9 European-style places to visit in the USA

13.03.2024 - 22:15 / lonelyplanet.com / Louis Xiv XIV (Xiv)

The USA is a nation of immigrants, and there are plenty of places across the country with a distinctly European vibe.

Coastal California bears an uncanny resemblance to the Mediterranean seashore, without July's blazing temps and swarms of summer tourists. Mansions in Rhode Island give French castles a run for their money. Hiking in Colorado can make the Swiss Alps seem small. 

Get a taste of Europe by heading for one of these American destinations with "Old Continent" allure. Even the most discerning Europhile will be pleasantly surprised.

The beer is Bavarian. The timber-framed buildings are Bavarian. Even the seasonal celebrations, like Oktoberfest, are Bavarian. The only thing not Bavarian about Leavenworth, Washington, is its location, though the snow-capped Cascade Range surrounding the town does look strikingly similar to the Bavarian Alps.

The mimicry is intentional. In the 1960s, after facing years of economic turmoil, Leavenworth decided to reinvent itself as a tourist magnet. Taking a cue from the natural scenery, the community worked together to model itself after the mountain villages found outside Munich. Their plan worked. Today, Leavenworth draws millions of visitors looking for a slice of German life and a base for exploring the Wenatchee National Forest. Things get particularly Deutsche around Oktoberfest and Christmas, with plenty of tourists noshing pretzels around town. If you want to beat the crowds, visit in January, when travelers are gone but holiday lights remain aglow.

From the redwood forests near Mendocino to the sun-kissed sands below Los Angeles, California's Pacific Coast Highway – also known as the PCH or Hwy 1 – snakes its way through tiny beach towns and along dramatic cliffs matched only by the drive from Dubrovnik to Split along Croatia's Dalmatian coastline. This rite-of-passage road trip unfolds like a fairy tale.

Big Sur's rugged shores and hiking trails give way to San Simeon, where Hearst Castle rises like a mirage from the ocean's summertime fog. This Mediterranean Revival mansion is the West Coast equivalent of old-world grandeur. For more architectural jewels, head south to Old Mission Santa Barbara, an 18th-century relic that conjures images of the ancient Roman Empire. Though these architectural sites may be enthralling, don't forget to keep your eyes on the road – much like Croatia, there are wonderful views all along the PCH.

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Rhode Island's ritziest summer escape boasts enough Gilded Age glamor to give Louis XIV a run for his money. In the 1850s, American business tycoons started constructing palatial summer cottages in Newport, inspired by the Beaux-Arts mansions, Italian Renaissance