Planning a summer vacation can be tricky, right? Do you stick with the same tried-and-true destinations you’ve loved in the past, brave the crowds on a European adventure or head somewhere with cooler weather to escape the summer heat?
If you’re looking to visit a destination that’s a little more under the radar in the summer months, there are plenty of incredible options to consider both here in the U.S. and abroad.
Related: Summer travel checklist: 11 things to do now to make your trip great
In Europe, swap out the throngs of tourists characteristic of the region’s most-visited cities for charming destinations like canal-filled Hamburg, Germany, and Norway, where majestic fjords await you. Everyone seems to be going to Tokyo right now, but the northern island of Hokkaido has plenty to offer. And stateside, summer is a great time to head north to Oregon’s stunning wine region, the coast of Maine or somewhere in between.
Whatever type of vacation you’re looking for, these underrated destinations might just be your new summer go-to.
Alesund, Norway
Norway is an ideal place to visit during the summer months, especially if you hope to escape the heat. In Alesund, summer temperatures are usually below 70 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing for comfortable weather to explore the postcard-worthy town built in the art nouveau style. In fact, there’s an entire museum dedicated to the town’s architecture; the Art Nouveau Centre, or Jugendstilsenteret, explores how the people of Alesund rebuilt in this style after a devastating fire in 1904.
The town itself has plenty to do, from the Atlantic Ocean Park aquarium, where visitors can gaze at seals, penguins, fish and Norwegian crustaceans, to hiking to the top of Mount Aksla for the perfect photo op. It’s also the perfect home base for visiting some of Norway’s beautiful fjords, including the UNESCO-protected Geirangerfjord, which can be visited by various boat and land cruises before returning to rest at the Mr & Mrs Smith-affiliated Hotel Brosundet, a former fisherman’s warehouse.
Willamette Valley, Oregon
Everybody already knows about California’s popular wine regions, like Napa and Sonoma, but farther north, Oregon has its own incredible wine scene — and it’s an especially nice place to visit in the summer months. To get there, fly into Portland and spend a few days taking in the city’s vibrant culture and food scene with a few nights at the luxurious new Ritz-Carlton, Portland before journeying south to the quaint and charming towns that produce the state’s most popular wines.
At The Allison Inn & Spa in Newberg, book a stay to be pampered at the spa and sleep in upscale accommodations in between wine tastings and vineyard tours at some of the over 500 wineries in the area. In McMinnville, about 30 minutes from the resort, you can spend a day tasting varieties of local pinot noir, the region’s most famous export, at 20-plus tasting rooms when you’re not shopping around the picture-prefect town and dining at popular restaurants like Hayward, a 2024 James Beard Award semifinalist for Best New Restaurant serving “new Northwest fare.”
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From late June, the Grange Estate at Dundee Hills will offer nine rustic-chic rooms right off the vineyards in Dundee alongside dining concepts from James Beard Award-nominated executive chef Chase Williams. (Note: To book the Grange Estate, you must sign up for the free-to-join Foley Food & Wine Society.)
Ljubljana, Slovenia
For a taste of European charm sans crowds, Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, should be on your must-visit list. Spend your trip roaming the storied streets of Ljubljana’s Old Town or take in the scenes on a city cruise. History buffs should venture up on the funicular to Ljubljana Castle, dating back nearly 1,000 years, while the highly manicured Tivoli City Park is sure to impress all.
Root yourself at the InterContinental Ljubljana, where you can book rooms with IHG One Rewards points, or one of the city’s many boutique hotels, and stay long enough to allow for a few day trips to places like scenic Lake Bled and the otherwordly caverns of Postojna Cave Park. Save time for dinner at Gric, a rustic-yet-elegant family-owned restaurant about 40 minutes from Ljubljana that earned one Michelin star.
Columbus, Ohio
A quick, easy and affordable summer vacation is waiting for you in Columbus, right in the heart of Ohio. Sure, it might not have the glamour of Los Angeles or the cosmopolitan energy of New York, but what it lacks in those ways it certainly makes up for with friendly people, family-friendly activities and lots of ways to get outdoors.
