Chocolatouring in 2015

As I continue the research for the second volume of Chocolatour, my chocolate travels will take me to numerous places–some planned, some spontaneous visits no doubt! Among the places I have pegged to visit in the coming year are:

1. The Okanagan Valley and Osoyoos, British Columbia, Canada. We’re spending the month of January at the Spirit Ridge Wine Resort & Spa in Osoyoos and I’m keeping my eye open in Osoyoos and the surrounding area for signs of noteworthy chocolate and activities you might enjoy.

2.  I will be attending the NATJA conference in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, from May 4-9, and will then head to Mexico City to visit the Nestlé Chocolate Museum.

3.  I’ve been invited to come check out the Hershey Chocolate Resort in Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA, and will also explore Philadelphia while in the area.

L Our friend Neil found this giant Hershey bar in Branson, but I’m sure we’ll find even larger chocolate icons in Hershey, PN.

4. I’ve been meaning to return to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA, to visit a number of chocolatier/chocolate makers and chocolate venues. At some point during 2015, I will make it there.

5. I’ve not been to the city of New York since 2001! There are several excellent chocolate makers in the city that I absolutely must visit, so a personal Chocolatour to the Big Apple in 2015 is a must.

Thanks to Jim Peets for sharing his photo of the Empire State Building

6. I also hope to be leading a group Chocolatour to the Hawaiian Islands for clients of CAA Travel in October to celebrate the state’s declaration naming October as Hawaii Grown Cacao Month. We plan to visit the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Kauai, and Maui during the last two weeks of October.

We will visit The Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory, located on the Big Island of Hawaii.

I have no doubt other destinations will come onto my radar over the next year, but these are locations I am hoping to visit for the purposes of my chocolate research during 2015.

As you know, volume II of Chocolatour will focus on the Americas and the Caribbean, so the above list will greatly enhance the information I can offer you in the upcoming volume of the book. If you don’t yet have a copy of volume I, or are looking for a gift for your favourite chocolate lover, there is more info here.

Please stay tuned (subscribe using the button on the right) for lots more chocolate travel posts in the months to come.