American

American
food is something of an oxymoron, the US cookbook
having been so hugely influenced over the years by incomers –
Europeans, Africans, Asians, Pacific Islanders and many more. As a
visitor, it can be tough to know where to start – which is why
we’ve plotted a food-fuelled road trip that takes in energetic
urban spaces, neighbourhood restaurants and lesser-known diners.
Hit the road and along the way you’ll discover, great live music,
artisanal stores and significant historic sites… A dazzling array
of destinations sure to whet your travel appetite.

Six gastronomic road trips around the USA

Texas

Savour a pit-smoked paradise in Texas

The phrase “everything is bigger in Texas” could apply to the
enduring reputation of finger-licking barbecue and respected
pitmasters. When the choice of venue overwhelms, head to
Louie Mueller Barbecue in Taylor, a true family
joint that’s operated here since 1949. Tucking into meltingly
tender blackened beef brisket, you’ll understand why it was the
first barbecue place to earn a James Beard award. Nearby in Austin,
classic Southern fare gets a modern glow-up at
Fixe, from biscuits with honey and whipped butter
to shrimp and grits finished with bottarga. It comes served on
tableware by Keith Kreeger Studios, home to
sought-after ceramics – stop by the shop for some statement plates
that will elevate your own cooking game. In Dallas, enjoy a day out
at Fort Worth Stockyards, a historic site where
cowboys roam and longhorn cattle make a daily march through the
main street. You’ll find good eatin’ at Riscky’s
Barbeque, a favourite pit stop for 75 years, renowned for
its succulent pork spare ribs, hand- rubbed with secret “Riscky
Dust” house seasoning, then slow-smoked for hours. Of course, Texas
is full of food-fusion surprises, too, so to finish with something
sweet, swing by the Czech-settled village of West
and pick up some kolaches – soft little danishes, plump with
homemade fruit compote.

Get into bourbon and bluegrass in Kentucky

For the love of bourbon, you go to Kentucky. The state’s highly
seasonal climate and limestone-filtered water contribute to making
world-class corn-mash whiskey, and the biggest brands have their
distilleries here. Spend a day strolling the Lexington
Distillery District, a pedestrianised brickwork block of
shops, eateries and breweries. It’s here you’ll find the
James E. Pepper Distillery: take a guided tour or
swing by for an old fashioned at the on-site bar. Stop by
Crank & Boom ice cream, a few doors down, for
a scoop of blackberry and buttermilk or bourbon and honey. Of
course, Kentucky’s other notable flavour is bluegrass, so plan a
visit to Owensboro’s Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame,
an interactive museum that follows the story of this beloved
fiddle-and-banjo sound. To catch the real-deal live music, head to
Tidball’s in Bowling Green, a self-described dive
bar with a dedicated following that hosts bands spanning rock to
country. For a classic stay, book into The Brown
Hotel, a Louisville landmark since 1923. Either of its
restaurants will serve you up a “hot brown” – the hotel’s famous
sandwich – or you can sip your way through a flight of
hand-selected bourbons in the opulent lobby bar.

Portland, Maine

Discover lobster and lighthouses in Maine

The New England region of Maine is synonymous with lobster,
caught right off the coast and served steaming on the plate. Devour
a buttery lobster roll or a bowl of New England clam chowder at
Portland Lobster Company, right on the waterfront,
where live music boosts spirits even further. Visit the picturesque
Cape Elizabeth Light, one of the most photographed
lighthouses on the Atlantic coast, and capture your own scenic
memories. In Freeport, quench your thirst at the Maine Beer
Co, where the cavernous brewhouse hums with keen ale
drinkers sampling a wide range of craft IPAs.

Browse the Center for Maine Contemporary Art
(CMCA), a striking glass-edged building in the heart of Rockland
where you’ll find a brilliantly diverse showcase of American
artworks. A stone’s throw from the craggy cliffs of Bar Harbor,
The Travelin Lobster will sort out an appetite
with its Maine-style lobster bake, or keep it low-key with a
classic crab sandwich. Pop into the Portland Trading
Co, a stylishly curated lifestyle store with clothing,
homeware and grooming products by independent makers – some linen
napkins or Pallarès cook’s knives will make a smart culinary
souvenir.

