Culinary Tours

JOIN ME ON THESE DELICIOUS ADVENTURES!!

All tours are carefully hand-selected by myself and offer travelers a unique and fun experience.

Convenient boarding locations are offered and special pickup arrangements can be made for groups.

Please contact me for more information and to make reservations! All tours listed here will be escorted by myself and I would love to have you join me!

SPECIAL FOOD-FOCUSED TOURS FOR GROUPS!

I specialize in planning, organizing and escorting customized food-focused group tours.

I put a ton of creativity and care into each and every tour! I am very "hands on" and take great pride in the attention to detail that is so important to the success of a tour. I personally escort each tour, and it is my privilege and pleasure to create a fun adventure for your group!

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2021 VIRTUAL & IN-PERSON TOUR SCHEDULE:

(click active links below for more information)

May 12 - Lifestyle's of the Rich & Famous

May 19 - Mountain Springtime in Julian, CA

May 27 - Bankers Hills Virtual & In-person

June 2 - The Other Side of Tijuana, Mexico

June 9 - Barrio Logan Art & Food (In-Person)

July 19 - Anchorage, Alaska

August 20 - Jackson Hole, Wyoming

September 12 - San Francisco Pier 39/Wharf

October 7 - Quebec City Autumn Glory

October 10 - Boston Fall Foliage & Historic Sites

*Tour is offered in both virtual and in-person formats

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2021 MOTORCOACH TOUR SCHEDULE:

COLORADO RAIL ADVENTURE 8 Days, June 18-25, 2021

Escorted by Mark Jacobson

Immerse yourself in Gold Rush lore and relish the secluded scenes of the Rocky Mountains as you explore Colorado’s rugged terrain aboard five heritage railroads, including the beloved Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

We discover expanses of landscape hidden from modern traffic aboard five fantastic railways: the Georgetown Loop Railroad, the Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad, the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and the Royal Gorge Route Railroad. While we ride the rails, railroad experts and knowledgeable guides introduce us to the mining and railway history of the state. Our journey also includes a momentous excursion to the summit of Pikes Peak by motorcoach and a visit to the awe-inspiring Garden of the Gods. Join the experience as the colorful past of the Old West is brought to life once more.

HIGHLIGHTS: Five scenic rail excursions: Georgetown Loop Railroad, Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad, Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and Royal Gorge Route Railroad Hotel accommodations for 7 nights, 11 meals, including lunch on the Royal Gorge Route Railroad, Colorado Rail Museum, visit Pikes Peak excursion by coach, Garden of the Gods tour, transportation by deluxe motorcoach, services of a professional tour manager baggage handling.

Departs from DENVER with VACATIONS BY RAIL, from $2495 per person based on double occupancy.

ALASKA THE GREATLAND 9 Days - July 13-22, 2021

Escorted by Mark Jacobson

The great wilderness of Alaska beckons on this exciting tour, which features mighty fjords, stunning National Parks and authentic Alaskan experiences. Your time in The Last Frontier begins in Fairbanks, where a riverboat tour acquaints you with the local waterways, and a trip to Trail Breaker Kennel allows you to experience one of Alaska's favorite pastimes, dog sledding. It is also from Fairbanks that we board the storied rails of the Alaskan Railroad for a ride aboard the Denali Star. The train will take us right into the heart of Denali National Park, where great adventure meets wildlife spotting and breathtaking scenery. Continuing on the Denali Star, we move through the vast open terrain as we make our way to Talkeetna. The view along the way is truly inspiring - keep your camera within reach. An overnight stay allows you to soak in the charm of this destination before we continue southbound to Anchorage, down the Turnagain Arm and finally down through the Kenai Peninsula before arriving in Seward. It is in Seward that we have a gateway to one of the most majestic places in southern Alaska, Kenai Fjords National Park. As we wrap up our grand Alaskan journey, we spend some time in Whittier, journey out to Prince William Sound by boat and even take one last ride on the Alaskan Railroad, this time aboard the Glacier Discovery. If it is adventure that calls you, the great land of Alaska is the answer.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS: Rail travel on the Alaska Railroad, including the Denali Star in GoldStar Service and the Glacier Discovery, hotel accommodations for 8 nights, including 2 nights at Denali Bluffs Hotel in river view rooms in Denali National Park, 10 meals, Riverboat Discovery tour with Chena Indian Village, visit Denali Backcountry Adventure, Alyeska Area Scenic Tram, Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise, Prince Williams Sound and Surprise Glacier Cruise, National park entrance fees, transportation by deluxe motorcoach services of a professional tour manager.

