Barbecue, blues, top-tier hospitality and the perfect warm, summer days in which to enjoy it all: The American Southeast is a popular travel destination for a reason. (Or, more accurately, many reasons.)
Another one you might not have thought of? The American Southeast is home to several of the most international-looking places in the U.S., from the coziness of a Swiss-style mountain village to the spicy flavor of the French Caribbean—and plenty of other destination dupes to try out. Below, we’ve listed seven US destinations that feel like Europe and other foreign lands, all within an easy reach of any major city in the southeast. Enjoy a budget-friendly alternative to the trek across the pond—and if you’re traveling by RV, consider stringing multiple destinations together! Here are seven perfect southeastern spots that make it feel like you’ve traveled abroad without leaving the U.S.
1. A Swiss-Inspired Mountain Village in North Carolina
When Judge Heriot Clarkson—who would later come to serve on North Carolina’s Supreme Court—first founded Little Switzerland in 1910, he said it reminded him of the Swiss Alps. Given the fact that this mountain town nestled in the wilderness just a short distance northeast of Asheville sits at an elevation of about 3,500 feet, it’s no surprise he thought so. He also took care to institute a strict property code that was designed to help preserve the stunning natural beauty surrounding this community, which is sure to make you want to feel like yodeling.
Plan your Trip to Little Switzerland, NC
Little Switzerland is conveniently located just along the Blue Ridge Parkway, so it’s an easy stop to string together with other local must-sees like Great Smoky Mountains National Park or Shenandoah National Park. While summer is arguably the best and most beautiful time to visit, late spring and early fall can also be stunning, though winter can make driving a touch more difficult. Once you arrive, be sure to check out Emerald Village, an interactive museum that will bring you up close and personal with the area’s mining history, and the Historic Orchard at Altapass, an apple orchard a century old—you can pick your fruit itself in the summertime. While it may be harder to find authentic Swiss cuisine in town, the Chalet Restaurant atop the Switzerland Inn offers unbeatable views of the surrounding countryside. Did we mention it’s all immediately next door to Pisgah National Forest—home to over 300 waterfalls worth chasing? Here are the top campgrounds in the area.
2. A Bavarian-Style Town in the Georgia Mountains
Any list of European-style towns in the U.S. would be remiss not to include Helen, Georgia. And it’s not just happenstance—it was all intentionally planned. In the 1960s, local business owners contracted an artist with German heritage to remodel the town. He built facades reminiscent of those in the Alp-sider regions of southern Germany. Now, even the local Wendy’s looks like a ski chalet. In Helen, you can meander down cobblestone streets and cast your eyes up at the rows of timber-framed buildings, all in the shadow of the southernmost foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. True to its looks, Helen is also home to a bevy of German bakeries, beer gardens, and even cuckoo clock shops, and several of its restaurants serve a mean schnitzel.
Plan Your Trip to Helen, Georgia
If you really want to go full-bore into the international-at-home experience, the best time to visit Helen would be between early September and early November—during which the town’s Oktoberfest is in full swing. (Yes, it lasts for two full months—and is also considered the biggest in the southeast.) If you’re a bit too early to enjoy the bratwurst and beer, at the very least you can “shoot the Hootch,” as the locals say, and enjoy a lackadaisical float down the Chattahoochie River. Winter has its treasures, too, especially if you come for Christmas, when the entire town is dressed with twinkling lights and a Christkindlmarkt is held. No matter when you come, be sure to check out these RV campgrounds, which will offer a perfect home base for your exploration. Prost!
3. A Lively Southern City with French and Caribbean Flair
When it comes to the best international-feeling places in the South, it’s impossible to overlook New Orleans—arguably the closest you can come to enjoying the sunny, spicy and oh-so-slow vibe of the French Caribbean without setting foot on a plane or a boat. New Orleans is teeming with Creole culture, which means you’ll hear French thrown around with abandon—not to mention the French colonial architecture that dominates the beautiful buildings that line its streets. The air is always filled with music and the smell of something delicious, and the heavy, mysterious sense of so many years and layers of history.
Plan Your Trip to New Orleans, Louisiana
There’s no place on earth quite like New Orleans, where your waiter is likely to ask you if you’d like a to-go cocktail at the end of your meal. Along with sipping a vieux carré, we recommend getting powdered sugar on your face while crunching into a Café du Monde beignet, to be eaten either before or after a heaping helping of gumbo or jambalaya. Music lovers, head directly to Frenchmen Street, world-renowned for jazz and happening every single night of the year. Of course, if you time your trip right, you may even make it for Mardi Gras—but make sure you save space in your suitcase (or your RV closet) for a costume. Here are the top area campgrounds at which to hang your jester’s hat!
