Cool, crisp weather is imminent. For us, that means it's prime time for an autumn-specific adventure. We've done the research for you, mapping the best local trips for beautiful scenery and excellent eats. We'll tell you where to fuel up with the best breakfast, how to find the perfect midday meal, what to explore, and the spot to wrap up your trip deliciously. Throw on a sweater and get outside--just don't forget your appetite.
Ripe strawberries and granola for breakfast at the Emma Nevada House, Nevada City, CA.
Introduction: Spend a Weekend in Gold Country
The 1860s are alive in Nevada City, a town built on the wealth of the Gold Rush and still remarkably preserved. It’s hard not to fall in love with the place, just a three-hour drive from San Francisco: You can easily spend a weekend exploring the downtown shops, with their exposed brick walls and ornate Western façades, and wandering among the Victorian houses on the surrounding streets.
Lake Osceola in Orlando, FL.
Introduction: See Another Side of Orlando this Fall
Hop on the road Friday evening for a fall weekend spent visiting Orlando restaurants, farms and markets. Our itinerary will take you to lake-dotted neighborhoods mostly off the theme-park-and-premium-outlet route. There is a startling amount of outstanding eating and exploring to be discovered.
Rehoboth Beach, Rehobeth, DE.
Introduction: The Best Time to Visit the Delaware Shore
Now that summer and its crowds are a distant memory, this is the perfect time to visit Delaware’s beaches. The roads are clear, the sun is still out, and the food is almost as big of a draw as the ocean.
Zingerman's Reuben
Introduction: Eating Through Ann Arbor
A four-hour drive from Chicago, Ann Arbor is an easy weekend trip with ample fodder for food adventures--and college football, of course. Supplement the requisite visits to Zingerman’s Delicatessen and the farmers' market with destination trips for Cuban sandwiches, superlative smoked fish, Neapolitan pizza and sophisticated cocktails.
Orange County, CA.
Introduction: Behind the Orange Curtain
Maybe you go for the beach, or for Disneyland or Knott’s Berry Farm. Maybe you’re an Angels fan, someone who forsakes your local Dodgers. Or maybe you commute there for work. Whatever it is that takes you to Orange County, chances are it’s not explicitly the food; this four-stop itinerary should change your mind about that.
1. The Emma Nevada House
Where there are Victorians, bed-and-breakfasts are sure to be found. The Emma Nevada House is a gingerbread with comfortable rooms ($159 to $229 per night), a mix of contemporary and period furniture, and a leafy back patio on which owner Susan Howard serves some of the city’s best breakfasts, including savory soufflés, fresh strawberries with caramel glaze, and flaky scones.
The North Fork, NY.
Introduction: A Food-Lover's Trip to the North Fork
Make the easy 100-mile jaunt to the North Fork this fall by car, LIRR or Jitney. The narrower, quieter half of Long Island promises a trip packed with a three-pronged adventure of viticulture, aquaculture and agriculture.
Lake Meadow Naturals Farm
1. Lake Meadow Naturals Farm
Start your Saturday with a half-hour drive to this idyllic farm in Ocoee. The farm welcomes the public whenever the quaint farm store is open (see store hours). Browse the shelves of local produce, cheese, pickles and preserves, or pick your own eggs at the henhouse (bring a cooler). Wander the farm and see the goats and chickens on open pasture. Lake Meadow Naturals Farm, 10000 Mark Adam Rd., Ocoee; 407-399-7076 or lakemeadownaturals.com
a(MUSE)
1. a(MUSE)
Order a slew of snacks to start at months-old Rehoboth restaurant a(MUSE). The starters are bold and eclectic, and include smoked sweetbreads with heirloom peppers ($14), and a jar of silky, whiskey-spiked potted chicken with foie gras ($13). Continue with tomatillo-brightened rockfish ($26) or local scallops ($26). The décor also stands out from beachier neighbors': The walls are papered with vintage pages from Joy of Cooking, and the bar shelving holds unexpected surprises for keen eyes. 44 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach; 302-227-7107 or amuse-rehoboth.com
Frita Batidos
1. Frita Batidos
A visit to Ann Arbor isn’t complete without a sandwich from Zingerman’s. But save some of your sandwich quota for this bright, charming shop devoted to fritas, Cuban street-food burgers topped with mayonnaise and fries and served on brioche. Pick from a variety of proteins (chorizo is the classic) and garnishes, and pair the sloppy, flavorful mess with an icy, fruity batido made with sweetened condensed milk. 117 W. Washington St., Ann Arbor; 734-761-2882 or fritabatidos.com
Early Bird
1. Early Bird
Chef Joseph Mahon has traded the fine-dining aesthetic of Bastide, where he was chef in 2010, for Americana diner food. His three-month-old Fullerton restaurant is located in a shopping center, of course, where you can indulge in a breakfast of pancake-batter-fried sausages ($2.50), dusted with powdered sugar and dipped in mustard sauce, and a wonderfully messy breakfast sandwich ($10) stacked with house-made sausage, ham and a runny-yolked egg, all dripping in red-eye gravy.
