If tickets to Europe just aren’t in your budget this fall, no need to stress. You don’t need a passport to wander cobblestone streets, see storybook architecture or sip local lager as the leaves change colors—you just need this guide to the U.S. cities that serve major old-world vibes in Autumn. From quaint Alpine-style villages to Victorian-era small towns, here’s a list of under-the-radar cities that deserve a visit and all the ways they come alive in fall.
Related: The 20 Most Stunning Destinations for Fall Foliage This Year
Cities That Feel Like a European Fairytale in Autumn
1. Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
hoto by Craig Rupp on Getty Images
What it is: a Gothic Victorian Alpine village.
Fairytale Factor: This Poconos mountain town is often called the “Little Switzerland of America” thanks to its steep hillsides and European village feel. Narrow winding streets, turreted mansions and stone architecture look like something out of the Alps. It’s also the starting point for a scenic railroad, making for storybook fall rides.
Fall Tip: Book a special “fall foliage” ride on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway for fall leaf-peeping at its finest, then don’t miss the Fall Foliage Festival the first three weekends in October. Stay in the spooky Harry Packer Mansion—it’s rumored to have inspired Disney’s Haunted Mansion (which may or may not be true.)
Related: 24 Best Things To Do in Salem, Massachusetts for a Hauntingly Epic Halloween Getaway
2. Galena, Illinois
Photo by Alexis Gonzalez on Getty Images
What it is: A Belgian or Dutch hill town.
Fairytale Factor: This hidden Midwestern gem is known for its 19th-century architecture, independently owned boutiques and rolling hills that turn red and gold in October. Its classic red-brick buildings and gaslamp-lit streets give it the feeling of a charming European village that time forgot.
Fall Tip: Check out the Galena Country Fair in early October and stay in a historic inn or B&B.
3. Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Photo by DenisTangneyJr on Getty Images
What it is: A charming spa town that feels like it’s set in the Black Forest
Fairytale Factor: Built into the cliffs of the Ozark mountainside, Eureka Springs feels like a folkloric German village. Its steep winding streets, well-preserved Victorian buildings—the most in the US!—and natural springs bubbling out of limestone walls add to the European charm. The downtown is lined with iron balconies, cobblestone paths and steep staircases lending even more old-world romance.
Fall Tip: The foliage here is at its best come mid-October. Take a scenic drive on the Pig Trail Scenic Byway and stay at its castle-like Crescent Hotel. Try your hand at pumpkin bowling and hatchet throwing at the Frisco Sporting Club’s Fall Festival.
4. Leavenworth, Washington
Photo by VW Pics on Getty Images
What it is: Bavaria in the Pacific Northwest
Fairytale Factor: This former logging town in the Cascade Mountains is modeled after a German Bavarian alpine village—with half-timbered buildings, hanging flower baskets, sausage stands and a legendary Oktoberfest celebration—it draws crowds far and wide for three weekends in October, thanks to multiple music stages, beer halls and general revelry.
Fall Tip: In the fall, white capped mountain peaks are awash in yellow and gold. Visit during the Autumn Leaf Festival or plan a late October visit for peak foliage with fewer crowds.
Related: The Classic Boston Hotel That’s Quietly Having a Moment This Fall
