For the best gumbo, go to the Gumbo Shop (630 St. Peter St., 504/525-1486, gumbo $8). Make sure to stop by the piano bar at Pat O'Brien's (718 St. Peter St., 504/525-4823, patobriens.com). Napoleon House makes delicious muffulettas (500 Chartres St., 504/524-9752, napoleonhouse.com, half muffuletta $6.75). No visit to New Orleans is complete without sitting down to coffee and beignets at Cafe Du Monde, near the riverfront (800 Decatur St., 504/525-4544, cafedumonde.com, three beignets $2).

Parking in the French Quarter is tricky—and can get expensive—so it's best to stay at a hotel in the area and walk everywhere. Wait until you go to the plantations to rent a car.

Thanks to these readers for their New Orleans tips: Randy Houghton, New Orleans, La.; Gwen Rohan, Huntsville, Ala.; Kimberly Eliason, Quincy, Calif.; Brianne Riker, Silver Spring, Md.; Janet Dales, Blaine, Wash.; Jeanette Parker, Lafayette, La.; Kathleen Karsko, Grand Junction, Colo.

Dear BT Readers...
I'm heading to Bend, Ore. (my first time visiting the Pacific Northwest), in late October. Does anyone have suggestions for things I shouldn't miss? Hikes, restaurants, little boutiques? Naomi Lindt, Senior Assistant Editor

For info on hiking in Bend, go to bendparksandrec.org. I enjoy hiking down into the canyon at Smith Rock State Park, just north of Bend, and watching the rock climbers. If you drive from Portland to Bend, go through Mount Hood on the way there, and then on the way back, go through the town of Sisters to Salem and then north. Both are beautiful drives.

While you're in the area, stop in Sisters to check out the old-west atmosphere, complete with old wooden storefronts. The Gallery Restaurant has homestyle country dishes and serves the best fish-and-chips (171 W. Cascade Ave., 541/549-2631, from $7). There are some nice antique stores a block north of the main street. If you have extra time, take a trip over to Crater Lake, about two hours away. It's the deepest lake in the U.S. The hike down to the lake is great!

Hot Box Betty, a shop in downtown Bend, has the cutest shoes and clothes (903 NW Wall St., 541/383-0050). La Rosa is a fabulous Mexican restaurant that features homemade infused tequilas. The vanilla-bean margarita is yummy (1444 NW College Way, 541/318-7210, margaritas from $7, entrées from $11). To sample some of the spirits made by Bendistillery, go to Bendistillery Martini Bar & Sampling Room. My favorite is Cascade Mountain Gin, made with local juniper berries (850 NW Brooks St., 541/388-6868, bendistillery.com).

Thanks to these readers for their Bend, Ore. tips: Diana Edwards, Salem, Ore.; Brittney McChristy, Portland, Ore.; Nancy Pitman, Salem, Ore.; Julia Bahner, Seattle, Wash.; Sally Ridenour, Salem, Ore.; Cara Filsinger, Salem, Ore.

Dear BT Readers...
Any tips on good tours and wine bars in Rome? Sean O'Neill, Senior Editor Online

The Scavi Vatican tour is Rome's best-kept secret. You get to go under St. Peter's Basilica—it's the experience of a lifetime (e-mail scavi@fsp.va for tickets, $16). There are three books that make for wonderful self-guided walking tours of Rome: Not Built in a Day: Exploring the Architecture of Rome, by George H. Sullivan; Rome from the Ground Up, by James H. S. McGregor; and Rome in Detail: A Guide for the Expert Traveler, by Claudio Gatti and John Moretti.

Make sure you see the Trevi Fountain both during the day and at night. It's beautiful and romantic. I suggest the often-overlooked Crypta Balbi, one of four Roman National Museum sites. Inside, you can see layers upon layers of civilization that have been unearthed in that one spot (via delle Botteghe Oscure 31, 011-39/06-3996-7700, $11, includes entrance to all four museum sites). Sant'Ivo della Sapienza, Borromini's magical church, near the Piazza Navona, is only open on Sundays and was the highlight of our trip (corso del Rinascimento 40, free). The Spanish Steps are a popular hangout for young locals and tourists. If you climb to the top and turn left, you'll end up at the border of Villa Borghese Park. Follow the edge of the park until you get to a viewing area overlooking Piazza del Popolo. You can see St. Peter's Basilica and all the major avenues and obelisks of the city.

We found a fantastic mozzarella bar called Obikà in the Piazza Firenze, a few blocks north of the Pantheon (Piazza Firenze 28, 011-39/06-683-2630, obika.it, appetizers from $8). Cavour 313 is a great place for wine and snacks (via Cavour 313, 011-39/06-678-5496).

Thanks to these readers for their Rome tips: Jennifer Tobkin, Los Angeles, Calif.; Dan Rouhier, McLean, Va.; Pennie Harris, Greenville, S.C.; Jennifer Katz, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Dan Rouhier, McLean, Va.; Kristin Kilburn, Honolulu, Hawaii; Tanya Farshy, Atlanta, Ga.