High prices for flights, accommodations, meals, and entertainment mean I can’t afford to visit Switzerland often from the US. <\/p>\n
So, in a quest to find an equally charming \u2014 but less bank-breaking \u2014 alternative, I have taken trips to several destinations that people say feel like America’s version of Switzerland<\/a>.<\/p>\n Each offered breathtaking scenery and impressive mountain views, but one stood out as the best destination for an Alpine-style getaway.<\/p>\n Ouray and Telluride are lovely, but neither felt like a perfect Switzerland dupe<\/p>\n Ouray has some epic mountain views.<\/p>\n Amanda Adler<\/p>\n Ouray, Colorado, situated in the San Juan Mountains, is often referred to as the “Switzerland of America<\/a>.”<\/p>\n With an elevation of about 7,800 feet above sea level, this town in southwestern Colorado does offer some pretty epic mountain vistas.<\/p>\n I especially enjoyed climbing to Box Canyon Falls Park, which delighted me with views of waterfalls and a downtown area surrounded by soaring peaks.<\/p>\n It’s obvious how this town got its Alpine moniker, but the surrounding landscape felt significantly drier than the lush greenery found throughout Switzerland. It makes sense considering Colorado’s high elevation contributes to its dry climate.<\/p>\n Located just an hour from Ouray is Telluride, Colorado, which some also describe as having a Swiss vibe. Telluride actually felt more European to me than Ouray.<\/p>\n Telluride also offered a taste of Alpine life, but it wasn’t my top pick.<\/p>\n Amanda Adler<\/p>\n I attribute that to the town’s picturesque Victorian-era buildings, stunning wildflowers, and gondola system offering scenic rides that remind me of traveling into the Alps.<\/p>\n The mountains lacked snow-covered peaks during my summertime visit, but I’d consider returning in the winter.<\/p>\n The ‘Switzerland of North America’ in Montana was lovely, but I can’t see myself visiting often<\/p>\n Many Glacier Hotel in Montana’s Glacier National Park is located in the “Switzerland of North America.”<\/p>\n Amanda Adler<\/p>\n I have found myself charmed by Montana’s Glacier National Park<\/a>, which many have dubbed the “Switzerland of North America.”<\/p>\n Though all of the park is magnificent, its Many Glacier portion reminded me most of the Swiss Alps \u2014 its chalet-style Many Glacier Hotel, surrounded by Matterhorn-esque mountains, was a striking sight.<\/p>\n I would’ve loved to venture inside to continue my comparison; however, the hotel is closed much of the year, including during my offseason visit in late September.<\/p>\n Sadly, many of the hotel’s windows were boarded up, which distracted from its appeal.<\/p>\n Beyond the hotel, the Grinnell Glacier Trail offered dramatic mountain peaks, glacial landscapes, colorful wildflowers, and pristine lakes.<\/p>\n I enjoyed the view from the Grinnell Glacier Trail.<\/p>\n Amanda Adler<\/p>\n This journey was mesmerizing, and it truly felt like stepping into the Alps. However, the hike was also an arduous 10-mile uphill climb.<\/p>\n Though I’m eager to make the trek again someday, it took me several hours just to drive to the Many Glacier area of the national park from my hotel in a nearby town.<\/p>\n On future visits to Glacier National Park, I’ll likely stick to hikes on easier-to-access pathways. Though these more well-traveled areas of the park are still amazing, they feel less like Switzerland than Many Glacier’s Grinnell Glacier Trail.<\/p>\n All in all, Washington’s North Cascades National Park provided me with the best Alpine experience<\/p>\n Washington’s North Cascades National Park is another spot that’s referred to as the “American Alps.”<\/p>\n Amanda Adler<\/p>\n Located just about two hours from Seattle, North Cascades National Park<\/a> is a true Alpine gem with year-round snowcapped peaks and stunning glacial lakes.<\/p>\n It’s been nicknamed the “American Alps,” and I’d say the park has provided the best Alpine experience of the spots I’ve visited outside Switzerland.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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