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Reverse Racing was a huge and very challenging motor sport in the Netherlands thanks to the sale of DAF cars that had no speed limit for driving in reverse. It was eventually stopped because those cars were becoming collectors items and the sport was considered too dangerous.
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The borders between Belgium and the Netherlands are so complex that many buildings have an international border running right through them. A bank was built on top of the border so paperwork was moved from one side of the building to the other whenever one nationality’s tax inspectors came.
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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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
The post American Destinations That Make You Feel Like You’re in Europe appeared first on UberFacts.
There’s a town in the Netherlands that has no roads or cars and everyone travels by foot, bike or canal.
In the 16th century, young people in the Netherlands and the Rhineland might not have had Facebook, Snapchat, or Twitter, but they were way ahead of their time. Instead, they had what they called alba amicorum, which means “friend books” in Latin.
In the books, the nobility of 1560 and later traded thoughts, commented on others’ opinions, sought advice, and celebrated their favorite songs. The books also doubled as both yearbooks and as a sort of LinkedIn recommendation, as young men traveled abroad and met scholars, philosophers, scientists, and other students to complete their education. They would ask these people to write a quick entry in their alba amicorum, or sometimes, if the new friend was an artist, to draw an illustration.
Women of the 16th century didn’t have much opportunity for travel or education, which tended to make their friend books more personal and, for us, more revealing. They drew in each other’s books, traded secrets, gossip, and inside jokes, and the women’s books were generally less organized and pretty than those kept by the men. But, I’m guessing, they are a lot more fun to read.
“The alba kept by women are mostly full of ugly, busy pages on which up to 15 people scribbled down their name, motto, or a short saying,” says Sophie Reinders, a Dutch Ph.D. student specializing in the alba amicorum.
So, they may not have contained links, hilarious GIFs, or daily memes, but they did often include song lyrics, poetry, pictures, memories of great events, and things of the like. When two people married, they would announce their union with new, joint entries. Kind of like changing your relationship status, I suppose.
Basically, these were prettier, more personal ways to show off your popularity, as well as the status and stature of your friends around the continent. I, for one, would love to bring this back even if it would mean forcing people to interact again face-to-face.
A real-life Facebook. What a concept.
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Pollution is the global issue of our time, and around the world more and more cities are trying to take measures to reduce their carbon impact.
Most recently, the city of Amsterdam has taken a MAJOR step towards cleaner air: the Dutch city has announced that it is planning to phase out all gas and diesel vehicles by 2030.
Amsterdam wants to ban all diesel and petroleum-engine vehicles by 2030 pic.twitter.com/gXnVxg0oVQ
— TicToc by Bloomberg (@tictoc) May 9, 2019
Amsterdam’s traffic councillor recently said, “Pollution often is a silent killer and is one of the greatest health hazards in Amsterdam.” You might be surprised that such a world-renowned bike-friendly city (30% of Dutch commuters travel by bike) has such an awful pollution problem, but air pollution in the Netherlands is worse than European rules permit. This is mainly due to the heavy traffic in Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
Amsterdam to ban fossil fuel cars by 2030, from the entire city!
2022: no fossil fuel buses in the city center
2025: all ferries and recreational boats, trucks, taxis, buses in the whole city to be emission-free. Only electric scooters allowed.https://t.co/YgNo804ZxF— Kees van der Leun (@Sustainable2050) May 3, 2019
The city’s plan is to replace all gas and diesel engines with electric or hydrogen cars, or other emission-free alternatives, by 2030. The plan will begin next year when diesel engines built before 2005 will be banned from Amsterdam. The plan then calls for gradual banning of more vehicles from city streets.
The current levels of nitrogen dioxide and particle matter in Amsterdam’s air can cause respiratory illnesses and shorten life expectancy by more than a year. The city plans to get rid of public buses that run on gas by 2022, to increase the number of electrical charging stations to 23,000 by 2025, and to offer subsidies and special parking permits to encourage residents to make the switch to electric and hydrogen cars sooner than later. We all know how crucial a nice parking spot can be, right?
Hopefully, other cities around the globe will take note – and in fact Brussels, Belgium, is already looking to follow Amsterdam’s lead.
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The current King of the Netherlands has been secretly flying as a commercial co-pilot for 21 years, and has been doing so even after ascending to the throne in 2013. 00
In The Netherlands, people swear with diseases. Get someone angry enough and they may wish syphilis on you. (Or cancer, tuberculosis, smallpox, etc.) The more serious the disease, the more seriously you have angered them.
The Euro currency was designed featuring imagery of fictitious bridges to represent architectural stylings throughout time in Europe, also serving to not feature one country while discriminating others. The Netherlands then built the bridges anyways.