Curly Wolf
2. The Curly Wolf Espresso House
The three-month-old Curly Wolf Espresso House, located in the National Hotel (circa 1854), feels like it could have opened in the Mission. Fainting couches and flocked wallpaper meet design books and MacBooks. The cappuccinos ($3) are worthy of the Caffé Vita beans that owners Joshua and Thea Henry ship from Seattle. They stock the pastry case with locally baked sweets and Cornish pasties ($6), a local specialty since the town’s mining days.
First and South
1. First and South
Dinner on the corner patio of this new spot, located in a dusky green gabled Victorian, is a lovely way to ease into the North Fork’s sedate pace. Unwind with local, on-tap wines from Lieb Cellars, Gotham Project and Paumanok Vineyards; fluke crudo ($12); a Really Good Burger ($15) and skin-on fries ($8) with Sriracha mayo ($2)--all courtesy of a chef who earned his chops at Noma in Copenhagen. 100 South St, Greenport, NY; 631-333-2200 or firstandsouth.com
The Ravenous Pig
2. The Ravenous Pig
Follow the food chain to the Winter Park gastropub for lunch, where you can find a soft-boiled Lake Meadow Naturals egg nestled in the Farmer Salad ($12). Chef-owners James and Julie Petrakis make their own charcuterie ($16), served with lardo-smeared grilled bread. A sister restaurant, Cask & Larder, just opened down the street; it offers "Whole Cookery" family-style menus, like smoked suckling pig with sides and dessert. The Ravenous Pig, 1234 N. Orange Ave.; 407-628-2333 or theravenouspig.com; advance reservations highly recommended
The Ice Cream Store
2. The Ice Cream Store
Step aside, vanilla. The Ice Cream Store plays with unexpected combinations, including Ben Franklin’s Tomato, which blends hot sauce and tomato juice to create a creamy, frozen Bloody Mary. The owner sources the hot sauces from his other shop, Peppers, to make flavors like Ghost Pepper ice cream, which incorporates two wince-inducing sauces. If you insist on a classic option, try Dolly Madison Strawberry, which uses the former First Lady’s original recipe ($4.50). 6 Rehoboth Ave., Rehoboth Beach; 302-227-4609 or rehobothbeachicecream.com
Durham's Tracklements
2. Durham's Tracklements
This tiny smokehouse boasts 20 years of experience curing and smoking Scottish salmon. It has added new flavors over the years, like pastrami-cured and miso-mirin-tamari-marinated salmon, to complement its classic Highland-style smoked fish. Meat takes a turn in the smoker too, and you might find specials like duck breast, trout, mackerel or sable if you wander in on the right day. 212 E. Kingsley St., Ann Arbor; 734-930-6642 or tracklements.com
The Bruery Provisions
2. The Bruery Tasting Room and The Bruery Provisions
The experimental heart of Southern California’s beer scene beats in Plasentia, where The Bruery is stationed. A tasting room with 40 taps was added to the brewery in July, and you’ll want to grab a stool there if you want to drink now. Or you can head to the city of Orange and visit The Bruery Provisions, where you can buy undistributed bottles, like the Chardonnay-barrel-aged sour blonde ale Mother Funker ($20 for 750 ml). Bonus: The area is lined with antique stores, where plenty of vintage cookware awaits.
Nevada City Farmers' Market
3. Nevada City Farmers' Market
If you’re planning on hiking into the surrounding area, perhaps to the Yuba River or Tahoe National Forest, pick up the makings for a picnic at the Saturday-morning Nevada City Farmers’ Market, which runs until November 17. Gather fruits and vegetables from Riverhill Farm, cheese and sausages from Ercolini Cheese, baked goods from Summer Thyme’s--or simply lunch on crêpes ($5.50 to $9) from Soul Kitchen.
