One of the great joys of traveling is finding new places to eat. Unfortunately, finding the best local food usually requires a little more effort than reading roadside signs. Below are a few ways to find the best local food in any town you visit while on your foodcation.
Look at the Online Reviews
One of the easiest ways to find places to dine is to take a look at online review aggregators. These websites bring together user reviews for individual restaurants, giving visitors a chance to check out the performance of any given eatery long before they step foot in town. While review aggregators certainly trend towards the negative, you can read individual reviews to get a better idea of what’s around you.
Check Out the Chamber of Commerce
Yes, the Chamber of Commerce can actually be a great choice for those looking for recommendations, especially in smaller towns. Just walking into a visitor’s center in most towns will give you access to plenty of menus and information about the best places to dine locally. Checking the local Chamber of Commerce website is also a great way to get a good list of reputable places to eat in town.
Talk to a Local
Locals are always going to be a great source of information when you are traveling. Check with the hotel staff to get recommendations of not just the place where tourists dine, but the places where the locals actually like to eat. If you’re not staying in a hotel, taking a moment to ask any clerk at a gas station or other shop can be a good way to get at least a clue as to where to eat when you’re in town.
Check Out Town Websites
Finally, check out town websites to get some information about the places to dine of which a town is the most proud. Some towns have official websites that feature local businesses, while others have social media pages that do much the same. The restaurants that are featured here tend to have a fairly good reputation in the town, so you can generally feel comfortable choosing them as your preferred dining locations during your trip.
Finding a great place to eat is easier than ever no matter where you live. Though it takes some digging to find those hidden treasures, you can easily find the kind of restaurants that locals love with just a little bit of research. Whether you want to find world-famous cuisine or just a great home-cooked meal, you’ll definitely find some special places to eat while you’re on the road.
Author Bio
Anita Ginsburg is a freelance writer from Denver, CO. She studied at Colorado State University, and now writes articles about health, business, family and finance. A mother of two, she enjoys traveling with her family whenever she isn’t writing. You can follow her on Twitter @anitaginsburg.