{"id":3074,"date":"2023-11-28T10:10:20","date_gmt":"2023-11-28T15:10:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/palmeravacationclub.com\/blog\/?p=3074"},"modified":"2023-11-28T10:10:21","modified_gmt":"2023-11-28T15:10:21","slug":"no-passport-required-5-travel-destinations-in-the-u-s-that-feel-international","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/palmeravacationclub.com\/blog\/2023\/11\/no-passport-required-5-travel-destinations-in-the-u-s-that-feel-international\/","title":{"rendered":"No Passport Required: 5 Travel Destinations in the U.S. That Feel International"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We might be your biggest cheerleaders for traveling the world, but sometimes a trip out of the United States just isn’t feasible. We’ve collected our top 5 destinations throughout the country that remind us of other countries across the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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St. Augustine, FL <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Walk through the streets of this charming, coastal town, and you\u2019ll know exactly why this destination is number one on our list! With warm, balmy weather and streets lined with Spanish Colonial architecture, you\u2019ll feel like you\u2019ve been completely transported abroad.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Founded by the Spanish in 1565, St. Augustine is known as the oldest continuously inhabited city in the United States with European origins.<\/strong> Of course, the modern city looks a bit different. So, what remains? After the city fell from a British invasion in 1702, the Castillo de San Marcos<\/strong> was left standing and is a popular landmark to visit today. While you\u2019re in the Historic Colonial District, you\u2019ll see 36 original buildings, and another 40 or so models that have been recreated.<\/strong> Learn more here.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Flagler College in St. Augustine, Adobe Stock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, Adobe Stock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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St. Augustine, Photo by Kristin Wilson<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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New Orleans, LA<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An exciting combination of cultures, the Big Easy has taken on its own distinctive identity and is one of the most visited destinations in the United States.<\/strong> Colonized by French settlers in the early 1700s, surrendered to the Spanish, and then ruled by the French once again after almost four decades, New Orleans\u2019 early history constitutes for a lot of its current attributes, such as its architecture, city plan, etc.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps you identify New Orleans directly with either Cajun or Creole cultures, as the food, music, language, and overall way of life have grown from the combinations of people brought together in the region for generations.<\/strong> Visitors plan on feasting on gumbo, muffuletta, and beignets, and look forward to hearing Zydeco, Jazz, and Blues while walking up and down the lively city streets. Learn more about this destination by reading our travel guide<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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French Quarter, Adobe Stock <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Photo by Madison O’ Friel<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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San Francisco, CA <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Yet another city colonized by the Spanish, this destination, however, has been and still is being continually influenced by countless cultures from around the world, creating a completely unique destination to discover.<\/strong> Named after the founder of the Franciscan order, St. Francis of Assisi, you\u2019ll be able to see San Francisco\u2019s Spanish roots firsthand and learn more about the California Missions at Mission Delores, located in the Mission District.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Spanish\u2019s hold on San Francisco didn\u2019t last long, and shortly after, the city was put on a worldwide stage when gold was discovered in Sutter\u2019s Mill. One can argue, that ever since the Gold Rush, people from around the world have flocked to the City By The Bay, thus creating neighborhoods heavily influenced by international cultures.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the famous ones is Chinatown<\/strong>, one of the oldest in the United States. \u00a0But there\u2019s also Japantown <\/strong>and Little Saigon<\/strong>, a 2-block stretch of Vietnamese-owned businesses. Head to North Beach<\/strong>, the Italian neighborhood filled with trattorias and cafes, or Mission District<\/strong> for some of the best taquerias around. The melting pot of all of these cultures and more can be found throughout the streets of this beautiful city, telling a story all its own. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Maarten Van Den Heuvel<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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China Town, Adobe Stock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Pier 39, Adobe Stock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Helen, GA<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019ve ever wanted to go to Germany, this well-kept secret hidden in the mountains of northeastern Georgia will be the perfect getaway for you.<\/strong> The town of Helen feels straight out of a storybook, and that\u2019s on purpose. The region was home to Cherokee villages, miners during the Great Georgia Gold Rush, and finally the Matthews Lumber Company, that is, until the town was deserted once the timber had all been cut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fast-forward to ingenious locals who dreamed of creating a Bavarian escape right in the Blue Ridge Mountains.<\/strong> The downtown was completely reinvented with Bauernhaus architecture<\/strong>. Complete with Biergartens, and other quaint restaurants and shops to find unique German fare, sweets, and gifts, visitors of all ages will love exploring the town of Helen. Learn more about this destination by reading our travel guide.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Adobe Stock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Ouray, CO<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our last destination on the list is known as the \u201cSwitzerland of America\u201d.<\/strong> Ouray, Colorado, is almost completely surrounded by the San Juan Mountains in the southwest region of the Centennial State. Sitting at an elevation of 7,792, you can imagine that the town gets pretty chilly in the winter and receives a beautiful blanket of snow. It\u2019s this exact landscape that gives the town its nickname, reminding visitors of villages in the Swiss Alps<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lesser-known Colorado destination, Ouray offers impeccable skiing and hiking trails, the Ouray Ice Park, and the healing waters at various hot springs in the area.<\/strong> It\u2019s no wonder that this alpine community is also known as the \u201cOutdoor Recreation Capitol of Colorado\u201d.<\/strong> While there are endless opportunities to get outside, visitors will also want to take a stroll through this Victorian-era mining town\u2019s downtown.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Adobe Stock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Silver Mine, Adobe Stock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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The San Juan Mountain Range, Adobe Stock<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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