While many of us desperately await the arrival of the summer season, there are those of us who look towards it with utmost dread, knowing fully well our inability to cope with the accompanying heat. Luckily for those few of us who share this mindset, we have the alternative to seek shelter cool havens to wait out the summer heat raging in our home countries. So here are some of the top travel destinations for you to “chill out” while those at home sweat with envy.
Alaska
Being one of the coldest regions on the earth during the winters, it’s no surprise the weather in Alaska during the summer season is far from warm. Besides the many natural spectacles Alaska offers its tourists the privilege of appreciating, like glaciers, fjords, waterfalls and snowy mountains, Alaska is also a great choice for those who enjoy wildlife as tourists get the chance to spot animals like orcas, eagles, caribou, grizzlies, and lynx. However, Alaska’s greatest tourist attraction is by far its cruises, which are the reason why Alaska is considered one of the best tourist retreats for the summer.
Canada
Another destination in the north, Canada holds a special place in this list for being the one place that offers a tourist the option of visiting over 40 different national parks, where tourists can go camping and explore wildlife, a major boon for some people. It is the home to some of the most spectacular natural sights in the world like the Niagara Falls and Moraine Lake, pictures of which are more than worthy addition to your scrapbook (if anyone still makes those that is). And when you’re bored with wildlife, there’s always the option of visiting the cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Vieux-Quebec, each brimming with its own set of tourist attractions.
Iceland
The summer season in Iceland brings about with it the unusual phenomenon of 20 hours of daylight. What this means for us tourists is that the otherwise icy nation is now warm enough for many of us to enjoy, without being too warm to defeat the purpose of even visiting it in the first place. Iceland’s main tourist destination is the city Reykjavik, where tourists have the option to visit its beaches, waterfalls, glaciers, tectonic plate divides and most importantly the Blue Lagoon natural hot springs and spa. And if you’re willing to add a 2.5-hour drive from the city to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, you can even take in sights of wild horses and volcanoes.
Chile
Thought you couldn’t ski in the summer? Think again. The Chili ski resorts are an extremely popular stop for tourists who want to escape the summer heat, and for adventurers in searching for thrills in the sport of skiing. Even if extreme snow sports are not your cup of tea, Chile offers other forms of entertainment, ranging from relaxing at luxurious resorts to visiting ruins of Machu Picchu, all without breaking a sweat.