The Lunch Truck
2. The Lunch Truck at the North Fork Table & Inn
Strike out west from Greenport to pay a tasting visit to one of more than a dozen wineries in the area (Bedell Cellars, Shinn Estate Vineyards and Farmhouse, Lenz Winery and The Winemaker Studio are all favorites). Add a stop at the much-lauded North Fork Table & Inn, but skip the white-table-clothed interior in favor of a picnic-blanketed lunch of soup and sandwiches at the “truck” outside, with a mixed half dozen of cookies ($7.50), from pastry chef great Claudia Fleming, to finish. 57225 Main Road, Southold, NY; 631-765-0177 or nofoti.com
The Table
3. The Table
After exploring the shops of Winter Park, head to The Table for a five-course dinner with wine pairing ($120 per person, all-inclusive; prepayment necessary). Each night's menu is based on what husband-and-wife team Loren Falsone and Tyler Brassil source locally, like Cape Canaveral wreckfish with green garbanzos. Rest up at a centrally located hotel, like the Grand Bohemian in downtown Orlando, for more food explorations tomorrow. The Table; 8060 Via Dellagio Way; 407-900-3463 or thetableorlando.com
Matt's Fish Camp
3. Matt's Fish Camp
The fried Ipswich clams ($14) at Matt’s Fish Camp are an instant taste of summer. Plumped bellies barely contained in their crisp coating, the bites are perfect with little more than a spritz of lemon. The months-old restaurant has plenty of other bites, including bacon-crab dip ($12) and lobster-topped deviled eggs ($5), which are the ideal lead-in to the lightly dressed, buttery lobster roll ($21). 28635 Coastal Hwy., Bethany Beach; 302-539-2267 or mattsfishcamp.com
Mani Osteria
3. Mani Osteria
Lofted on an empty tomato can, the wood-fired, chewy-crusted, Neapolitan-style pizza at Mani is an excellent centerpiece. Surround it with a mosaic of small plates, like crisp-fried artichokes with lemony yogurt ($10), and espresso-rubbed barbecue ribs ($8). Don’t miss the carbonara ($15), with tagliatelle, sautéed mushrooms and bacon, topped with a jiggly, soft-cooked egg. 341 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor; 734-769-6700 or maniosteria.com
Pho Thanh Lich
3. Pho Thanh Lich
It’s a hard reality to face, but here’s the truth: Orange County’s Vietnamese restaurant scene destroys L.A.’s. The sheer density of pho spots on Brookhurst in Westminster alone is astonishing. This pho ($6.50), named the best in the county by O.C. Weekly in 2011, is exhibit A for our southern neighbor’s Viet supremacy: The broth is lean and racy like great Riesling, its undercurrent of animal funk tempered by the fistful of herbs you’ll add before the slips of filet mignon loose their raw, rosy hue.
Solune Winery
4. Solune Winegrowers
Nevada City is ringed with small wineries, and you can easily spend an afternoon driving down country roads and stopping at tasting rooms. One of the area’s most polished wineries, Jacques Mercier and Andrea Hamer’s Solune Winegrowers, is located in a picturesque barn nine miles southeast of the city, set amid the trees (open Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 5 p.m.). Its New World-style reds range from a brawny Barbera ($26 for 750 ml) to a lilting, not-too-sweet dessert wine called Fleur de Lune ($20 for 750 ml), a blend of Gewürtzraminer and Muscat grapes.
