If you’re transgender, getting an accurate gender marker on your U.S. passport is not currently possible except through a random stroke of bureaucratic luck. In November 2025, the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to enforce its ban on the federal identity document displaying anything other than your sex assigned at birth. Prior to that ruling, many trans people living under Trump 2.0 were able to take advantage of a temporary injunction to process applications with the right gender marker listed — but that window has now closed. In short, a lot of us might have to wait until there’s a new president to be able to go abroad with any sort of confidence in our paperwork. Trans people are not alone, either: Whether it’s due to heightened immigration enforcement or the global political climate, many people may not want to venture too far from home right now.
I’m going to be real with you: This situation sucks! I hate it! I love to travel internationally. Some of my favorite experiences abroad have been exploring the Eastfjords of Iceland , eating at a parrilla in the Bariloche region of Argentina, and taking a cider-fueled road trip through the Basque Country. There’s nothing like the feeling of being totally immersed in an unfamiliar environment. That said, I am also very well-traveled domestically, so much so that I wrote an entire book about queer cross-country road trips ! I may not love the politics of the United States right now, but — and maybe you should listen to Brandi Carlile singing “America the Beautiful” while you read this next part — I sincerely believe the natural beauty and cultural diversity of this country are unparalleled. All that “melting pot” stuff is more than just a cliché.
And because we are, to use a trite-but-true description, a nation of immigrants, there are pockets of the United States that can feel almost like you’ve crossed a border. You don’t have to go through customs to be totally transported. I know, I know, this is a little bit like me saying, “We have Spain at home” to someone who really wants to go to Madrid, but we kind of do have a taste of many countries here at home — and by the way, if you want a taste of Spain, head to St. Augustine, Florida! So, no, the destinations on this list are not going to feel exactly like you just got off a long-haul flight. And yes, some of them are the sort of knowingly kitschy spots designed to look like a foreign town. But right now, we have to get creative with the restrictions we have.
Below, myself and fellow Them staffers curated a list of places you can go in the U.S. that can simulate — maybe if you squint a little bit — the experience of being elsewhere. — Samantha Allen
Miami, Florida
Three days after I moved to Miami, someone at a party asked me if I knew what the most convenient thing about the city was. When I answered no, he smiled, and said, “How close it is to the U.S.” Miami doesn’t even have to be in Latin America proper to be considered its capital, that’s how much of a hub it is for other cultures and countries. Whether you’re dancing in Little Havana or eating the most delicious food in the world (Peruvian causa), a trip to Miami can make you feel like you’ve stamped your passport without having to go through customs. My tip for making it feel like an international vacation is to avoid the South Beach nightclubs and only make a quick stop at the Instagrammable Wynnwood walls, heading instead for Calle Ocho in Little Havana and other points west of I-95. My one exception? Twist. — Samantha Allen
New Orleans, Louisiana
There’s a reason New Orleans, Louisiana is often dubbed the “northernmost Caribbean city.” While the Big Easy technically isn’t in Latin American, I couldn’t help but feel reminded of my family trips in Lima, Peru when I first moved there in 2015. The architectural beauty of the colorful French buildings and splendor of the live oak trees covered in Spanish moss are widely lauded, but what makes NOLA so special is a blend of the people, the culture, and, of course, the food. Whether you’re going for Carnival season or just to visit, I’d have to recommend getting pho at a local Vietnamese spot or pupusas at a Honduran restaurant, in addition to enjoying the truly spectacular array of Creole cuisine the city has to offer. If you’re looking for more of a gaycation, make sure to bring plenty of cash to tip your local drag performers at The Country Club. There’s also a slew of queer nightlife to enjoy, like French Quarter gay bars Raw Hide and Oz or pop-up parties like GrrlSpot. But more than anything, I recommend taking a stroll through City Park, listening to some New Orleans bounce , and chatting with a stranger on a warm spring afternoon, perhaps daiquiri in hand. Don’t worry, there are plenty of drive-thru spots you can get them from. — Quispe López
Puerto Rico
Despite what Republicans who hate Bad Bunny and the Spanish language want you to think, Puerto Rico is 100% a part of the United States and, no, you don’t need a passport to visit. Just one domestic flight separates you from what we Boricuas call la isla encanta , or the enchanted island. And, despite its small size, there’s a lot to explore. Not only are you surrounded by free public beaches, but you also have access to a nature lover’s paradise, including the rainforest El Yunque and plenty of hiking on the island’s mountain ranges. But don’t skip out on the island’s profound culture: While you’re there, visit art museums, dance salsa in world-famous nightclubs and, whether or not you’re a “foodie,” chow down on the island’s criollo cuisine, which boasts influences from native Tainos, African ancestors, and the Iberian peninsula. — Mathew Rodriguez
Tarpon Springs, Florida
