Made in America: 7 Tours Worth Taking

Great local meal...On Thanksgiving night, we found ourselves in Cadaqués [PHOTO], a bohemian seaside village known as a refuge for artists such as Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, and countless others. Any inkling I had of being homesick for the holiday was erased at Cu4tro, a lively waterfront spot. I dug into local specialties like brandade, a dish of smoothly pureed salt cod, olive oil, and potatoes, and a freshly caught, whole-roasted daurade fish, while Ronnie zeroed in on the menu's closest thing to a Thanksgiving feast: chicken in mushroom sauce and potato puree. Our favorite parts...As a fan of surrealism, I loved driving the "Dalí Triangle"—Púbol, Cadaqués, and Figueres. In Púbol, we wandered the Gothic rooms and gardens of the medieval castle that Dalí gifted to his wife, Gala. The Elephant with Giraffe Legs [PHOTO] was a particular highlight. It was easy to see how the whitewashed, windswept town of Cadaqués—where Dalí summered as a child and resided late in life—inspired the artist. The bare, twisted plane trees [PHOTO], for example, resemble the bony fingers in Dalí's famous work Metamorphosis of Narcissus. Moment when things got tense...The journey nearly started off on the wrong foot when Ronnie went to pick up the car in Barcelona. When he arrived at the rental office, he realized he had left his passport in the hotel room, with me, across town. I dropped everything and took the hour-long bus trip with his passport. It was a few hours wasted, but the bus route hit all of the city's highlights, and the hotel kindly extended a late checkout. Worth every penny...The sliced Iberian ham, manchego cheese, and freshly baked bread we bought at every market we came upon. If we rolled into a town around 4 p.m., we'd find ourselves out of luck for food until around 8 p.m., so slapping together small sandwiches would tide us over until dinner. We may have gone overboard, but there's nothing like that ham in the U.S. [PHOTO] Total rip-off...Breakfast at the Parador de Aiguablava in Begur would have jacked up the nightly rate by €34 ($50) and was not worth it. Our Iberian ham and cheese sandwiches came in handy that morning. Fun surprise...We originally planned to blow through Pals, but we couldn't resist staying. Within the quaint town walls, a labyrinth of tapas bars, boutiques, pastelerías, and cafés awaited. And just outside the walls, we encountered an alfresco flea market. As we were poking around, Ronnie noticed a button had popped off his pants. Strangely, minutes later, we came upon a button vendor. Ronnie searched for a close match, found one, and asked to buy it. The dealer explained that she only sold buttons by the dozen, but since he needed it, he could have the button for free. Wish we'd known that...The distances were as short and easily accessible as they were. We might have made an even more ambitious plan to cover extra ground. We're still laughing about...Stalking superchef Ferran Adrià at elBulli [PHOTO], the best restaurant in the world. Though we didn't have a reservation, we decided to drive to Roses and at least take some photos of the restaurant. We discovered that the property fronts a beach, with a lovely hiking trail passing alongside its outdoor terrace. While there, we witnessed Adrià [PHOTO] welcoming Hiroshi Ishida, whose eight-seat, invitation-only restaurant, Mibu, is the most exclusive in Japan, if not the world. Ronnie, the shutterbug, got so excited that he had a paparazzo moment—he actually climbed a tree and got a shot of the chefs together! [PHOTO] Hotel we liked...La Residencia in Cadaqués earned a special spot in our hearts because of its history and eccentric decor. The hotel opened in 1904, and Pablo Picasso slept there. The arty interior includes a shrine to local hero Dalí, along with a gorgeous, stained-glass skylight. Our room was small and nondescript, but clean—maybe something a starving artist would rent—while the suites were more artistically appointed. Also, it was well-located, the staff was delightful, and the price was right at €60 ($87) a night, including breakfast.

One of the best stretches in the French Quarter is Royal Street between Toulouse and Ursulines. It's all 18th-century houses with iron-lace balconies, so it truly feels like you're traveling back in time. —Zachary Materne, 27, manager of the Transportation Revolution, a European motorcycle and scooter shop Every native will tell you that Domilise's is po'boy heaven. The corner joint is only marked by a tiny hand-painted sign. You'll want to get there early to avoid the crowd lining up for fried-shrimp po'boys (5240 Annunciation St., from $10). —Ben Rauch, 66, retired store owner If you see a zydeco, blues, or jazz band here that you love, you can pick up their latest album at Louisiana Music Factory (louisianamusicfactory.com). —Jacquelyn Cole, 26, city council communications director The luxe International House Hotel, in the old beaux arts World Trade Center, is right outside the Quarter—plenty close to the action but far enough away from the noise (ihhotel.com, from $99). —Paul Craven, 43, creative director Aunt Sally's pralines (say it like praw-leens) are the unofficial sweets of the city. Try the Sugar & Spice variety, spiked with Tabasco, for a real kick (auntsallys.com, $16). —Sarah Materne, 25, public relations associate

