Instead of traveling to Europe, visit these 7 destinations in the US — Napa Valley over Italy, Vail in place of Switzerland, and more

Rolling acres of vineyards, charming rural towns, and tasting rooms pouring hearty red wines are among the many reasons you might want to visit Tuscany.

They're also found in droves in the beautiful Napa Valle. Like its Italian counterpart, Napa is best known for its wineries and you'll find some 500 of them here, often built in a style reminiscent of those in the Italian countryside.

Among them is Andretti Winery, founded by Italian racecar champ Mario Andretti, whose stone courtyard, fountains, and villa-like tasting room conjures Tuscany at its finest. And Calistoga's Castello Di Amorosa winery is set in a medieval-style stone castle that looks like the centuries-old estates that dot the Tuscan hills.

Not only can you drink like an Italian in Napa Valley, but you can also eat like one, too. Bottega Napa Valley in Yountville serves micro-regional Italian cuisine, with dishes drawn from every region of the country in a rustic setting complete with Venetian-plaster walls and Murano glass chandeliers. Napa Valley also has a long history producing olive oil; try the local stuff at Napa Valley Olive Oil Manufacturing Company, set inside a quaint clapboard barn on the outskirts of St. Helena.

The boutique North Block Hotel sports a fountained courtyard with a relaxing Tuscan vibe, and its downtown Yountville location makes a great base for exploring the Napa wine region.

The warmly decorated rooms have a breezy Mediterranean feel. Deluxe Queens, starting at $315 per night in low season, measure around 350 square feet and feature patios or balconies.

Tucked on the northeast coast of Florida is America's oldest city, founded by the Spanish in 1565.

You can feel St. Augustine's 450-year-old Spanish heritage as you stroll through the narrow stone and brick-paved streets of the historic downtown district. There are 144 blocks that are all chock-full of Spanish colonial-style buildings, some dating back several centuries, and now house boutiques, antique shops, galleries, and atmospheric sidewalk cafes.

The city is also home to several magnificent 19th-century Spanish Renaissance Revival buildings that resemble Spanish palaces, including Lightner Museum, whose design was inspired by the Royal Alcázar of Seville.

And don't miss climbing around the ancient stone walls of Castillo de San Marcos, a massive fortress built by the Spanish in 1672 to protect against pirate raids.

Original frescoes, chandeliers, and tapestries adorn the landmark 1888 Casa Monica Resort & Spa, with a Moorish-style facade and ornate interior modeled after the Alhambra in Granada, Spain.

Rooms feature a rich red-and-gold color scheme with classic furnishings and plush red velvet headboards. Entry-level King rooms measure 150 to 200 square feet with rates starting at $170 per night in low season. The hotel is part of the Autograph Collection, so Marriott Bonvoy members can use and earn points for their stay.

Boston was founded by British settlers in 1630, so it's no surprise that many pockets of this city still recall its English heritage.

Today, the city is still brimming with history, and you can easily trace footsteps from the past, while still feeling worlds away. Wander through the picturesque Beacon Hill, whose warren of cobblestone streets, lined with brick sidewalks, gas lanterns, and classic Georgian-style row houses, will surely transport you to the other side of the pond.

At the foot of Beacon Hill you'll find Boston's two most famous parks, which take their cues from English gardens. The Boston Public Garden is pure Victorian, with manicured gardens, duck-filled ponds, and statuary. Similar to London's Hyde Park, the Boston Common is mostly natural and wild, with plenty of open green space.

Just a few minutes' walk from the Boston Common, the legendary Omni Parker House has stood since 1855 and hosted notables such as Charles Dickens, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Mark Twain.

Its restaurant is justly famous, not only as the birthplace of Boston Cream Pie, but also as the place where John F. Kennedy proposed to Jackie. Rooms feature custom cherry-wood furnishings and rich brocade fabrics, and entry-level Traditional rooms measure 125 square feet with rates starting at $200 per night. Members of the Omni Loyalty Program can earn or redeem points for their stay.

For a taste of the Swiss Alps, Colorado's Rocky Mountains offer plenty of gorgeous alpine scenery, plus world-class skiing and hiking opportunities.

Vail is among the loveliest of the Rockies' resort towns, surrounded by snowy peaks and brimming with Swiss chalet-style architecture. It all looks very authentic, but in fact, Vail was built in the 1960s and modeled after the Swiss ski town of Zermatt.

