Page 44 - Dreamscapes Magazine | Fall/Winter 2024

USA JOURNEYS
The American Classic
Dig Your Taste Buds into the Autumn Harvest
BY JOSEPHINE MATYAS
With summer in the rearview mirror, the pace of travel relaxes and crowds thin out. What better time to explore new destinations and indulge in some of the very best food
and drink that come with the autumn harvest.
In Wyoming, the Cowboy State is ready to wow taste buds with a rich array of historic bars, craft beverages and mouth-watering dishes. Settle into a seat at an authentic Old West bar and dine with a side of history when ordering the famous prime rib buffet at the Irma Hotel in Cody, a local hangout founded by Buf- falo Bill. The Mint Bar in the cowboy town of Sheridan opened its doors in 1907, making it one of Wyoming’s most legendary watering holes. travelwyoming.com
FILL A GLASS WITH LOCAL: In Casper, the quirky Back- wards Distilling Company has a menu of inventive spirits and cocktails using their house-distilled original moonshine, made from a signature recipe of corn mash and sugar.
Epicureans rejoice while visiting Virginia! In the state’s mild climate, talented chefs access fresh prod- ucts around the calendar; and farm-to-table has been a way of life for decades. Renowned as the East Coast capital of the oyster—the state has eight different oyster regions, each with its own distinct flavour—the tasty delicacies can be served raw, steamed, baked, fried or roasted. The Virginia Oyster Trail connects producers, farmers, purveyors, seafood restaurants and raw bars for an authentic oyster tourism experi- ence. virginia.org
FILL A GLASS WITH LOCAL: Pair an oyster dish with a craft beer or a white varietal wine. The Chesapeake Bay Wine Trail, which covers Virginia’s Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula, hosts popular Spring and Fall Oyster Crawls at nine premiere wineries.
In addition to prestigious Michelin-starred restau- rants, Orlando has many diverse food experiences. The annual EPCOT International Food & Wine Fes- tival is an on-site Disney tasting menu of global flavours. Foodies can explore Orlando’s East End Market, a neighbourhood culinary hub featuring local artisanal vendors and gourmet food stalls or indulge in the diverse Asian eateries of Mills 50 dis- trict. visitorlando.com
FILL A GLASS WITH LOCAL: Orlando’s impressive drink scene has a growing number of craft cocktail bars, distilleries and wineries. The Courtesy Bar offers expertly crafted cocktails in a speakeasy-style set- ting, while Hanson’s Shoe Repair provides a unique rooftop experience with prohibition-era drinks. DS
TRAVEL PLANNER
Colorado’s distinctive blend of terrain and variety of climates has profoundly shaped its dynamic culinary landscape. The state’s craft distillers source many ingredients close to home; from the dusky purple majesty of the Rockies to the golden fields of the eastern plains, its rich earth is teeming with the raw ingredients for the next new wine or cocktail. Vintners, dis- tillers and mixologists have embraced this terroir, taking it to the bar in the form of innovative craft cocktails. colorado.com
FILL A GLASS WITH LOCAL: Peach or viog- nier, raspberry-honey blend or cabernet franc—Colorado has countless inter- esting wines that are beginning to draw recognition throughout the U.S.
44 DREAMSCAPES FALL/WINTER 2024
Discover more information on travel to the USA at visittheusa.ca
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