America is a country that was founded by a collection of colonists originating from a variety of countries. Because of this, many of the old East Coast towns have distinctly European features. You can see this in New Orleans, with its French architecture, or in New England towns such as Boston, with its English Georgian influences. Then, there are countless other small towns whose original settlers left cultural imprints that residents still feel today—such as in small-town New Britain, Connecticut, where even in the 1930s, one-third of the town’s population could claim Polish ancestry.
However, some small American towns that will remind you of Europe have no direct attachment to the foreign cities that inspired them. Instead, modern architectural initiatives were taken up to give these towns the façade of European villages.
Rosemary Beach, Florida
Rosemary Beach is located along the famed 30A highway in the Florida Panhandle. The French architecture of New Orleans and other colonial cities in the West Indies directly inspired the town. The many ornate wrought iron terraces and 17th- and 18th-century-inspired buildings could easily make you think this village has been here for a few hundred years. That’s why you might be surprised to learn that Rosemary Beach is a planned community built in the 1990s. Despite it being a newer development, you’ll love Rosemary Beach for its ability to capture the charm of a quaint, old-world beach town.
Healdsburg, California
This town has a very similar landscape to that of Tuscany, Italy. In fact, Healdsburg and Tuscany rest along the same latitudinal line. Healdsburg is home to a plethora of vineyards with beautiful Italian countryside–like views. Also, the city’s downtown is home to a variety of Tuscan-inspired restaurants and shops.
Helen, Georgia
Located among the forests of the Appalachian Mountains is the small town of Helen, Georgia. Taking advantage of the natural beauty of the Chattahoochee River running through its downtown, Helen is modeled after a traditional Bavarian alpine village. In the mid-20th century, this logging town was spiraling downward as the industry died down. To save itself, in 1969, the city passed coding mandating that all buildings get built in a classic Southern German style.
Leavenworth, Washington
Leavenworth, Washington, has a similar story. It was also a former logging town struggling through hard times when, in the 1960s, local leaders decided to rebrand their city as a traditional alpine village. Also, like Helen, the community’s modern economy is built around tourism and the celebration of German traditions such as Octoberfest.
Read More: Travel with Purpose – Visit Beautiful Places and Help the Planet
After you explore this list of small American towns that will remind you of Europe, which one would you want to visit most?
