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A coast-to-coast look at the culinary oases that keep us coming back for more.

This Arizona road trip serves up major doses of scenery, hiking, biking, and some serious “me time,” whether at the spa or on your second plate of enchiladas.

From its history of Native American healing traditions to the vibrancy of its signature style of Mexican cuisine, Tucson is the Southwestern food gem that soothes more than your appetite.

A visit to the U.S.’s newest national park means adrenaline-filled outdoor adventures, fall foliage, and craft beers.

“Into the Deep” at Monterey Bay Aquarium is a remarkable collection of new Dr. Seuss–like sea creatures.

Tempting restaurants, new hotels, and plenty of outdoor adventure await.

We dive into the differences between the spirits, including how they’re made—and the brands you should be buying.

Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group is giving tacos the Shake Shack–treatment at Tacocina, located inside Williamsburg’s waterfront Domino Park.

On a walk through Oaxaca‘s Centro Historico any evening, you’ll come across carts selling steaming corn. Order an elote and you’ll get the corn on the cob on a wooden stick. If you request it “con todo,” the vendor will squeeze some lime juice on it, slather it with mayonnaise, and add crumbled cheese and chile powder. If you prefer your corn in a cup, ask for an “esquite” and you’ll be served a cup of corn with the broth it was cooked in, and the garnishings will be added on top for you to mix in. Any way you like it, this makes a great snack to eat while you’re enjoying the street scene.

After a hard day of hiking the myriad trails through Sedona’s gorgeous red rock country, my friend and I earned a dining experience where calories did not count. Everyone recommended Elote Cafe. Thank you, everyone, for one of the finest meals I’ve ever earned. The menu at Elote (translation: roasted corn on the cob, or corn cob) features several unique and flavorful corn dishes quite beyond traditional Mexican fare. The restaurant’s namesake appetizer is out of this world: fire-roasted corn with spicy mayo, lime, and Mexican Cotija cheese. Pictured is one of the entrees, the grilled wild Mexican shrimp in a spinach-chipotle cream sauce. Wow! For dessert, I decided on the pastel de elote — a warm, sweet corn cake with dulce de leche, raspberry jam, and vanilla ice cream. Happy birthday to me (oh, BTW, it was my birthday!). From the drinks menu (remember, no calories, AND birthday), I sampled the homemade blood orange limeade, as well as the best Mojito to be found outside of Cuba. For after dinner (pictured at right): a shot of Agavero, a sublime tequila liqueur flavored with extract of the Damiana flower. Also noteworthy was the warm, earthy atmosphere, with glowing copper tabletops. Reservations are not currently accepted, so be prepared for a wait!

In downtown Scottsdale, Arizona, there’s a new taco place called Barrio Queen Tequileria. They serve more than 50 kinds of tacos, and I wish I could have tried them all. I lingered there yesterday, and enjoyed a long lunch of shrimp and carnitas tacos, chunky guacamole with pomegranate seeds, and sangria made with sweet peach juice. Do not miss the Mexico City-style elote, or roasted corn with cotija cheese and lime. And ask for Yvette, a server who is as lovely and welcoming as the place itself.

Mas Tacos owner Teresa Mason helped kick off the modern food truck craze in Nashville from a 1970s Winnebago. Today, she runs her business out of a brick-and-mortar shop in Greenwood, but you can still occasionally find the truck on the road and at local events. Whether you visit the tiny, tastefully decorated restaurant or the Winnebago, look for the tortillas filled with pork, fried fish, or sweet potato and quinoa. And don’t miss the elote and homemade chicken tortilla soup, brightened by cherry tomatoes, avocado, and generous squeezes of lime.

Leather, hand-glazed tiles, rich velvets, and a barrel-vaulted ceiling define this 5,000-square-foot space, which was carefully renovated to preserve elements of the building’s original occupant, the Werner Printing Company. The bold, global flavors from chef Andrew Zimmerman’s kitchen showcase his prowess for modern technique and his love for travel. Come with a group to taste through a medley of shareable dishes, from tempura elotes and grilled sweet potato salad with cashew dukkah to Vietnamese crêpes and fried fish collar with Thai garlic-chili sauce. Pastry chef Sarah Mispagel incorporates the same international flair into her dessert program, a collection of clever, crowd-pleasing plates like black raspberry kulfi with pistachio granola or a Chinese egg tart with shiso and matcha. Stick around for post-dinner drams—namely the Jean Claude Pandan, a modern-day Swizzle cocktail made with Absolut Elyx and pandan leaf-infused coconut milk.

New York is definitely one of the food meccas of the world, every restaurant, a living proof of the fusion of cultures that make up this amazing city. One thing you will find here is that some of the best restaurants are not obvious to the eye. Many have hidden entrances or disguised doors. While La Esquina is also an evident fast food restaurant, the real treasure lays hidden in the basement underneath. Behind a door labeled “employees only” a set of stairs takes you down to much larger room with rustic decoration and attractive murals that evoke the Aztec theme and welcome you to your next best meal! The food is a testament of the fusion of flavors of Mexico... the tostadas (bite size crisp tortillas) de pollo and cangrejo with the spicy mango relish or the taquitos are a great way to start! Then go for the juicy marinated Carne Asada with a hint of garlic and the classic mojo or the Camarones a la Plancha and pair them with the green beans and the rice for a meal to remember!!! and please... leave room for dessert, the Crema Cocida, a velvety panna cotta with a mexican twist, or the Torrejas Brulee, a moist bread pudding with bits of pinnaple, give you the perfect level of sweetness to end a superb meal! If you go with large group (>9) they will require you to do a family style menu for a fair value, which I highly recommend!! Trust me, there will be plenty of food and I promise, it will be a feast you will never forget!