The Most European-Like Cities in Each of These American Regions (highest, quality)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Mountain West is tough for this category but as said earlier Santa Fe has sort of a Euro vibe to some degree. Same goes for Boulder, although there are aspects of Boulder that are very American.
Some of the mountain west ski towns try to emulate the european ski chalet ville feel. Maybe Breckenridge, Aspen, Ketchum, Sun Valley, and other places might have a smidgen of eurpean feel to them. It's a stretch, though.
If we include smaller towns, an argument could be made for Carmel, CA which is modeled after a "village in the forest" and definitely incorporates some elements of architecture from old Bavarian villages and cottages in The Cotswolds in the UK. It has somewhat of a disneyfied effect with it's perfect grid and high end retail/dining, but it definitely has a unique feel.
I think Portsmouth NH has a very similar look and feel to a mid-size British town. Especially around market square (have some fun on Streetview). Newburyport, MA isn't too far off either.
All of these places are still decidedly American. I live in Boston and have traveled to Europe quite a bit and I don't consider Boston to look or feel very European (there are some aspects that remind me a bit of London on a smaller scale, however). It's an American city in every sense of the word even though it's a bit older and a little more dense. The only city I've visited in North America that has a European look in my opinion is Quebec City. Even though Quebecois French sounds a lot different than the French spoken in France, the language adds to the foreign feel of the city. But even Quebec City is very much a North American city.
A city with a Freedom Trail as one of their main attractions to revolt against colonialism is, I'm afraid, not European. Aside from that, I'm sure plenty of major European cities are quite transient, particularly now with EU residency restriction relaxations.
Are you implying that revolutions are un-European?
If we include smaller towns, an argument could be made for Carmel, CA which is modeled after a "village in the forest" and definitely incorporates some elements of architecture from old Bavarian villages and cottages in The Cotswolds in the UK. It has somewhat of a disneyfied effect with it's perfect grid and high end retail/dining, but it definitely has a unique feel.
I think Portsmouth NH has a very similar look and feel to a mid-size British town. Especially around market square (have some fun on Streetview). Newburyport, MA isn't too far off either.
All of these places are still decidedly American. I live in Boston and have traveled to Europe quite a bit and I don't consider Boston to look or feel very European (there are some aspects that remind me a bit of London on a smaller scale, however). It's an American city in every sense of the word even though it's a bit older and a little more dense. The only city I've visited in North America that has a European look in my opinion is Quebec City. Even though Quebecois French sounds a lot different than the French spoken in France, the language adds to the foreign feel of the city. But even Quebec City is very much a North American city.
I don't feel that Boston, on the whole, is very European, however, sections of the city absolutely are. The North End, if it were not for the bricks, could easily remind one of any city in Europe, albeit a little grittier. Beacon Hill and Charlestown as well.
Northeast: Washington, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Chicago
Southeast: Savannah, Charleston, New Orleans, Miami and San Juan
Southwest: Los Angeles, San Francisco and Honolulu
Northwest: Seattle and Portland
Northcentral: St. Louis, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Kansas City
Southcentral: San Antonio, Houston and Galveston
Northeast: Boston
Midwest: None West: L.A.
South: D.C.
How is L.A. in any way like Europe? If anything it is the anti-Europe. Yes, we do have that Mediterranean climate, like our vinos...but that's about it.
In the U.S., I would say that New Orleans is the clear choice of the major cities. I'm sure there are plenty of small towns, like Solvang, CA, that have a very Euro feel as well.
In North America, Quebec City, along with several cities in Mexico, especially San Miguel de Allende.
San Miguel de Allende:
Also, in Mexico, Guanajuato:
Do we have any cities in the U.S. that feel/look that European? Albeit Mexico's European flair is of the Southern European/Roman-esque variety, Canada's is more French, whereas the U.S. (mostly in the Northeastern colonies) will have a British style.
Nevada City reminds me of a what a European version of a classic American town would look like (The streetview link below gives a better sense than the image)
In my opinion, San Francisco, DC, Boston, Charleston, and New Orleans are the only possible contenders in the US
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.