10 Incredibly Fun Food & Wine Vacations

Taking a vacation and exploring your destination through food and drink is a great way to learn an area's culture, character and to make some life long friends at the same time. If you're thinking about a culinary experience this summer, here are just a few U.S. cities who are hosting some of the most anticipated food and wine events in July, August, and September and beyond.

Whether you'll be traveling by boat, plane, train, or automobile, pick a gourmet adventure that will sate your appetite. Bon Appétit!

• July 16 - 20, 2014
• Nowhere in the U.S. has the same "cocktail culture" as New Orleans. This five day event in The Big Easy is a celebration of mixology and runs at the same time as Tales Restaurant Week, bringing together the spirits community, dining, events, and more.

• July 25 - 27, 2014
• New Jersey's own Martha Stewart is hosting a Burger bash at Caesars Beach Tent, while renowned Chef Marcus Samuelsson leads a New England Clam Bake on Bally's Beach. Chef Robert Irvine will also be in attendance at the shoreline's Southern Blues Festival. Don't forget to take a walk down the boardwalk!
  
  

• July 16 - 18, 2014
  August 12 - 15, 2014
  September 12 - 14, 2014
  October 24 - 26, 2014
  October 31 - November 2, 2014
• Experience the luxury of North Fork Wine and Long Island Wine Country with this two-night package that includes tours of four wineries, 3 gourmet meals each day, and intimate accommodations. Check availability on above selected dates.

• August 16, 2014
• Coming off a successful run in New York, Bon Appétit Magazine's Grub Crawl is headed for Park City, Utah. Enjoy the beauty of an alpine wonderland along with some of the most celebrated kitchens in the industry. The Grub Crawl continues to Nashville on October 25, and San Francisco on November 8.

• August 21 - 24, 2014
• LA's Food & Wine extravaganza throws world-renowned chefs in competition with one another, and crowd-goers reap the delicious benefits. The sprawling festival has events in Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and Downtown, and a lineup including Anthony Giglio, Justin Chapple, Masaharu Morimoto, Graham Elliot.

• August 29 - 31, 2014
• The best way to spend Labor Day weekend is with three days of amazing wine and food in Sonoma County. Featuring over 200 of Sonoma's top winemakers and growers, plus fabulous chefs, your taste of Sonoma is sure to be savory!

• September 11 - 14, 2014
• The largest wine festival in the Southwest takes place in the "headquarters of the Texas Wine Industry", historic downtown Grapevine. GrapeFest boasts a GrapeStomp, Champagne Terrace, Culinary Pavilion, Golf & Tennis Classics, live entertainment, and more.

• September 19 - 21, 2014
• Newport, RI offers a grand weekend of tastings on the lawn of marble House, celebrity chefs, wine experts, seminars, gala celebrations, brunches and dinners, and the glamorous Newport After Dark party. An experience not to be missed!

• September 19 - November 10, 2014
• Epcot invites you to a food and wine lovers paradise. This cultural hub's culinary festival is complete with 30 World Showcase Marketplace tasting booths, 46 days of special events, concerts, marathons, celebrity chefs and of course, an unforgettable experience.

• September 25 - 27, 2014
• Greenwich is transformed into a culinary village with gourmet tastings, a BBQ pit, burger battles, concert stage, and celebrity chef demo tents, all on the menu. And Fairfield county is on the coast so boaters have great places to fish and explore the fantastic views of Long island Sound with the family.