Aldo's
3. Aldo's
Mornings in Greenport commence with still-warm chocolate croissants, chocolate-covered biscotti and espresso made with house-roasted beans (order a pound online) at the white-haired Aldo Maiorana’s bay-side coffee shop. It’s vacation, so consider the chocolate-bottomed-and-topped mocha. 103-105 Front St., Greenport, NY; 631-477-6300 or aldos.com
Prato
4. Winter Park Breakfast and Lake Tour
Head to Croissant Gourmet in Winter Park for a quick almond croissant ($3) breakfast. For a leisurely brunch, try eggs in purgatory with salsa arrabbiata ($11) at the airy Prato Italian restaurant. Stellar house made pastas or appetizers like pork-belly arancini ($8) make a savory start to the day. Then, take a narrated Scenic Boat Tour of Winter Park's lakes (daily, on the hour; $12 cash or check). Croissant Gourmet, 120 E. Morse Blvd., 407-622-7753 or croissantgourmet.com; Prato, 124 N. Park Ave., 407-262-0050 or prato-wp.com; Scenic Boat Tour, 312 E. Morse Blvd., 407-644-4056 or scenicboattours.com
Root Gourmet
4. Root Gourmet
Before hitting the road, pick up pastries and light main courses from Root Gourmet, a new market packed with sundries, spreads and instant party foods. Guacamole ($6) and house-made chips ($8) are universally appealing, or you can make bean dip with jars of dried heirloom Scarlett Runners ($6). The bakery puts out assorted breads, muffins, pies and cakes, including a light, cinnamon-topped apple-almond combination. 19724 Coastal Hwy., Rehoboth Beach; 302-727-5664 or rootgourmet.com
The Bar at 327 Braun Court
4. The Bar at 327 Braun Court
It’s all too easy to while away the hours at this tiny, second-story bar in Kerrytown’s Braun Court. Italian Iced Teas, with Averna, Hendrick’s Gin and Prosecco, are dangerously refreshing, as is the Farmer John, its whiskey and gin base smoothed by strawberry syrup and grapefruit. Supplement with snacks, like pimento cheese ($8), white anchovies ($10) or a charcuterie-and-cheese plate. 327 Braun Court, second story; facebook.com
320 Main
4. 320 Main
Seal Beach is the northernmost oceanfront town in Orange County, just a few blocks from the county line. But the laid-back vibe is far different from neighboring Long Beach, and it’s an air that puts one in the mood for a lazy drink. 320 Main, a highly literate cocktail bar where you can order a bone luge or drink Pappy Van Winkle 13 Year, has you covered. We suggest keeping the dream of summer alive with a refreshing Pimm’s Cup ($10), which is mixed with house-made ginger beer.
Treats
5. Treats
At the tiny, perpetually crowded Treats, Bob and Peggy Wright aren’t afraid to play around with ice cream flavorings ($2.25 for a child scoop; $3 for an adult single scoop). You may spot specials such as saffron-rose-pistachio or a wild herb called yerba santa, and the counter staff isn’t stingy with tasting spoons if you need to satisfy your curiosity. Especially wonderful are Treats’ peach sorbet, made with fruit from a local orchard, and the mint chip, bright with fresh herbs.
Cold Beer and Hot Chicken
4. Greenport Harbor Brewing Co. and Salamander's General Store
Step one: Stop at the Greenport Harbor tasting room for a flight of every beer on tap. Step two: Walk your tush and your nippers (that would be a half-growler) to Salamander’s to pick up an order of transcendent fried chicken (preorder required; $26 for 12 pieces). Step three: An evening stroll on the driftwood and boulder-laden Sound-side 67 Steps Beach. 234 Carpenter St., Greenport, NY; 631-477-6681 or harborbrewing.com and 414 First St., Greenport, NY; 631-477-3711
International Food Club
5. International Food Club
Don't be dissuaded by the unattractive warehouse district in Southwest Orlando. Here you will find an engrossing array of food products from around the world, from Syrian rose-petal candy to crispy dal snacks from India. Skip the cafeteria fare here and drive to the Vietnamese District for lunch, perhaps for a giant bowl of pho, replete with herbs ($7) at Pho Vinh. International Food Club, 4300 L.B. McLeod Rd., 321-281-4300 or internationalfoodclub.com; Pho Vinh, 657 N. Primrose Dr., 407-228-0043 or phovinhorlando.com
The Last Word
5. The Last Word
This stylish, sophisticated new cocktail boîte could exist in any metropolis. The lengthy menu, presented as a chapter book, progresses from light, refreshing quaffs to deeper, heavier flavors. We’re partial to the Our Thyme, with gin, Aperol, citrus, Fernet Branca and thyme, and the frothy Mariner’s Moustache, a salty refresher with gin, violet liqueur, lime, egg white and a sprinkle of salt. 301 W. Huron St., Ann Arbor; 734-585-5691 or thelastwordbar.com
Country Stores
5. Fork & Anchor and Orient County Store
Fuel a trip to the easternmost end of Orient Point with a double-dip general store stop. The first is for all good things, including the Sunday New York Times, local egg breakfast sandwiches and L.I. Coffee Roasters brew and beans; the second for a wham-bam dose of original Americana and tasty baked goods. 8955 Main Rd., E. Marion, 631-477-3277 or forkandanchor.com and 950 Village Ln., Orient, NY; 631-323-2580
- National
- Chefs’ Recipes
- Good Taste
- Top Shelf
- Sous Chef Series
- New York City
- Washington, D.C.
- Miami
- Chicago
- San Francisco
- Los Angeles
Tasting Table is the free daily email for adventurous eaters everywhere. Hungry? Sign up:
