Washington, DC, or San Francisco, CA.

I think the OP is from DC. But San Francisco would be good.

East Coast: Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa

West Coast: San Francisco, Vancouver, Victoria

Since you're from DC, I'd recommend Quebec City over any of the others.

I just love this thread. I think a lot of us yearn for the "European Feel" but don't have the time/money or can't abide the long flight - or all of the above.

I loved some of the suggestions. Esp the one from Michigan - that's the kind of suggestion that's a real jewel to find.

Thanks to all who are participating.

As a European I find S.Francisco and Boston in the US and Vancouver in Canada the closest you'll get to a European feel.PAul

I'm with cigalechanta on Boston and BTilke on Philadelphia. A couple of old cities with lots of history, some small cobblestone streets. Love them both!

Consider the islands of St. Pierre et Miquelon on the east coast of Canada for a real European experience. The official language is French (apparently a mixture of Norman, Brittany and Parisien), and the official currency is the euro.

It's on the water, the cuisine is french (yum!), and Newfoundland, considered by many to be one of Canada's best kept secret, is right next door to explore.

Bloom

On second thought, I don't get a "European feel" any place in the U.S.A.

I get a "foreign feel" when I go to Canada and non-resort destinations in Mexico.

Another vote for New Orleans......loads of history (if you want it), "historic feel", great restaurants, wonderful music.....and some great escapes with swamp tours or plantation tours.

Guanajuato, Mexico, gave us a real feel of Italy: brightly colored buildings hugging the hillsides, winding streets, and lots of vibrant young people due to the university. Nearest airport is Leon. We've been going to the colonial cities and towns in the interior of Mexico for a few years now, and the 3-4 hour flights are sure nicer than that long haul to Europrean destinations.

Thanks for all of the great suggestions...we've been to many of the suggestions - New Orleans, San Francisco, Philly, so I'm leaning toward Quebec and perhaps Boston since we've never been in the city but you've given me lots of ideas to research.

<<Ne York is much more european than most US cities. It's made for walking, there are an incredible number of attractions, tons of quaint little neighborhoods, great food for any cuisine and almost 1000 outdoor cafes.>>

Don't get me wrong, I'm originally from the New York area and love NYC, but there's nothing "quaint" about NYC. Martha's Vineyard is quaint. NYC is all about the super size.

Ditto Boston or Quebec in the summer.

charleston, south carolina

But there are quaint neighborhoods in NYC, which was the point. London isn't quaint, Paris isn't quaint. But the places where U.S. tourists end up can be "quaint" at least to people who worry about such things.

On the same token, there are parts of NYC that are quite "quaint" in the same way parts of London or Paris or Berlin or Barcelona are quaint.

Solvang, CA is a replica of a Danish village being that most of the residents there are of Danish descent.
There are excellent restaurants and plenty of shops and it's very close to beautiful Santa Barbara.

Go to Boston. It has a huge appreciation for history and is filled with historic buildings. The city is filled with historic neighborhoods such as beacon hill whose architecture and lay- out is reflective of old colonial Boston, consisting of brick row houses with beautiful doors, decorative iron work, brick sidewalks, narrow streets, and gas lamps and european areas such as the North End one of Bostons most historic neighborhoods it is now populated with italian immigrants who have filled the neighborhood with italian stores, bakeries, caffes and shops. The city is also home to many colleges which have given the city the youthful culture and academic flair that makes European cities so great. Of course Boston is filled with great restaraunts and their seems to be about a million outdoor caffes within the city. It is also very fashionable and is filled with great shopping areas. Finally it is a beautiful city that is by the water and close to many wonderful outdoorsy things ie western mass and the cape.

One of the posters on Flyertalk submitted this - http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showp...5&postcount=68