10 Better-Than-Europe Experiences You Can Have in the U.S.

Surrounded by spruce-covered rolling hills, towering snow-capped mountains and an ocean so blue it’s almost impossible to discern where it ends and the sky begins, cruising the Norwegian fjords is a majestic experience. Yet somehow, even more, impressive scenery awaits in Alaska, specifically at the Tracy Arm fjord south of Juneau.

One of the easiest ways to view this marvel is on a small-ship cruise. Unlike larger ships that are unable to approach the vertical cliffs rising 4,000 feet from the sea, Windstar Cruises slips right in, anchoring directly in front of the twin Sawyer Glaciers at the end of the 30-mile-long fjord. Here, you’ll take a zodiac boat for an up-close and personal tour of floating blue ice while you watch mountain goats traverse the cliffs above and harbor seals hunt for lunch below. You’re practically guaranteed to see and hear the glaciers calve as the thunderous ice chunks break off into the ocean.

Is there a more Instagrammable sight than the 100+ hot air balloons seen floating through the skies of Cappadocia? Little do travelers know that you can capture similar footage and excitement by visiting the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. What started with a mere 13 balloons in 1972 has since morphed into the world’s largest ballooning event (it also happens to be the world’s most photographed event, so bring your camera). For nine days each October, visitors can walk among the 500+ balloons and chat with pilots from around the world at Balloon Fiesta Park.

There’s no need to trek to Scandinavia to experience the architectural charm and mouth-watering pastries for which Denmark is famous. The Santa Barbara County city of Solvang looks like a quaint Danish village transported to California, thanks to its use of bindingsværk, its signature post-and-beam construction style.

Settled by Danish immigrants in 1911, Solvang has a pedestrian-friendly European vibe, five authentic Danish bakeries, more than 20 wine tasting rooms, bars, independently-owned shops, and a scaled-down replica of the iconic Little Mermaid statue. There are four wooden windmills in town, and a couple of them are accessible to visitors. One of the windmills is attached to the Solvang Brewing Company, one houses a children’s shop, and the other has retail and office space in its base. For an authentic Danish stay, book a night in a hygge Airbnb that looks an awful lot like Copenhagen’s famous Round Tower.

Making your list and checking it twice while holiday shopping in a European Christmas market is a bucket-list item for many; so it’s no wonder that the Christkindelsmärik in Strasbourg, France—one of the oldest in Europe—draws a few million visitors each year. While you might assume the best American version of the Frace’s Christmas Market would be found in a city like New York or Chicago, it’s actually located in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.

The Old World Christmas Market at The Osthoff Resort lures vendors and visitors from around the world by trading the traditional open-air concept for a cozy, football-field-length tent adorned with wooden booths, pine trees, and festive décor at every turn. The 10-day-long market offers a hefty dose of holiday cheer alongside hand-crafted goods from 70+ artisans, including ornaments, fine woodwork, soaps, and sweaters.

While you may not have the Swiss Alps insight during a natural hot spring soak in Ouray, there’s a reason this Colorado town is known as the “Switzerland of America”—it’s situated 8,000 feet above sea level, amid the 13,000-foot snow-capped San Juan Mountains. Head straight to the Ouray Hot Springs, which has been operating year-round since 1927. Here, you’ll find mineral-rich and sulfur-free water brimming with iron, manganese, zinc, fluoride, and potassium, which is the perfect way to replenish after a long day of hiking, backcountry skiing, or mountain biking. The water is gravity fed from Box Canyon into five geothermally heated pools, ranging from 78 degrees (the Lap Pool) to 106 degrees (the Overlook). Trust us; it’s still a view worth bragging about.

The moment you step onto cobblestone streets, you’re instantly experiencing one of Europe’s most charming qualities—even if those cobblestone streets happen to be in Charleston, South Carolina. But the roads aren’t the only thing giving off European vibes in this southern city. You’ll find plenty of French influences through its Lowcountry cuisine, charming alleyways covered in flora and fauna, horse-drawn carriage rides, and its annual 17-day Spoleto Festival, which brings opera, theater, and dance performances from all over the world (this American version spun off from the annual Festival of Two Worlds in Italy).

Spend a morning perusing more than 300 vendors at the Charleston City Market, one of the oldest public markets in the United States. Also known as The Holy City, hundreds of church steeples extend above Charleston’s skyline just as you’d see throughout Europe. The architectural styles of the various churches and city buildings range from Greek Revival and Gothic Revival (the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist is a favorite) to Italianate and Victorian.