Elevate your expectations in Colorado

The soaring backdrop of the Rocky Mountains establishes Colorado
as a wonderland for the outdoorsy – but you’ll also find adventure
aplenty on the plate. In Colorado Springs, The Skirted
Heifer is famous for its cheeseburgers, which come with
melted cheese winging out of the burger, all finished with
incredible house-made sauces. There’s an impressive selection of
food offerings at the Boulder Farmers Market, a
popular grazing spot for anything from small-batch pastries and
empanadas to artisanal broths and speciality pasta. Pay a visit to
Royal Gorge Bridge Park, home to one of the
world’s highest suspension bridges and heart-thumping views over
the Arkansas River and the dramatic landscape beyond. For a hot dog
like no other, you’ll want to try Biker Jim’s Gourmet
Dogs. This eclectic Denver joint remakes the classic
frankfurter from a truly wild selection of meats, including elk,
Alaskan reindeer, ostrich and rattlesnake, and exceeds novelty
status by being doggone delicious. Over in the artsy River North
(RiNo) district, the Ramble Hotel offers a
boutique stay with “new vintage” decor. As well as on-point in-room
snacks (prosciutto and cheese board, anyone?) it boasts the
ultimate in hotel bars – an outpost of Death & Co, the New York
cocktail den on the World’s 50 Best list.

California’s Ventura, left, and South Beach in
Florida

Find cool eats and quirks in California

The Golden State, fringed by the deep blue Pacific, has so much
to offer the gastronomically inclined. San Francisco’s Palm
City is a laid-back gem of a wine bar and sandwich shop,
famous for its impressively massive hoagies. Over in the Golden
City’s Mission District, the thrift store No Shop
brings a contemporary-cool aesthetic and curated selection that
makes hunting for finds a genuine pleasure, plus you can buy vinyl
and eight-tracks to go with your new vintage duds. Pop into
Elroy’s Fine Foods, a small gourmet grocery market
in picturesque Monterey, and stock up on local, natural wines,
independent pantry items or freshly prepared to-go food. If you’re
looking for a cute place to rest your head, book a room at the
endearing Merritt House Hotel, nestled just a few
streets away from Monterey’s wharf – its country interiors
transport you back in time and its dinky four-poster beds promise a
sound night’s sleep. Just off the beach in Ventura, the
Corrales Mexican Food shack delivers simple, tasty
tacos, but don’t forego the local Ventura specialty, a corn
burrito. Santa Barbara’s butcher-run Shalhoob’s Funk Zone
Patio is a bustling dining spot where meat is the prime
order – the oak- smoked beef sandwich or bacon jam burger goes down
nicely with a spicy mezcal margarita.

South Beach, Florida

Taste your way from seat to key in Florida

Sate an appetite for endless sun and good food in the Southeast.
On the pristine sands of Port St Joe, boats pull up and transfer
their bounty to Indian Pass Raw Bar, a ramshackle
roadside stop since 1929 where freshly shucked oysters are served
straight-up, no fuss (unless you’d like them scattered with cheese
and baked). If that floats your boat, you’ll love Fort Lauderdale’s
The Rustic Inn Crabhouse, with its long- esteemed
reputation for great seafood and steaming fresh cracked crab with
garlic butter – bibs highly recommended. Miami’s Little
Havana district takes you to the heart of Florida’s Cuban
community, particularly along Calle Ocho. It’s here that you’ll
find Sanguich De Miami and its gourmet Cuban
sandwiches, prepared with slow-cooked lechon and best accompanied
by a batido de trigo (cereal milkshake). Paradis Books
& Bread in North Miami is a brilliant hybrid of
bookstore, wine bar and café, where you can start your new holiday
read over a slice of pizza and a glass of pipeño blanco. (Then
read the rest on a lounger on the sun-warmed sands of South
Beach). You can’t leave Florida without demolishing a
slice of key lime pie. The regional dessert is everywhere, but most
folks will point you to Kermit’s Key West Key Lime
Shoppe, a quirky, citrus-hued gem in the Florida Keys,
home to moreish meringue-topped pies and other sweet treats.

Once inspired, bring your trip to life via the shoppable streaming service, powered by Expedia
x GoUSA TV, a platform designed to help you discover more
destinations and gather great ideas to inform your US itinerary, as
well as shop for flights, hotels and experiences. See it as your
next-gen virtual travel companion – but one that won’t argue about
whether the next pit stop is for BBQ or tex-mex.