Dreaming of a spectacular destination this summer? Why not get the most out of your next travel assignment and go somewhere to maximize sunshine and summertime vibes. Make this summer about getting outdoors and enjoying great weather. While there are lots of reasons for choosing a location, try finding a “hub” city that provides lots of fun local activities. Additionally, it should offer big epic adventures when you have time to venture out.
Here are the top 10 locations to talk to your travel agency about this summer:
- Anchorage, Alaska. Alaska truly is the last frontier, which is a large part of its appeal. Anchorage is the biggest city in Alaska and offers city comforts while being a great middle ground to many adventures. These include world class fishing on the Kenai Peninsula to the south and Denali National Park to the north. Anchorage itself offers a mix of pubs, restaurants, museums, parks and hiking trails. Summer is the perfect time to visit when daytime temperature average 60-80 degrees and there is unlimited sunshine.
- Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Grand Tetons are iconic because of their innate beauty. While this area is most famous for its ski mountain, summer offers a wide variety of activities including biking, hiking, and rafting. The city itself has rustic country charm and offers great shopping and a weekly farmer’s markets. You can look forward to rodeos and a great 4th of July celebration too. Plus, most people don’t realize that Yellowstone National Park is just a short 2 hour drive north as well.
- Whitefish, Montana. This charming little town offers beautiful lake and mountain views. It has a variety of local shops and breweries to explore while being less than an hour from Glacier National Park. It is also close to the very popular Flathead Lake, so don’t forget to your water toys! Kalispell is a large city close by for any specific shopping needs as well.
- Asheville, North Carolina. This is a history rich area boasting top notch restaurants for foodies, a diverse music scene and balmy 80 degree weather all summer long. When you want to get out of the city you can quickly get to the Blue Ridge Mountains for some nature time. You can even get to the Atlantic Coast in around 5 hours for a weekend trip.
- St. George, Utah. Rich in pioneer history, dinosaur excavation sites and red rocks of St. George provide a beautiful setting for summer. It has a wide variety of options for exploration including Vegas just 90 minutes away, Zion National Park, Red Cliffs National Conservation and the Grand Canyon. These are all weekend worthy trips of a lifetime. While St. George is considered cooler than its desert neighbors, the averages will be closer to 90-100 degrees in the summer so plan accordingly.
- Portland, OR. The Pacific Northwest is beautiful and temperate in the summer, offering green luscious landscape. Portland is known for its laid back community full of opportunities to bike everywhere, shop local organic produce, drink craft beer and become a full-fledged foodie. Additionally, it is close to Mount Rainier, Seattle, and the Pacific coast.
- Sonoma, CA. Sonoma is known for its wine and farm to table restaurants. However, it is also close to endless museums and culture in San Francisco, the Sierra Mountain Range (Lake Tahoe anyone?), the Redwood Forest and the iconic Highway 1 for checking out the coastline. So much to see, so little time!
- Steamboat Springs, CO. Steamboat is another charming mountain town boasting cute shops, delicious food, a great summer music scene and endless outdoor activities. Check out local hot springs, go rafting, hiking and so much more. They also have a summertime Art Festival and rodeo. Plus, if you are craving big city life Denver is less than 3 hours away as well.
- San Diego, CA. San Diego is a crowd pleaser all year round for its pleasant temperatures, wide variety of food culture and entertainment. From aquariums and coastline to giant festivals and concerts there is something for everyone.
- Boston, MA. This all American town offers summer festivals, history, baseball and epic food adventures. Plus, it averages 70-80 degrees in the summer. There is no shortage of exploration here. Plus, it is close to many Atlantic islands and New York for great weekend trips.
No matter what type of adventures you want to have this summer, choosing an area filled with options that will ensure a season to remember. Once you’ve picked your destination, make sure you find suitable housing to help you maximize your stay!