4. A Romantic Coastal City with European Elegance
Any travel writer worth her salt would tell you Savannah, Georgia is a worthy destination in its own right. But for travelers specifically interested in U.S. towns that look like other countries—but not necessarily in a flashy, Swiss-facade kind of way—the Hostess City of the South is unmissable. Neoclassical architecture lines brick and cobbled streets, and tall oaks reach their branches out over pedestrians, strung with fine tendrils of Spanish moss. Pause for a moment (or ten) in one of the city’s garden squares and you may just find you feel you’ve been magically whisked away to a small town in the south of France or a settlement along the Spanish coast. Either way, you’ll fall irretrievably in love with this southern gem, along with its food and, of course, its hospitality.
Plan Your Trip to Savannah, Georgia
Savannah’s historic district encompasses 22 garden squares, including Chippewa Square (which you may recognize from Forrest Gump) and Monterey Square (which you may recognize because it’s just so pretty, people keep taking pictures of it). You can’t go wrong with sipping a glass of wine in a courtyard café and looking out over all of it, or grabbing a bite at The Grey, a James Beard award-winning restaurant built into a restored Greyhound bus station. If you’re into history, there are some incredible antebellum mansions to tour—and if you’re into other kinds of history, the ghost tours here are among the best in the country. Or keep it romantic with a sunset riverboat cruise. When you’re ready to get out of town, Fort McAllister State Park is just down the road, as is the Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge. Oh, and plenty of amazing RV campgrounds!
5. A French Château-Style Estate in the Hills
Some of us just have a taste for the finer things in life—and if that’s you (or could be you for a weekend), we highly recommend a visit to the Biltmore Estate, tucked just south of Asheville, North Carolina. Modeled after the châteux of the Loire Valley, this opulent estate feels like stepping into the French countryside—and indeed, you can get a mean glass of a varietal normally grown in that area right here at the on-site winery.
Plan Your Trip to Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina
Of course, there’s so much more to do at the Biltmore than drink fine grapes from fine crystal. The Estate is also home to stunning European-style gardens, multiple restaurants ranging from the more casual, farm-to-table Bistro to the elegant, white-linen-table-cloth Dining Room, as well as a wide selection of shops and plenty of events held year round including live music, culinary workshops, and more. Oh, and meanwhile, there’s all the rest of Asheville to explore, too! Here’s where to stash your RV so you can get the most out of your experience (and still have the coziest place to retire each night).
6. A Southern City with Spanish Colonial Roots
Preserved colonial architecture, narrow streets, and the glorious sparkle of the Atlantic Ocean beckoning in the background, walking around Charleston feels like walking around an old-world Spanish port city. The sound of horse-drawn carriages clip-clopping through the historic district, the heady mix of saltwater and magnolia blossoms, and a world-class dining scene all await, making Charleston the perfect stop for travelers seeking U.S. destinations that look like Europe—or just a plain old good time.
Plan Your Trip to Charleston, South Carolina
While taking your own horse-drawn carriage tour, be sure to peer through the beautiful wrought-iron gates to see the secret gardens held in each home’s courtyard—an experience sure to transport you to Mediterranean Spain. You might also find a Spanish-style guitar player plucking away at one of the city’s many bars or wineries—and you can definitely enjoy Spanish-style tapas at Estadio, which is well-known for classics including patatas bravas, jamón Ibérico, and croquetas (not to mention a glass or bottle of sherry or Rioja to wash it all down with). Of course, Charleston has many non-Spanish-inspired attractions to enjoy, too, like Fort Sumter National Monument or the Gibbes Museum of Art. Just north of town, you’ll find the Francis Marion National Forest, which offers some excellent camping options—as do these local RV parks.
7. A Highland-Inspired Escape in the Appalachians
The rugged backbone that runs between North Carolina and Tennessee in the Appalachian Mountains is all rolling green hills and cool, mysterious mist. This is the Roan Highlands, and it resembles the Scottish highlands more so than any other American vista we can think of—and certainly more so than it resembles the barbecue-and-blues aesthetic of most of the American south. Unlike other destinations on this list, this one’s not a city, but rather a wild, natural area—though one surrounded with plenty of options for exploring and camping, including Roan Mountain State Park, Elk Knob State Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Grandfather Mountain State Park, just to name a few.
Plan Your Trip to Roan Highlands, North Carolina/Tennessee border
Hike the Appalachian trail (and a vast network of others) across grassy ridgelines—and if you come in high summer, experience the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, which feature Scottish piping and drumming, dancing, food, costumes—and, of course, locally made whiskies. If you’re up for a winter adventure, nearby Sugar Mountain Ski Resort is one of the best-loved this side of the Mississippi, not to mention the largest in North Carolina. This destination is the perfect one for intrepid travelers who are willing to take a walk on the wild side, and there are also some excellent RV campgrounds in the surrounding areas, both public and private.
Traveling across the southeastern United States is a gift no matter what you’re after—but especially for travelers eager to find international-looking places in the U.S., it simply can’t be beat. With summer on the horizon and so many places to see and things to do, there’s no time to wait! It’s time to sit back, relax, and see the U.S. the easy way—even when it looks less like here and more like somewhere much further away.