Departs from FAIRBANKS with VACATIONS BY RAIL.

Tour Price: $3995 Double (plus air)

america's great national parks 14 Days, August 12-25, 2021

Escorted by Mark Jacobson

Tour Glacier, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Arches and Canyonlands National Parks - five of America's most awe-inspiring sites! Start your tour with a classic overnight rail adventure aboard the Empire Builder, following the pioneer route into Big Sky Country. Here, we visit the first national park of the itinerary, Glacier National Park. Glorious spectacles of nature and the famed Going-to-the-Sun Road are just some of the sites to behold before we continue onto Yellowstone National Park for a 2-night stay. We see all the most popular attractions, including the Upper and Lower Falls and the most famous sight of all, Old Faithful. The adventure continues as we head to the resort town of Jackson Hole and the picturesque landscapes in Grand Teton National Park. Finally, a visit to Utah brings us to Salt Lake City, the red rocks of Moab and the natural wonders in Arches and Canyonlands National Parks.

TOUR Highlights: Rail travel on Amtrak (1 night on train), hotel accommodations for 12 nights, including 3 nights at Glacier Park Lodge or the Firebrand Hotel and 2 nights inside Yellowstone National Park, 15 meals, meals onboard the train when upgrading to private sleeping accommodations, Glacier National Park Going-to-the-Sun Road aboard vintage Red Jammer buses, Swiftcurrent Lake Boat Cruise, Yellowstone National Park tour, including Old Faithful Float trip on the Snake River through Grand Teton National Park, National Oregon/California Trail Center, Arches National Park guided tour, Canyonlands National Park tour, Dead Horse Point State Park National Park, entrance fees included, transportation by deluxe motorcoach, services of a professional tour manager.

Departs from CHICAGO with VACATIONS BY RAIL, from $4320 per person based on double occupancy. Price does not include airfare.

CALIFORNIA REDWOODS, RAILS & WINERIES 8 days, September 12-19, 2021

Escorted by Mark Jacobson

California is a land of possibilities, and this unforgettable tour gives you 8 days to explore them all. Our journey begins in San Francisco, where we explore both the modern and historic sides of the city through guided tours and memorable excursions. From San Francisco it is on to Yosemite - but not before embarking on the first of three railway journeys this trip provides, the Roaring Camp Railroad’s Redwood Forest Steam Train. In Yosemite, a guided tour of the park allows us to experience the grandeur of nature, and the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad gives us yet another perspective. It is after Yosemite that we begin the culinary portion of our journey - one that kicks off with a visit to a winery that has been in operation for four generations. Napa, Sonoma and Healdsburg are all on the itinerary, and in each destination, we savor the spectacular food and wine. Our ride through the vineyards of Napa aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train makes this journey even more memorable. Whether you seek gastronomic delights or deep history, this California adventure is one not to miss.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS: Three scenic rail excursions: Redwood Forest Steam Train, Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad and Napa Valley Wine Train Hotel, accommodations for 7 nights, including 2 nights in Yosemite National Park, 10 meals, including lunch aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train, San Francisco city tour, including Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz tour, Yosemite National Park tour, visit to Railtown, 1897 State Historic Park, J. Rickards Winery tasting, Sterling Vineyards tour and tasting, National Park entrance fees, transportation by deluxe motorcoach, services of a professional tour manager, baggage handling.

Departs from SAN FRANCISCO with VACATIONS BY RAIL.

TOUR PRICE: $3495 per person, based on double occupancy.

