Japanese a la Bert Cooper

Bert Cooper padded around his office barefoot for four years in homage to the Japanese, his cultural inspiration. Pay your respects to his illustrious career, which ended with a “You there, get my shoes,” and a barefoot bow out at the end of season 4, with a visit to Japan. If crossing the International Date Line isn’t in the cards, immerse yourself in Japanese culture in Downtown Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo. LA’s Little Tokyo is one of only three official Japantowns in America (the other two are in San Francisco and San Jose). Check out the Japanese American National Museum and performances by East West Players, one of the first Asian-American theater companies in the country.

The Dick Whitman Farm Experience

The Don Draper Mythology goes deep, all the way to the Illinois farm where the young Dick Whitman was born and saw his father kicked by a horse. Have a more upbeat vacation at Bluffdale Vacation Farm in Eldred, Illinois. The farm has horseback riding, boating, fishing, swimming, hayrides, bonfires, and hearty home cooked meals with fresh baked bread, rolls and pies. Join the elite few who know Don Draper’s darkest secret: his actual identity.

Are you tuning into the Mad Men premier this weekend? Tell us how you think Peggy, Joan and all your other favorite characters would vacation.

For more historic travel ideas, check out:

• The Travel Detective on Pan Am: Was it Travel’s Glory Days 
• Key West Hotel, Historic Homes & More
• Historic Travel in 2012

By Lauren Herstik for Peter Greenberg.com.

Mad Men cast photos credit: Frank Ockenfels 3/AMC