Who needs Venice anyway?! The iconic Italian city has pulled away its welcome mats and replaced them with tourist fees.
Between new entry fees and unwelcoming hosts, travelers are seeing there are dopplegangers around the globe with scenic canals and open arms.
While many are in Europe, such as France and Portugal, there are others you won’t even need to pack your passport for.
Home to delightful canals and affordable stays, these 3 U.S. cities will have you saying, “Venice who?!” as you take romantic boat rides and lovely strolls along scenic inland waterways.
San Antonio’s River Walk: Where Texas Meets Mexico
Some people have the wrong perception of Texas, and others have the wrong perception of Mexico.
Oddly enough, San Antonio is a match made in Heaven as a fusion of the best of both worlds.
Between phenomenal cuisine, captivating historical sites, and the world-famous River Walk district, travelers can get a taste of Texas, Mexico, and a wee bit of Venice all in one.
No, you won’t see gondolas flowing downstream, but you can hop aboard a fun boat tour taking in the sights and sounds of the man-made “river”.
Tickets can be purchased for Go RIO River Cruises for only $14.50 per person for a narrated tour weaving in and out of San Antonio’s scenic waterways.
Make sure to stop at one of the many Tex-Mex restaurants along the River Walk for a delicious meal and San Antonio’s specialty, ice-cold margaritas.
Located only an hour from Austin, the region’s shiny new toy as Texas’s newfound ‘Silicon Valley, ‘San Antone’, as locals say, is where the culture lies through food, history, and a diverse group of residents.
As a hotspot for summer travelers, one of the main reasons is the city’s affordability, unlike their neighbors to the north where they beg, “Don’t Dallas my Austin?” a cry for help in terms of being priced out of their beloved city.
Fort Lauderdale: The ‘Venice Of America’
With a name like the ‘Venice of America‘, you know there has to be some sightly canals at your fingertips.
While the spaghetti and meatballs might be best left to the pros in Venice, perhaps spaghetti and clams is the next best thing, as Florida is a seafood lover’s dream.
Home to over 300 miles of beautiful winding canals, there is perhaps no better place in the States to enjoy being on the water.
Tourists can hop aboard a boat, and yes, even gondolas like Venice in downtown Fort Lauderdale. From here, the options are endless, especially for DIY-ers.
Kayaking is very popular for the region’s seemingly endless canals as well. Better yet, Fort Lauderdale doesn’t break the bank, and there are some incredible deals for overall value at luxe hotels.
According to GOBankingRates, vacationers can expect to spend just $182 per day. Upscale hotels such as The Westin Fort Lauderdale can be found as low as $122 this August.
(our editor stayed at The Westin last year and loved it, read their in-depth guide here)
Indianapolis: A Surprising Midwest Treasure
Chicago tends to steal the shine away from many Midwest cities. You know, St. Louis, Milwaukee, and yes, Indianapolis.
As far as domestic travel goes, Indianapolis has been one of my biggest surprises. You can think of Frontier Airlines for canceling my flight and leaving me stranded, but I struck a deal by asking, “So where can you send me?”.
The next thing I knew, I was in Indianapolis, and it was great!
Friendly locals, super affordable, and perhaps the biggest shock of all, a beautiful canal flowing through the pretty cityscape where, like Fort Lauderdale, you can hop aboard a gondola with guides in striped shirts and all.
It runs from May to November. The rides board at Fresco Cafe must be reserved ahead of time.
But, where you will want to eat is St. Elmo Steakhouse. Even living in San Diego, perhaps the best seafood dish I’ve had is their world-famous Shrimp Cocktail.
The cocktail sauce is to die for!
Now that the Indy 500 has surpassed, hotels are much cheaper, like the Crowne Plaza downtown, for under $100 in late August.
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