FALL COLORS OF NEW ENGLAND, QUEBEC & MONTREAL 11 Days, Sept. 30-October 10, 2021

Escorted by Mark Jacobson

Discover the fall colors of New England and Eastern Canada on this 11-day tour featuring acclaimed rail excursions, grand hotel stays, and brilliant autumn scenery. Soak up the history of Boston, the starting point of your fall foliage adventure, before traveling to New Hampshire for excursions aboard the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad, and Mt. Washington Cog Railway.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS: Rail travel on VIA Rail's Corridor Service Rail excursions aboard the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad, and Mt. Washington Cog Railway Hotel accommodations for 10 nights, including 2 nights at the Omni Mt. Washington Resort, 13 meals, including a New England Lobster Bake America's top fall foliage drive, the Kancamagus Highway Montreal and Quebec City city tours, Montmorency Falls, Acadia National Park excursion, National park entrance fees, transportation by deluxe motorcoach, services of a professional tour manager, baggage handling.

Departs from BOSTON with VACATIONS BY RAIL, from $3795 per person based on double occupancy. Price does not include airfare.

NEW ENGLAND IN A NUTSHELL 6 days, October 10-15, 2021

Escorted by Mark Jacobson

Behold the brilliance of nature’s seasonal finale in New England this fall. For 6 days, find yourself surrounded by sights of gold, rust and crimson as you travel through leaf-peeping hotspots in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. Begin with time in Boston, where a guided tour acquaints you with the most historically significant sites of the city, including Quincy Market, which has served Boston since 1826. A deluxe motorcoach takes us out of the city and along one of the most famous fall foliage byways in the United States, the Kancamagus Highway, en route to Whitefield, NH. Enjoy the colorful vistas of fall by train, as we ride the Mt. Washington Cog Railway, and from the water aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen cruise of Lake Champlain. During our time in Vermont, we also visit a cold cider mill and enjoy some time in the town of Stowe, where a gondola ride allows us to take in the beauty of autumn from yet another perspective: above. A ride aboard Amtrak’s Vermonter presents even more of the seasonal splendor of the East. As we arrive in Lebanon, enjoy a look at “Vermont’s Little Grand Canyon,” the Quechee Gorge, before returning to Boston. Using several modes of transportation and visiting some of the most popular destinations in the region, this journey makes it easy to see why New England is a leaf peeper’s dream.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS: Rail travel on Amtrak Scenic rail excursion on the Mt. Washington Cog Railway, hotel accommodations for 5 nights, 8 meals, Boston city tour, America’s top fall foliage drive, the Kancamagus Highway, ride the Stowe Gondola, Cruise Lake Champlain aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen, Visit Quechee Gorge, “Vermont’s Little Grand Canyon,” transportation by deluxe motorcoach, services of a professional tour manager, baggage handling.

Departs from BOSTON with VACATIONS BY RAIL. TOUR PRICE: $1895 per person, based on double occupancy.

TOURNAMENT OF ROSES PARADE IN PASADENA 5 beautiful days! December 29-January 2, 2021-22

PACIFIC ROSE TOUR - subject to change

Escorted by Mark Jacobson

This tour strikes a perfect balance between the fun and festivities of the Rose Parade and the scenic and relaxing beauty of Long Beach. Tour Warner Brothers Studios, have lunch aboard the Queen Mary, get a behind-the-scenes view of Rose Parade floats under construction, and visit the Aquarium of the Pacific. We’ve even included a Long Beach Harbor Cruise.

On New Year’s Day, celebrate the beauty and pageantry of the Rose Parade. Enjoy the view from grandstand seats near the television cameras. You’ll be amazed at the creativity and beauty of the floats, bands, and equestrians.

HOTEL INFORMATION: Rest each night in the 4-star accommodations of the Hyatt Regency Long Beach.

Experience the beauty and thrill of the Rose Parade on a tour that actually gives you time to stop and smell the roses. View Rose Parade floats in their final stages of preparation at the Float Construction Barns. Then see them in all their splendor as they pass by your grandstand seats during the Rose Parade. Start each morning with a complimentary full American breakfast buffet. Lunch is also included daily.

Highlights Include: Grandstand seats at the Rose Parade, Float Construction Barns, Evening Shuttle to Belmont Shore, Queen Mary lunch and tour, Warner Bros. Studio Tour, Huntington Museum & Gardens, Long Beach Aquarium, Long Beach Harbor Cruise. 4-star hotel accommodations at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach. Complimentary breakfast and lunch daily.

Departs from Los Angeles area with AL BROOKS TOURS. Prices from $1420 per person, based on double occupancy. Prices do not include airfare or parking at the hotel if you choose to drive.