For families, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has a slew of creatures to visit, including polar bears, gorillas and red pandas, and throughout the summer, there’s live music and craft beer on tap. Animal lovers can also go on a safari at The Wilds, an animal conservation center that offers open-air safaris to see rhinos, zebras, giraffes and cheetahs. If that’s not enough, the 36,000-square-foot Legoland Discovery Center will keep kids and kids-at-heart entertained and engaged for hours.
Columbus is also home to great breweries and restaurants, various sporting teams and a historic German village. Last year, The Junto, an independent lifestyle hotel, opened its doors — and it’s perfect for the trendy set. Meanwhile, Buckeyes fans will swoon over the Ohio State-themed Graduate Columbus.
Niseko, Japan
Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, might be famous for its epic winter sports conditions, but that doesn’t mean it’s a place you should avoid when there’s no powder on the slopes. In the summer months, Hokkaido is the perfect place for some outdoor adventures combined with the best of Japanese culture.
In Niseko, points and miles enthusiasts can find great summer deals at a handful of hotels, including the Hilton Niseko Village, the Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono and the ultra-luxe Higashiyama Niseko Village, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, which offers mountain-view rooms, a full-service spa and a Japanese onsen.
During the summer months, travelers to Niseko can spend days golfing, tree trekking, canyoning, zip lining, rafting or taking the summer gondola for views of the mountains in between mouthwatering meals at traditional izakays, some of the world’s freshest sushi and intricate tea ceremonies.
Mendoza, Argentina
Since Argentina is in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are flipped and the warm summer months in the U.S. are the colder winter months in Argentina. While the vineyards surrounding Mendoza, the epicenter of Argentina’s wine country, might not be in bloom during a visit in June, July, August or September, they’re still pleasant to experience this time of year.
Though wineries in the area are on the slower side when the temperatures drop, they’re great to visit for a fireside wine tasting and learning more about the country’s wine industry, even if you can’t stroll through the vineyards themselves. Travelers can also take advantage of the beautiful Andes by going out horseback riding or taking a day trip to the nearby thermal springs.
In Mendoza, luxury hotels abound. Hyatt has its Category 4 Park Hyatt. Preferred Hotels-affiliated Entre Cielos Wine & Wellness Hotel provides a boutique experience with a hammam spa. And at SB Winemaker’s House & Spa Suites, you’ll find vinotherapeautic spa treatments.
For something totally different from summers up in the Northern Hemisphere, take advantage of the snow up in the mountains and plan an entire Argentinian ski trip to Mendoza resorts like Las Lenas and Los Penitentes.
Bozeman, Montana
People flock to Bozeman in winter to hit the slopes, but you shouldn’t sleep on the southern Montana city’s summer offerings. For folks who like to spend quality time outdoors, the city transforms into a summer wonderland complete with kayak trips down the Madison River via the Bozeman Kayak Company, white water rafting, zip lining, hiking, mountain biking and fly-fishing.
In August, take your Western experience to the next level by checking out the Bozeman Stampede, a full-fledged rodeo with bull riding. If you prefer something more tame, enjoy a calm horseback riding experience through scenic vistas.
The area’s lodging game is strong, too, with larger ranches and resorts out in the countryside that can coordinate all sorts of Western-centric activities; consider Sage Lodge in Pray, Montana, (about 50 minutes by car from Bozeman) or Gallatin River Lodge (roughly 20 minutes from Bozeman). There are also more cosmopolitan hotels like the Kimpton Armory Hotel and plenty of smaller points hotels in the greater Bozeman area.
Hamburg, Germany
Venice, Italy, is absolutely brimming with tourists over the summer, so why not consider Hamburg, Germany, known as the “Venice of the North” thanks to its large systems of canals that travelers can experience on boats, instead?
Known for being Europe’s second-largest port, Hamburg is a maritime city and home to the International Maritime Museum. But that’s not the only popular museum to explore; others include Miniatur Wunderland (where the world’s largest model railway and miniature replicas of famous towns reside), a chocolate museum and various art museums.