Next Prize: Bahamas The best response we receive from Feb. 1, 2010, to Mar. 1, 2010, wins a three-night stay in the Bahamas for two, with airfare, some meals, and two Shallow Water Dolphin Interactions, courtesy of JetBlue Getaways and Atlantis, Paradise Island. More info: 800/538-2583, jetblue.com/vacations. How to enter: E-mail us at TrueStories@BudgetTravel.com or mail us at True Stories, Budget Travel, 530 7th Ave., 2nd Fl., New York, NY 10018. Full guidelines: BudgetTravel.com/truestories. TRIP WINNER Moral: Don't fish for piranhas January's winner was Julie Akey of Honolulu, Hawaii. She won a 10-night trip for two in Vietnam, courtesy of Intrepid Travel. Her story: Last summer, my family spent four days in Ecuador's Huaorani territory, by a tributary of the Amazon River. One day, our guide took us to a lagoon to fish for piranhas using chunks of bloody beef. I caught the first one. After reeling it in, I excitedly reached down to take the hook out. Suddenly, the fish jumped up and chomped down on two of my fingers! Thankfully, I didn't need any stitches. And I got my revenge by eating the piranha for dinner that night. An extra-tall tale As a 6'8" man, I always grill hotel clerks about the specifics of a room. Will the bed end at my knees? Will a low ceiling fan give me a haircut? Everything checked out on a trip to Tokyo. One ryokan owner even gave me extra-large towels and an extra-long kimono. Such service! I felt like I was 10 feet tall, even before I went to brush my teeth. Robert Neu, Brooklyn, N.Y. Are you savvier than a monkey? When I went to the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary in Bali, my driver told me to empty my pockets and leave my valuables with him in the car. I consider myself a savvy traveler, so I smirked and switched my wallet and passport to my chest pocket. My driver warned me that I could be mugged in the forest and should really leave my wallet behind. In the woods, a monkey landed on my shoulders, reached around my neck, and robbed me blind. A guard came and scolded me for bringing my valuables and then went to get some treats. The monkey and I bartered. I gave him a peanut; he gave me a credit card. I gave him a piece of fruit; he gave me my passport. Finally, I had all my belongings back—and I went on to enjoy an amazing trek. Patrick Manson, Superior, Colo. Not the first time we've heard this story On a recent trip to Peru, I visited an open-air market. As a tea drinker, I am always on the lookout for exotic varieties. I found a vendor with the largest display of tea bags I'd ever seen. The packages were in Spanish, and I searched, trying to recognize an ingredient, until I came to the last item in the display. That's when I realized I was sorting through a big rack of condoms. Celia Gianoli, Reno, Nev. Traveling with parents can be awkward While I was working as an airline reservations agent, a woman called to report a lost suitcase. She was adamant that she needed the bag back immediately. When I began to explain the compensation for lost luggage, she screamed, "My mother is in that bag!" All I could imagine was a little old lady curled up in a suitcase. I repeated, "Your mother is in the bag?" And she explained, "It's her ashes." Without thinking, I blurted out, "Dear heaven, woman, she gave birth to you—couldn't you have put her in your carry-on?" Julie Donnelly, Conroe, Tex. One way to score your own hot tub Years ago, my parents went all-out and arranged for us to stay at a five-star resort at Walt Disney World. One night, we decided to take advantage of the pool and hot tubs. Quite a few other guests had the same idea, and they were crowded. My little brother and I, then 6 and 8, ran around, jumping in and out of the water. When my brother landed in the hot tub, Mom said, "This is for sitting; no swim-ming and no putting your head under-water." My brother replied, "Why? Will it kill lice?" Within seconds, the other guests excused themselves, and it was just our family in the tub. Mom asked my brother what he meant. Earlier in the week, we had been checked for head lice at school; neither of us had them, but the screening had apparently made quite the impression on my brother. Angela Saathoff, Ridgeland, Miss. Brownie points for life My husband and I went as newlyweds on a four-day hike along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. We had just completed the most difficult portion and were enjoying the view at 13,780 feet. In the distance, I heard a Peruvian flute. Then I recognized the tune and teared up—it was "Happy Birthday," and it was for me. I had forgotten it was my birthday! My husband was behind the sweet surprise. Our cook even made me a birthday cake that evening, despite the fact that he had not planned for it—he just improvised. It was a birthday I'll never forget! Melanie Mapes, Chicago, Ill.

Paradise for All Honeymooners have long laid claim to the dreamy islands of French Polynesia. But rental bungalows on Moorea and Tahiti are giving families their own sweet taste of paradise. See the slide show South America in a Snap Thanks to jet-lag-free time zones, direct flights from half a dozen U.S. cities, and our handy guides, getting right to the heart of these four emerging destinations is easier than ever. Rediscovering Arizona A native son returns to the Sonoran Desert to find it all grown up—world-class vineyards, smart B&Bs reclaiming old adobes, and a food culture full of surprises. See the slide show Brewed Awakening As coffee giants around the country close their doors, micro-roasters in Portland, Ore., are proving that smaller is better. Winter Sanity Saver At five splashy water parks across the country: Surf simulators for the kids, hot-stone massages for you. See the slide show Road Trip: One Nation Under Barbecue A sentimental journey to North Carolina's top barbecue joints. Plus tasty detours out of Austin, Kansas City, Mo., and Memphis. Real Deals Exclusive discounts for Budget Travel readers.