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Retired not Expired
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Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 03:38 pm | 1st Post |
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I know this is mainly a cruise site but I believe this would fit in with those who like to travel and experience new things. With the weak dollar, many do not wish to spend what it would cost to go to Europe for a vacation. I hope others will place reviews here of places either near them or where they have visited that offers the culture of Europe here in North American, both the U.S. and Canada. I will try to write a couple of reviews later today to post.
But to start, I believe New York City should be near the top. No where else in the world can you experience the cultures of the whole world in just a few square miles than NYC.. From the Far East to Europe, just a short subway ride away. Have lunch in China and dinner in Italy. Dining, Shopping, shows, the whole world is there.
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Retired not Expired
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Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 05:40 pm | 2nd Post |
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New Glarus, WI, a small, quaint town nestled in the rolling hills of Southern Wisconsin. Less than an hours drive SW of Madison you will arrive to Old World charm. Settled by the Swiss in the 1800’s, they have kept their homeland alive. From the beautiful tunes ringing from the old church bells to small shops along main street, you will experience the Swiss and Bavarian flavor. They were originally suppose to settle near St Louis in Missouri, but when the forerunners arrived, the land deal fell through. So they went up to Wisconsin, found this land, and the rest of the group followed. Missouri’s lost was Wisconsin’s gain.
While there, you may want to visit the Swiss Village to experience what life was like for those early settlers. Or you may want to stop for a while at the New Glarus Winery to sample some of the local grape. While strolling down the street, be sure to stop at the Chocolate Factory to sample some wonderful European sweets, or next door at the meat market to pick up their home made luncheon meats and sausages. Of course you will want to go next door to the meat market and visit the bakery to pick up some rolls, bread, and pastries to go along with that meat. Some of the best you will find outside of Bavaria.
The New Glarus Brewery deserves a mention all it’s own. This man went to Europe and purchased his equipment from one of the old regional breweries that used to dot the landscape over there and makes several types of beer the old traditional way. You can take a self guided tour before stopping in the tasting room or just go straight for the tasting. Either way, a beer lover will find something to his liking.
Although you will not find any four or five star hotels, there are a few hotel, motels around town. I recommend the Chalet Landhaus. A little old but kept clean and has a charming gingerbread atmosphere. It comes with a European type Continental breakfast during the week wit5h hot items added on the weekends. They are also open for a traditional Swiss lunch and dinner. There are also several other places to dine around town, most with a Swiss/German/American menu. Prices and fanciness vary but there are enough to fill a weeks stay.
There are a number of places to see around the area while using New Glarus as your base. Perhaps a day trip out to the House on the Rock for something unusual. Or a trip down to Monroe to visit the produce market, old downtown, or their own fine brewery for a guided tour and tasting.
Of course, what trip to this area would be complete without seeking out all of those great small cheese factories for tours and samples of the wonderful cheese and curds.
All in all, a nice place to visit and can be done without breaking the budget.
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Eeyore
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Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 06:09 pm | 3rd Post |
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Frankenmuth, Michigan. I've been there a couple of times, but don't have much experience with it, so this is directly from Wikipedia:
Frankenmuth is a city in Saginaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,838 at the 2000 census. The city is located within Frankenmuth Township, but is politically independent. Bronner's Christmas Wonderland, which bills itself as the World's Largest Christmas Store, is located in Frankenmuth. The most popular nickname is "The Muth", but the city is also nicknamed "Little Bavaria".
The area was settled and named by conservative Lutheran immigrants from Franconia, (now part of Bavaria) in 1845. The German word "Franken" represents the Province of Franconia in the Kingdom of Bavaria, and the German word "Mut" means courage, thus the city name Frankenmuth means "courage of the Franconians".
The nearby villages of Frankenlust, Frankentrost, and Frankenhilf illustrate that the area remained a magnet for other Germans from the same region even after it lost its original purpose as a mission post for the spread of Christianity to the Chippewa tribe. Citizens with German ancestry form nearly 53% of the city population.
Tourism drives the local economy. Frankenmuth draws over three million tourists annually to its Bavarian-themed shops and restaurants. The most well known of these are Zehnder's and Bavarian Inn restaurants, and Bronner's Christmas Wonderland. Frankenmuth also attracts tourists with festivals and other events throughout the year. The Frankenmuth News is the oldest business in existence since 1906. The other major employer is Frankenmuth Mutual Insurance. It was also once the site of a brewery that offered tours to visitors, which has since closed down. As a tourism measure, the City uses German style signage for roads.
