These Dreamy American Beach Towns Are Straight Out of a European Postcard
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
Summer's still in full swing, and so is the urge to travel to Europe. If hopping on the next flight to the French Riviera, Italy's Venice, Portugal's Algarve, or the many islands of Greece is not in the cards right now, though, there are many—and we really do mean many—American beach towns that look straight out of a European postcard. European charm meets nearby glorious sandy beaches? Yes, please.
From a taste of Greece down in Florida and Dutch charm in Michigan to touches of Spain and France in South Carolina, scroll through to see our favorite American beach towns that, even without squinting, look a whole lot like you've jumped the pond.
Alys Beach, Florida
Alys Beach could be considered Mykonos's twin. The beach town's whitewashed buildings and geometric rooftops mirror those of Greece's beloved island.
Corona del Mar, California
Known for its stunning beaches and quaint village shops, one particular view stops us in our tracks: the rock formations along its coastline—a perfect dupe for Portugal's Algarve.
Holland, Michigan
It goes without saying which European country is the inspiration behind this town. Smack in its center, everything is Dutch sweetness. (We're talking windmills and tulips, as you can see.) But there's a beach too—a lake beach, courtesy of the nearby Holland State Park.
Venice, California
Los Angeles's Bohemian enclave features a residential area crisscrossed with canals—hence the name it shares with the Italian city that inspired it. Ironically, though, the neighborhood resembles another beloved European city even more: Amsterdam. Two for the price of one?
Old Town Alexandria, Virginia
Alexandria sits on the Potomac, meaning there's water aplenty. But there's something else too: a Scottish heritage, which is not only evident in the architecture but also the restaurants—and even the traditions upheld (like the annual Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend).
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Carmel-by-the-Sea is truly a sight to behold. While the coastline is reminiscent of Italy's Cinque Terre, its downtown—complete with cobblestone streets lined with thatched-roof shops—looks like something out of a German fairy tale.
Poulsbo, Washington
If you think of Washington as simply one big, rainy forest, then you've probably read Twilight a few too many times. (Guilty as charged.) But Poulsbo is something else entirely. Sitting pretty on Liberty Bay, it's known as "Little Norway"—and in fact, Norse immigrants chose to settle there in the 1880s because of its resemblance to their home country.
Avalon, California
Wish you were sunning in the Greek Isles? Lucky for you, there's an option much closer to home: Avalon. The town, which sits on Santa Catalina Island, hugs the kind of harbor you only imagine in the Mediterranean—and plenty of its restaurants nod to that.
Charleston, South Carolina
While this port city on Charleston Harbor gets its name from a British king (Charles II, to be exact), its cobblestone streets and stout, colorful buildings evoke mainland Europe—especially Spain and France. No visit is complete, of course, without a trip to one of the area's beaches, like Isle of Palms or Folly Beach.
Victoria Beach in Laguna Beach, California
Victoria Beach is just one of the many beautiful beaches you can find in Laguna Beach (within the limits of Orange County, or, as you might know it, the O.C.). But this one's particularly special, as it's home to La Tour, a 60-foot castle-inspired tower worthy of German fairy-tale heroine Rapunzel.
Rosemary Beach, Florida
Rosemary Beach was designed to look like a Dutch village— mission, accomplished. The cobblestone streets are filled with colorful shops topped with scalloped awnings and wooden balconies. (The Pearl Hotel seen here is just one gorgeous example.) Romantic doesn't even begin to cover it.
Coronado Island, California
More simply known as Coronado, this manmade island sits right across from San Diego. And it's most famous landmark? The historic Hotel del Coronado, an undeniably grand example of Britain's Victorian architecture in the form of a resort (once frequented by the likes of Charlie Chaplin and Marilyn Monroe).
Savannah, Georgia
Located on the coastline of Georgia, Savannah is, of course, home to many a nearby beach—but to find its European roots, one must venture to the city itself. The riverfront homes are very European in design as is the basilica. Then, of course, there are the town squares draped in Spanish moss.
Oahu, Hawaii
The Azores archipelago is composed of nine gorgeously lush volcanic islands—much like our Hawaii. As Oahu is both volcanic and verdant, it's a perfect match.
Newport, Rhode Island
Between the flags, the colonial architecture, and the lobster rolls, downtown Newport is about as American as it gets. But its mansions, including the Vanderbilt-owned Breakers? Versailles, eat your heart out!
Cape May, New Jersey
One of the country's very first resort towns has a 144-year-old hotel (Congress Hall) to prove it. But it's especially well-known for its dozens of Victorian gingerbread homes, many of which are now bed-and-breakfasts.
