The United States holds more cultural variety than most travelers expect. In a few select towns, that variety reaches a point where you stop thinking about borders at all. A visit feels like stepping into a different country. Keep these places in mind the next time wanderlust strikes.
Leavenworth, WA
Leavenworth recreates an old-world Bavarian village in the heart of Washington. Horse-drawn carriages roll through streets where performers wear lederhosen and signs read in German. Beer halls serve bratwurst and schnitzel year-round, while major festivals like Oktoberfest and Christkindlmarkt anchor the town’s immersive Alpine setting.
Montpelier, VT
French Canadian settlers helped shape Montpelier from the beginning. The town’s layout features a central green designed in Enlightenment-era style, and local schools still teach French. Cheeses and pastries appear in neighborhood markets, so the town’s name definitely reflects its connection to French culture.
Helen, GA
What began as a logging town became an Alpine retreat in 1969. Helen blends cobblestone alleys, German food, and timbered buildings with Southern friendliness. Oktoberfest celebrations here rank among the Southeast’s biggest, and visitors often float down the Chattahoochee River with bratwurst and steins in hand.
Ouray, CO
Ouray is surrounded by dramatic mountain peaks resembling the Swiss Alps. Swiss-style buildings and cozy lodges fill the town. The locals here embrace everything from ice climbing to hot spring soaking. European miners in the 1800s first named it the “Switzerland of America,” and it stayed.
Amana Colonies, IA
Seven villages form this network, founded by German settlers seeking communal life. Visitors can still hear German spoken by older residents and taste handmade breads, smoked meats, and slow-prepared meals. The colonies preserve their architectural style and cultural traditions through every experience offered.
Venice, CA
Abbot Kinney founded Venice in 1905 with a dream of recreating Italy’s canal city. Today, arched bridges span quiet waterways near Mediterranean-style homes, and gondoliers still offer rides through the restored canals. Venetian-themed festivals and Italian street names help keep Kinney’s vision alive in modern Los Angeles.
Elberta, AL
Elberta honors its roots through one of the quirkiest mascots in the country—a sausage on wheels. German settlers built the community in the early 1900s. Today, the German Sausage Festival brings out polka bands and bratwurst fans. Folk traditions remain strong in homes and celebrations.
Vail, CO
Vail captures the spirit of a European alpine village, with chalet-style buildings and Tyrolean details that feel straight out of St. Anton. Each fall, a weeklong Bavarian-style Oktoberfest fills the streets with music, food, and festivity. Gondolas glide toward golden mountain views while alpine melodies echo through the crisp air.
Chimayo, NM
Chimayo draws thousands each year to its adobe church, El Santuario de Chimayo, long believed to hold healing dirt. Pilgrims travel here in traditions similar to Spain’s Camino. The town honors its roots through Spanish Catholic ceremonies and red chile harvests, as well as generations of master textile weavers.
Solvang, CA
Founded in 1911 by Danish-American settlers, Solvang proudly maintains its Danish roots through architecture, traditions, and local celebrations. Windmills dot the town, and Danish Days brings Viking parades and traditional dancers to the streets. Tourists often stop for pastries and a replica of Copenhagen’s Little Mermaid.
