Americans don't need a passport for a taste of Europe — because peppered across the U.S. are remarkable towns that look like they've been parachuted in from across the Atlantic. These seven examples whisk visitors to the European continent without the hassle and expense of a long-haul flight.
Carmel-by-the-Sea in California resembles a medieval English village, thanks to amateur builder Hugh Comstock who in the 1920s began building fairy-tale cottages. He deliberately avoided using a carpenter's level to ensure the buildings were charmingly crooked. Now there are hundreds of wonky dwellings, with maps available directing visitors to the best examples.
Solvang in California is the 'Danish Capital of America', featuring half-timbered facades, gabled roofs, windmills, and replicas of Copenhagen's Rundetarn and the Little Mermaid statue. The transformation occurred after a 1947 newspaper article sparked a tourism boom, leading local leaders to make the town look cohesively Danish.
New Glarus in Wisconsin is an entire 'Swisscape', settled by 108 Swiss pioneers in 1845. The architecture remained rustic until the 1960s when 'Project Edelweiss' gave buildings a Swiss chalet-style makeover. Visitors can explore the Swiss Historical Village & Museum and the Chalet of the Golden Fleece Museum, and sample famously pungent Limburger cheese at the Cheese Haus.
