On the first night of my recent Utah ski trip, my local guide raised a glass to propose this toast: Here's to a week of great skiing and proving that you really can get a drink in Utah!

It didn't take much to prove that point. Outings to restaurants with extravagant wine lists, après ski taverns and local distilleries all did their part to debunk the myth of strict drinking laws in Utah.

Because a good stereotype is meant to be squashed, I'm passing along my very scientific research findings to you: a collection of spots to throw one back in the not-so-dry state! The qualifications for my list are simple. It has to come recommended by a local, and it has to serve intoxicating libations.

I’m not sure why, but putting a piece of food on a stick always puts a smile on travelers’ faces. Maybe it’s because we associate skewered snacks with childhood pleasures like lollipops and popsicles; maybe it’s because sticks make for easy cleanup when we’re on the go.

Either way, certain destinations are held in high esteem for their unforgettable (for better or for worse) meals on sticks. Here are 10 picked especially for brave travelers—stick it to your friends when you complete one of these challenges.

I'm still paying off sleep debt from my Las Vegas vacation. Between the electric-tinged twilight of the casinos and the uncertain daylight of Nevada's winter, I found myself waking at a different hour every day. Lucky for me, it didn't matter if I was up at 8am or 8pm. Vegas was true to its 24-hour nature. I could always find breakfast.

Breakfast in Las Vegas is a fantastic affair. You get lavish buffets, roadside diners, gourmet sit-downs--every option imaginable stuffed into a few sparkling miles of Strip. There's zero excuse for a cigarette and espresso breakfast. Not that you'd want an excuse.

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.