U.S Cities with International Flare

by ROBIN COLLIER

With travel bans in place for US travelers to Europe and other international destinations, travelers looking for a little cultural diversity might be surprised to find many places that feel like you are somewhere overseas right in their own backyards. Here are a few of our favorites…

Frankenmuth, Michigan

Here in Michigan’s “Little Bavaria,” you cannot miss the Alpine architecture of the expertly decorated Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland. The world’s largest Christmas store offers more than 50,000 gifts, trims, and décor. After you are done shopping, spend a few quiet moments at Silent Night Memorial Chapel. Enjoy a tasty meal at Frankenmuth Brewery, and then after darkness falls, drive along Christmas Lane to take in the half-mile holiday display of 100,000 lights that you will find twinkling year-round.

French Quarter – New Orleans, Louisiana

Often called the Crown Jewel of New Orleans, the French Quarter is one of the most historic neighborhoods and is full of French influences. Like the Creole aristocrats lining the galleries of the Historic New Orleans Collection, the French Quarter is a timeless portrait – especially come dusk when swallows glide above the fortunetellers on Jackson Square and St. Louis Cathedral’s butter-crèmecolored walls reflect the fiery sunset.

The Hill, St. Louis, Missouri (Little Italy Neighborhood)

The Hill began with immigrants from Northern Italy, Germany, Ireland, and African Americans who wanted to live near the railroad which connected the neighborhood to downtown St. Louis. The vast numbers of Italians migrating to the area resulted in an Italian American majority population during the early part of the 20th century. The Hill’s roots are interspersed with the history of St. Louis, generating two of the region’s proudest exports – world-class athletes and Italian cuisine. Baseball’s Yogi Berra and Joe Garagiola grew up here, and today it maintains a traditional collection of authentic Italian bakeries, grocery stores, restaurants, and mom-and-pop trattorias.

Holland, Michigan

In Holland, Michigan the Dutch heritage creates a large part of the city’s ethnic and cultural identity, which is evident at every step, from beautiful historic downtown to the colorful “Tulip Time” festival held every May. At Windmill Island Gardens, visit an original 250-yearold Dutch windmill named “De Zwaan” (the Swan), which was brought over from the Netherlands in 1964. The windmill, which reaches 125 feet from the ground to the top of the blades, towers over 36 acres of gardens, dikes, canals, and picnic areas. And at Nelis’ Dutch Village, watch a wooden shoe carving demonstration.

Leavenworth, Washington

Leavenworth, Washington, set on the eastern edge of Washington State’s Cascade Mountains, has all the trappings of an authentic Bavarian village. Restaurants and breweries are among the many attractions of this Bavarian-style town, where you can also visit the Nutcracker Museum, which displays thousands of the whimsical devices. Notable traditional events include the annual Oktoberfest and in December, with Christmas celebrated all month long and German holiday traditions in full swing. At the Christmas Festival, Leavenworth is transformed into a virtual snow globe of Christmas magic during the holidays, it has been dubbed the “Bavarian snow globe,” since the town was turned into a replica German village in 1960 to promote tourism. The annual Christmas Lighting Festival features plenty of old fashioned caroling, Christmas characters and an endless amount of dazzling lights. Little Haiti

Little Haiti

Little Haiti, a neighborhood in Miami that makes huge cultural contributions to the city’s inventive music scene and the vibrant art splashing through the streets. Known for its creative global restaurants, colorful street murals and fruit stands, Caribbean-style Little Haiti also has a flourishing art scene centered on small, indie galleries. The Little Haiti Cultural Complex showcases Afro-Caribbean art, dance and theater, while the large covered Caribbean Marketplace sells produce and locally made handicrafts.

Silver Spring, Maryland

Silver Spring is known for the East African influence that brings this place to life. This community keeps the traditions of Ethiopia alive. The most prominent sign of the region’s “Little Ethiopia” is food. Downtown Silver Spring has dozens of Ethiopian eateries, and” and of course, many different coffee shops. Montgomery County, which hosts an annual Ethiopian Festival in Silver Spring, is also the first jurisdiction in the nation to name September African Heritage Month.

Solvang, California

Solvang is a lovely village surrounded by a stunning wine country. Sometimes referred to as “A little slice of Denmark in Southern California”, Solvang Danish is proud of its Danish heritage which is showcased in everything from its bakeries to windmills. Made famous in the movie Sideways, Solvang is in the Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara county and is a great stop for anyone on a road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway. As you wander between the horse-drawn trolleys and half-timbered houses, you will feel like you have stepped back in Denmark’s history.

St. Augustine, FLorida

St. Augustine is a city on the northeast coast of Florida. It lays claim to being the oldest city in the U.S. and is known for its Spanish colonial architecture as well as Atlantic Ocean beaches like sandy St. Augustine Beach and tranquil Crescent Beach. The Castillo de San Marcos is a 17th-century Spanish stone fortress with views of the St. Augustine Inlet.

Tarpon Springs, Florida

It’s a picturesque Greek-American village. On the north side of the city, Dodecanese Boulevard ambles along the waterfront and it’s lined with Greek eateries and the historic Sponge Docks, which are a mustvisit as they feel like a Greek fishing village.

Washington Island, Wisconsin

Washington Island is the largest of Door County’s thirty islands, with over 35 beautiful square miles and over 100 miles of roads to explore and enjoy. This idyllic village has long been an oasis for Scandinavian-Americans, especially folks of Icelandic and Danish descent. Your visit starts with a five-mile ferry ride across the once-treacherous waters of Death’s Door, where Green Bay and Lake Michigan meet. Once ashore, you will find Schoolhouse Beach, which could make a strong case as the most beautiful stone beach in Door County. Music and theater performances, quirky traditions, and lavender farms are all part of the experience as well.

To plan your next travel adventure, contact your trusted travel advisor today.