Do you love to travel to new and exciting places just for the food and drink? Are you tired of being herded through tourist cities, not being able to stop and smell, taste and eat the cuisine? Do you want to experience a city and its culinary offerings with the guidance of a seasoned and epicurean-savvy local? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then culinary tourism is for you.

Instead of taking that generic island or mainland adventure, try spending a week – or a weekend – exploring the ins and outs of a gourmet destination’s cultural cuisine. The newest travel hot-spots are areas that are known for spectacular food and beverages – think California’s Napa Valley, Italy, France and Spain.

Introduce your mouth to new flavors: Culinary vacations: A treat for your tastebuds| Sheknows.com