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If we can all go on vacation again, I know where to go.
Maybe you’re longing for a vacation one day, but not quite sure when you’ll be able to travel internationally again. Or maybe you just want to take a road trip a little closer to home. Well, the search is over. These places here in the US are so unique, they feel like international travel destinations. If we missed one of your favorites, leave them in the comments!
1.
Olympic National Park, Washington
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If you’ve ever seen the movie Twilight, you can imagine some of the landscapes that make up Olympic National Park. Covering nearly one million acres on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, this park has glacier-capped mountain peaks, forests of moss-covered trees that stretch into the clouds, temperate rainforests, meadows dotted with colorful wildflowers, and a rugged coastline. It’s the kind of landscape you can only dream of until you see it with your own eyes.
2.
Great Sand Dunes National Park, Colorado
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One of America’s most unique landscapes, it’s easy to imagine being in the middle of the Sahara when visiting Great Sand Dunes National Park in southern Colorado. Imagine yourself surrounded by towering camel-colored dunes that stretch as far as the eye can see. At dusk they transform into shimmering shades of gold and fiery orange. And at night, this dark zone of sky is home to some incredible stars. It’s hard to believe this landscape exists in the San Luis Valley surrounded by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
3.
Mackinac Island, Michigan
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Located on Lake Huron between Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas, this resort town seems frozen in time. One could easily mistake it for a seaside village in the English countryside. There are charming little boutiques, horse-drawn carriages, fudge shops and Victorian-style houses with expansive porches. Best of all, no cars are allowed on the island, so cycling remains the main mode of transport. It’s a rare and peaceful paradise, untouched by car horns and light pollution.
4.
New Orleans, Louisiana
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The culture at the Big Easy is totally unique, but everything from the cuisine to the architecture has been influenced by Spanish, French and Creole cultures. As you walk through the French Quarter, you’ll see Crayola-colored buildings reminiscent of the Caribbean, Spanish-style wrought-iron balconies, archways and lush courtyards, as well as picturesque Jackson Square, which may remind you of the famous Place des Vosges in Paris. And there’s the vibrant nightlife, the sound of jazz music, lively oyster bars and antique shops. It’s a big city that feels completely different than anywhere else in the country.
5.
St. Augustine, Florida
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It’s no surprise that strolling through St. Augustine feels like stepping back in time. Founded by the Spanish in 1565, it is the country’s longest continuously inhabited European-founded city. And visitors to St. Augustine will still feel that Spanish influence. There is the waterfront fortress, Castillo de San Marcos, lots of Spanish colonial architecture and beautifully landscaped parks such as you might find in Andalucia. And you might feel like you’ve been transported to Barcelona as you explore the sandshoes and coastline.
6.
Flushing, queens
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Hop off train 7 and enter this neighborhood in Queens and you’ll think you’ve traveled to Asia. In fact, Asians make up nearly 70% of the population here, and their cultures are thriving. And while Flushing may be known as Queen’s Chinatown, it’s so much more than that.
The busy streets are lined with pharmacies selling all kinds of ginseng, beauty shops selling Korean skincare products, bustling hot pot restaurants and tiny dumpling shops. You can walk blocks without hearing English spoken. There are bustling mall food courts where you can find the best Asian delights in New York and possibly the entire United States.
7.
Catalina Island, California
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Looking for a little taste of the French Riviera or Italian coast here in the States? Target Catalina Island. The Mediterranean atmosphere is probably due to the fact that Catalina Island was once part of the Spanish Empire. This sun-kissed gem is just 26 miles offshore from Los Angeles (just a hour ferry from Long Beach to Avalon), but it feels a world away from city life. There are beachside restaurants and palm trees lining the sea, yachts docked in the harbour, a botanical garden filled with rare, native plants and the famous Garden to Sky Hike which offers endless views of the sea, mountains and sky.
8th.
Leavenworth, Washington
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Leavenworth didn’t always look like this. In fact, in the 1960s, the city decided to transform itself into a sort of American Bavaria to attract tourism. They adopted traditions like a fall leaf festival and a Christmas lights festival that continue to this day. Between the cascading peaks that provide the scenic backdrop, Alpine-style buildings, and German-inspired cuisine heavy on sauerkraut and bratwurst, this Pacific Northwest enclave feels like a German village.
9.
