7 US Cities that will make you feel like you're in Europe

I miss Travel.

There I said it. I miss it. I miss the thrill of hearing my flight number being called for boarding, I miss the flight attendants safety spiel, I miss the feeling of being in a completely new location and deciding how I want to explore that day. I spend my days still looking up European airbnbs and flights to places we are currently not able to travel to. It’s made me realize how much we took our passport privilege for granted.

So sadly, we will have to continue to wait. But that doesn’t mean we can’t still explore the beauty that’s in our backyard!

As a follow up to my post about COVID friendly vacation ideas, I thought I would dig even deeper to find places that resemble a European summer getaway without actually leaving the country.

7 Cities in the US that feel like you’re in Europe

1. Tuscany, Italy —> Napa Valley

Let’s face it, nothing beats a summer in Italy. I say that as someone who studied abroad in Rome the summer of 2012. It was magical. But, I can also say that while traveling around Napa Valley, I got a nostalgic feeling to the times I toured wineries in Tuscany. I think fall in Napa would be gorgeous with the rolling hills & grape vines at Castello di Amorosa.

2. Seville, Spain —> St. Augustine, FL

Florida was originally invaded by Spain, so it makes sense there is quite a bit of Spanish architecture sprinkled throughout Florida. St. Augustine, founded in September 1565 by Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles of Spain, is the longest continually inhabited European-founded city in the United States – more commonly called the "Nation's Oldest City."

3. Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland —> New Glarus, Wisconsin

Nicknamed “little Swizterland”, New Glarus architecture is straight out of a Wengen Alps magazine. The village even has a Swiss Historical Museum to explain it’s Swiss roots. Only 40 minutes from Madison, WI, this could be a great day trip!

4. Bavaria, Germany —> Helen, Georgia

Okay, this one has been on the top of my USA travel bucket list. I kept hearing from people about this quaint little Bavarian town in the middle of the South. And how cute do the photos look? Helen is only an hour & a half from Atlanta or 3 hours & 20 minutes from Charlotte. You better believe I will be taking a trip here in the fall!

5. Greece —> Tarpon Springs, Florida

Did you know Tarpon Springs has the largest Greek-American population in the country? Me neither. While you won’t have the majestic cliff views from a white washed villa, you can still get a greek cultural experience without evening leaving the state ( in my case!).

6. Holland, The Netherlands —> Holland, Michigan

Whenever I think of Holland, I think of wooden shoes, windmills, & tulips. Guess what city has all of those things as well? I think the name itself gives it away! The whole city bursts with millions of colorful tulips during their Tulip Time Festival. To get the best experience & photos like the ones above, it is best to visit late April to early May.

7. Chateaux of the Loire Valley, France —> The Biltmore: Ashvielle, North Carolina

Who doesn’t love touring a castle when they are in Europe? I have always loved the style, the history, and the grandeur of it all. The same can be said for the Biltmore. This Châteauesque mansion was built for George Washington Vanderbilt II between 1889 and 1895 and is the largest privately owned house in the United States. If you want more details on how to plan your trip to the Biltmore, visit my Asheville blog post HERE.

Have you been to any of these places? Where in Europe do you wish you were traveling to this summer?

Sincerely,

Sarah

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