A recent AAA survey revealed that 64% of leisure travelers are planning to take vacations this summer. The question isn’t really whether to go, but where. These are some of the top picks for the season this year.
San Diego, California
San Diego offers a year-round mild climate with frequent sunny skies and more than 70 miles of coastline, including countless beautiful sandy beaches. But it offers a lot more than the beach as the home to many of the state’s top attractions, including theme parks and the renowned San Diego Zoo. Visitors can enjoy a wide range of fantastic resorts, cultural events, and multiple world-class golf courses too. And, it’s easy to visit another country on a day trip while you’re here, with Mexico just minutes south. Many travelers fall so in love with this SoCal city they find themselves browsing through San Diego real estate, and odds are, you will too.
Williamsburg, Virginia
Looking for a fun, affordable and educational vacation? Williamsburg offers the chance to step back in time, providing history lessons in a fascinating way that can’t be found in any textbook. Explore the Yorktown Battlefield, Jamestown and Colonial Williamsburg, enjoying all sorts of hands-on activities from the 18th-century. Then head to Busch Gardens or Water Country USA to take advantage of the thrills the popular parks have to offer.
Lake Crescent, Olympic National Park, Washington
If you want to enjoy a lake vacation without big crowds, Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park is ideal. The glacially-carved lake with its emerald waters is one of the most stunning in the country, and in the summer, the water is warm enough for swimming and popular for a wide array of recreational activities. Plus, it’s also surrounded by lush forest and countless waterfalls. Accommodation includes everything from campsites and rustic cabins to lodge rooms and lakeside chalets. At Log Cabin Resort and Lake Crescent Resort, both right on the lake, you can rent canoes, rowboats, pedal boats, hydro bikes, kayaks and more.
Newfoundland, Canada
Canada’s easternmost province is becoming increasingly popular, with summer the best time to visit. This is when the weather is most pleasant and a long list of outdoor adventures can be enjoyed, including whale watching. If you plan your trip in June, there’s a good chance you’ll get to marvel at 10,000-year-old icebergs and the adorable seabird known as the puffin too – with hundreds of them inhabiting what’s known as “Puffin Island” in the town of Elliston, though they can be found throughout many of Newfoundland’s coastal areas. On the west coast. Gros Morne National Park offers freshwater fjords and soaring mountains that are ideal for hiking, with the scenery truly out of this world.
The Black Hills, South Dakota
It’s hard to beat the Black Hills for an affordable family summer vacation. It’s home to the famous Mount Rushmore National Monument and a wealth of other attractions, like Custer State Park. The park is filled with wildlife, including wild burros, elk, deer, pronghorn antelope and eagles. It also hosts miles of hiking trails and picturesque lakes for swimming and other water sports like Sylvan Lake, surrounded by unique rock formations. Throughout the region, there are caves to explore, historic steam train rides to take, hot springs and much more.
Lovely vacation spots!