Places In North America That Give You A Little Taste Of Europe
Traveling to Europe and exploring all the countries and cultures is a nice idea in theory, but it's not always easy, and it's pretty expensive to take a trip across the Atlantic Ocean.
However, there are many places in North America that are richly infused with different European cultures and closely resemble cities from the continent.
Leavenworth, Washington
Inspired by the beautiful hills surrounding the city, certain parts of Leavenworth were redesigned in the 1960s to resemble a German village with touches of Bavarian culture. Tourists come for the rustic shops, cultural festivals, and scenic views of the Cascade mountains.
Quebec City, Canada
Quebec City was founded by a French explorer named Samuel de Champlain. Old Quebec, an area lined with European-style buildings and cobblestone roads, is a UNESCO-designated historic district, and the European vibes are only strengthened by the French speakers who live there.
Puebla, Mexico
About 75 miles out from Mexico City, Puebla is a city that features gorgeous Spanish architecture that was built by the colonists. The Capilla del Rosario (Rosary Chapel) and the Puebla Cathedral were both built in the New Spanish-baroque style.
Vail, Colorado
The Alps meet the Rocky Mountains in Vail, Colorado. This ski village up in the mountains, which was built in the 1960s, was designed to look similar to Zermatt, a Swiss ski resort.
The French Quarter In New Orleans, Louisiana
The culture and cuisine in New Orleans were heavily influenced by its early French and Spanish settlers as well as their Creole descendants.
Despite its name, the French Quarter has more Spanish colonial architecture because Spanish rulers in the late 1700s destroyed many of the French-style buildings.
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston's Beacon Hill closely resembles some neighborhoods in old English cities with its bay windows, traditional lampposts, and cobblestone roads. The area was designed and built by British colonialists in the 1600s.
Holland, Michigan
Holland, Michigan, is named for its rich Dutch culture formed by immigrants. With attractions like the Veldheer Tulip Farm and De Zwaan Windmill—the only working authentic Dutch windmill in the USA.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan was founded by the Spanish in the 16th century and the architecture, which ranges from renaissance to gothic style, was heavily influenced by European design in the older parts of the city.
Montreal, Canada
Montreal is an excellent cultural center in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in the mid-1600s by settlers from France, the older parts of the city feature French architecture and cobblestone roads.
Victoria, Canada
Victoria, located on Vancouver Island, is named after the British Queen Victoria, and it has also adopted some British architecture and culture. One of the best examples is the Fairmont Empress Hotel, which also offers a high-tea service.
Frankenmuth, Michigan
Often referred to as "Little Bavaria," Frankenmuth looks like something out of a classic fairytale with stores and inns housed in German-inspired buildings, and the restaurants serve traditional German foods.
Venice, California
The city was founded in 1905 by a millionaire who wanted to create his own version of the famous Italian city. Just like its namesake, Venice, California, features water canals intended for rowboats and bridges to cross them.
Guanajuato, Mexico
Guanajuato is classified as a UNESCO Heritage Site and was founded by Spanish settlers in the early 1500s. The city initially prospered as a silver extraction hub, and the wealth from the industry allowed citizens to build extravagant baroque and neoclassical buildings.
Solvang, California
Located in Santa Barbara County, Solvang offers a little taste of Scandinavia. The town, which features Danish-style architecture, cuisine, and bakeries, was founded in the early 1900s by Danish settlers who moved out West.
Tarpon Springs, Florida
Tarpon Springs, located in the Tampa Bay area, gives the area a little bit of a Grecian flair. It's actually nicknamed the "Greek Island of the US," since Greek settlers immigrated over a century ago and heavily influenced the culture and design of the city.
Montpellier, Vermont
Montpellier boasts a combination of distinctly American architecture alongside buildings with significant European influences. Perhaps the best example is the Vermont State House, shown here, which features Greek revival and neoclassical elements.
Helen, Georgia
In contrast to many of the other places in this article, Helen had almost no European influences until the '60s, when businesses and city planners decided to recreate it to resemble a German Alpine village.
Queretaro, Mexico
Located about 130 miles from Mexico City, Queretaro is a UNESCO Heritage Site due to its Spanish colonial architecture built in the 17th and 18th centuries. From the museums to its impressive Roman-style aqueduct, it closely resembles old cities in Spain.
St. Augustine, Florida
Before Florida was property of the USA, it was a colonial territory that belonged to Spain, and the architecture of St. Augustine shows it. Founded in the mid-1500s, St. Augustine was originally an outpost for the Spanish New World empire.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
As one of the oldest cities in America, the older parts of Philadelphia were heavily influenced by British architecture. Pictured here is Elfreth's Alley, one of the oldest residential streets in the country that reflects neighborhoods in English cities.
