1 | Montreal, Canada
Population: 1.6 million | French Influence
Montreal is one of the most bilingual cities in Canada and the second-largest primarily French-speaking city in the world, after Paris. The city of Montreal, located on the Island of Montreal, was established in 1611 as a fur trading post by Samuel de Champlain (who founded Quebec City). It was ruled by the French colony until it was surrendered to Great Britain after the Seven Years’ War. Old Montreal is the oldest part of the city, with cobbled streets and buildings dating back to the seventeenth century. Take a horse-drawn carriage to the historic and gorgeous Notre-Dame Basilica, one of the city’s oldest buildings, and the 1888 New York Life Building, the oldest skyscraper in Canada.
2 | Solvang, California
Population: 5,200 | Danish Influence
Located in Santa Barbara County in the Santa Ynez Valley, the town of Solvang was founded in 1911 by a group of Danes escaping the poor economy of Denmark. The word “solvang” mean “sunny field” in Danish, and the town’s architecture, namely the Bethania Lutheran Church, reflects the Danish style. Try a taste of Denmark at one of the many Danish bakeries and restaurants, and check out the four windmills in town. Take a photo with the Little Mermaid statue or ride the Hønen, a replica of a nineteenth-century Danish horse-drawn streetcar. For a dose of historical education, visit the Elverhøj Museum of History and Art or the Hans Christian Andersen Museum. The city hosts a Danish Days festival in September that features eating competitions, music, dancing, parades, and a Sunday morning breakfast with traditional Danish dishes. For an experience on two wheels, visit Solvang on a Santa Barbara 4-Day Bike Tour with DuVine.
3 | St. Augustine, Florida
Population: 13,000 | Spanish Influence
Located in northeastern Florida just outside of Jacksonville, St. Augustine is the oldest European-settled city in the U.S. The city was founded in 1565 by a Spanish admiral and Florida’s first governor and was the capital of Spanish Florida for over 200 years. Explore the narrow cobblestoned streets in the historic center around St. George Street lined with Spanish colonial-era buildings and boutiques. Visit the Museum at Fort Mose, the first free community of ex-slaves, the city’s lighthouse, Fort Matanzas National Monument, Castillo de San Marcos, the Lightner Musuem in the grand 19th-century Hotel Alcazar building, the city’s beautiful beaches, and more. The city has true Spanish flavor, with horse-drawn carriages, hidden courtyards, and restaurants that reflect the town’s multicultural heritage.
4 | Cape Breton Island, Canada
Population: 135,974 | Celtic Influence
The island of Cape Breton along the coast of Nova Scotia has changed hands many times throughout its history—native, Portuguese, British, and French—creating a unique blended culture, but the Celtic culture dominates the island today. The island’s name derives from Celtic region of Bretagne in France, and Gaelic is still the first language of many elders on the island. Some of Cape Breton’s first settlers were Irish, and the island welcomed over 50,000 Scottish immigrants in the 1800s. The landscape itself reflects that of Ireland, Scotland, and Brittany, with rocky shores, rolling green farmland, and the Cape Breton Highlands. Drive along the scenic Cabot Trail and explore the coves and islands of Bras d’Or, one of the world’s largest saltwater lakes. Enjoy fresh seafood with a side of Celtic fiddle music, buy a handmade kilt, or check out the Highland Village Museum.
5 | Querétaro, Mexico
Population: 1.8 Million | Spanish Influence
Querétaro is a colonial town in Mexico recognized as having the best quality of life and as the safest city in Mexico. Founded in 1531 by Franciscan monks, Querétaro was declared a town by the Spanish in 1606. Glass working made the city an economic center in the eighteenth century and is still a trademark today. Its Historic Monument Zone, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, combines the geometric streets of the Spanish colonists with the twisting alleyways of the Otomi quarters. Visit the Franciscan Missions from the eighteenth century, wander the historic center with its color-splashed colonial mansions, pedestrian alleyways, and quaint plazas, and marvel at the ornate civil and religious Baroque monuments from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
6 | Quebec City, Canada
Population: 500,000 | French Influence
Just three-hours drive from the Vermont border, the city of Quebec truly offers European charm without the seven-hour flight. Founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain, a French explorer and diplomat, Quebec is one of the oldest cities in North America and the only walled city north of Mexico. Residents speak both French and English, and French architecture, heritage, art and culture encompass this charming city. Visit Old Quebec, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to walk the cobblestoned streets like Rue Saint-Jean. Take a photo at La Citadelle, the fortress at the city walls, and bask in the beauty of the historic Château Frontenac, the grand castle that dominates the Quebec City skyline.
