re into cheese, oysters, or bacon, there’s a trail out there for you! What makes them even more fun is that some trails even offer passports you can get stamped at different locations or apps that help you track your progress. Some trails can be done in one day, and others are the perfect excuse to come back for multiple visits.
Food trails are often organized by state or county tourism boards, and they’re a great way to get a taste of what a region is known for. Let’s dive into some of the most interesting trails I found and a few tips on how to find them in your area.
California Cheese Trail
California is home to one of the biggest cheese trails in the country, with 45 cheese makers and even more cheese shops you can visit. The cheese trail is a well-organized adventure where you can either follow specific driving tours or customize your own. If you’re a cheese lover, this is definitely the trail for you! One of the tours that caught my eye was the Central Coast Cheese Tour. This 70-mile route takes you to three amazing cheese stops:
- Harley Farms Goat Dairy in Pescadero (just an hour south of San Francisco)
- Garden Variety Cheese in Royal Oaks
- Schoch Family Farmstead in Salinas
If you’re in California, you can easily make this a day trip, or stretch it over multiple days if you want to explore more of the coast. The best part? You can customize your trip based on your favorite cheeses!
Boise, Idaho Potato Trail
Next up is a unique trail all about potatoes! The Idaho Potato Trail in Boise is a fun way to taste your way through the state. It’s not just about fries—though there are plenty of those—but you can also sample dishes like Idaho Potato Ale at Beer Island Brewing or enjoy a Potato Bacon Pizza at Pie Hole. The app lets you check in at stops, so you can track your progress as you enjoy the 18 stops along the way. This trail is great for those looking for something quirky and fun!
Louisiana’s Culinary Trails
Louisiana is known for its rich culinary heritage, and the state has eight distinct food trails that focus on everything from seafood to home cooking. Some of the regional trails include: Red River Riches, Seafood Sensation, and Creole Crescent.
The trails feature various restaurants and experiences that highlight the unique flavors of the region. It’s a perfect way to explore the local culture through food. If you can’t make it to Louisiana, there are recipes and techniques available online to try out at home. How fun is that?
Macon, Georgia’s Bacon Trail
Let’s talk bacon! Macon, Georgia has a food trail dedicated entirely to bacon, known as the Macon Bacon Trail. This one’s fun because the trail is tied to the local baseball team, Macon Bacon—what a clever name! There are 20 stops, and some of the dishes are deliciously inventive like Pimento Bacon Fritters at Bearfoot Tavern and the Jimmy Carter Shake at The Rookery. The best part? You can track your stops through a mobile app and earn badges along the way.
North Carolina Oyster Trail
If you love oysters, North Carolina is the place to be. The North Carolina Oyster Trail helps support local oyster farms while offering a diverse selection of restaurants and festivals to explore. You can even go on kayak tours to visit oyster farms on the coast! There are lots of educational opportunities, too, which make this trail interesting for both oyster lovers and anyone curious about sustainable farming.
New Jersey’s Anthony Bourdain Food Trail
For fans of Anthony Bourdain, this unique food trail in New Jersey is one to check out. The Anthony Bourdain Food Trail takes you to 10 restaurants featured on Bourdain’s show Parts Unknown. It’s a wonderful tribute to his childhood and summers spent in New Jersey. One of the stops on the trail is Kubel’s, a place I’ve personally been to in Long Beach Island. It’s a great journey for foodies, Bourdain fans, and anyone looking to explore New Jersey’s best food spots.
Buffalo, NY’s Wing Trail
Buffalo is known for being the birthplace of Buffalo wings, and it now has a Buffalo Wing Trail to highlight the city’s best wing spots. With 14 stops on the list, you can explore the city’s rich wing history. While I don’t plan on hitting all 14 stops in one day, this will definitely be a future trip for us! On the way, we plan to check out the Beef on Weck, Sponge Candy, and Pizza Trails. Buffalo has so much good food, it’s definitely worth exploring the food trails.
Tips for Finding Food Trails
If these food trails have inspired you to start your own adventure, here are a few tips for finding food trails near you:
- Check State or County Tourism Boards – They often list food trails in the area.
- Search for Regional Specialties – You can make your own trail by searching for a specific regional dish like the best chocolate chip cookies or something like BBQ or salsa.
- Use Apps and Directories – Websites like Yelp, Google Maps, and Eventbrite are great resources for discovering food trails or unique food spots.
- Ask Around – Your friends, family, or hotel concierge might have insider tips on food trails or unique local restaurants to try.
Whether you’re trying a cheese trail in California or tasting wings in Buffalo, food trails are a fun way to explore and discover new favorite dishes while supporting local businesses.
