Northern USA Christmas/winter. Somewhere like European Cities?

[smckay]

Anyone have suggestions for a place in Northern US which has a European feel to it?
we had Christmas in Austria last year and really enjoyed the small towns, markets and good train services.

Is there anywhere in the US that has the same feel to it? I imagine it would be a ski resort but we would not need to ski everyday, and being able to train to to other locations would be great. It would need to have more attractions than ski slopes and pubs.

or do we just go back to Europe

 

[Princess Fiona]

Anyone have suggestions for a place in Northern US which has a European feel to it?
we had Christmas in Austria last year and really enjoyed the small towns, markets and good train services.

Is there anywhere in the US that has the same feel to it? I imagine it would be a ski resort but we would not need to ski everyday, and being able to train to to other locations would be great. It would need to have more attractions than ski slopes and pubs.

or do we just go back to Europe

I haven't been at Christmas, only in summer but I assume it would be very hard to beat Montreal if you are looking for that European feel.

 

[RooFlyer]

Hard to know what you mean by 'European feel' in winter. I envision narrow, cobbled streets and old architecture decked in snow etc. For North America, its Quebec City for me. Winter Carnival is really good!!

Beyond that, I'm struggling.

Plenty of places with ski available not too far away, but I wouldn't call then European-like. Aspen/Vail?

 

[earlyriser]

I haven't been at Christmas, only in summer but I assume it would be very hard to beat Montreal if you are looking for that European feel.

This.

Quite enjoyed last Christmas (a white one) in Boulder, CO but doesn't have a European feel nor were there any markets. Plenty of nature to explore though.

 

[amaroo]

+ 1 for Quebec City. Be prepared for extreme cold... absolutely beautiful!

 

[mole]

We spent 5 nights in Quebec City last Christmas including New Years Eve and had a fantastic time. Such a very pretty, walled city and very European looking. We stayed at the Chateau Le Frontenac which was amazing, went dog sledding through a forest, out to the frozen Montmorency Falls, and a fantastic fun day at Val Cartier Snow Park tubing etc. It was bitterly cold (minus 28 degrees with wind chill) but we were well prepared with lots of good layers. I would do it again in a heart beat I loved it so much, but this year we heading off to Berlin on Boxing day.

 

[VPS]

subscribed - after the heat in Adelaide this year (and it's only mid December), I've decided I'm having a northern hemisphere Christmas in 2016 but where to go?

 

[amaroo]

subscribed - after the heat in Adelaide this year (and it's only mid December), I've decided I'm having a northern hemisphere Christmas in 2016 but where to go?

We're heading to Italy and Norway ... look out for the TR.

 

[smckay]

subscribed - after the heat in Adelaide this year (and it's only mid December), I've decided I'm having a northern hemisphere Christmas in 2016 but where to go?

We did the same last year, for the same reason. Start to finish - Frankfurt, Munich, Salzburg for Christmas, Vienna, Prague for new year, Berlin, Amsterdam. 22 days, train travel between cities and absolutely great. Was cold but not bloody freezing and we got snow from Christmas day onwards. Would do it again but my travel planner has a no-return policy whilst there is more to explore.

Costs were reasonable and hanging around the Christmas markets drinking gluhwein, feurzangenbowle - look that up, just a gourmet delight - and eating sausage from the Worlds Biggest Grill cannot be beat.

I'd go back in an instant....

 

[smckay]

Quebec seems to tick the boxes. Will have to see if the Travel Planner approves, she has a beef with Canadians killing baby seals and has vetoed them but I could argue we are going to a subsidiary of France?
like the suggestions but, all the activities there are what we would want.

Clarification - don't actually need to ski I just thought that a ski resort would have that narrow, cobbled street style with outdoor markets.