HomeToGo Unveils 2025 Taste of Summer Index, Revealing the Top Rising Star Foodie Destinations for Summer Vacations

Hospitality Net

a day ago

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – With almost half (48%) of U.S. travelers seeking out trips centered around food and drink experiences for summer 2025*, HomeToGo, the marketplace with the world's largest selection of vacation rentals, today released its first-ever Taste of Summer Index, pinpointing the top 20 U.S. destinations likely to satisfy both travelers' wanderlust and tastebuds. The marketplace evaluated exclusive rental price insights and search statistics, alongside data on highly rated restaurants and gourmet experiences in each destination, to identify the best palate-pleasing places to stay across the United States.
An appetite for unique food and drink experiences is shaping how people plan to travel this summer, as vacationers are hungry for destinations that dish out authentic and exciting culinary adventures. From wine region retreats like Woodinville and Sonoma, to small-town gems including Ithaca and Astoria, to big-city hubs such as Seattle and Portland, this index serves as a menu from which travelers can choose their next gastronomic destination, based on the ingredients that make up an ideal break. Eleanor Moody, HomeToGo Travel Expert and Spokesperson
To rank each location, HomeToGo researched the following four data points, calculating scores based on the findings:
Rising Star Score: The higher the year-on-year search increase for vacations, the higher the score.
The higher the year-on-year search increase for vacations, the higher the score. Affordable Accommodation Score: The lower the vacation accommodation cost, the higher the score.
The lower the vacation accommodation cost, the higher the score. Highly-Rated Restaurant Score: The higher the percentage of highly-rated restaurants, the higher the score.
The higher the percentage of highly-rated restaurants, the higher the score. Gourmet Experiences Score: The more food and drink experiences offered, the higher the score.
From Hawaii's Maui to Portland in Maine, here is a glimpse of the ranking:
HomeToGo Unveils 2025 Taste of Summer Index, Revealing the Top Rising Star Foodie Destinations for Summer Vacations— Source: HomeToGo
Here's what travelers can expect in the top five trending destinations:
Portland, Oregon: Portland's food scene pulses with the best of the Pacific Northwest, from lush Willamette Valley sourcing to eco-conscious eateries. Don't miss the city's food cart pods, which open up a world of international gastronomic possibilities. Woodinville, Washington: Woodinville, tucked in Washington's wine country, overflows with small-town charm and world-class tipple. Explore this destination's four districts and discover their culinary delights, from laid-back farmers market fare to luxury fine dining. Ithaca, New York: On the southern edge of the longest Finger Lake, Ithaca's gourmet culture is characterized by farm-to-table dining and vineyard vibes. Travelers can visit The Commons in downtown Ithaca in search of their new favorite restaurant, or escape into nature on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail. Astoria, Oregon: Astoria, situated at the mouth of the Columbia River and a point on the North Coast Food Trail, is a port city that's packed with flavor. Vacationers can sample seafood such as Dungeness crab and Chinook salmon, washed down with local craft beers in a selection of this location's lively breweries. Seattle, Washington: From the International District to Capitol Hill, Seattle's food scene is as diverse and dynamic as the city itself, shaped by coastal influences and global flavors. The city's coffee culture is also a highlight, with locally roasted brews fueling busy vacation days.
*The full list, destination descriptions, and an interactive map can be found at www.hometogo.com/inspiration/summer-vacation/#taste-of-summer-index.
Methodology: For the full methodology and more information as to how this report was created, please visit www.hometogo.com/inspiration/summer-vacation/#taste-of-summer-index-methodology.
*Survey insights are based on research conducted by HomeToGo among a sample of 800 respondents in the United States. To participate in this survey, respondents had to be 18 or older. The survey was carried out online between September 3, 2024, and September 5, 2024. Respondents were able to select multiple answers across a number of questions.
About HomeToGo
HomeToGo is the SaaS-enabled marketplace with the world's largest selection of vacation rentals, listing millions of offers from thousands of trusted partners, including Booking.com, Vrbo and TripAdvisor.
From vacation homes, cabins, beach houses, apartments, condos, house boats, castles, farm stays and everything in between, HomeToGo combines price, destination, dates and amenities to find the perfect accommodation for any trip worldwide.
Founded in 2014, HomeToGo operates localized apps & websites in more than 30 countries across Europe, North America, South America, Australia and Asia-Pacific. HomeToGo also operates brands such as Agriturismo.it, AMIVAC, Casamundo, CaseVacanza.it, e-domizil, EscapadaRural, Kurzurlaub, Kurz Mal Weg, Tripping.com and Wimdu. To learn more, visit www.hometogo.com or download the HomeToGo app.