Santa Barbara, California
If it's the Spanish Mediterranean you long for, Santa Barbara is the town for you. Just one look at the city's courthouse—called the "grandest Spanish Colonial Revival structure ever built" by architect Charles Willard Moore—is all you'll need to feel instantly transported.
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine offers many pristine beaches, but as the "nation's oldest city," it's also home to a seemingly endless supply of Spanish colonial architecture.
Annapolis, Maryland
Maryland's capital features many an 18th-century brick home, plus the iconic domed Maryland State House. This, coupled with the Beaux Arts architecture of the famed United States Naval Academy, gives the city a distinctly European flair. (Can't you envision a European-style Christmas market here?) Thanks to its waterfront locale, it also has beaches, which you can find in Sandy Point State Park.
Montauk, New York
While Montauk is indeed part of New York's famed Hamptons, the hamlet sets itself apart by boasting the aesthetic of a Danish fishing town. (Just look at that lighthouse!)
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Yes, the Côte d'Azur is lovely, but if the French Riviera is a ways away, there's always Nantucket, which is chock-full of the floral sweetness you imagine while strolling the south of France. (Truly, Nantucket's roses are legendary.)
Cannon Beach, Oregon
The Emerald Isle is calling—but she's saying if you can't make it, you can always go to Oregon's Cannon Beach. How can you stand on these cliffs and not believe you've been magically transported to Ireland?
Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts
With its gingerbread-style cottages and flower-filled fields, Martha's Vineyard—the noted presidential retreat—feels not unlike the English countryside.
Miami, Florida
Barcelona, Ibiza, Malaga—no matter which lively Spanish city you wish you were currently vacationing in, Miami's got you. Ocean Drive, dotted with neon lights and overlooking, yes, the ocean, is especially perfect for those partial to a colorful club scene.
Sitka, Alaska
Once dubbed the "Paris of the North"—and indeed, its European roots still loom large—the town on the western coastline of Baranof Island was once occupied by Russia. You can't go anywhere in Sitka without admiring the Russian-inspired architecture.
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Cape Cod was one of the earliest areas to be inhabited by English settlers, so it's no surprise that it was designed to look a bit like home. That sweet aesthetic is still very much present today.
Tarpon Springs, Florida
Once the world center of the Greek sponge trade, Greek sponge divers still sell their wares in adorable shops around this gulf-front town in Central Florida. Plus, where there are Greek sponge divers, you can bet there's plenty of great Greek food.
Palos Verdes Estates, California
The ultra-luxe planned community, designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. (the same man who designed the National Mall in D.C. and New York City's Central Park) and inhabited by several Hollywood celebs, is meant to make you feel like you're in Italy. Many compare its coastal views to those of Sicily.
Boca Grande, Florida
The shining, European-inspired star of Boca Grande is the Gasparilla Inn & Club, which is yet another jaw-dropping example of Victorian architecture on this list.
Mackinac Island, Michigan
Brimming with quaint European vibes, the many Victorian cottages—not to mention the iconic Grand Hotel (backdrop to the film Somewhere in Time)—are instantly transporting. Plus, there's one incredible old-school rule: No cars allowed!
Newport Beach, California
Desperate for la playas of Spain? Newport Beach, California, is a near dupe of Costa del Sol's Marbella.
Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
With its wide-open beaches and crystal-clear waters, Wrightsville Beach is North Carolina's hidden gem. It boasts the kind of posh atmosphere you'd expect to find in a European beach club only better, since there's no transatlantic airfare required to get there.
Dana Point, California
While considered the dolphin- and whale-watching capital of the world, this city is also great for shopping, spa-ing, cliffside ocean viewing, and, yes, generally feeling like you caught a flight to the Mediterranean without ever presenting your passport.
Amelia Island, Florida
Amelia Island, the southernmost of the Sea Islands, has a history of Spanish, French, British, and American rule—and a touch of each in its surroundings.
Portland, Maine
Portland is home to one-third of the state's population—and no wonder. Who wouldn't want to take in this view every day? The Old Port, pictured here, has an especially European vibe, with its boat-lined dock feeling like a mix of Cornwall and Amsterdam.
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Let's not forget the U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico's historic Old San Juan, with rainbow-colored buildings that seem straight from the streets of Spain—but with a decidedly Caribbean touch.
Spring Lake, New Jersey
The Garden State's Spring Lake is affectionately called the "Irish Riviera." The town itself is sprinkled with flawlessly maintained historic Victorian homes. But you come to Spring Lake for the pristine beach and iconic boardwalks, which are great for promenades all year.
Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands
Finally, there's the U.S. Virgin Islands' Charlotte Amalie, located on St. Thomas. Indeed, the town itself boasts Danish colonial architecture, but with its green mountains and crystal-clear blue bay (often packed with the finest of yachts and cruise ships), the south of France feels that much closer.
You Might Also Like