The strong influence of Franconian-style architecture can be found in most areas of the city. Most buildings in the commercial district, as well as many homes, feature stylistic interpretations of the timber-framed buildings found in the Franconia region of Germany. This style is marked by the use of timbers in "square" and "X" patterns on the outside of buildings, as well as the use of "X" patterns on windows, doors, and other building features. The City currently requires Franconian-style facades for the majority of new commercial construction within the main tourist areas.
The World Expo of Beer: The World Expo of Beer is a community fundraiser that helps different organizations in need of funding. The beneficiary differs from year to year.
Bavarian Fest: The Bavarian Fest began in 1959 in collaboration with the Grand Opening Celebration of the Bavarian-Style addition to Fischer's Hotel on the main street of the city. In 1970, the event outgrew the parking lots of the Main Street restaurants and moved to what is now Heritage Park. Visitors of all ages are invited to hear Bavarian music played by authentically dressed German bands, watch two parades, enjoy an expanded midway with rides and games, dance music, face painting, and a hands-on craft area. Venues sell many varieties of German foods and desserts, along with imported and domestic beer. Each year, over 100,000 people enjoy the annual Sunday Big Parade, usually featuring over 100 entries including marching bands, decorated floats, dance clubs, visiting dignitaries, entertainers, royalty, and that year's newly crowned Bavarian Princess and her Court.
Oktoberfest: In 1990, Frankenmuth, also known as "Michigan's Little Bavaria," celebrated its first Oktoberfest. The Frankenmuth Oktoberfest celebrates German culture, heritage and love. The goal of the festival is to retain as much of the Bavarian heritage of the region as possible. Frankenmuth is the first Oktoberfest outside of Munich to be sanctioned by the Parliament and the City of Munich.
All content from Wikipedia.
Edited to add links (had to go to Explorer to do that ).
Last edited on Sat May 10th, 2008 06:19 pm by Eeyore
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GREGandamy
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Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 07:32 pm | 4th Post |
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| Old Quebec City. It's awesome.
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goodml
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Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 07:38 pm | 5th Post |
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I love Frankenmuth! We've been there many times.
My contribution would be Quebec City. Absolutely beautiful and set on the St. Lawrence River, Vieux Quebec (the old walled city) feels like you're in France. It has cobblestone streets, is brimming with street artists, outdoor cafes, fine dining and wonderful historic hotels and b & b's. It's one of my favourite places in the world and when you're there it's hard to believe you're still in North America. Here's a few photos but they really don't do it justice.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g155033-d573466-Vieux_Quebec_Old_Quebec-Quebec_City_Quebec.html#16815906
http://www.mestern.net/canada/quebec/drive/index.php
Plus, the French Canadians LOVE the American tourists. (It's just us Anglophone Canadians they can't stand .)
Last edited on Sat May 10th, 2008 07:43 pm by goodml
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goodml
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Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 07:38 pm | 6th Post |
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GREGandamy wrote: Old Quebec City. It's awesome.
Great minds think alike!! We must have been posting at the same time.
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Retired not Expired
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Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 07:39 pm | 7th Post |
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GREGandamy wrote: Old Quebec City. It's awesome.
Tell us about it. I'd love to visit sometime. I know it will be a French experience as many moved from there to start the first settlement west of the Mississippi, St Genevieve, MO.
