Craving the charm of a German village or the colorful plazas of Spain? Before you start researching flights and exchange rates, consider these enchanting European-feeling destinations right in the United States.
These inviting communities offer European-style architecture, traditions, food and cultural celebrations that will make you feel like you crossed an ocean.
In Leavenworth, Washington, you can sip German beer in a genuine biergarten surrounded by Alpine peaks. Stroll through New Glarus, Wisconsin, and you’ll swear you’ve stumbled into a Swiss village, complete with cheesemakers practicing centuries-old techniques.
From Spanish colonial fortresses that predate the Mayflower to Danish windmills still grinding grain, these 11 destinations prove that the best European getaway might be just a road trip away.
1. A Bavarian-Themed Getaway in Leavenworth, Washington
Are you missing the Alps, the Romantic Road and other charms of Bavaria? If you can’t visit Germany now, you can still enjoy a Bavarian experience in the charming town of Leavenworth, Washington.
In the early 1960s, the town was transformed into a Bavarian-themed village, capitalizing on its location in the Cascade Mountains to attract tourism. Architecture, shops and galleries call to mind 18th-century Bavaria.
Enjoy attractions like the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum with displays of more than 6000 nutcrackers. Also, The Gingerbread Factory, where Nuremberg lebkuchen and other gingerbread treats await.
The town has a full complement of German restaurants and breweries to sate your thirst for beer and brats. Grab some Bavarian brats at München Haus and enjoy the outdoor seating in a German-style beer garden.
2. Fredericksburg, Texas
The town was founded 175 years ago by the Adelsverein, better known as the Society for the Protection of German Immigrants. Fredericksburg, Texas blends German heritage with Texas Hill Country hospitality. The town’s deep German roots are evident in its many shops, restaurants, biergartens and art.
To get a sense of the original settlers and a timeline of Fredericksburg’s German history, visit the octagonal Vereins Kirche and Pioneer Museum in the center of Marktplatz. The museum will give you another look at the town’s culture.
Sights include the distinctive Sunday house, a small “city house” used by settlers when visiting from the countryside to buy provisions or attend church on weekends.
Refuel with duck schnitzel at Otto’s German Bistro where the wurst platte makes a shareable starter. The dish comes with house-made wild boar wurst served traditionally with rotkhol (red cabbage,) senfgurken (pickles) and mustard.
Wash everything down with a variety of German-style beers at the Old World-fashioned Alstadt Brewery and be transported to Europe.
A must-visit is Opa’s Smoked Meats. Ask the butchers to put together a picnic of sausages made from traditional German recipes.
3. Vail, Colorado
Skiers at North America’s largest and most popular ski resort will notice Vail, Colorado’s resemblance to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany and Zermatt, Switzerland.
Buildings stenciled in the same fashion as the homes in Garmisch-Partenkirchen create a colorful wash against the snow of the Colorado Rockies.
Farmhouse-style hotels, bars, shops and restaurants seem to have been transported from Bavaria with their classic Bavarian architecture.
4. New Glarus, Wisconsin
There’s a reason why New Glarus is known as “America’s Little Switzerland.” With its Alpine-style architecture and colorful, flower-filled window boxes, the town oozes Old World at every turn.
New Glarus was settled in 1845 by Swiss immigrants. The town adheres to Swiss traditions at places like the Emmi Roth Käse Cheese Factory, a Swiss-owned cheesemaker where you can observe the cheesemaking process firsthand.
Architecture, customs and cuisine are very much Swiss here, with obvious ties to the motherland. As you stroll around admiring the chalet-style buildings, you might just hear yodeling and alphorns.
Are you in Switzerland? If it’s cold out, and you’ve just had a piece of Swiss cheese, you might be. But, then again, Wisconsin is the state of Cheeseheads.
5. New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans was colonized by French settlers in the early 1700s and ceded to Spain in the 1762 Treaty of Paris. The Big Easy is an exciting mash-up of Spanish and French cultures.
The architecture, culture and cuisine are unique to the city. However, you’ll certainly note New Orleans’ many wrought-iron balconies and winding streets reminiscent of those you’d find in Europe.
Once known as “Spanish Louisiana,” the French Quarter feels like a trip through Spain. The vibrantly colored houses in Faubourg Treme add a seaside flair.
Restaurant choices can take you abroad in a flash. Park yourself at the ever-popular Café du Monde near the French Market for a must-have beignet and chicory coffee.
Nearby Antoine’s and Arnaud’s offer time-tested menus of French and local dishes.
Best New Orleans Tours & Excursions
6. St. Augustine, Florida
St Augustine is the oldest city in the United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, St. Augustine, Florida, has a distinctly Spanish feel. At every turn, you’ll see buildings, streets, parks and monuments which would all be perfectly comfortable in a setting in Spain.
St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the continental United States. Plan to visit the Castillo de San Marcos. The country’s oldest masonry fort was built to protect and defend Spain’s claims in the New World.
Nearby, The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park is a 15-acre site said to be where Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León completed his search for the healing waters.
A walk through the fascinating Historic District along Aviles and St. George streets is as much a pleasant stroll as a cultural foray into four centuries of St. Augustine history.
After remarking on the Spanish and European Renaissance architecture of beautiful Flagler College, enjoy the richness of Spanish cuisine at Sangrias, set in a historic coquina building with an outdoor patio.
