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While the lure of a European summer endures, one expert says these California locations deliver old-world charm without the expense or hassle of international travel.
Travel enthusiast Daniella Bragg recently highlighted a fistful of California destinations that are near-dupes of popular Euro locales.
Bragg’s recommendations come as travel costs are climbing and European ports of call are increasingly besieged by hordes of tourists seeking the same damnable selfie.
Here are her California picks for getting your Euro fix.
Catalina Island /Amalfi Coast
Just south of Naples, the postcard towns along Italy’s Amalfi Coast have long been destinations for those seeking a taste of the good life, from Elizabeth Taylor to Kylie Jenner.
But with the rise of influencer travel, these locations have become more of a nightmare stampede than a sweet refuge, making California’s Catalina Island a contender with similar vibes and less maddening crowds.
A 76-square-mile island, anchored by perfectly crescent-shaped Avalon Bay, Catalina features steep cliffs, color-drenched villas and a mild climate that make it a kind of domestic dolce vita.
“Catalina Island transports you to the Amalfi Coast with beautiful clear waters and a Mediterranean feel,” emphasized Bragg.
Earlier this summer, the iconic isle, also known as the ‘Caribbean of California,’ and the ‘Amalfi Coast of Orange County‘ earned its place among Travel + Leisure’s best islands in the continental US.
Big Pine Lakes /Switzerland
Bragg shared that Big Pine Lakes in the Golden State’s Eastern Sierras are a high-altitude dupe that takes visitors “straight from California to the mountains and turquoise lakes you’d find all around Switzerland.”
Other experts muse that the 8.6-mile out-and -back trail to Big Pine Lakes is among the best in the state, recommending that visitors plan to spend the night to see both sunset and sunrise below the Alps-esque Temple Crag.
Point Lobos State Natural Reserve /Mallorca
Bragg notes that while Mallorca, the Balearic island 125 miles off the coast of Spain, “is known for its cliff-lined swimming coves,” similar scenery can be found at the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve in Monterey County.
This cinematic spot affords spectacular views over the Pacific.
Bonus: from the shore you can spot sea otters, harbor seals and even gray whales during their December-to-May migration.
Put that in your paella, Spain.
Carmel-by-the-Sea / Fairytale France
Braggs maintains that Carmel-by-the-Sea “transports you to a whimsical European village that feels like you just stepped into a fairytale.”
Architectural Digest recently crowned Carmel the prettiest town in California, and earlier this year, the town was named the top spot to pop the question.
Carmel also made WorldAtlas’ list of the top weekend escapes on the West Coast and HGTV’s list of the 50 Best Small Towns in America.
While there are no stats to support this claim, the general aesthetic suggests Carmel would be an ideal locale for cosplaying as “Belle from Beauty and the Beast.”
Laguna Beach/French Riviera
According to Braggs and to the benefit of Francophiles, Laguna Beach’s “charming seaside atmosphere and hidden coves take you directly” to the French Riviera.
And the California Riviera may best L’Hexagone, as recent reports suggest St. Tropez has become the latest casualty of overtourism and influencer culture.
“It’s not so much influencers in general that are the problem; it’s what happens when they start strip mining lovely locations for content and leave them quite bedraggled after having descended on them like locusts,” critiqued Kiki Astor on Instagram.
However, beach bums opting to venture to Laguna in lieu of France may want to be conservative with their sand setups as officials in Orange County are cracking down on the type of shade coverings visitors can bring to Newport and Laguna beaches.
“Shade structures, canopies and umbrellas must be no larger than 6’ x 6’ and may not be connected,” the city of Newport Beach said in a post on social media ahead of Fourth of July weekend.
Violating visitors could be fined up to $500.
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