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By Julia Pond, Editorial Director
Visit: Tarpon Springs, FL
To feel like you’re in: Greece
by: Stephen K – Courtesy: Gogobot
Tarpon springs has the highest percentage of Greek Americans anywhere in the US so chances are good you’re gonna feel just a little Greek. Saunter down streets with names like ‘Dodecanese Boulevard’ or stop for souvlaki at one of the awesome Greek restaurants – a Trip.com favorite is called Mykonos, fittingly. It may not have an actual Acropolis, but at least for food and Greek blood, you’re coming pretty close.
The charming downtown center, with an Greek atmosphere, where you can stroll along brick streets while browsing in art galleries, antiques stores and specialty shops housed in buildings dating from the late 1800s. – Peter Koghee
by: coka_koehler flickr – Courtesy: Gogobot
Visit: New Orleans, LA
To Feel like you’re in: Paris, France (okay, Cajun Paris)
by: Celeny Da Silva – Courtesy: Gogobot
NOLA is just a very French city, from language influence (etouffee anyone?) to the famed French Quarter itself. Visit restaurants like: Lilette for a super upscale, French accented but also best of North America experience.
New Orleans is one of the most unique cities in the USA. Its French history still influences the culture -Laurel W
by: irene. flickr – Courtesy: Gogobot
Visit: Solvang, CA
To Feel like you’re in: Denmark
by: Kit Oliynyk – Courtesy: Gogobot
With lots of Danish heritage and a literal Danish village (read: historic center), this is the place to get your, uh, cheese Danish fix at an authentic pastry shop. Check out the Hans Christian Andersen museum, and (though we’re not sure how traditionally Danish this is) ostrich farm.
Solvang is quite an odd town, but it’s fun to visit, because it’s a little Danish world, right in the middle of California. -Lucy Swift Weber
Visit: Venice, CA
To Feel like you’re in: Venice, Italy
by: Josh Moody-Arndt – Courtesy: Gogobot
Venice, California was originally called the Venice of America, and features a historic district with canals that once even featured gondoliers like the real thing. Today you can still tour the Venice Canal Historic District which dates back to 1905 — not quite as far back as the European Venice, but hey, you speak the language and the flight is probably cheaper.
the canals…are amazing. I have never seen such a beautiful place. – Raissa Souza
Visit: Denver, CO
To feel like you’re in: Amsterdam, Netherlands
by: Satchmo- flickr – Courtesy: Gogobot
You no longer have to travel to Amsterdam for a legal high. And through the stoned haze, the two cities may even start to resemble each other – especially if you stop into Dubbel Dutch (dutch cheese, grocery and sandwiches) to cure the munchies. Luckily, Denver was ALREADY nicknamed the ‘Mile-High City’ before recreational marijuana sales started.
One of the first cities in the United States to fully decriminalize marijuana, Denver is at the forefront of progressive thinking.
Visit: Milwaukee, WI
To feel like you’re in: Germany
by: puroticorico flickr – Courtesy: Gogobot
If Bavaria is on your bucket list, but you’re a bit short of cash, you might consider Milwaukee instead. You’d never have guessed, but Milwaukee is a hotbed of German traditions from the Hofbrau, to a giant German Fest each year, to restaurants like Mader’s. All this amazing German-ness is brought to you by immigration.
Mader’s is a once in a lifetime Authentic German experience -Compuserbs
Visit: Napa Valley, CA
To feel like you’re in: Tuscany, Italy
by: Sunita – Courtesy: Gogobot
Tuscany is full of English speakers anyway, so why not pull the plug on that international flight and go wine tasting in Napa instead? Check out the Sierra Foothills for some great Barbera grapes (originally from Piedmont in Northwest Italy), or Montepulciano (originally from Abruzzo) in Lodi, Central Valley. It’s not just wine, either. Check out the amazing Castello di Amorosa, constructed of Italian stone with medieval decor and underground caverns.
…the castle is of authentic Italian bricks, medieval decor, and underground caverns – all successfully transporting you to Tuscany. – Caroline Carlos
Visit: Boston, MA
To feel like you’re in: Dublin, Ireland
by: Mel D – Courtesy: Gogobot
Boston is full of people of Irish heritage who have brought a real Emerald Isle feeling over the last 100 years or so, when they immigrated in force. The whole city takes the day off for St Patrick’s Day, plus it’s packed with real Irish pubs, like the Brendan Behan in Jamaica Plain. Just don’t order an Irish car bomb.
One of the oldest cities in US and very very European. – Shivagi
Source: gogobot.com