22 Million Americans Taking Food-Focused Vacations in 2017

Image: PHOTO: Fresh and delicious Mexican food comes cheap at District Taco. (photo via Flickr/m01229)
Image: PHOTO: Fresh and delicious Mexican food comes cheap at District Taco. (photo via Flickr/m01229)
Donald Wood
by Donald Wood
Last updated: 12:50 PM ET, Wed April 26, 2017

A recent travel survey from motoring and leisure travel organization AAA revealed that around 22 million Americans believe they will take a culinary-focused vacation over the next year.

The report from AAA also found that 75 percent of travelers surveyed felt food and dining are important elements to their travel experiences. Another 80 percent of responders say they have toured wineries and distilleries, dined with local families and engaged in hands-on food experiences.

In addition, 43 percent of AAA travel agents reported an increase in members planning culinary-focused vacations while 88 percent of millennials reported participating in food-related experiences while vacationing.

"There is no better way to learn about a destination and immerse yourself in the local culture than by experiencing its unique food and dining customs," AAA managing director Bryan Shilling said in a statement.

"When planning a culinary vacation, seek the advice of a trusted travel advisor, who can help customize a trip that matches the individual traveler's dining preferences."

[READMORE] READ MORE: AAA Report: How Many Families Will Vacation in 2017?[/READMORE]

To help support travelers in their drive to find new and unique cuisine, AAA is providing travel guides and the TripTik Travel Planner tool on AAA.com as well as in the AAA Mobile app. Users will be able to find thousands of AAA Diamond Rated restaurants across the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Another way to travel around North America looking for culinary-focused adventures would be via Amtrak Vacations. AAA announced in March that it had selected Amtrak Vacations to be a national preferred partner.


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