4 U.S. road trips that feel like Europe

Howdy Roadtrippers,

It’s finally October, quite possibly one of my favorite months of the year. Cooler weather, college football, pumpkin-flavored everything, and the change of seasons before the holiday chaos.

And nothing heralds the beginning of fall and October quite like Oktoberfest, a German festival that actually starts in September but traditionally wraps up on the first Sunday of October.

I had a few friends head to Europe to attend Oktoberfest in Munich this year, and their trip has had me missing Bavaria and feeling a little Euro wanderlust.

But as a European fall break wasn’t in the cards, I decided to get creative, and you lucky ducks get to be the recipient of that.

If we can’t plan a trip across the Pond, we’ll just plan a road trip to towns that feel like their European counterparts. 😉 

And since picking just one town that evoked German vibes proved difficult, you’re getting the whole schnitzel with this short list of the best U.S. towns for a taste of Germany.

• 🥨 The Route Report: 4 Bavarian-themed U.S. towns

• 🏨 The Check-in: Earn 12,000+ points in one stay

• 🛑 Pit Stop Poll: Euro-themed road trips

🥨 The Route Report: 4 Bavarian-themed U.S. towns

1. Frankenmuth, Michigan

Founded in 1845 by German immigrants from northern Bavaria, Frankenmuth has an authentically German heritage. Known today as Michigan’s Little Bavaria, it’s the perfect domestic stop for a little taste of Europe.

Come for the family-style chicken dinner at the Bavarian Inn and catch the Glockenspiel show, which plays 4 times a day. Taste your way across town, sampling different beers with the Bavarian Bierpass to earn a limited-edition T-shirt. Stroll the Holz-Brücke covered bridge over the Cass River, or take a river cruise instead on a paddlewheel boat.

And don’t forget to check out Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland, one of the world’s largest Christmas stores.

Make it a road trip:

Add Frankenmuth to a larger road trip, taking the Lake Huron shoreline around the “Thumb” of Michigan. Head to Midland ~45 minutes away for the Dow Gardens and the longest canopy walk in the country. Or head north a few hours to Mackinac Island, the car-free island I mentioned a couple of weeks ago. Or add it on as part of a larger Detroit trip, with stops at the Henry Ford Museum and Eastern Market, as covered here in this newsletter.

2. Fredericksburg, Texas

German immigrants founded Fredericksburg, Texas, as part of a larger immigration initiative in 1846 and named it for Prince Frederick of Prussia. They brokered peace with the Penateka Comanche tribe through a treaty that benefited both parties and allowed the Germans to settle in Comanche territory.

Today, Fredericksburg is home to one of Texas's best wine regions, with wineries and vineyards along 290 that combine award-winning wines with small-town hospitality. But their German roots remain in their traditions, the fare served in town, and every biergarten along Main Street.

Pop into Pontotoc Vineyard Weingarten on Main Street, housed in an original building from 1846. Stop by Marketplatz to see the Vereins Kirche, a replica of the original Society Church, and the memorial garden honoring the peace treaty that made Fredericksburg happen.

And don’t miss the annual Oktoberfest and Christmas celebrations, plus so much more the town has to offer.

🚗 Make it a road trip:

Go all in on German Heritage and continue on a big loop through the Hill Country to other German-settled towns like Boerne and Comfort, head to New Braunfels (Wurstfest is next month), or hit up the oldest dance hall in Texas in Gruene. Plus, old country music fans can’t pass up a stop in Luckenbach, TX.

As for where to eat and drink along the way, some of my favorites include:

• Driftwood Estate Winery for wine & views

• Lost Draw Winery for wines & hospitality

• Untamed Wine for wine & award-winning pizza.

• Dripping Springs Distillery for weekend brunch, happy hour, and draft cocktails

• Opa’s Smoked Meats for delicious made-to-order sandwiches with German flair

• Ausländer for schnitzel and a boisterous Biergarten vibe.

3. Leavenworth, Washington

Admittedly, Leavenworth wasn't founded by Germans, but was rebranded as a Bavarian village when the timber industry began to struggle in the 1960s. And it’s been quite the success.

Nestled at the foot of the Cascades, Leavenworth has the alpine backdrop that makes its Bavarian branding believable. What it might lack in history and heritage, it makes up for it with the architecture and tradition they’ve poured into the town.

From schnitzel to spaetzel, Leavenworth dishes it up, and then some, especially during their big Maifest and Oktoberfest celebrations and Christmas season. Sample local wines and ciders, as well as bier (because there’s always bier). Listen to music played on alphorns or accordions during their respective festivals to really feel immersed in a Bavarian village.

