American Destinations That Make You Feel Like You’re in Europe

The pandemic is still in full swing in the United States. As a result, many countries, including those that are part of the European Union, have imposed travel bans or restrictions against US citizens.

Thankfully, if you’re dead-set on taking that vacation this year, there are at least 10 U.S destinations that will make you feel as if you’ve journeyed across the pond, without ever leaving American soil. And each of these U.S cities is rich with the history and culture of the settlers who founded them.

Let’s take a look!

1. Leavenworth, Washington

Image Credit: iStock

It’s no accident that Leavenworth, WA looks so charming and inviting.

In the 1960s, after thirty years of economic struggle, town leaders agreed to adopt a Bavarian theme and give the city a makeover in order to attract tourists.

They instituted a series of festivals, including the Autumn Leaf Festival, Maifest, and Christmas Lighting Festival.

Be sure to visit the Bavarian village for bratwurst & sauerkraut and enjoy a daily morning alp horn saerenade.

2. Frankenmuth, Michigan

Image Credit: iStock

Michigan’s “little Bavaria” is known for it’s world-famous chicken dinners but it’s that German pride that really makes Frankenmuth special.

Enjoy German-inspired architecture, craft-beer and wine, and don’t forget to visit Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, the world’s largest Christmas store, open 361 days a year.

3. Helen, Georgia

Image Credit: iStock

Here you’ll find a touch of Bavaria tucked in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

This charming little alpine village makes the perfect backdrop for a relaxing getaway.

Tour local vineyards, enjoy scenic water falls and hiking trails, or even scout out the perfect location for your upcoming nuptials.

4. St. Augustine, Florida

Image Credit: iStock

As the oldest city in the nation, St. Augustine has much to offer.

Gaze upon stately castles, enjoy historic reenactments, and even take a ghost tour.

Originally a busy port town for merchants, it’s also a great place for those who enjoy shopping or romantic water-side dinners.

5. Santa Barbara, California

Image Credit: iStock

With its stunning natural landscape and classic Spanish heritage, The American Riviera is hard to beat.

Its distinct architectural style comes from the early Spanish settlers who built Old Mission Santa Barbara, now the County Courthouse.

Soak in the sun and the culture with a walk down Santa Barbara’s Museum Mile or take yourself on the Red Tile Walking Tour.

6. Holland, Michigan

Image Credit: iStock

This quaint but colorful city is picture-perfect for a relaxing vacation.

Tour Windmill Island Gardens or make your way downtown for authentic Dutch architecture and cuisine.

Be sure to visit in the spring, during the Tulip Time Festival for the true Dutch experience, as millions of tulips burst into bloom.

7. Solvang, California

Image Credit: iStock

Visiting Solvang is like stepping into a storybook.

Enjoy this “little slice of Denmark” by strolling through the village, Danish pastry in hand.

Or maybe hop a ride on a historic, wooden, horse-drawn streetcar!

Be sure to take your picture with Danish icons, including the Little Mermaid Fountain, five windmills, the giant red clog Round Tower.

8. Calistoga, California

Image Credit: iStock

You’ll find this European-influenced city Nestled in California’s Napa Valley.

Home to wineries, geysers, and plenty of natural beauty, Calistoga is the perfect spot for endless outdoor adventures.

Take it all in during your hot-air balloon tour.

9. Vail, Colorado

Image Credit: iStock

Modeled after the ski districts of European Switzerland, Vail is the perfect spot for the adventurous vacationer.

Take advantage of the country’s largest free transportation system and visit the cobble-stoned, Bavarian-inspired village of Lionshead.

In the summer, come prepared to hike, bike, and enjoy the Betty Ford Alpine Gardens; be sure to bring your snowboard or skis if you’re visiting in the winter.

10. New Orleans, Louisiana

Image Credit: iStock

A pillar of community and resilience, this French-influenced city is a must-see.

While Mardi Gras always draws a crowd, there are so many other reasons to visit this city, including its whimsical architecture.

Enjoy mouthwatering beignets and Creole cuisine as you take in the romantic and jazzy vibe of French Quarter.

Now you know! You can enjoy the experience of visiting Europe, without the overseas flight. Visit each city’s websites to learn about the safety measures in place keeping both locals and tourists healthy and happy.

Even if you don’t feel safe traveling right now, it doesn’t mean you can’t start planning for the future.

I don’t know about you, but Santa Barbara is calling my name. Which city would you like to visit first? Let us know in the comments!

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A Cruise Dedicated to Chocolate Will Set Sail Around Europe in 2020

I have a feeling that this news is going to excite a whole lot of people out there. Combine two great things – chocolate and travel – and what do you get? The Eurochocolate Cruise.

The cruise is a collaboration between Costa Cruises and the annual Eurochocolate Festival, and it will set sail in April 2020 from Civitavecchia, Italy. The cruise will take guests through the Mediterranean for eight days.