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Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 07:40 pm | 8th Post |
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Helen, Georgia
Alpine Helen------A Touch of Bavaria
Helen, Georgia, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains on the Chattahoochee River, is a re-creation of an alpine village complete with cobblestone alleys and old-world towers. This Northeast Georgia village has a rich history linked to the Cherokee Indians and Indian burial mounds as well as early settlers who arrived to mine for gold and cut virgin timber for a thriving lumber industry in the early 1900ís. Now celebrating its thirty-fifth year as a mountain community with a touch of Bavaria, Helen boasts a wide array of attractions. The area has more than 200 specialty and import shops offer everything from candle making to cuckoo clocks. Restaurant options range from a German meal of schnitzel, sauerbraten, rouladen or wurst with an imported beer or wine to a traditional southern country meal of grits, country ham, home made biscuits and gravy. There are also plenty of American style steaks, seafood, deli sandwiches, hot dogs and hamburgers as well as homemade fudge, candies and funnel cakes. Outdoor lovers can enjoy river tubing, horseback riding, golf, canoeing, fishing, mountain biking, hiking and more. Festivals and special events include a hot air balloon race, Winefest, Volksmarch, Oktoberfest and Christmas parades, Fourth of July fireworks, and Bavarian Nights of Summer. From mid-September through October, Helen hosts the longest Oktoberfest in the South. Alpenfest offers entertainment for visitors during the Holiday season from Thanksgiving through December. Visitors can hike the many trails to waterfalls in the area, or sit beside a cozy fire and enjoy the winter weather in the mountains.
A little hard to get to on back country roads but still a nice place to visit within a budget.
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goodml
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Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 07:44 pm | 9th Post |
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Retired not Expired wrote: GREGandamy wrote: Old Quebec City. It's awesome.
Tell us about it. I'd love to visit sometime. I know it will be a French experience as many moved from there to start the first settlement west of the Mississippi, St Genevieve, MO.
See above RnE. You may have missed it because we were posting at the same time.
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Retired not Expired
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Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 07:44 pm | 10th Post |
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goodml wrote: I love Frankenmuth! We've been there many times.
My contribution would be Quebec City. Absolutely beautiful and set on the St. Lawrence River, Vieux Quebec (the old walled city) feels like you're in France. It has cobblestone streets, is brimming with street artists, outdoor cafes, fine dining and wonderful historic hotels and b & b's. It's one of my favourite places in the world and when you're there it's hard to believe you're still in North America. Here's a few photos but they really don't do it justice.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g155033-d573466-Vieux_Quebec_Old_Quebec-Quebec_City_Quebec.html#16815906
Plus, the French Canadians LOVE the American tourists. (It's just us Anglophone Canadians they can't stand.)
Thanks. I was asking while you were telling.
We've got Swiss, German, and French. I know there are many more spots. I hope someone else does St Augustine, Florida. We were only there one day which is not enough to do it justice.
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Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 07:47 pm | 11th Post |
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goodml wrote: Retired not Expired wrote: GREGandamy wrote: Old Quebec City. It's awesome.
Tell us about it. I'd love to visit sometime. I know it will be a French experience as many moved from there to start the first settlement west of the Mississippi, St Genevieve, MO.
See above RnE. You may have missed it because we were posting at the same time.
Sorry I'm so slow. My main computer went down this morning and I'm working off the laptop. Fat fingers and small keys makes for many mistakes.
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Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 07:51 pm | 12th Post |
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goodml wrote: GREGandamy wrote: Old Quebec City. It's awesome.
Great minds think alike!! We must have been posting at the same time.
Yeah, but you gave a nive, spot-on description. We'll be visiting there soon.
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BeckyThane
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Posted: Sat May 10th, 2008 09:03 pm | 13th Post |
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Funny you all bring up QC! I have a friend who's moving there in July. She just got back from her house-hunting trip and started her tale by saying, "You HAVE to come visit us!" They're moving in a 200+-year-old building in old QC. She's so excited! She says it's just around the corner from the Chateau Frontenac. If I don't get this job, you'd better believe I'm going sooner rather than later! 
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Posted: Sun May 11th, 2008 02:20 am | 14th Post |
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BeckyThane wrote: Funny you all bring up QC! I have a friend who's moving there in July. She just got back from her house-hunting trip and started her tale by saying, "You HAVE to come visit us!" They're moving in a 200+-year-old building in old QC. She's so excited! She says it's just around the corner from the Chateau Frontenac. If I don't get this job, you'd better believe I'm going sooner rather than later!
If you go, you're gonna love it. That part of town is great.
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Posted: Sun May 11th, 2008 04:19 am | 15th Post |
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St. Augustine, Florida...........the oldest city in the U.S.!
There are tons of things to do here....the old, historical downtown area, complete with an old Spanish fort. The Mission of Nombre de Dios, where they celebrated the first Catholic Mass in America. Then there's the beach and the St.Johns River, if you like watersports.
