Best of · FOOD AND HISTORY TOURS IN THE USA
This is the shortlist you would send a friend: 15 food and history tours in the USA worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Walk through the French Quarter with Doctor Gumbo Tours for a three-hour progressive lunch. Sample gumbo, hot sauces, pralines, catfish po-boy, muffuletta, boudin, and more while guides such as Beth, Meg, and Dylan explain the food and history of New Orleans.
“The Professor is a gem. Very knowledgeable and with a relaxed style, we had all our questions answered and learned a lot while trying delicious food!”
Walk Boston’s North End with a local guide such as Scotty or Big Al, tasting three full-size pizza slices along the way. You’ll see Paul Revere House, Old North Church, Copp’s Hill, Old Ironsides, and Bunker Hill, then finish with a Modern Pastry cannoli.
“Scotty was a great guide. Very knowledgeable about the entire area. It was a fun twist on a history tour to get pizza along the way.”
Walk Savannah’s Historic District with an English-speaking guide such as Beck, Cindy, Gail, or Demi. Over three hours, visit six food shops and restaurants, taste lunch-sized portions, hear stories about the city, and finish near City Market.
“our guide was very informative about so much more than the food we tasted!”
Walk Boston’s North End with local guide Paula, tasting arancini, Sicilian pizza, olive oil, cheese, pasta, cannoli, gelato, and espresso. The three-hour route visits family-run shops, an Italian market, bakery, café, and restaurant, with a two-course lunch and wine pairing.
“Paula is welcoming and full of interesting history of Little Italy. We enjoyed every stop! You are definitely getting a locals perspective of delicious bites and sips. Cannot pick a favorite each stop was so good! As an extra, learned so much about the history of this little neighborhood. ❤️”
Walk Charleston’s historic center with a small group, stopping at four restaurants for a full lunch of local tastes. Guides such as Paige, Jeff, and Emerson have led tours covering she-crab soup, Carolina rice, barbecue, dessert, slavery, Gullah Geechee culture, French influence, and piracy.
“Great walking / food tour with Page. She spent right amount of time discussing low-country & gullah geechee culture. Good food starting with she-crab soup, rice jollof, pulled pork slider, and dessert. All great choices with she-crab soup at the top!”
Spend two hours at Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn Curb Market with a guide such as Nic, Ariel, Glenn, or Kristin. Sample four vendor dishes, learn the market’s story, and make Southern biscuits from scratch. The small group is capped at 12, with vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free options available by request.
“We had a wonderful time! Ariel was a great tour guide. She was very knowledgeable and attended everyone's needs. I would recommend this tour.”
Join Dan or another Boston Pizza Tours guide for a 2-hour-45-minute walk through the North End, waterfront, and Quincy Market. You’ll eat full-size lobster rolls, chowder, oysters, shrimp, and cannoli while hearing stories about Paul Revere, the Revolution, and Boston’s oldest landmarks.
“Dan was a great guide and we enjoyed the history lessons and excellent food selections! Thank you very much!”
Spend about three hours walking downtown Anchorage with a local guide such as Liz, Shannon, Chris, or Sourdough Dan. Expect several food and drink tastings, stories about earthquakes, the Iditarod, bush pilots, architecture, and local traditions. The route is easy, but dietary options are limited.
“Shannon, our guide. She had many interesting tidbits of info to share as well as stories about Alaska. The food we tried was very yummy and we were full at the end!”
Spend five hours walking Boston with a private English-speaking guide, pairing North End bread, pizza, pastries, coffee, and other bites with Freedom Trail landmarks. You’ll see Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere Mall, Old North Church, Granary Burying Ground, Boston Common, and more, ending in the Public Garden.
“We had a great tour thanks to Nabil. We visited quaint spots with great food as we learned from the history of Boston. Nabil did such a great job keeping us engaged in the history and curious facts about famous local residents. Would definitely recommend for families. The walk is long but has multiple stops and breaks.”
Walk Smith and Court Streets with guides such as Sara, Alex, AJ, or Angelo, stopping at seven local food businesses for cheese, bread, pastries, coffee, and more. You’ll learn how Brooklyn’s neighborhoods changed while tasting Italian, Middle Eastern, and New American specialties.
“Alex was a great guide and very informative about the geography and history along the tour. He did an exceptional job. The family had a great time and we tasted 6 different foods.”
Start in Washington Park and explore Over-the-Rhine with a local guide such as Laura, Adrienne, or Jenn. Taste stuffed French toast, goetta, pizza, cheese, fudge, and pastries, then visit Findlay Market and ride Cincinnati’s free streetcar. Small groups max out at 12 people.
“Laura was very knowledgeable and took us to a lot of great places rich with history and delicious eats”
Meet guide Halim in Cocoa and walk through Historic Cocoa Village, stopping at four restaurants and landmarks such as the Porcher House and riverfront parks. Expect a full lunch, local history, friendly restaurant staff, and a small group of no more than 10 people.
“Food was great and the host too. Good overview of the area, easy walking. Would highly recommend for all ages”
Walk central Boise with a local guide and a group of no more than 12, stopping for six or more generous tastings. You’ll see the Capitol, Basque Block, Old Boise, Freak Alley, and finish at The Chocolat Bar. Past guides have included Angela, Adan, Ha, Michael, and Evangel.
“This was a great event to attend as a work outing for 8 co-workers since we work in an office downtown. I had never known about quite a few of these restaurants but will certainly be coming back to them now I know what they offer. They all had something very unique to offer and it demonstrated how diverse the food scene in Boise really is! Our tour guide was very friendly, patient and efficient. Perhaps a little more research should be done on Freak Alley as a bystander suggested factual discrepancies, but otherwise she knew the city well and you could tell how much she has comes to love…”
Sample hushpuppies, she-crab soup, oysters, shrimp and grits, and other Southern favorites at four downtown restaurants. Guides such as Paige, Jackson, and Emerson add Charleston history, food stories, and local tips during a one-mile walk through the Historic District.
“Amazing tour, knowledgeable guide, amazing food. What more can you ask for on a trip to Charleston? 10/10”
Spend about 3.5 hours walking historic Annapolis with a guide such as Carolyn, stopping at several locally owned restaurants for a multi-course meal and dessert. You’ll hear stories about the Naval Academy, the State House area, and Hammond-Harwood House. Come hungry, and list food restrictions when booking.
“We had a wonderful time walking around Annapolis with Carolyn. She was extremely informative about the history of the area, told some enjoyable stories, mixed in a sense of humor, along with good food. A beautiful weekend in Annapolis.”
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