Traveling abroad brings with it a lot of new opportunities, experiences, and memories, but the process of procuring a passport, enduring long flights and layovers in airports, and navigating the all-too-common European language barrier can all amount to American travelers staying domestic. Thankfully, this travel article from Travel + Leisure details the 14 United States cities that will remind you of Europe without ever crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
As a reminder, no matter where you’re traveling to in these uncertain times, it’s always a responsible move and a good idea to check local travel advisories, city ordinances, and state mandates that may have been implemented due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Travel safely and rest assured that you’ve done your due diligence by referring to CDC travel guidelines.
The full list from Travel + Leisure was inspired by recent results from a 2021 report from TripIt, who surveyed its readership of over 3,200 users in the United States to get a reading on which cities they’d like to visit post-pandemic. The results revealed that an overwhelming number of respondents wanted to travel to Europe but would concede for a stay in the United States.
TripIt’s results detailed that “94 percent of respondents said they plan to travel in 2021. Of those, 26 percent are planning to take a bucket list vacation—that is, a once in a lifetime trip.” Furthermore, Trip’s survey data revealed: “that more than twice as many Americans plan to travel to Europe for a bucket list trip versus the second-highest-ranking destination: a trip within the U.S.” With this information in mind, Travel + Leisure compiled a list of cities in the United States of America that share a European spirit, whether it’s in the architecture, landscape, accommodations, or community members.
While this city is consistently ranked among the top ten most visited cities in the country, there’s a valid reason for that: it’s a culturally-rich city filled to its brim with ample history, attractions, nature, outdoor sights, and cuisine that must be experienced first-hand to be appreciated. This commercial, cultural, and financial center of California offers a wide array of European experiences in the Bay Area, and this is likely due to the fact that the city itself is a “mishmash of world cultures” with a temperate climate and occasional palm trees embodying an atmosphere of a Mediterranean vacation.
However, only 90 minutes north of San Francisco is the vine-draped chateau at Jordan Vineyard and Winery that offers Parisian elegance. 65 miles away in Dixon, California is Araceli Farms, a six-acre lavender farm with fragrant purple fields reminding tourists of Provence. Lastly, one of the truest European experiences can be had by gliding down the Napa River in a gondola à la Venice.
Located only 90 minutes from the Twin Cities, this Minnesota small town is reminiscent of and named for Ulm, a community in Bavaria, Germany. What started as a rural community has only grown into a welcoming city of friendly residents who are interested in sharing their culture and history with visitors. The town itself is home to a population of over 50% German-Americans, making this an ideal destination for anyone missing the German countryside and community.
Once you’re in New Ulm, you’ll be tempted to check out the German-Bohemian Immigrant Monument in German Park, which celebrates the city’s immigrants, or climb the Hermann Monument, which stands atop a dome in Hermann Heights Park. The monument was built in the 1890s to honor a German victory over the Romans, and today you can climb approximately 100 steep steps to the base of the statue, allowing you a breath-taking new perspective of New Ulm and the gorgeous Minnesota River Valley. Top off your trip by stopping in at the museum at the base of the dome to learn about the history of the German Arminius tribe and the European-rich city of New Ulm.
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