Chocolate-themed cruise to set sail in 2020 It's every chocoholic’s dream come true. Travel https://ift.tt/2WfRW0P

Posted by Getlivenews on Thursday, October 24, 2019

If you’re lucky enough to book a spot on this excursion, you’ll be treated to eight days of chocolate tastings, chocolate workshops, a visit to the Chocolate Museum in Barcelona. Oh, and the boat itself is stocked with chocolate fountains, chocolate sculptures – even chocolate experts to answer all your chocolate questions.

The ship will also stop in Genoa, Palma de Mallorca, Malta, and Catania. Carlo Schiavon, Costa Cruises’ Italy country manager, said,

“We try to offer unique experiences to our guests […] and this is possible also thanks to prestigious partnerships like the one with Eurochocolate. [It] will allow us to have for the first time aboard a cruise ship the vibe, the fun and the tastes of the greatest international festival dedicated to chocolate.”

Make it a #SundayFunday to remember by booking your next Costa #cruise with our Fall for Savings deal! Receive up to…

Posted by Costa on Sunday, October 27, 2019

The annual Eurochocolate festival takes place in Perugia, Italy, attracting around 900,000 visitors each year. Next year’s festival is set to kick off on October 16 and run until October 25.

I really need to get in on this whole “chocolate tourism” thing…what have I been doing with my life?

This looks like an excellent trip. Let us know if you plan to go!

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You Might Want to Check out These 15 Underrated Travel Spots in Europe

I’ve traveled to Europe a couple of times, but there are still quite a few places I haven’t been able to go to yet: Spain, Greece, and the Czech Republic to name a few I’d love to visit.

And although the most well-known places in Europe are wonderful (London, Amsterdam, Paris, etc.), there are a lot of places you probably haven’t thought to see.

Throw together all the amazing cities and small towns that dot the continent and you can make an enormous list of underrated spots to visit.

Here are 15 places in Europe that might fly under the radar but are definitely worth your time and attention.

1. Gdansk, Poland. Architecture and history lovers, this one is for you.

2. Durmitor National Park, Montenegro: Much quieter than other European national parks.

3. Rovinj, Croatia: Wineries and adorable seaside towns.

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#relaxing at the #harbour in #rovinj #croatia

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4. Himarë, Albania: Gorgeous and uncrowded beaches.

5. High Tatras, Slovakia: Hiking, water sports, and skiing abound.

6. Riga, Latvia: Thriving art scene and great nightlife options.

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7. Český Krumlov, Czech Republic: A small-town gem without the hustle and bustle.

8. Taormina, Italy: A Sicilian slice of paradise.

9. Ohrid, North Macedonia: Great restaurants, clubs, and beautiful trails around the lake.

10. Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany: A great base to explore the nearby Black Forest.

11. Ghent, Belgium: Beautiful canals and pedestrian-only streets in this charming city.

12. Innsbruck, Austria: A beautiful city at the foot of the mountains.

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look at this

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13. Bucharest, Romania: The capital city is charming and bustling with museums and cafés.

14. Ronda, Spain: A mountaintop town with beautiful architecture.

15. Piran, Slovenia: Beautiful winding streets and well-preserved Venetian architecture.

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Ostatnimi czasy wszyscy uważają mnie za młodszą niż jestem. Prawdę mówiąc odejmują mi prawie 10 lat! To trochę zabawne, bo w wieku 16 lat słyszałam pytania „gdzie mam męża i dzieci” (w domyśle, że jestem grubo po 30). Może dopiero po latach uaktywniają się geny mojej mamy, która nadal wygląda na 20latkę, a może ja skacząc i śmiejąc się robię takie wrażenie?! Nie zmienia to faktu, że dobrze mi z tym co mam i nawet bardzo lubię to moje rozbrykane, wewnętrzne dziecko. Dokarmiam je co jakiś czas, by się nie uspokajało. Spełnienie marzenia o Piranie dokarmiło moją wewnętrzną radość. Jak głupia skakałam po murach obronnych, zachwycając się widokami. To miasto jest malutkie, ale i zachwycająco położone na wysuniętym w morze cyplu. Od lądu odgradzają je wzgórza, a od trzech innych stron zalewa woda. Dla mnie to jedno z bardziej uroczych miasteczek, szczególnie gdy patrzy się na nie z wysoka. #piran #slovenia #visitslovenia #ifeelslovenia #dametraveler #sidewalkerdaily #wearetravelgirls #wearetravelladies #citizenfemme #femmetravels #girlswhotravel #thetravelwomen #slovenia_ig #topsloveniaphoto #destinationhunting #traveldeeper #sheisnotlost #beautifuldestinations #podrozemaleiduze #marzeniasięspełniają #marzenia #traveloverpl #girlsdreamtravel

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Oh, I forgot to mention I also need to visit Scotland, Croatia, Austria, Norway, Denmark, etc. A lot of places on the bucket list!