Vail Village is filled with art galleries and smart boutiques, selling everything from practical mountain gear to pricey jewelry, including luxury Swiss-brand watches. And yes, there's fondue: try authentic versions at the Swiss Chalet restaurant, serving cheese and chocolate varieties, or the signature Schlitten-Fondue at the cozy, wood-paneled Almresi.

Set in the heart of Vail Village, the Sonnenalp is an upscale, family-owned hotel with a distinct European vibe, from its old world-style architecture to alpine-influenced bars and restaurants, and its international staff.

Rooms feature custom-made furnishings, wood accents, and heated marble floors in the bathrooms. Entry-level rooms measure 350 to 420 square feet and boast village or mountain views. Rates start at $238 per night in the low season, and the Sonnenalp is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.

You might not expect to find a bit of Germany deep in Texas Hill Country, but Fredericksburg is about as close as it gets. Settled by German immigrants in 1846, signs in Main Street storefronts greet visitors with "Wilkommen" (welcome), while restaurants like Der Lindenbaum, Friedhelm's Bavarian Inn, and Old German Bakery and Restaurant serve traditional schnitzel, potato pancakes, and bratwurst.

Of course, it wouldn't feel like Germany without beer, and Fredericksburg is home to two breweries, Altstadt Brewery and Fredericksburg Brewing Company. Both brew according to German Purity Standards, and have spacious beer gardens to enjoy a cold one.

An annual Oktoberfest, celebrated in the town's central Marktplatz (market square), features oompah music, waltzing, and a dirndl and lederhosen costume contest, plus beer, pretzels, brats, and more.

Hoffman Haus is a luxury B&B that is just a 10-minute walk from Main Street with accommodations in a variety of historic buildings, including a 19th-century stone homestead and an early 20th-century farmhouse.

Every room is unique in design and layout. Most entry-level rooms measure 260 square feet and feature cottage-like decor and private porches, and rates start at $155 per night.

It's been more than three centuries since the French founded New Orleans, but you can still feel its influence on the city's culture, cuisine, and architecture.

Naturally, it's felt the strongest in the Vieux Carre (French Quarter), whose vibrant streets are lined with elegant French colonial-style townhouses and candy-colored buildings decked out with cast-iron balconies. Stop by the European-style, open-air French Market, packed with fresh produce, gourmet foodstuffs, and local arts and crafts.

Food-wise, there's no shortage of restaurants and cafes serving French-inspired cuisine. Try the divine beignets and café au lait at the famed Café du Monde, or authentic French fare at Galatoire's and Antoine's.

While New Orleans's Mardi Gras is legendary, in July, the city celebrates Bastille Day, France's national holiday, with native costumes, specialty food and drink, and live music and fireworks.

Set in the heart of the French Quarter, the 18th-century Hotel Maison de Ville is where Tennessee Williams wrote his masterpiece "A Streetcar Named Desire." The hotel's cobblestone courtyard, antique-filled rooms, and wrought-iron balconies have a romantic vibe, while its central location means you're within walking distance of all the area bars and restaurants.

Individually designed rooms are outfitted with antiques and period-style furnishings, and many have four-poster beds and balconies. Entry-level rooms, which start at $110 per night in low season, are on the cozy side but are bright and sunny thanks to large windows.

With its romantic canals and arched footbridges, California's Venice Canal district is a transportive slice of Italy. Built in 1905 as both a tourist destination and seaside community, it was modeled after the real Venice, with a network of manmade canals stocked with gondolas and gondoliers imported from Italy.

Today, only a handful of canals remain — and kayaks and rowboats have replaced the gondolas — but it's still a lovely little European-style escape just off bustling Venice Beach, which is a destination in its own right filled with artists, street performers, and impeccable people watching that's wholly American.

Sunny SoCal weather is usually on offer year-round, but a great time to visit is in December when twinkling holiday lights decorate the bridges and canal-side walkways.

A 10-minute walk to the Venice Canals, the contemporary four-star Hotel Erwin has a prime position on the Venice Beach Boardwalk, with stellar views of the Pacific from its rooftop lounge.

Rooms are bright and cheerful, with colorful lighting and mod decor. Entry-level City View rooms start at $300 per night in low season, but it's worth upgrading to the Ocean View category for a balcony overlooking the Pacific.