A taste of Valencia

Two and a half hours east of New York City and north of the Hamptons lies the North Fork, a 30-mile-long peninsula stretching from the town of Riverhead to Orient Point. Despite its proximity to Manhattan and its ritzy southern counterpart, the area feels like a world apart with its country roads dotted with stellar vineyards and farms. Day trippers head out here to sip wine, visit organic markets, or spend the day at one of many U-pick farms for berries, apples, pumpkins, and even Christmas trees, depending on the season.

Some of the best chefs in the world believe that some of the most creative work they do in the kitchen is with vegetables. Plant-based dining has been growing exponentially, with restaurants now taking into consideration this dietary preference when crafting their menus. It has become a lifestyle for many, for reasons ranging from ethical to health to environmental to religious. But one thing is for sure, the momentum is only growing stronger, and for many kitchens, plant-based offerings are no longer just an afterthought or a pity party (i.e., lettuce leaves and a dressing) but high level courses that still celebrate their restaurants’ ethos.

Greenpoint has become one of New York City’s culinary hotspots in recent years, and a new, luxe chef’s counter is adding yet another destination-worthy dinner to the North Brooklyn neighborhood.

The first surprise for visitors at the brand new non-alcoholic Wilderton Botanical Spirits tasting room is a still. That’s right— there’s a shiny thousand-gallon stainless-steel vacuum pot still looming over the fully zero-proof production facility in Hood River, Ore.

Last summer, on an overcast July day, the coastal town of Sitka, once the capital of Russian Alaska and long a popular stop on Inside Passage cruises in Southeast Alaska, was thronged with passengers disembarking from three cruise ships. To accommodate the crowds, the city had closed the main street to cars. In their place, food trucks, carts and stands had popped up, creating a festival atmosphere where ambulatory diners spooned seafood chowder and gobbled tacos.

The idea of being stuck on a giant ship in the middle of the ocean with thousands of people riddled Holden Brown with anxiety. It wasn’t just the horror stories about passengers stuck on cruise ships during the pandemic (though that was part of it).

It was a breezy Caribbean day, and the smell of fried dough and melted cheese flowed through the restaurant kitchen of La Vista at Aruba Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino. I was there for a cooking class to make pastechi, a traditional Aruban breakfast staple similar to an empanada or Jamaican patty. And it was a delight.

When ancient Romans founded Valencia, Spain, the city was built around the Turia River. The Turia River no longer runs through Valencia. In its place, a beautiful urban park snakes more than five-and-a-half miles through Spain’s third-largest city.

The Fisherman’s Trail in south Portugal is magical. We started from Porto Covo and ended in Lagos, walking 140 miles in 12 days, staying overnight in rustic villages, cobblestoned towns and surfer spots. Those short of time can walk a smaller section of the trail. The walk has breathtaking views, rugged cliffs, wild beaches with crystal-clear waters, pine forests, vineyards, and meadows of wild flowers. Lots of wildlife can be spotted – lizards, storks, cormorants and countless other birds – and the wine and seafood in the restaurants along the way is a treat.Miana

Visiting Castelmezzano, a town perched against the backdrop of the Dolomiti Lucane, was an accident during my recent southern Italy road trip. This stunning place is worth the detour from the main road cutting through Basilicata, and it comes paired with another beauty on the opposite mountain, Pietrapertosa. Travelling between the two can be completed on the Flight of the Angel – a high-speed zipwire that connects them. While the town is mesmerising, especially when viewed from a distance to admire its unique location, the surrounding area is full of epic hikes, forests and national parks.Nadia Parveen

With over 150 wineries, breweries, chocolate factories and honey houses, exploring the Valley of Taste is probably one of the most indulgent things to do in Perth . Following a scenic 32km cycling trail, Rough Guides writer Greg Dickinson took on the summer heat to discover Western Australia ’s oldest wine-growing region on two wheels.

The rich and varied cuisine of Andalucía is a reflection of its dramatic history. One of its signature dishes, gazpacho, was introduced by the romans in the first millennium BC, and didn’t reach its final version until peppers and tomatoes arrived in Spain following the voyages of Columbus.