By Matt Timmerman
It seems that within the last decade, food tourism has risen throughout both the country and world. Food has become even more of a center focus in our daily lives as well as a major part of our individual and group itineraries.
We all live life and share our experiences while in the presence of food. Whether it is having a cup of latte while chatting with a girlfriend or taking a lunch break with coworkers or barbequing at a retreat, almost all of our experiences have some kind of relationship with the food.
Food is the one thing that both invokes memories and creates new ones with a single bite. You may never remember a horseback ride but you may remember a fantastic restaurant where you had that dish which reminded you of dinners with grandma or that vacation where you ate Palisade peaches for the first time.
Truffle gnocchi. Photo courtesy of Vail Valley Food Tours.
It is a wonder how food tourism has taken so long to take hold in this country. Only recently have many tour operators as well as townships started to cater to the food lover in us all. For these reasons as well as many more, walking food tours have sprung up in many cities and small communities in Colorado and throughout the nation.
Experiencing La Tour Restaurant in Vail. Photo courtesy of Vail Valley Food Tours.
6 Reasons Why Food Tours Work for Groups
- Walking food tours are an adventurous way to explore a city and experience the best local cuisine all in three hours.
- The tour guides entertain you with town history while you indulge in the gourmet samples from locally owned restaurants. At the end of the tour, you will be full of knowledge, fun and fabulous food. Whether it is Vail, Telluride, Aspen, Denver, Boulder or Colorado Springs, you can find fascinating history and delicious local food.
- A walking tour is a fun way to turn a dining experience into lasting memories.
- Walking tours also can be a great break in a day’s hectic meeting schedule. Once on a tour, a group is able to relax, eat and talk in a casual setting.
- While walking throughout town, the group can enjoy the beautiful Colorado weather and amazing scenery.
- As a group activity, a walking tour can be a great bonding experience. There is plenty of time to chat and make meaningful connections throughout the walk. Eating together is a great time to engage and reflect on common issues as well as the delicious food.
When considering a destination and an itinerary, consider if a food tour can enhance the experience. Your group will thank you later.
It’s hard to beat a backdrop like this for a culinary tour in Vail. Photo courtesy of Vail Valley Food Tours.
Matt Timmerman is the owner and a guide for Vail Valley Food Tours. He also is a private chef and food adventurer.
Other food tour ideas from Destination Colorado: A sampling of additional options to tap into the local food scene includes Colorado Springs Food Tours, Culinary Connectors (Denver), Local Table Tours (Denver and Boulder) and Telluride Food Tours. Bon appétit!