The World Golf Village is less than 20 min away.
I'm on slow dial-up right now, but when I get back home, I will post some great links to the nation's oldest city. It's a great place to visit!
Last edited on Sun May 11th, 2008 04:19 am by Catnip
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Posted: Sun May 11th, 2008 07:05 am | 16th Post |
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It might not be quite what you are looking for but if you're looking for a historic vacation spot, Galena is a great getaway.
From golf to gardens to the great outdoors, Galena and Jo Daviess County burst with the splendors of spring. Drive our scenic roads to a local winery for a taste and a tour. Discover the timeless beauty of historic sites and elegant mansions. Sample the sweet and savory in local shops. Browse galleries and studios to explore how local artists have captured the county’s breathtaking beauty. Unwind with luxurious treatments at a full-service spa. Choose from B&Bs, hotels, motels and resorts, and vacation rental homes for a memorable stay.
We sneak away on weekend trips here quite often. It's a beautiful, historic area. The B&B's alone make it worth the trip. Great restaurants, the shopping is great.
http://www.galena.org/
Last edited on Sun May 11th, 2008 07:08 am by luvmytbear
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Posted: Wed May 14th, 2008 08:33 pm | 17th Post |
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| I vote for Boston
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Posted: Wed May 14th, 2008 08:35 pm | 18th Post |
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| New Glarus ummm Spotted Cow beer the best
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TheWog
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Posted: Wed May 14th, 2008 08:58 pm | 19th Post |
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Catnip wrote: St. Augustine, Florida...........the oldest city in the U.S.!
There are tons of things to do here....the old, historical downtown area, complete with an old Spanish fort. The Mission of Nombre de Dios, where they celebrated the first Catholic Mass in America. Then there's the beach and the St.Johns River, if you like watersports.
swimming as fast as I can from alligators is not what I consider watersports. Do tell more.
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Catnip
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Posted: Mon May 19th, 2008 02:13 pm | 20th Post |
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Paul,
St. Augustine, Fla is the nation's oldest city, founded in 1513 by a Spanish explorer. It is a cute little historical town on the northeast coast of Fla between Jacksonville and Daytona Beach, on the Atlantic Ocean. The beaches are great and you can still drive on the beach in certain area's. The Intracoastal Waterway runs through the town and the St. Johns River is just about 20 minutes to the west, so there are plenty of boating and water sports.
There is an old Spanish fort that you can go in (http://www.nps.gov/casa/) , and a historical part of the downtown area where they have renovated actual buildings from waaaaay back. There's an Alligator Farm (http://www.alligatorfarm.us/) & the Fountain of Youth (http://www.fountainofyouthflorida.com/).
Pretty cool town.
http://www.getaway4florida.com/
http://www.st.augustine.com/
http://www.oldcity.com/
Last edited on Mon May 19th, 2008 02:22 pm by Catnip
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Posted: Sun May 25th, 2008 01:43 am | 21st Post |
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The best European experiences — at home. Where to find the best of Europe without ever leaving North America!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24416307/
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GreatAuntieBonnie
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Posted: Sun May 25th, 2008 02:49 pm | 22nd Post |
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tommycruiser wrote: I vote for Boston
I agree. Boston, although not cheap is a great walkable city that is easy to navigate without a car. You can hop on Mass transit (known as the T) and ride to many locations and staying outside the city proper saves money on hotel rooms.
The Freedom Trail is a red line/red brick pathway through the city that brings you to many of the historical sites related to our quest for freedom from the British. The tour is free if you walk it but I believe you can also purchase a sound track to have a 'private' tour and explanation of the sites.
Fanueil Hall is a historic location that was used in revolutionary times to hold meetings. Now that the expressway has been put underground (The Big Dig) you can walk across the street from here in be in the North End, home to Mike's Pastries and Modern Pastries as well as lots of little italian bistros, some with outdoor sitting.
A short distance from there and you are at the Garden, home to the Celtics and Bruins and not far from Cambridge where Harvard and MIT are located.
Boston has a vibrant Chinatown and is close to the theater district. Enjoy some Pho and then walk to the Wang/Citi Center to catch a Broadway play.
If you come, check out the Duck Tours, fun tour wandering the streets of Boston and then a quick dip into the Charles River.
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