Note the beautiful tiles lining the dining room as well as the many Spanish fountains as you tuck into the restaurant’s acclaimed “1905” salad.
7. Santa Barbara, California
Beautiful Santa Barbara, California, began its life with distinctive architecture from Spanish colonists. Adding more and more over the years, the white-washed adobe and hacienda-style buildings with red tile roofs give the city a characteristic Spanish flair.
Santa Barbara’s coastal location has earned it the moniker of “The American Riviera.” Still, it might be more accurate to call it “St. Augustine of the West” thanks to both cities’ similar architectural styles.
Remaining faithful to Spain’s love of colors, the city celebrates its heritage through vivid art installations at every turn.
As you stroll the open-air Paseo Nuevo shopping and entertainment area, you might think you’ve landed in Europe.
8. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
It’s not very big, but this one-square-mile town is the epitome of a European village. The fairytale architecture of Carmel-by-the-Sea, reminiscent of something from the British Isles, forms the foundation of one of the most famous artist colonies in the world.
Whether your reference point is the Cotswolds or the Emerald Isle, you’ll be charmed by the stone-paved alleyways and curlicue-roofed houses, which are home to many art galleries and shops.
Forty-one secret passageways, courtyards and gardens pass by 21 original fairytale cottages built in 1924 by Hugh Comstock in a style now synonymous with Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Read More: Sea, Sips, and Seals: Exploring Highway 1 Along California’s Central Coast
9. Solvang, California
Along California’s Central Coast, Solvang is more Danish than American with gingerbread and half-timber architecture, quaint shops and windmills.
Solvang was originally part of an area settled first by Spanish colonists. However, Solvang was founded in 1911 by Danish-Americans as a place to keep Danish culture alive in the US.
To learn more about this “Danish Capital of America,” visit the Elverhøj Museum of History & Art. Here you can buy Danish PlusPlus blocks, Ekelund fine linens and scarves from Kronborg Castle.
An immediate cultural immersion, Solvang’s streets are lined with Danish bakeries, restaurants, wine tasting rooms and boutiques that feel very Scandinavian. Stop at Olsen’s for butter cookies and Copenhagen Sausage Garden for a sausage sampler.
Tours and Tickets to Experience Solvang
10. Lindsborg, Kansas
For all things Swedish, plan a trip to Lindsborg, Kansas. It was founded in 1869 by a group of Swedish immigrants with a vision of creating a Swedish community rich in culture, learning, religion, business and farming.
Affectionately known as “Little Sweden USA,” Lindsborg honors its heritage with the autumn Svensk Hyllningsfest celebration and the St. Lucia Festival in December.
A symbol of colorful Swedish handicraft and one of Sweden’s most popular souvenirs, wild, tail-free Dala horses are found throughout the city. You can buy your own hand-carved, painted version at Hemslöjd, “the Dala Horse factory,” where a visit to the workshop is a trip to Sweden in miniature.
To prepare for next December’s St. Lucia Festival, make an appointment at The Ivory Thimble for a custom-tailored Swedish costume.
You can stay overnight at the charmingly named Dröm Sött (Sweet Dreams Inn) and enjoy a breakfast smörgåsbord or book an apartment at downtown’s Vetehuset, an unusual BnB in a wheat house from the 1880s.
For a taste of Sweden and Europe, be sure to try Svensk köttbullar (Swedish meatballs) and ärtsoppa (yellow pea soup) at Crown & Rye and ostakaka (Swedish cheesecake) from the bakery at White’s Foodliner.
11. Holland, Michigan
Founded by Dutch settlers seeking religious freedom in 1847, Holland, Michigan, is an outpost of Dutch culture and tradition in the midst of the American Midwest. The DeZwaan Windmill at Windmill Island Gardens anchors the experience, but the real magic happens each spring when five million tulips bloom throughout the city.
The famous Tulip Time Festival draws over half a million visitors annually, transforming Holland into a vibrant celebration of Dutch heritage complete with traditional folk dancers high-kicking in wooden shoes and spectacular parades. For everything you need to know about timing your visit perfectly, check out our complete guide to Tulip Time in Holland, Michigan.
12. Tarpon Springs, Florida
Forget Santorini – Florida’s Gulf Coast harbors its own slice of the Aegean at Tarpon Springs, where the highest concentration of Greek Americans in the US has created an authentic Mediterranean enclave just 30 minutes north of Tampa. Founded in the early 1900s by Greek sponge divers seeking the natural treasures of the Gulf waters, this coastal town became known as “the sponge capital of the world.”
Walking down Dodecanese Boulevard feels remarkably like stepping into a coastal Greek village, with bouzouki music spilling from tavernas and the intoxicating aromas of garlic lamb, spanakopita, and honey-soaked baklava filling the air. The town’s Greek soul shines brightest during the January 6 Epiphany celebration, when young men dive into Spring Bayou to retrieve a ceremonial wooden cross in a century-old tradition that draws Greek Americans from across the country.
Savor flaming saganaki at family-run restaurants like Mykonos, browse handmade soaps and artisan jewelry at the historic Sponge Exchange, and listen for conversations in Greek echoing from traditional coffee houses. With over 11% of residents claiming Greek heritage, this isn’t just a themed attraction; it’s a living piece of Greece transplanted to Florida’s sun-soaked shores.
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