Visit the Leavenworth Reindeer Farm or the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum to get yourself ready for the holiday season. And when you’re tired of the tourist track, venture out into nature with plenty of hiking in the Cascades.

🚗 Make it a road trip:

Drive the whole Cascade Loop, a 440-mile scenic byway that circles through the Cascades and stops in lakeside towns, an Old West-themed town, and the apple capital of the world.

Note: The North Cascades Highway closes in winter, so plan accordingly.

4. Helen, Georgia

Another town that was cultivated rather than settled, Helen, Georgia, was a logging town until they hired an artist to revamp their storefronts to resemble an Alpine village in 1969. Although the town now has only about 600 residents, Helen is one of the most-visited small towns in Georgia thanks to its rebranding (and for starring as the backdrop in a couple of Lifetime Christmas movies).

Oktoberfest celebrations here run September-Nov. 1 and are still going strong if you want a taste of the Bavarian tradition. Live music, stein-holding competitions, and all the bratwurst and beer you can stand.

But if your visit to Helen takes place outside of the fall months, you’re still in for a treat whether it’s in winter with the town all dressed up for Christmas or in the warmer months, when you can enjoy strolling along the Bavarian-themed storefronts with the cooler temps at higher elevation.

Ride the country's first alpine coaster and control your fate as you set your speed and manage the brakes. Tube down the Chattahoochee River in the summer months, or head to Anna Ruby Falls if you’re itching to chase waterfalls.

🚗 Make it a road trip:

Head ~40 minutes away to Dahlonega for a less touristy historic square, wineries, and gold mines, as this was the site of the first major U.S. gold rush. Visit Tallulah Gorge State Park to walk along the rim of a 1,000-foot-deep gorge and brave a suspension bridge. Or for the truly offbeat, visit the Babyland General Hospital in Cleveland, “birthplace” of the Cabbage Patch Kids.

Drive the Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway, a 40-mile mountain loop, or head north to the Great Smoky Mountains or Blue Ridge Parkway.

Bottom Line

When Europe seems out of reach, these destinations can give you a small taste of what you’re after, with their own American flair. And if you’re the festival or Christmas celebration type, these small towns definitely won’t disappoint.

🏨 The Check-in: Earn 12,000+ points in one stay

As much as we love the convenience of hotels booked with points, sometimes we need more space when traveling with friends or family. Or in some of those small towns with big festivals I mentioned, traditional hotels are booked up months in advance. That's where vacation rentals come in.

And this new promo from Marriott Homes & Villas looks pretty enticing, allowing elite members to earn up to 12,000 bonus points on qualifying stays.

Here are the details:

• Minimum 2+ night stays between October 7 and March 31, 2027

• Minimum spend of $1,500

• Register and book by November 13

• Must be a Silver Elite Member or higher to be eligible

Now, before you scroll past, it’s actually really easy to become a Silver Elite member with Marriott. You either need to have stayed 10 nights in a calendar year or hold a Marriott co-branded credit card.

And if you hold one of their co-branded credit cards (even the no-annual-fee card comes with Silver Elite status), you’ll earn your regular base points and Elite bonus points in addition to the promotional bonus points. Lemme give you an example.

I’ve been looking at a 4-night stay in Fredericksburg the week of Thanksgiving and found this property that’s walkable to Main Street with two bedrooms, outdoor space, and a hot tub for $1,777. 👇

And I have this co-branded card that gave me automatic Silver Elite status, plus I’ve stayed enough nights so far this year to bump to Gold Elite status.

So I’d earn 9,056 points on my stay with my Gold Elite status plus the additional 12,000 from this promotional bonus.

That’s over 20,000 points earned on a 4-night stay. That’s nothing to turn your nose up at, my friends. And if you’re already looking for a trip this winter, this could be an easy way to scoop up a decent chunk of Marriott points.

And if that $1,500 minimum spend makes you start to sweat? Do what I did: plan a group trip and split the cash price. Marriott Homes and Villas has some great vacation rentals for couples trips, bachelorette weekends, or family gatherings.

Just remember, whoever makes the booking will need to hold Silver elite status or higher to qualify for this promotion.

🛑 The Pit Stop Poll: Euro themed road trips

🚘 The Dashboard 🚘

Alright, y’all, I hope y’all enjoyed that because I may or may not have more destinations like that up my sleeve.

Let me know what you think. 📩

Catch y’all next week! ❤️

Katie Begnoche
Writer, Daily Drop
29.7604° N , 95.3698° W

with contributions by April Wilson.