Hermann, Missouri
The first word you’ll likely hear when you arrive in this US Bavarian village is the German “Willkommen!” And it isn’t a joke.
This area was settled by German immigrants who benefited from the rocky hillsides to plant vineyards when they discovered that the land they bought was too steep for anything else. It reminded them of their native villages in the Rhine Valley.
Nowadays, this booming homage to Bavaria boasts 150 structures on the National Register of Historic Places and quite a few wineries.
You can learn more about the town’s exciting past at the Historic Hermann Museum and how those earlier German immigrants lived daily at the Deutschheim State Historic Site.
And the White House Hotel Living History Museum is another fantastic place in town where Hermann’s history will come to life. You’ll love the German souvenirs and treats at Sugar Momma’s.
Also, antiquers can take a stroll through Hermann’s Attic Antique Mall, with many retailers in one location. Besides the award-winning wines, Hermann also offers lots of great local distilleries and German craft beer.
The Concert Hall and Barrel Tavern, established in 1878, is the oldest continuously operated tavern west of the Mississippi.
You can also visit the Hermann Wurst Haus and the Hermannhof Tasting Room and Deli while visiting this US Bavarian village, which offer excellent German flavors.
You should have included Helvetia, WV. It’s a Swiss-German inspired town that has a yearly festival called Fasnacht where people don masks and march around town, ending in a bonfire to burn an ‘old man winter’ effigy.
I HAVE BEEN TO HELEN GA, A FEW TIMES MY FAMILY AND ME ARE GOING BACK AGAIN WE LOVED EVERY IT, EVERY TIME WE GO
We found Hermann, MO, by chance years ago on our first cross-country trip west (where we’d moved) to east (where we are from & where all relatives reside). We were looking for an interesting place for gas & lunch. We ended up spending half the day there, soaking in the architecture/ambiance, & lunching on best ever home-made loose sausage sandwiches(& that’s sayin’ something b/c I grew up in Amish country in PA) & a split of local wine, with best sparkling grape juice ever for our kids. We all still recall it fondly years later. Would make it a destination in a heartbeat.
Dont forget to Mention Sugarcreek Ohio which is a German Swiss style town also with an Amish Mennonite Flair and Holmes County Ohio.
Leavenworth! WA! I am 90 miles West of this place and Yes I been there More than a few times, very cute! Close to Lake Wenatchee as well thee BEST PLACE to camp in the PNW! The thing I do not like about the situation is that its really kool to visit here for christmas BUT the mountain Pass is treacherous! ALSO Shops charge a killing for stuff! Still I love this town!