The pandemic is once again putting winter travel into question. For American travellers still uneasy about flying abroad, there are plenty of places in the US that offer a European vibe.
Of course, coronavirus remains a concern, so always remember to check the latest local guidelines and requirements before visiting.
From east to west coast, here are seven US cities full of European charm worth visiting this season.
St. Augustine, Florida, instead of Madrid, Spain
St. Augustine, Florida is the oldest city in the US founded in the mid-1500s by the Spanish explorers. Their influence lives on today, particularly in the city’s architecture. There are many fascinating attractions. One is the Castillo de San Marcos, a stone masonry fortress along Matanzas Bay. Another city treasure is the grand Hotel Ponce de Leon at Flagler College. Built in 1888, the structure is a masterpiece of Spanish Colonial Revival design with symmetric cupolas, Tiffany-stained glass, and grand rotunda lined with murals. Additional place of interest is the city’s Lightner Museum, a marvel of the Spanish Renaissance Revival style. The museum houses mostly American Gilded Age antiquities in the 19th-century Hotel Alcazar building.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, instead of Cinque Terre, Italy
Italy is a heavenly touristic spot. Its enchanting villages with homes painted in candy color shades of red, terra-cotta orange, and pastel pink; fishing boats in turquoise waters; and vineyards off jagged cliffs, are extremely popular travel destinations. But Carmel-by-the-Sea, a small area along California’s Central Coast, offers the same sort of windswept, beachy magic, with its charming cottages, jagged cliffs, and alluring collection of cafes, wineries, and boutiques.
Leavenworth, Washington, instead of Bavaria, Germany
America’s own Bavarian village is in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State. Visitors are treated to German vibes with Alpine-style buildings, an adorable nutcracker museum, and restaurants serving German beer and sausages. Plus, there’s also top-notch skiing, biking, and birding in the area. The Leavenworth Oktoberfest celebrations is moving to the neighboring city of Wenatchee in 2023, but you can still stay in Leavenworth and enjoy the festival. There will be shuttles to and from the city to the festival.
Solvang, California, instead of Aarhus, Denmark
Solvang is 45-minute drive from Santa Barbara. The city is in southern California’s Santa Ynez Valley, but is Scandinavian from every angle, with its half-timbered Danish Provincial buildings, a replica of Copenhagen’s Little Mermaid sculpture, and its own Round Tower, a scaled reproduction of Copenhagen’s identical but largerRundetårn. You can see windmills spinning in the breeze. Thatched-roofed shops selling wooden shoes and cuckoo clocks. Bakeries serving piping-hot aebleskiver (a spherical Danish pancake) and Viking-age re-enactments in the courtyards of beer gardens. The sunshine and the salt-kissed air are entirely Californian though.
Newport, Rhode Island, instead of Nice, France
If you want to explore the French Riviera, with its pebbly shores and laid-back elegance, you can plan a trip to Newport, Rhode Island instead. Nice’s coastal walkways may have been inspiration for Cézanne and Picasso, but Newport’s cliff walk, which stretches for 3.5 miles, is equally mesmerizing. A crown jewel in the city is The Breakers, Cornelius Vanderbilt II’s Beaux-Arts villa, built by architect Richard Morris Hunt in 1892. The city, known for its sailing, is a holiday-making heaven. It’s also home to several storied hotels, including the Chanler at Cliff Walk, and The Wayfinder, which opened in June 2020.
New Glarus, Wisconsin, instead of Bern, Switzerland
The picturesque village of New Glarus is often referred to as America’s Little Switzerland. It was founded in 1845 by Swiss emigrants and now has about 2,000 residents – cheese mongers, farmers, breweries. The shops look like chalets; there are white Swiss flags; and street names are written both in German and English. Visit the city’s famous brewery New Glarus Brewing Co; try the rahmschnitzel (breaded veal) at the New Glarus Hotel Restaurant; and get a history lesson at the Chalet of the Golden Fleece museum, a Swiss Bernese mountain chalet frozen in time.
New Britain, Connecticut, instead of Krakow, Poland
New Britain is a very charming destination located between New York City and Boston. The town was popular for Polish immigrants in 20th century where the Polish community left a strong footprint. The cultural and culinary legacy can be seen all over Broad Street where Polmart, a massive building housing a bakery, grocery store, and a US Post Office with the word “Poctza” meaning “post” in Polish, can be found. Roly Poly Bakery also offers stuffed cabbage, pierogis, and freshly baked bread. Make sure to visit the Sacred Heart Parish, an imposing stone cathedral that is one of the oldest Polish American Catholic parishes in New England.
Have you made travel plans for 2022? What do you prefer, USA or Europe? Let us know in the comments section.