7 | Leavenworth, Washington
Population: 2,000 | German Influence
Leavenworth was officially incorporated in 1906 as a small timber community and soon became the headquarters of the Great North Railroad. The railroad relocated in the 1920s, and the town’s economy struggled until 1962 when the city decided to transform the town center into a Bavarian village. With the stunning Tumwater Mountain as a backdrop and German-inspired architecture, Leavenworth will truly make you feel as if you’ve been transported to the stunning alpine region of Bavaria. This little village welcomes tourists to visit their nutcracker museum, wine shops, sausage gardens, and festivals like Oktoberfest and the Bavarian Ice Festival. Or make your way to Tumwater Mountain for picturesque biking, hiking, skiing, and other outdoor activities.
8 | Guanajuato, Mexico
Population: 170,000 | Spanish Influence
This charming colonial-era city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its European flavor. Located in the valley of the Sierra de Guanajuato Mountains, Guanajuato was founded in 1559 after the Spanish discovered its mines, making it the richest city in Mexico for much of the early colonial period. This history of riches and colonial power can be seen in the city’s Neoclassical and Baroque-style colonial architecture. Walk the cobbled callejones (alleyways), too narrow for cars to pass through. Wander the shady plazas lined with sidewalk cafes, and visit the Callejón del Beso (Alley of the Kiss), so narrow that couples can kiss from opposite balconies. Take part in a musical callejoneada (walking serenade), and sample the regional Bajío cuisine.
9 | Boston, Massachusetts
Population: 650,000 | British Influence
Boston is the capital city of Massachusetts and one of the oldest cities in the U.S. Founded in 1630 by Puritan settlers from England, the city was named for Boston, Lincolnshire, England, where many of its original settlers were from. As the center of British America, Boston was the largest town in British North America until Philadelphia surpassed it in the eighteenth century and was host to many key events of the American Revolution. Visit the historic Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market, just steps from Boston Harbor, to feel as if you’ve been transported to an English port town. Walk the cobblestoned streets along the Freedom Trail to learn about many historical stops along the way, from Paul Revere’s house to the iconic Old State House.
10 | New Orleans, Louisiana
Population: 350,000 | French + Spanish Influence
New Orleans was founded by the French in 1718 and named for the Duke of Orleans. The city is known for its Spanish and French architecture and its multilingual and multicultural heritage. French was spoken city-wide until the late 1800s when it was abolished from city schools. Still, 200,000 people in New Orleans speak French today. Visit the city during Mardi Gras, a celebration that dates back to French colonial times. Spend time in the Vieux Carré (French Quarter), New Orleans’s oldest neighborhood, which boasts architecture that blends its Spanish, French, Creole, and American heritage. Check out the French Market’s funky shops, take a carriage ride through Jackson Square, and enjoy some Creole and Cajun cuisine from French cafes.
11 | Frankenmuth, Michigan
Population: 5,000 | German Influence
Fighting for the title of Little Bavaria in the Midwest, Frankenmuth, Michigan is known for its Franconian-style timber-framed buildings and rich German heritage and culture. The city was settled in 1845 by Lutheran immigrants from Franconia, a province in Bavaria, and is named for their home (“Mut” means courage in German). Frankenmuth is home to the World’s Largest Christmas Store and its iconic covered bridge at the entrance to town. Visit one of Frankenmuth’s German festivals including their week-long summer polka fest, Oktoberfest, or its bustling Bavarian Fest where you can hear traditional Bavarian music played by authentically dressed German bands, taste German food and beer, and join the crowd of over 100,000 people who attend the Bavarian Festival Parade each year.
12 | Morelia, Mexico
Population: 600,000 | Spanish Influence
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Morelia, Mexico is home to breathtaking examples of Spanish colonial architecture. The Spanish founded a settlement here in 1541 called Michoacán. The city was renamed many times before finally becoming Morelia after the Mexican War of Independence, named for a local revolutionary leader. Visit the city’s international film festival, explore its museums, art galleries, and cafes, and take a trip to the nearby volcanic Lake Patzcuaro. Check out the cathedral and the aqueduct, both built in the mid-seventeenth century. Almost a mile long, the aqueduct was constructed to carry drinking water to the city after a two-year drought. Walk the cobbled trail alongside the aqueduct at night when it’s lit up for a romantic view.