What are some of your favorite underrated places in Europe? Share them in the comments!

The post You Might Want to Check out These 15 Underrated Travel Spots in Europe appeared first on UberFacts.

Take a Look at the Cheapest Summer Flights to Europe from Every U.S. State

No matter what state you live in, there’s a deal for you this summer to fly to Europe for a fun vacation. And whether you live on the West Coast, the East Coast, or the Midwest, all the prices are pretty reasonable.

For instance, I live in North Carolina and the cheapest flight is to Reykjavík, Iceland for $663. If you live in California, the cheapest jaunt is to Barcelona, Spain for $583. Not so bad!

Kayak.com crunched the numbers for the past year for flights from May 24-September 2, 2019 and came up with the median prices for these destinations for the summer. So you may see some fluctuation, but these are the middle-est prices.

Photo Credit: Thrillist

Let’s look at the whole list from each state (and Washington, D.C.). Where are you going this summer?!?!

Alabama

Airport: HSV
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $735
Airport: BHM
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $660

Alaska

Airport: ANC
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $693

Arizona

Airport: PHX
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $831
Airport: TUS
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $662

Arkansas

Airport: MEM
Destination: London, England – $985

California

Airport: LAX
Destination: Barcelona, Spain – $614

Airport: SFO
Destination: Barcelona, Spain – $583

Airport: SAN
Destination: Copenhagen, Denmark – $863

Colorado

Airport: DEN
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $618

Connecticut

Airport: BDL
Destination: Dublin, Ireland – $682

Delaware

Airport: BWI
Destination: Lisbon, Portugal – $686

Florida

Airport: MCO
Destination: London, England – $661

Airport: TPA
Destination: London, England – $661
Airport: MIA
Destination: Madrid, Spain – $550

Georgia

Airport: SAV
Destination: Amsterdam, Netherlands – $838

Airport: ATL
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $754

Hawaii

Airport: HNL
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $612

Airport: KOA
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $619

Idaho

Airport: SLC
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $685

Illinois

Airport: ORD
Destination: Dublin, Ireland – $721

Indiana

Airport: IND
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $720

Iowa

Airport: DSM
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $669

Kansas

Airport: MCI
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $616

Kentucky

Airport: CVG
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $681

Airport: SDF
Destination: Milan, Italy – $985

Louisiana

Airport: MSY
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $616

Maine

Airport: BGR
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $631

Maryland

Airport: BWI
Destination: Lisbon, Portugal – $686

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Massachusetts

Airport: BOS
Destination: Oslo, Norway – $596

Michigan

Airport: DTW
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $648

Airport: FNT
Destination: Dublin, Ireland – $798

Minnesota

Airport: MSP
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $487

Mississippi

Airport: GPT
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $646

Missouri

Airport: MCI
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $575

Airport: STL
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $616

Montana

Airport: BIL
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $617

Nebraska

Airport: OMA
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $605

Nevada

Airport: LAS
Destination: London, England – $716

Airport: RNO
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $754

New Hampshire

Airport: BOS
Destination: Oslo, Norway – $596

New Jersey

Airport: EWR
Destination: Dublin, Ireland – $608

New Mexico

Airport: ABQ
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $635

New York

Airport: JFK
Destination: Madrid, Spain – $564

Airport: BUF
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $616

Airport: LGA
Destination: Helsinki, Finland – $523

North Carolina

Airport: CLT
Destination: Lisbon, Portugal – $803

Airport: RDU
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $663

North Dakota

Airport: FAR
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $687

Ohio

Airport: CLE
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $453

Airport: CMH
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $616

Oklahoma

Airport: OKC
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $656

Airport: TUL
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $654

Oregon

Airport: PDX
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $638

Pennsylvania

Airport: PHL
Destination: Cork, Ireland – $661

Airport: PIT
Destination: Frankfurt, Germany – $679

Rhode Island

Airport: PVD
Destination: Dublin, Ireland – $441

South Carolina

Airport: CHS
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $667

South Dakota

Airport: OMA
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $605

Tennessee

Airport: BNA
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $656

Texas

Airport: AUS
Destination: London, England – $752

Airport: IAH
Destination: Luxembourg City, Luxembourg – $664

Utah

Airport: SLC
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $685

Vermont

Airport: BTV
Destination: Milan, Italy – $647

Virginia

Airport: ORF
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $616

Airport: RIC
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $616

Washington

Airport: SEA
Destination: Manchester, England – $729

West Virginia

Airport: PIT
Destination: Frankfurt, Germany – $679

Wisconsin

Airport: MKE
Destination: Oslo, Norway – $694

Wyoming

Airport: BIL
Destination: Reykjavik, Iceland – $617

Washington, DC

Airport: IAD
Destination: Stockholm, Sweden – $685

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