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Whether you want to take a day or a week to explore an area, there's probably a food tour to suit your taste. To find out what's available at any given time of the year, do an Internet search. Organized tour companies have their own Web sites, and state tourism boards and trade associations post statewide lists if you want to create your own tour. Depending on your destination, it could be as simple as finding a Web site that interests you, printing out a map, and hitting the road.

Regional tours

While you may have to do more driving, regional tours take you off the beaten path. You can sample a smorgasbord of different foods in a region, or pick a theme like "North Carolina roadside barbeque huts" and try as many as you can in a weekend. Travel Web sites and foodie blogs are great resources to help you plan your trip, but don't be afraid to chart your own course. For starters, check out Rachel Ray's Tasty Travels at http://foodnetwork.com/food/show_ry or foodieblogs.net/metafeed.html.

If plans are more centralized, you're in luck. Nearly every major city in the country has a restaurant tour of some kind. Many are walking tours which allow you to stretch your legs and learn a bit about the area in between tastings.

San Francisco. Two of the most popular food touring neighborhoods in the Bay Area are Italian North Beach and Chinatown. But there are also romance food tours that feature coffee and pastries, tea and truffles, dinner/dance cruises, and train rides into the wine country. San Francisco offers so many tasting opportunities, you could spend a month just sampling local restaurants. (sanfranciscotours.us)

New Orleans. The New Orleans Culinary History Tour explores the historic French Quarter with a walking and tasting tour. Over the course of three hours, you visit a number of restaurants, including the two oldest—Antoine's (1840) and Tujague's (1856). Learn how the unique flavor of New Orleans developed over time and sample famous dishes like gumbo, French pastry, muffulettas, and sazerac cocktail. ( http://zerve.com/culinary/tour1030/)

New York City. The next time you're in the quintessential melting pot, pick a culture and chances are, there's a food tour that covers it. Chinatown and Little Italy are obvious choices, but did you know there's a "Borscht Belt" in Brooklyn? Food tours run day and night, and many of them take you to the local marketplace, as well, so you can purchase your favorite items. Don't forget to walk your way through Greenwich Village while learning about its architecture, culture, and history. Dine at specialty food shops and mom 'n pop restaurants in the Italian neighborhood of West Village. (http:// http://foodsofny.com/greenwichvillage.php)

For more history, visit Chelsea Market and learn about its earliest incarnation as the original Nabisco factory where the Oreo was invented to its modern day life as a huge conglomeration of wholesale and retail specialty stores. Also explore the surrounding meatpacking district, which is transforming from an industrial park to a bustling area full of boutiques and trendy eateries. (http:// http://foodsofny.com/chelseamarket.php)

Food factory tours

Ever wonder how they get the paper in a fortune cookie or the foil around a chocolate kiss? Food factory tours can give you the inside scoop. The tours are short and often self-guided, plus you can taste free samples and browse gift shops with uncommon souvenirs of your favorite food.