Many a traveler has planned a trip simply to sample local tipples; the popularity of the Napa Valley wine trail is a testament to that. So how about blazing a brewery trail in one of the urban hubs leading the pack in American beer making?

These eight cities, known for their high concentrations of high-quality breweries, are perfect destinations for tasting beer, Napa-style. Channel your inner barfly and get ready for hops from brewery to brewery.

I knew I could make the move from New York City to San Francisco the moment I first laid eyes on Napa Valley. It felt like a wonderland to me, a spot of much-needed European charm and pastoral quietude just a quick hour down the road from the hustle and bustle of the city.

And now three years into my great California adventure, I have developed my way of enjoying Napa and Sonoma. Much like how Coloradans debate the relative merits of competing ski resorts, we here in the Bay Area enjoy holding forth about the "right way" to explore the wine country. There are two valleys to choose from, at least 10 quaint towns, and a huge variety of activities, including hiking, biking, wine tasting, gourmet dining, air ballooning, spa going, and more.

Does being on a strict diet hold you back from truly experiencing another culture? It’s a good question, and--as a vegetarian--it’s one that’s been dogging me on my travels as of late.    On his Travel Channel show No Reservations, Anthony Bourdain’s philosophy maintains that digging fork or fingers first into the local cuisine is the best way to understand what a place is all about.

Remember this moment? (Skip to 1:50) Well, I'm having one of my own. Just picture me standing at a podium with helmet hair like The Gipper, a stern look glinting in my eyes, saying, "Atlanta airport, get some recycling bins!"

If you're anything like me, here's how you feel about plastic bottles of water.

Cons:

Takes 1,000 years to break down in a landfill

Has a hefty carbon footprint and is made with petroleum

Leaches harmful chemicals into your water over time

Pros:

Convenient

Convenient

Convenient

I'm not the most "touristy" traveler. I often bypass museums in favor of wandering around dive bar districts, I never buy souvenirs (much to my friends' and family's chagrin), and I usually spend more time with the locals than I do with the tour groups. But there is one die-hard gawker part of me--the part that demands that I sample every bizarre local food, beverage, or beer that I can find.

So, yes, I've endured headaches from Chilean jote (red wine and Coca Cola), cringed a little at kefir (a fermented milk drink), and rather enjoyed pan-cooked alpaca (a cousin of the llama). And once I make it out to the rest of the world, I'm definitely checking off these four "fine" dining options as well.

Your student days may be long behind you, but there’s still an excellent excuse to head into the UCLA-centric district of Westwood the next time you’re in Los Angeles: the cookies.

Oh go on, do I have to twist your arm?

Iconic stalwart Diddy Riese---fondly dubbed Diddy’s by those in the know---has been churning out sweet treats since 1983, but it’s the ice cream sandwiches that have reached near-national acclaim. You pick the cookie---choosing a different variety for each side is practically de rigueur---and an ice cream flavor for the filling, and a Diddy’s employee slaps the whole thing together in three seconds flat. The grand total? Just a buck fifty. Including tax.

Please join us in welcoming Catherine Sanderson to The Window Seat. She lives in Paris and is the writer of the popular blog Petite Anglaise.

Many visitors to Paris remain unaware of the existence of the Canal Saint Martin, a waterway constructed in the early nineteenth century to bring fresh water and freight into the French capital.

Flying to Colorado last weekend, I had beer on my mind. (Hey, as long as I kept my watch set to Eastern Time, it was almost an appropriate hour for a drink.) Since the Denver area is home to big-name brewers like Coors, more than 100 craft breweries, and the annual Great American Beer Festival, I thought I'd begin my three-day weekend with an ice-cold glass of local beer.

When I arrived in Boulder, though, I happened upon a tasting that instead turned my attention to wine as I was introduced to the delicious products of Colorado wine country--a place I'd never even heard of before.

Please join us in welcoming Martha Stewart to The Window Seat! This is an abbreviated version of Martha’s first travel column that debuted in the April 2009 issue of Martha Stewart Living Magazine. This article is a part of the new quarterly travel section and her next piece is scheduled for the August issue, which hits stands July 20, 2009. An abbreviated version of the next travel article will also be featured on The Window Seat so be sure to check back soon.

In the summer of 2008, I decided to travel to England, Ireland, and Poland to visit some of our company’s strategic partners. I also planned to sightsee and to film several segments for my TV show. This is not an unusual scenario. I frequently combine my love of travel with business because I go places that I think most of us would enjoy seeing and experiencing.

Whenever someone asks me how I keep costs down while traveling, a lot of my answers (much like my life) revolve around food: book a hotel where breakfast is included, treat lunch as your main meal of the day, pack a picnic, ask a local shopkeeper or taxi driver for his favorite restaurant. And since this economic downtown began, I’ve been hearing more and more that travelers are choosing to eat at BYOB restaurants.

Bringing your own bottle to dinner is certainly a great way to save cash, and it affords you the added pleasure of exploring local groceries and shopping for local wines. And if you’ve already picked up a bottle or two on your trip, drinking them at a restaurant guarantees you’ll have zero chance of them being confiscated when you try to smuggle them home.