During summertime, Hamburg really comes to life, especially at its many beaches and beach clubs, where you can have your feet in the sand and a drink in your hand. It’s also a great city for day trips, with many castles and historic mansions, like Ludwigslust Palace, not too far away. Summer is also full of festivals, including Spielbudenfestival, a festival for street performers and artists, in July and the International Summer Festival, which showcases live performance art like theater and dance throughout the city for three weeks in August.
As a major city, Hamburg offers many well-known hotel brands, including Fairmont, Westin, Le Meridian, Marriott and Autograph Collection.
Lexington, Kentucky
You don’t have to love horses to love the “Horse Capital of the World,” which also happens to be an incredible summer destination. However, if you do love horses, Lexington, Kentucky, and the surrounding area have plenty of places where you can get an up-close look at the majestic creatures, including the Kentucky Horse Park and various horse farms.
Lexington is also big on bourbon and has a handful of must-visit distilleries in town, like James E. Pepper Distilling Co. Some well-known distilleries, such as Woodford Reserve and Maker’s Mark, are also not too far away. In fact, Kentucky has its very own Bourbon Trail, so you could plan an entire vacation around visiting the distilleries across the state.
You might already know that the late Queen Elizabeth II, an avid racehorse fan, visited horse farms around Lexington multiple times. But you might not know there’s a hotel outside of Lexington that’s inside a literal castle and fit for royalty. Called The Kentucky Castle, the property has 18 rooms and offers tours. If you’d rather stay somewhere in the center of town, the new luxury boutique hotel called The Manchester hits all the right notes.
Next year, Lexington will celebrate its 250th anniversary, so now’s the time to visit before the party gets too crowded.
Jeju Island, South Korea
For people looking to spend some time in Asia this summer, Jeju Island in South Korea has something for every type of traveler: There are big-city happenings and cultural experiences, beautiful beaches and resorts, picturesque waterfalls, hiking and scuba diving opportunities, all-terrain-vehicle adventures and more. It really is a place where you can spend a day relaxing in nature and then live it up in the city by night.
One new and notable place to stay is the JW Marriott Jeju Resort & Spa near Seogwipo on the southern part of the island. Opened in 2023, the resort features modern rooms, a sleek infinity pool and an impressive signature restaurant called Island Kitchen, where international fare is on the menu.
In and around Seogwipo, you can trek out to see the lone Oedolgae Rock formation jutting out of the ocean, snorkel around the Hwanguji Coast in natural beach pools, visit Yakcheonsa Temple (one of the largest in Asia) and eat traditional Korean food and Jeju specialties.
Charlevoix, Quebec
One of Canada’s most popular winter ski resort areas doubles as an incredible summer playground when the snow melts away each year, trading the white powder for sandy beaches and beautiful green mountainscapes.
Recently, Club Med opened its first all-inclusive ski resort in the area, Club Med Quebec Charlevoix, in the middle of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, making it easy to spend summer days hiking the lush trails or tackling them on mountain bikes, whale watching on the St. Lawrence River, horseback riding or just lounging at the hotel pool or spa. With the all-inclusive nature of the resort, rates cover your meals and drinks at two restaurants and three bars, so you can know exactly how much a vacation here will cost.
Outside of Club Med, there are a handful of other resorts and plenty of cabins and houses to rent. Just be sure to check out one of the most popular summer attractions: The Mechanical Bird at Le Massif de Charlevoix, which turns the ski resort’s chairlifts into a dazzling light and sound experience at night. Opt to join a dinner show at the top or bottom to round out the experience.
Dubai
This might sound a little wild, but depending on how you travel, Dubai in summer can actually be a pretty enjoyable experience despite the heat. For starters, because tourists typically avoid Dubai in the summer months, hotel rates often drop significantly, so you could stay at some world-class hotels — and take advantage of everything those hotels have to offer, like the spa, swimming pools and even beaches — for a fraction of the price.
Dubai is well aware of its heat and desert location, so there are many activities you can enjoy inside, including zipping down indoor ski slopes, shopping at the larger-than-life Dubai Mall, heading to the tippy top of the world’s tallest building and scuba diving in the world’s deepest pool. You can even make a day trip to Abu Dhabi to ride indoor roller coasters at Ferrari World.
Again, it may not be for everyone, but Dubai really is an indoor playground with the air conditioning cranked up high.
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