US Towns That Feel Like Europe: Boston, Frankenmuth & More | National Geographic

Beacon Hill, a historic neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts, features narrow, picturesque streets and Federal-style row houses that often draw comparisons to old London. The neighborhood’s resemblance to European cities isn’t accidental; Boston itself was modeled after English cities when founded in 1630 by English immigrants, according to Omni Parker House historian Susan Wilson.

“The town’s earliest homes, meeting houses, public buildings, and public streets reflected those found in London and other old English cities,” Wilson said. Beacon Hill, developed in the late 18th and 19th centuries, exemplifies this likeness, particularly in the area known as Louisburg Square.

The European influence extends beyond Beacon Hill. Commonwealth Avenue, in the Back Bay neighborhood, evokes the atmosphere of Paris, Wilson noted. Further south, the North End maintains a strong Italian heritage, with narrow streets lined with cafés, restaurants, and shops, earning it the nickname “Little Italy.”

“In many parts of old downtown Boston, narrow streets still meander in seemingly illogical ways. We find that charming, and an invitation to wander,” Wilson said.

The European echoes aren’t limited to Boston. In Michigan, Frankenmuth, dubbed “Michigan’s Little Bavaria,” was founded in 1845 by German missionaries. Today, the town retains a strong German influence, with onion domes, red roofs, and traditional architecture, even extending to local businesses like McDonald’s and CVS, which have been designed to reflect Bavarian styles.

Michael Keller Zehnder, president and fourth-generation owner of Frankenmuth’s Bavarian Inn Lodge, said guests can experience German culture and traditions. Replicas of buildings from Rothenberg and Gunzenhausen, German cities, can be found in Frankenmuth, as well as a replica of the “Silent Night” chapel from Austria.

The Bavarian Inn Restaurant serves traditional German cuisine, including wiener schnitzel, sauerbraten, and spaetzle, with staff dressed in dirndls and lederhosen. Family-style chicken dinners, a Frankenmuth staple since the late 1800s, are also popular.

In Colorado, Vail Ski Resort was intentionally designed to resemble Alpine resorts like Kitzbuehl, Austria, and Zermatt, Switzerland. Johannes Faessler, fourth-generation owner of Sonnenalp Hotels, noted the pedestrian-friendly village layout, with shops and restaurants, is similar to Kitzbuehl.

Sonnenalp Vail, a family-owned hotel, features Bavarian-style furniture and flower-lined balconies. The hotel’s Swiss Chalet Restaurant serves traditional Swiss dishes like fondue and raclette, while Alpenrose Vail offers German and Swiss favorites.

Further south, St. Augustine, Florida, the oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement in the U.S., boasts a distinctly European feel. Barbara Golden, communications/PR manager for St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches VCB, said visitors often remark that the city feels more Mediterranean than a typical Florida beach town.

Historic inns like Casa Monica Resort & Spa, with its Moorish Revival architecture, contribute to the European ambiance. Restaurants in St. Augustine offer authentic Spanish tapas and Minorcan specialties, and the Columbia Restaurant is known for its traditional Spanish and Cuban dishes.

Finally, Fredericksburg, Texas, maintains a strong German heritage since its founding in 1846. McKenzie Moellering, of Pioneer Museum Fredericksburg, noted that fifth-, sixth-, and seventh-generation German families still reside in the town. Historic Main Street features unique shops and restaurants serving authentic German cuisine, such as Old German Bakery & Restaurant and Otto’s German Bistro.

Solvang, California, founded in 1911 by Danish-American educators, also retains its Danish roots, with Danish architecture, bakeries, museums, and traditions.