7 Summer Vacations to Beat the Heat

With highs in the 70’s and lows in the high 40’s, Calgary is a temperate vacationer’s dream. Not only is Calgary cool but it is the gateway to Banff National Park. Touted as Canada’s first National Park, Banff is home to the iconic, turquoise Lake Louise, not to mention stunning hiking trails. If hiking isn’t your style, you can take a gondola up Sulphur Mountain for panoramic views of the Canadian Rockies, or take a dip in the region’s many hot springs.

The capital city of Sweden, Stockholm offers all the highs of a European vacation while keeping temperatures low. Enjoy a visit to the Vasa museum, where you can see a fully preserved 17th century warship, and stop at local bakeries for fika, the local custom of taking a pastry and coffee break in the afternoon. If you want to go island hopping, you can; Stockholm is home an archipelago of 14 islands. We recommend the Fjäderholmana islands, which are a short 30 minute boat ride from the city center.

A coastal city with similar temperatures but a completely different feel than Calgary, Halifax is charming but modern. Stroll the waterfront or the Public Gardens, eat pasta stuffed with fresh seafood, or go to the Citadel Hill where a real live cannon has been shot at noon every day since 1857. And don’t forget---if you’re in the mood for a road trip, Prince Edward Island, the famed home of Anne of Green Gables, is only a few hour drive away.

It’s winter in the Southern Hemisphere which means August in Christchurch averages a chilly 54 degrees a day. Take a ride on the Christchurch tram to visit the botanic gardens, the Margaret Mah Playground and more. If you’re looking for more by way of nature, why not visit Orana Wildlife Park where you can see tigers, white rhinos, and even feed giraffes?

Locals find Buenos Aires chilly in August, but you’ll enjoy the sweater weather. Stroll through the waterfront neighborhood of Puerto Madero, and take in the rich, French architecture of Recoleta, sometimes called the “Paris of the South.” Try your hand at a milonga—a tango social—in the Palermo or Barrio Norte neighborhoods. Find some time to see world class classical music performed at the Teatro Colón. You really can’t go wrong.

Summer in Africa, a heat-beating destination? We know what you’re thinking but August in Kenya is ideal timing with dry, cool weather. Safari at Nairobi National Park is a must-do, as is whale-watching off the coast for spinner dolphins. Enjoy an exquisite meal at Cultiva Farm Kenya or wander through the surreal sculptures in Kitangela Glass.

Experience all the wonders of Japan without the oppressive summer temperatures by heading north. While everyone else deplanes at Tokyo, take a connecting flight to Hokkaido and enjoy your fill of Japanese convenience store food, pharmacy shopping hauls and more at a manageable average of 73 degrees. Visit the Asahiyama zoo and visit cities like Hakodate and Niseko. Make sure to eat your fill of Hokkaido’s famous seafood (crab is a must) and drink as much foamy, Sapporo beer as you can manage.