A European summer sounds dreamy until you start pricing airfare, hotels, and that extra suitcase you definitely won’t need until you do. Fortunately, you can find a surprising taste of Europe without leaving the United States.
Across the country, small towns have preserved the cultures of the immigrants who founded them, while others simply happen to have the winding lanes, waterfront cafes, alpine scenery, and storybook architecture that feel straight out of an overseas vacation. From a little slice of Norway in Washington to Greek culture on Florida’s Gulf Coast, these towns bring European flavor to a classic American summer road trip.
Holland, Michigan
You don’t need a transatlantic flight to find a working Dutch windmill. Holland celebrates its Netherlands roots throughout town, but the centerpiece is Windmill Island Gardens, home to De Zwaan. More than 250 years old, it’s billed as the only authentic Dutch windmill operating in the United States and still grinds wheat into flour.
Tour the five-story windmill before wandering the gardens, then head downtown for Dutch-inspired treats and shopping. Summer also puts you within easy reach of Lake Michigan. Make the short drive to Holland State Park or nearby Oval Beach in Saugatuck for an afternoon beside the water.
Don’t miss: Windmill Island Gardens, downtown Holland, Dutch-inspired bakeries, and a Lake Michigan beach day.
Solvang, California
If windmills, half-timbered buildings, pastries, and wine sound like your ideal vacation, make room for Solvang. Danish immigrants established the town in 1911, and today’s village embraces that heritage with Danish-style architecture, traditional windmills, bakeries, and even tributes to Hans Christian Andersen and Copenhagen’s Little Mermaid.
Start with æbleskiver, the powdered-sugar-topped Danish pancake balls that have become a Solvang staple. From there, explore the shops and tasting rooms on foot or visit Old Mission Santa Inés, founded in 1804. The surrounding Santa Ynez Valley also makes an excellent backdrop for cycling and wine tasting.
Don’t miss: Æbleskiver, Danish architecture, Old Mission Santa Inés, wine tasting, and a drive through the Santa Ynez Valley.
Leavenworth, Washington
The Cascade Mountains do a convincing impression of the Alps around Leavenworth. The former railroad town reinvented itself as a Bavarian-style village, and today its downtown is lined with alpine-inspired buildings, restaurants, shops, and beer gardens.
Summer may be when Leavenworth shines brightest. Walk the trails at Waterfront Park, cool off along the Wenatchee River, or book a tubing or rafting trip. Afterward, head back into town for bratwurst, pretzels, beer, and mountain views.
Don’t miss: Front Street, Waterfront Park, Wenatchee River tubing, hiking, and Bavarian-inspired food.
New Glarus, Wisconsin
New Glarus proudly calls itself “America’s Little Switzerland,” and its Swiss heritage dates to 1845, when immigrants from Switzerland established the community in southern Wisconsin.
Learn the backstory at the Swiss Historical Village Museum, whose collection of historic buildings traces the community’s early years. Then explore downtown, sample local cheese and Swiss-inspired foods, and venture into the rolling countryside surrounding town. Beer fans can also make time for New Glarus Brewing Company, one of Wisconsin’s best-known breweries.
Don’t miss: Swiss Historical Village Museum, downtown New Glarus, Wisconsin cheese, local beer, and the surrounding countryside.
Tarpon Springs, Florida
Swap the Aegean for Florida’s Gulf Coast in Tarpon Springs, where Greek culture and the city’s historic sponge industry remain closely intertwined.
Head for the Sponge Docks along Dodecanese Boulevard, where sponge boats share the waterfront with Greek restaurants, bakeries, markets, and shops selling natural sea sponges. Traditional sponge-diving boat excursions still introduce visitors to the industry that helped shape the community.
Away from the docks, visit St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral, known for its Byzantine Revival architecture, stained glass, and richly decorated interior.
Don’t miss: The Sponge Docks, a sponge-diving tour, Greek food and pastries, and St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral.
Frankenmuth, Michigan
Michigan has its own “Little Bavaria,” and Frankenmuth has more than a century and a half of German history behind the nickname. The community was settled by German missionaries in 1845, and modern Frankenmuth celebrates those roots with Bavarian-inspired architecture, German restaurants, festivals, shops, and plenty of beer.
Come hungry for the famous family-style chicken dinners at Zehnder’s or the Bavarian Inn Restaurant. After lunch, cruise the Cass River aboard the Bavarian Belle Riverboat or visit Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland, where December energy lasts all year.
Don’t miss: Family-style chicken, the Bavarian Belle, German-inspired shops, and Bronner’s.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Carmel-by-the-Sea doesn’t trace its identity to one European country, but walking through its tiny downtown can feel like stumbling into an English or continental seaside village.
The one-square-mile community is known for fairytale architecture, hidden courtyards, narrow passageways, art galleries, wine tasting rooms, and a white-sand beach, all within easy walking distance. The town counts more than 40 courtyards and passageways scattered through downtown.
Spend the afternoon getting deliberately lost between galleries and courtyards, then wander down to Carmel Beach for sunset. If you have more time, the legendary 17-Mile Drive is just up the coast.
Don’t miss: Hidden passageways, art galleries, wine tasting, Carmel Beach, and 17-Mile Drive.
Poulsbo, Washington
Set along Liberty Bay on Washington’s Kitsap Peninsula, Poulsbo affectionately calls itself “Little Norway.” Its Scandinavian roots show up in downtown architecture, Norwegian food, waterfront traditions, and celebrations such as Viking Fest.
Pick up a Norwegian pastry or lefse before wandering the downtown shops and waterfront. For a different view, rent a kayak and paddle Liberty Bay. Summer brings concerts, markets, festivals, and long evenings beside the marina.
Don’t miss: Norwegian baked goods, Liberty Bay, Nordic-inspired shops, kayaking, and the waterfront.
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine may be the least “under-the-radar” town on this list, but its European atmosphere is difficult to ignore. Spanish explorer Pedro Menéndez de Avilés established the settlement in 1565, making it the oldest continuously inhabited European-founded city in the continental United States.
Walk through the historic district, tour the centuries-old Castillo de San Marcos, and explore streets lined with courtyards, balconies, old houses, shops, and restaurants. St. George Street gets most of the attention, but wandering a little farther often reveals quieter corners of the city’s Spanish-influenced past.
Finish with a sunset sail, and you may briefly forget you’re still in Florida.
Don’t miss: Castillo de San Marcos, St. George Street, historic courtyards, Spanish-influenced architecture, and a sunset sail.
Bonus: Lindsborg, Kansas
Swedish culture thrives in the middle of Kansas in Lindsborg, better known as “Little Sweden USA.” Swedish immigrants settled the community in the 19th century, and that heritage remains visible in its public art, shops, festivals, and traditions.
Turn sightseeing into a scavenger hunt by searching for the town’s colorful Wild Dala Horses, oversized takes on Sweden’s traditional carved horse. Art lovers should also visit the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery, named for the Swedish-born artist who arrived in Lindsborg in 1894.
Summer is an especially lively time, with events including Lindsborg’s traditional Midsummer’s Festival.
Don’t miss: Wild Dala Horses, Swedish-inspired shopping, the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery, and the Välkommen Trail.
