American Destinations to Cure the European Travel Ban Blues

Are you longing for a little Europe in your life? Me too!

It’s no secret that US Domestic travel has boomed over the summer. The great American Road Trip reminiscent of the 60, 70s and 80s is back! Families are packing up the car and hitting the road.  Maybe piling in the car and hitting the road is not your jam, you are a die-hard lover of European Travel so you are going to stay put until the ban is over. Or can I change your mind?

7 Places to travel to make you feel as if you were in Europe

Helen, Georgia – Germany

Helen is a mountain town in northeast Georgia. It’s known for its vineyards and Bavarian-style buildings. Unicoi State Park offers a lake and campsites. Trails run through the Chattahoochee National Forest to the Anna Ruby and Raven Cliff waterfalls. In Smithgall Woods State Park, Dukes Creek is known for trout. Hardman Farm State Historic Site includes an 1870 homestead and the Nacoochee Indian Mound burial site

Chateau in France: Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC

Vanderbilt’s 250-room French Renaissance chateau is a true marvel, the largest undertaking in residential architecture.

San Antonio Mission, TX – Spain

San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is a National Historical Park and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site preserving four of the five Spanish frontier missions in San Antonio, Texas, USA. These outposts were established by Catholic religious orders to spread Christianity among the local natives.

California Wine Country (Napa & Central Coast) – Tuscany

Napa County is north of San Francisco, in California. It’s known for hundreds of hillside vineyards in the Napa Valley wine region. In the city of Napa, Oxbow Public Market features regional gourmet food

Holland, Michigan – Holland

From the award-winning downtown to the white sandy beaches, you’ll fall in love with Holland’s small-town charm and big-city amenities. Dine along the waterfront or at a local café. Hike to the top of a sand dune or climb to the top of a windmill! Shop for a paddle board, or a pair of wooden shoes. We recommend you attend our world-famous Tulip Time Festival, visit one of our neighborhood art fairs,  enjoy a theatre performance, stroll the downtown sidewalks, or tour a modern college campus. Sail the waters of Lake Michigan or hike the trails in one of our wooded parks. Watch a brilliant sunset over Lake Michigan. No matter what your interests, you won’t be disappointed! 

Vail Villiage Colorado – Sweden

Vail, Colorado, is a small town at the base of Vail Mountain, home of the massive Vail Ski Resort. Set within White River National Forest, the town is a gateway for winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding. It’s also a summertime destination for golfing, hiking and cultural festivals. Gore Creek, popular for fly fishing, runs directly through the town center.

St. Augustine Florida – Seaside Villages of Spain

A visit to St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra Beach & The Beaches is more than just a getaway. It’s a vacation close enough to home but different enough to make you feel a world away. Experience old-world charm, flavorful dining, art and culture, and an abundance of entertainment after dark.

So when you start to feel those European Travel Ban Blues, get your GPS, gas up the car and head to one of these amazing destinations in the USA that are reminiscent of some beautiful European destinations!

Lisa Fitzgerald