8 Small Cities in California That Look Like Europe

Regardless of my 40-plus years residing in California, I’ve but to tire of metropolis romps and off-the-beaten-path adventures within the Golden State. Whilst a youthful particular person, I knew a superb factor after I had it—to dwell right here is to have enviable entry to a few of Earth’s most spectacular locations. The truth is, the state’s wildly various geographies are a part of the explanation why the movie trade moved to Southern California on the flip of the final century.

I didn’t actually depart California (or the nation) till school. A proud ebook nerd, I registered for a Shakespeare-focused examine overseas program that permit me learn and watch performs in England for 4 weeks. Price range sprees in Italy, Eire, and France quickly adopted. It wasn’t a luxe European tour, however I used to be grateful for and impressed by the expertise.

Now, I can’t argue that sipping Champagne in, nicely, Champagne, France, might be completely replicated in California, however if you happen to’re in search of an identical sense of escape in an equally winsome setting, I dare say you’ll find some fairly stable European dupes in California. I is probably not in Europe fairly often today, however I’m on the highways and byways of my residence state greater than most.

Listed below are eight cities in California that look similar to Europe.

Catalina Island

• Dupe for: Santorini, Greece, or Italy’s Amalfi Coast  

California’s Channel Islands are greater than 20 miles off its coast. The southernmost island, Catalina, is arguably the most well-liked, and it is no marvel—with crystal-clear water, a beautiful rock shoreline, and seashores for swimming and sunbathing, it is typically in comparison with Santorini or the Amalfi Coast.

Vacationers normally attain the island by way of the Catalina Specific ferry. Because the island is so small, you do not want a automobile to get round, and you’ll all the time use the Metropolis of Avalon Seaside Transit if you happen to ever do want a journey. Retailers and eating places line Crescent Avenue—head to Luau Larry’s for a tiki drink and Lobster Entice for a lobster roll—or whereas away a day at Descanso Seashore Membership, the place you possibly can eat and drink together with your toes within the sand. In case you’re trying to do one thing extra lively, the Trans-Catalina Path stretches for 38.5 miles throughout the island, or you can even zip-line.

Solvang

Danish immigrants based Solvang in 1911. They constructed a folks college and a church, printed Danish-language newspapers, and labored as dairy and crop farmers. Right this moment, one of many oldest constructions on the town is the Bit O’ Denmark restaurant, constructed in 1911. Pop in for an open-faced frikadeller (sliced meatball) sandwich or a plate of flaeskesteg (roast pork). The Elverhøj Museum of Historical past and Artwork focuses on native Danish historical past and heritage and is nicely price a go to. Plus, you possibly can even view “Lulu,” a picket troll created by Thomas Dambo out of discovered objects like sticks, previous pallets, and wine barrels, on the California Nature Artwork Museum.

Once I carry my kids to the world, we prefer to go windmill searching. We stroll down Copenhagen Drive to see the Blue Windmill after which flip south on Alisal Highway to see the grand Solvang Windmill. En route, we regularly snack on Danish pastries like aebleskivers (spherical pancakes crammed with jam) or Mazarin muffins and roulades from Danish Mill Bakery.

Mammoth Lakes

Once I consider Switzerland, I instantly image the large, jagged peaks of the Swiss Alps. In California, you’ll discover (arguably) equally splendid summits within the Sierra Nevada Vary. For comparability, California’s Mount Whitney is 14,494 toes tall, whereas Switzerland’s Matterhorn is 14,692 toes—if these mountains may duel, the winner can be anyone’s guess.

Many vacationers heading to the Sierras are aiming for the mountain city of Mammoth Lakes or its beloved ski resort, Mammoth Mountain. Like Switzerland’s Saint Moritz or Zermatt, Mammoth attracts out of doors fans and adrenaline junkies like mountain climbers, hikers, and fishermen all 12 months lengthy. I want visiting in the summertime after I can fill my days with scenic, sunny hikes—however actually, there is not any dangerous time to go to.

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara’s Spanish architectural particulars—cream stucco partitions, red-tiled roofs, and fairly arches—are hanging. Spanish settlers arrived within the space within the late 1700s (you possibly can nonetheless discover Franciscan Friars on the Previous Santa Barbara Mission), and the coastal metropolis’s iconic look is a mirrored image of that storied historical past. Take a strolling tour to see sights just like the historic Santa Barbara County Courthouse (the view from its clocktower is difficult to beat), or go to throughout Fiesta, an annual, multi-day fête that celebrates Santa Barbara’s heritage with tune, dance, a rodeo, and extra.

Mendocino

• Dupe for: Coastal England and Eire

The walkable village of Mendocino appears out onto the Pacific Ocean from a misty blufftop perch. Contemplate a morning stroll alongside Mendocino Path, which undulates alongside the continent’s edge for miles, delivering a symphonic present of rolling waves and squawking sea birds, who sing their wild tunes from the highest of dramatic rock formations. Mendocino is thought for its cute-as-a-button Victorian structure, and there are additionally loads of lovable outlets to pop into and eateries aplenty—we by no means skip an opportunity to go to Good Life Cafe & Bakery.

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Dupe for: Rural France and Germany

Within the Twenties, storybook structure grew to become very fashionable within the Los Angeles space (this one in Beverly Hills nonetheless turns heads as individuals cruise alongside North Walden Drive) in addition to within the small, however undeniably posh city of Carmel-By-the-Sea, situated on California’s central coast. The Cottage of Sweets and The Tuck Field are each tremendous examples of this fanciful architectural fashion and might be simply seen from the road by way of a self-guided strolling tour.

The Napa Valley Space

Dupe for: Europe’s wine castles

Europe has hidden castles and so does California’s Napa Valley space—and never solely are they beautiful, however they’re additionally improbable locations to style wine. Our high picks embody Castello di Amorosa in Calistoga, which is modeled after 14th-century Tuscan castles. E book a seated tasting, which features a flight of 5 wines and time to roam the citadel. Then, about 20 miles away in Kenwood, there’s the Chateau Montelena Vineyard. The vineyard was based within the late 1800s and provides reserve tastings and excursions in addition to restricted walk-in spots.

Temecula

Dupe for: Tuscany

Southern California’s wine area is the Temecula Valley and the rolling vineyards right here are sometimes in comparison with these in Tuscany. There are dozens of wineries within the space, however for a European-esque escape head to Europa Villag Wineries & Resort, which—as its identify implies—was designed to make friends really feel as in the event that they had been in Europe (Spain, Italy, and France, to be particular). There are three tasting rooms, every representing one nation from that trio. You’ll be able to even spend the night time at Europa—take your choose of a Bolero casita or a hilltop inn with winery views.