I will be the first to admit that Tarpon Springs is kitschy. In its current form, it exists to take $25 out of your pocket on your way to Busch Gardens. You will purchase a sea sponge that you’ll swear you’ll start using instead of your loofah only to end up leaving it inside your luggage when you get home. But the Greek food in Tarpon Springs is genuinely good, and if you’re a queer with kids, watching the sponge diving tour makes for a diverting afternoon. The theme is also not a wholesale invention: the city was settled by Greek immigrants and, to this day, about 10% of the population claims Greek descent. I can also recommend a trip to the Weeki Wachee river if you want to feel not just like you’re in another country but on another planet, specifically the one from Avatar . — Samantha Allen
Leavenworth, Washington
As a kid growing up in the Pacific Northwest, all I ever wanted to do during the holiday season was go to Leavenworth, a small Bavarian-style village two hours outside of Seattle that had a magical air about it. Leavenworth was modeled after a "Bavarian-Swiss" alpine theme town and drew inspiration from the Danish-themed town, Solvang, California, also featured on this list. Although it’s a beautiful place to go year-round — in the summer you can go tubing in the river and drink a beer in the outdoor brewery — visiting during the winter months truly does transport you to a holiday wonderland straight out of the Alps. The buildings are covered in snow and icicles, Christmas music is played in every shop, and you can walk through the town with a hot chocolate (or toddy) in hand. Every shop is decorated with Christmas lights and the entire town truly seems charmed in a Frozen , Elsa & Anna kinda way. — Ana Osorno
San Antonio, Texas
In contrast to Dallas and Austin or even Houston, San Antonio, Texas is over 50% Latino, with a large Mexican influence. If you want to schedule a visit, you can go during the city’s annual Fiesta, which runs this year from April 16 to 26. But no matter what time of year you visit, River City boasts incredible food , gorgeous architecture, and, of course, the River Walk. And although Texas state politics might be a disaster right now, there are still enclaves of acceptance. In June 2025 — arguably the height of the Trump 2.0 era so far — San Antonio dedicated a Pride Cultural Heritage District along North Main Avenue. — Samantha Allen
Solvang, California
If you want a Euro summer without Euro prices, fear not. There’s a little get away in Central California that will transport you to what feels like a Danish amusement park with better weather, and it’s called Solvang. Because my mother worked at a nearby horse ranch, I grew up deeply acquainted with the whimsical Dutch architecture of this hidden gem. If you’re thinking windmills, brown trimming, and colorful buildings straight out of a secretly sinister European fairytale, you’ve got the right idea. Get yourself a comically large pretzel or giant hunk of chocolate to really start your day off with a burst of energy. After you’ve been properly nourished, I recommend really leaning into the tourist vibes and biking through the town on a four-seater bike. If you want to take in more of the local culture, the Elverhøj Museum of History & Art delves right into why exactly a Danish town seems to have been plopped into the center of the Golden State. Sure, it’s not Europe, but it is kitschy and fun. Make room for some whimsy and buy a blue-and-white porcelain clog magnet for your fridge. — Quispe López
Santa Fe, New Mexico
As the oldest state capital in the U.S., Santa Fe doesn’t just feel international; it feels mystical, like another world. In the ’50s, the city mandated a strict “Santa Fe Style” for all construction in its historic districts in order to maintain its low-slung adobe character with an uninterrupted palette of terracottas and red-orange earth tones. Taking a long stroll through the plaza is a must; the craftsmanship of local and indigenous artisans will yield one-of-a-kind treasures. And if you can, book a reservation ahead at the iconic, Japanese-inspired Ten Thousand Waves — an LGBTQ+ friendly spa with gender-neutral changing rooms that is markedly above standard as far as spas go. — Fran Tirado
Poulsbo, Washington
Every time I go to Poulsbo, I eat a pastry called a “Viking Cup” that’s the size of my head. While the Norwegian skillingsbolle is hundreds of years old, I do have a hard time picturing a horned-helmet warrior snacking on a cinnamon roll from Sluys Bakery . Regardless, it’s worth going out of your way to try one, and there’s a lot of cute stuff to explore on your sugar high, including an adorable little maritime museum. Poulsbo may not merit a long trip on its own, but it’s worthy of a side quest during a trip to Seattle — which also has a European air to it in the right places. — Samantha Allen
New York City, New York
This one almost feels like cheating, but New York is a truly global city, with over a third of residents born outside the U.S. The result is a series of vibrant pocket neighborhoods that still preserve much of the cultural (and culinary!) feel of the immigrant communities who originally put them on the map. They’re all worth visiting. Little Italy in Lower Manhattan celebrates its 100th annual Feast of San Gennaro this September. Nearby Chinatown boasts some of the best food in the city, along with one of my favorite after-work activities: Anime Claw. And Brighton Beach in Brooklyn, a.k.a. “Little Odessa” is an Eastern European enclave where you can go bananas on some blintzes. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg: Astoria has a “Little Egypt,” the Washington Heights neighborhood has a “Little Dominican Republic,” and on, and on. Sure, the omnipresent skyline might be a perpetual reminder that you haven’t really left the country, but you can speedrun your way through a dozen different vibes in a few days. Only in New York? — Samantha Allen
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