Real Shopping
Cool Travel Gear • Cookware & Gadgets • RFT Marketplace
What's shopping have to do with being a real food traveler? Well, a gal's gotta do something between meals!
No, really, realfoodtraveler is all about everything authentic in the travel experience. And we believe that shopping can be a very authentic experience. Like the regional and artisan foods we love, we favor goods that are handcrafted and made by the locals. We love quirky places that are original and places that, like independent restaurants, bakeries, and other food businesses, represent someone's dream. That's what we bring you in Real Shopping.
As always, dear readers, if you know of a shop, market, or artisan who produces items we should know about, let us know. Perhaps we'll pay them a visit and they'll end up in our favorites in Real Shopping.
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Come on Over!
Vacations on Our Side of the Divide offer back roads into Colorado’s Wine Country, the Grand Mesa National Scenic Byway and entry to Black Canyon National Park.
The Brave New World of Travel Underwear (and More)
The package label says “Seventeen countries, six weeks, one pair of underwear.” Ick? Not really.
Cook on Clay: Rugged and Elegant Flameware Cooking Pots
Cook on Clay offers flameware cooking pots that cook food evenly, can withstand extreme temperatures, and look beautiful on the table.
Chop Keeper: A Surprisingly Useful Cutting Board
The Chop Keeper is a flexible chopping board with spill-proof sides that makes a great addition to any kitchen.
Serengeti Cielo: Seeing the World in a Whole New Way
Bollé, the makers of Bushnell binoculars, has long been known for making quality sunglasses. With the Serengeti Sport™,they’ve eyewear to a whole new and wonderful level. In the bright, glaring sunlight of Louisiana bayous, the Cielo sunglasses darkened. In the Pacific Northwest’s lighter, gray skies, the lenses lighten up.
Fran’s Chocolates
Inspired by the vibrant colors of the season, our elegant boxes and bows are almost gifts in themselves. Great detail goes into creating each color palette, knowing that our satin ribbon and colorful gift boxes serve as a wonderful complement to the hand crafted chocolates inside.
High Sierra Elevate 101: Rugged, Roomy, Lightweight
High Sierra asked RFT to put their Elevate EL101 25-inch bag through a REAL TEST™. This bag, made with a high-density internal foam structure, is sleek looking and incredibly lightweight. RFT contributor, Lana Mulder, recently put the Elevate 101 through its paces on a cross country trip.
Grab Guard: Just in Case…
Have you ever been a victim of a thief grabbing your purse while you were putting your groceries in your car? Or you’re waiting for a plane and you get up to throw something in the garbage and your carry-on bag is gone?
Summer Sun: Tilley Hats to the Rescue
I admit it, I’m not much of a sun person. My half-German heritage gives me fair skin and that means painful sunburns. For a trip to the Riviera Maya on the Yucatan Peninsula, I knew I’d need a good sun hat.
Downtown Plano: An Undiscovered Gem
Historic downtown Plano is an undiscovered gem filled with pubs and interesting restaurants, one-of-a-kind shops and antique malls, and even a rail museum.
Tilley’s Summer Hemp
If you are looking for a new hat for summer or for your tropical travels, check out Tilley Endurables’ new TH10 Women’s Hemp Hat.
Tilley Tec-Wool Hat: Lightweight Warmth
Health authorities tell us that we lose as much as 80% of our heat out of our heads. When I traveled in February to the Yukon Territory where temperatures routines drop to -20° F. or lower.
