14 ways to globetrot in the West

Skip the long flight and jet-set through Asia in practically every corner of the West, from vibrant Chinatowns to Indian spice markets to Japanese teahouses.

Global fare takes center stage in this cosmopolitan Canadian city. From legendary Asian cuisine to sensational European dining, you can taste your way around the world without leaving town.

Do your vacation fantasies involve dancing a sultry tango, or soaking in a soothing Japanese bathhouse? You don’t need to rack up stamps on your passport to do either—experience a worldly getaway in the heart of Santa Fe instead.

You don’t need to journey to Argentina to taste some of the world’s best Malbecs, nor to Spain to delight in amazing Tempranillos. Western wine regions, from Washington’s Walla Walla to Idaho’s Snake River Valley, are producing top-notch global grapes that are yours for the tasting.

What’s your proverbial madeleine—the food that takes you back to your childhood with just one bite? For many of our readers, it’s an Old Word dish their moms always made and they now lovingly recreate. Try out these recipes and journey to Finland, India, Portugal, and Mexico by way of the Western kitchen.

Sure, you can get a great taste of Italy at authentic eateries throughout the West. Know what’s even better? Mastering the classics yourself with our modern, oh-so-Western takes on traditional Italian recipes.

Mexican cuisine has become integrally woven into the fabric of Western cooking: observe the California burrito, Southwestern chili, and more. It’s such a part of the way we eat that classic dishes, from shrimp tacos to homemade salsas, regularly appear in our weeknight menus at home. Cook up your old favorites—and discover some new ones—with our ultimate Mexican recipe collection.

Francophiles rejoice: you don’t need to journey to Paris, nor splurge on a fancy local bistro, to experience the pleasures of the French palate. Learn to prepare sole meunière, blanquette de veau, seared foie gras, apple galette, and more classics—updated with Western twists, biên sur.

Opuntia ficus-indica

Origin: Mexico and the Southwest

Definition: The nopal (no-pahl) is good to eat, tasting like green beans and bell peppers with the texture of okra. Leaves (paddles) that are about 8 inches long are best.

Synonyms: The fruit is called prickly pear or tuna.

Use: Peel off paddles’ thorns with a vegetable peeler (easy), then slice and sauté with onions, melt in some jack cheese, and eat with tortillas.

Grow it: Nopal grows best in the mild, dry parts of the West. Slice off a paddle from an existing plant, wait a few weeks for a callus to form, and stick it an inch into the ground. For harvesting, gloves are necessary. No nopales around? Check with your nursery.

Your garden is your safe haven to relax and reboot, according to the Japanese aesthetic principles of shibui. Go full-tilt tranquility with a garden design that blends Japanese serenity with a beachy, SoCal vibe.

Wish you were beachside in Malibu? Warming up by a campfire in Yellowstone? Surrounded by a lush Hawaiian landscape? Luckily you don’t have to hop on a plane for a lovely—yet fleeting—escape to any of those locales. Put your dream vacation destination permanently within reach by channeling its essence through garden design and décor.

Forget going overseas to fulfill your Spanish farmhouse fantasies. Instead, create your own private Iberia with our strategies for adding Spanish flair to your home. From setting up a sanctuary for spontaneous siestas to decorating with the bold colors and evocative emblems of Spain, you’ll practically hear the flamenco music wafting through every room.

We all love revisiting vacations past by displaying fabulous travel snapshots in our homes. While it’s easy to get high-quality prints of digital photos to frame, you can be even more creative with how you flaunt your travel pics. Get those shots of your favorite vacation moments off the hard drive and onto your walls, pillows, shower curtain, and more.

For daily reminders of her most memorable journeys, a world traveler artfully displays an enchanting collection of far-flung souvenirs throughout her home. Get her seasoned tricks for decorating with global style, from curating treasures to carting them home.