How To Prepare for a Foodie Road Trip in New York State
New York State is more than Manhattan! Get away from the big city and explore the sights, sounds, and especially the favors of the upper state. From Cooperstown to Lake Placid, to Albany, to Saratoga Springs, there’s plenty to see and even more to eat across this great state. Feeling hungry for a culinary adventure? Here are tips on how to prepare for a foodie road trip in New York State.
Make Sure Your Car Is Ready for the Trip
A road trip isn’t any fun if it ends a mile outside your hometown. Be sure your car is ready to ride. Bring the car in for service—because you may be driving for long stretches between towns that may have beautiful scenery but few mechanics. Make sure your tires are up for the long haul by being updated, well inflated, and free from damage. Have your mechanic change the oil and filter, top off all fluids, replace old filters, and fill up the tank. Have the car cleaned and detailed and you’ll be ready to roll in luxury and style.
Plot Your Course for Each Course
Before you head out, decide what sort of a trip this will be. Are you looking for simple and honest fare? Search for local diners and family restaurants offering basic meat-and-potato meals. If you want something a bit more exciting and unknown, look for the best in ethnic dining for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. And, of course, the city offers some form of wine sampling or haute cuisine. Look up what you're interested in and plan your journey. You’ll find plenty of upstate New York travel guides and sites to help you draft an itinerary.
See What There Is To See
While you’re searching for food options, remember to account for the time between. What are your interests apart from being a gourmet? Upstate New York offers plenty of famous and vernacular architecture you won’t find in the big cities. Are you a history buff? From the earliest days to the Revolution to the present day, New York has been a vast repository of historical people, places, and events. And the food is just as unique. Find the best sources for spiedies, beef on weck, tomato pie, grape pie, and so much more!
Leave Room To Explore
Our final piece of advice on how to prepare for a foodie road trip in New York State: make a friend of the unknown. Leave sections of your travel itinerary to discover what this great state has to offer. Watch and listen for suggestions along the way about little-known places of which most tourists are unaware. Travel should be broadening, so take time to leave the path and walk on the wilder side of New York State!
