13. Napa Valley, California
Like Tuscany, Italy, Napa Valley has charming rural towns, acres of vineyards, and tasting rooms serving hearty wines. There are over 500 wineries here, frequently built similarly to wineries in the Italian countryside. The Andretti Winery was founded by Italian race car champion Mario Andretti. It features a Tuscany-like stone courtyard, a villa-reminiscent tasting room, and fountains. Dine on micro-regional Italian dishes at Bottega Napa Valley in Yountville too.
14. Christkindlmarket, Illinois
Regular readers know all about German Christmas markets. If you can’t get to a European Christmas market, head for Chicago. The Christkindlmarket there is huge and has attractive wooden huts that offer visitors gingerbread, mulled wine, pretzels, and more. This one was even modeled to resemble the one they have in Nuremberg. Just like in Germany, you can even go ice skating.
(Continued on next page)