Columbia River Gorge, Oregon
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There is something magical about this Columbia River gorge that separates Washington and Oregon. Even though it’s only an hour from Portland, it feels like somewhere else entirely. You might feel like you’re in New Zealand as you gaze at the vineyards, orchards and lavender farms that stretch across the rolling hills with snow-capped Mt Hood as a backdrop. And then, of course, there are the falls dotted throughout the canyon, including the most famous, Multnomah Falls, a 620-foot tall double cascade that looks larger than life.
10
Sitka, Alaska
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Framed by snow-capped mountains and set on a scenic sound teeming with fishing boats, this Alaskan gem on Baronof Island could easily be mistaken for a Scandinavian fishing village or a secluded Icelandic village. If catching the Northern Lights is one of your bucket list goals, you can see them dancing in the Sitka sky during the winter months.
11.
Solvang, California
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Can’t travel to Copenhagen? No problem. Experience a little bit of Denmark right here in the US in Solvang. Located in the Santa Ynez Valley, surrounded by hundreds of sprawling wineries, Solvang was founded by Danish immigrants in the early 20th century. In the city you will find wooden windmills, authentic Danish bakeries, sausage and beer gardens, pancake houses and architecture in Danish provincial style.
12.
Fredricksberg, Texas
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A popular stop in the Hill Country, Fredricksberg is an hour’s drive from Austin and San Antonio. In addition to being the capital of Texas wine country, this city is known for its German influence. It was founded by German immigrants way back in the 19th century, and their unique traditions are still intact, especially when it comes to food. You’ll find plenty of German food with a Texas flair (think bratwurst, schnitzel, strudel, and beer gardens galore). There’s even a town square called the Market Square, which serves as the backdrop for Fredricksberg’s many concerts, festivals, farmers’ markets, and more.
13.
Kauai, Hawaii
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One look at Kauai and you’ll understand exactly why it’s called the Garden Isle. You might mistake the lush, green mountains and wide valleys giving way to waterfalls for Costa Rica, Belize or even Tahiti. The highlight of the island is the Nā Pali Coast, emerald cliffs that rise above the Pacific Ocean and are best explored by helicopter or boat. If it looks like a scene from Jurassic Park, well…that’s because Steven Spielberg’s hit film was partially shot there.
14
Moab, Utah
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Forget about confusing Moab with any other country… you could easily confuse it with another planet. Located in eastern Utah, Moab is the gateway to two of the state’s best national parks: Arches National Park, with its massive red rock formations, and Canyonlands, with its awe-inspiring desert landscape. No wonder Moab is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. Choose from hot air balloon rides, hiking, mountain biking, rafting and more.
fifteen.
Napa Valley, California
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People travel far and wide to visit the great wine regions of the world like Tuscany, Burgundy and Piedmont, but you can also easily travel to Northern California. Establishing itself as one of the premier wine regions on the map, Napa Valley has drawn on the traditions of France’s Bordeaux region to produce some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot wines in the world. The scenery is breathtaking: sprawling vineyards surrounded by lush mountains and golden, sun-kissed hills. There are few better places to relax and be pampered, and after a few back-to-back wine tasting sessions, you could be anywhere.
16
Helen, Georgia
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Located in the North Georgia Mountains just an hour and a half from Atlanta, Helen is a little slice of Bavaria in the American South. The walkable downtown looks like the setting of a fairy tale with its colorful buildings, cobblestone streets and the Chattahoochee River running through them. While you’re there, indulge in a relaxing river cruise and make sure to stock up on some German food (there’s even a Hofbrauhaus).
17
Miami, Fla
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From the lapping of the waves on South Beach to the smells of fried plantains and hot Cubano sandwiches, Latin influences echo throughout Miami. It’s a melting pot of a city that offers pretty much everything, including stunning year-round weather. There’s Little Haiti, with its bright Victorian-style houses you might find in the Caribbean, a marketplace modeled on Port-au-Prince. And then there’s Little Havana, home to much of Miami’s Cuban population, where you’ll find bright street murals, delicious Cuban food and live music.
18
Montpellier, Vermont
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Montpellier, the capital of Vermont, has a distinctly European flair. That’s probably because it was settled by European Americans, who named it after a city in France. You can still get a sense of its European connections as you stroll downtown: historic European-style buildings, walkable streets, white churches with their spiers poking through the changing leaves. Despite being a state capital, it still retains its coziness and quaint, small-town New England feel. Instead of chain restaurants and mega malls, you’ll find maple syrup farms, family-run restaurants, art galleries, and tiny bookstores.
What’s your favorite travel destination in the US that feels like it could be in another country? Share in the comments below.
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