Last Updated on March 13, 2025
I hate having to write this. Not as much as I hate living under fascism, however. Fascism is defined as “an authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization; extremely authoritarian, intolerant, oppressive.” In practice, it is Trump/Republican America in 2025.
The second Trump Administration has been defined in its early days by white supremacy (pardoning the January 6 insurrectionists), hatred of women, hatred of immigrants, hatred of gay and trans people, xenophobia (dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries), a desire for ethnic cleansing in Gaza, all-out war on the environment, war on arts and culture, war on the U.S. National Parks and federal land, and war on civil service while robustly supporting billionaires, murderous Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, polluting industries, white nationalism, and artificial intelligence.
Every day in America is the worst possible case scenario. Every day.
Trump has also gone out of his way to attack Canada under the guise of fighting fentanyl. Lies. Of course. Only ounces of fentanyl come across the American border from Canada, but its an easy talking point to give the jackals at Fox News and the conservative media ecosystem for brainwashing people into supporting his lunatic tariffs and threats to Canadian sovereignty, referring to it as the 51st state.
Canadians, thankfully, are pushing back. Among the efforts being considered in protest of Trump (and un-elected shadow president Elon Musk’s) treatment of their nation is boycotting the U.S. as a vacation destination. Collectively, Canadians make millions of recreational visits to America each year, spending billions of dollars.
BRAVO!
As an American travel writer, I wholeheartedly support Canadians going elsewhere for their holiday trips, using travel as activism, tourism as a form of protest. Rest, relaxation, and resistance.
How we spend our money makes powerful statements about our values. Canadians, and citizens of every other nation for that matter, can send a message to Trump that they value equality, human rights, democracy, freedom, the environment, women, the LGBTQ+ community, and their own nation, by choosing to vacation elsewhere. They already are!
Doing so further sends a message to the massive U.S. travel industry – hotels, museums, theme parks, restaurants, etc. – that has done nothing to resist Trump’s authoritarian, racist, homophobic, patriarchal, barbaric takeover of the country. That message being we travel with our values, and if you don’t support our values, we’ll travel elsewhere.
Yes, innocent businesses will suffer along with the guilty from a Canadian travel boycott of the United States, but such is the case when living under tyrants. Donald Trump loves and understands only two things: power and money. Canadians withholding their travel dollars from the U.S. economy will work to further undermine its wobbly strength, thereby undermining Trump.
In support of Canadians boycotting travel to America, I present this list of doppelganger locations outside of the United States approximating popular tourist destinations in the U.S. Many of these are my absolute favorite places to visit in America. It pains me having to do this. None of the substitutes exactly replicate their inspiration, but the subs all have unique charms of their own.
Around the world, in Canada, especially here in America, righteous people have been called to defend progress, equality, enlightenment, freedom, and humanity in the face of an increasing onslaught of right-wing villains like Trump, Musk, and their supporters in politics, the media, and industry. Taking your tourism dollars elsewhere is a real, meaningful action in the right direction.
Doppelganger U.S. Travel Destinations
New York – London
No place equals the energy of New York City. The art, the culture, the museums, Broadway, Central Park. I don’t need to belabor NYC’s selling points.
London approximates much of this with unique attributes of its own. If you’re looking to visit a place that feels like the center of the world, like New York, visit London.
Boston – Dublin
Thanks to decades of Irish immigration to Boston, Dublin closely matches the experience of visiting Beantown. It’s on the ocean. Lots of beer and whiskey.
I routinely recommend Dublin as the best “first trip to Europe” for American travelers because its so similar to the States with a common language and a manageable size. Same goes for Canadians.
San Francisco – Edinburgh
Almost immediately upon arriving in Edinburgh, I felt San Francisco vibes. The ocean over there, the mountains over there, breathtaking scenic vistas. It hurts me telling people not to visit San Fran because it may be my favorite big city in America to visit, but doing so is what the times call for.
San Diego/Santa Barbara – French Riviera
The beautiful coastline and scenery found across Southern California is shared by the French Riviera. Base your travels in Nice and enjoy day trips to Italy, Monaco, Cannes, Grasse, Eze, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.
Hawai’i – the Azores
If you’re looking for lush, tropical, volcanic islands in the middle of the ocean, try swapping the Azores for Hawai’i. From Boston, it’s only a three-hour direct flight.
Hawai’i could use a break from all the tourists for other reasons as well.
New Orleans – Montréal
You’ll have to squint hard to see this one, but Montréal in the summer has jazz and abundant festivals and more than a French influence, a French soul. A little like the Big Easy. Plus, in Montréal, you’ll avoid the oppressive, debilitating New Orleans heat and humidity.
San Antonio – Mexico City
The authentic Mexican culture and cuisine found in San Antonio originates in Mexico City, one of the greatest museum cities in the world, equal to NYC and London.
Cape Cod/Maine – French/Irish/British Atlantic Coast
Looking for mild, wind-swept summer days admiring the Atlantic Ocean? Europe has that too.
Colorado/Utah/Montana/Wyoming – British Columbia/Alberta
The Rocky Mountains span both the U.S. and Canada. Looking to replace a Colorado/Utah ski trip? Try Whistler. Looking to sub out Yellowstone or Glacier National Park, try Banff. The big scenery of the American Rockies is exactly replicated north of the border in Canada. This is an easy one.
If it’s wildlife you’re looking for, substitute bison for (water) buffalo, take the plunge, and go to Africa. Kenya is a great first safari destination.
Great Smoky Mountains/Asheville, NC – Black Forest Germany
Primordial forest hikes, waterfalls, and mountain streams in the Smokies are replicated in Bavaria and/or the Black Forest of southern Germany. The Great Smokies and the surrounding area are a huge tourist draw – it is the most visited national park – but many places in the region remain no condition to welcome the usual onslaught of tourists due Hurricane Helene.
Trade the Biltmore for Neuschwanstein.
Florida – Caribbean
Florida is a wonderful place with the worst people. I say that as a Florida resident since 2012. I’ve never met worse, more entitled, openly racist, nasty people. A bunch of old white guys who all think they’re Charles Bronson. Florida is Trump’s America amplified.
Seriously, don’t come here, it’s terrible. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People issued a travel advisory in 2023 for Black tourists suggesting they avoid Florida for its open hostility to African Americans.
Instead, visit the Caribbean.
My friends and fellow travel writers Noreen Kompanik and Michael Kompanik have been traveling extensively from their home in San Diego throughout the Caribbean and Mexico for more than 20 years. They also lived in Europe for years. I know of no two more well travelled people. I asked them their favorite U.S. “doppleganger” destinations around the Caribbean and Mexico… and the world:
Palm Beach , FL – Bermuda
St Augustine, FL – Barcelona
San Diego – Cabo San Lucas
Miami – Havana (hey, Canadians can travel there!)
San Francisco – Lisbon (that’s a GREAT call)
Carmel by the Sea – the Cotswold’s in England
Florida Panhandle/Gulf Beaches – Riviera Maya, Mexico
I recognize swapping these destinations, in many cases, will result in a massive uptick in expense. I wish that weren’t the case. I wish I didn’t have to write this. I wish I wasn’t living under fascism, it’s as bad as you think.
