Summer vacation destination that's not so blazing hot!

[MEM]

We live in MA, so are not interested in the Northeast. We'd be willing to fly, either in the US or abroad. Two adults, maybe 7 nights, total budget of 3k. We're also not opposed to flying to a destination and than driving to various sights. We'd like a combination of sightseeing, hiking, etc, with a bit of relaxation.

Thanks is advance!

I'm in the Boston area and I would also recommend you look at Iceland. There are non-stop flights out of Logan - a colleague of mine has friends there and visits at least twice a year. Look for package deals through Icelandair.

 

[goodeats]

Northern California - San Francisco, Redwood Trees, Wine Country, Big Sur, etc. Lots you can do with a rental car.

 

[MEM]

Washington DC and VA are blazing hot in summer. Especially for a New Englander who's not used to the humidity. (I'm a native Mainer living in MD for the past 19 years, I know of what I speak )

Exactly. I remember when we visited Busch Gardens in Virginia the heat index was 103 - in June!

 

[Styx Fan]

I highly suggest northern Michigan. in the north western lower peninsula, is one of the most highly rated beaches/vacation areas in the U.S. Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes is wonderful. The views of Lake Michigan are stunning, the water is clean and the area is not densely populated. Lots of small towns to poke around in and plenty of hiking. From there you can continue north to the Traverse City area and enjoy more water views, many excellent wineries and restaurants. A little further north and you come to the Mackinaw Bridge connecting upper and lower Michigan. Nice tourist areas on both sides with Mackinaw Island sitting in the straights. Close to the entire Island is park land and NO cars are allowed on the Island If you want more wilderness, venture into the upper peninsula.

And the weather is seldom crazy hot. Days are warm, evenings cool. The further north you get the fewer places even have A/C as it is needed so few days...but pretty sure all hotels have it.

Do some research on the area, it is truly a wonderful area in which to vacation. It is so far removed from the Detroit area!

Signed a proud Michigan native and resident

 

[wendow]

I live in CO. Our summers are very beautiful and mild, especially up in the Rockies. Days are perfect for swimming, fishing, hiking, shopping, etc and nights are cool enough for getting in the hot tub. Denver and the front range do get hotter in the summer but we have low humidity so the heat is a bit more tolerable.

I am originally from TX and most of my TX family heads our way to escape the summer heat

 

[bcwife76]

Vancouver BC and Seattle WA? Because our CDN dollar is so crummy right now your US dollars go way further in Canada giving you more bang for your buck

 

[disneyeveryyear]

Washington, Oregon, Chicago, Washington D.C., Busch Gardens VA, Cedar Point, Hershey Park, Branson MO.

Southern South America. It'll be winter there

I live in Central IL and can guarantee that Chicago, IL and Branson, MO can be as hot as hades in the summer.

 

[Viking7641]

Iceland is the single most incredible place I've ever been.

Rent a car. Drive the ring road. eat hotdogs. hotels can be cheap if you look. The scenery, the nature, the people, and the history are free

 

[hsmamato2]

Alaska. Cruises can be pretty cheap for two depending on your dates.

 

[OhMari]

We stayed in Breckenridge CO last summer, the last week in July. We did a lot of hiking, gondola ride is free in the summer. You can rent bikes and ride down the ski hills. We went to Golden CO-free beer-Coors/Miller. I want to go back. The weekends are very busy,-everyone in Denver wants to get out of the heat and they go up into the mountains. Tons of shopping/places to eat.

 

[DrummerBoy523]

We live in MA, so are not interested in the Northeast. We'd be willing to fly, either in the US or abroad. Two adults, maybe 7 nights, total budget of 3k. We're also not opposed to flying to a destination and than driving to various sights. We'd like a combination of sightseeing, hiking, etc, with a bit of relaxation.

Thanks is advance!

Estes Park Colorado

 

[tcufrog]

Fly in San Francisco. Spend a few days there and then drive the old Pacific Coast highway to Portland for the return flight. Depending on your route you can visit wineries and the redwoods along the way. We did this trip before we had kids and loved it. We stopped at a variety of small town and Fort Clatsop which is the furthest west Lewis and Clark went.

 

[kymom99]

Fly in San Francisco. Spend a few days there and then drive the old Pacific Coast highway to Portland for the return flight. Depending on your route you can visit wineries and the redwoods along the way. We did this trip before we had kids and loved it. We stopped at a variety of small town and Fort Clatsop which is the furthest west Lewis and Clark went.

I'd love this. But one way car rentals will kill the budget!

 

[lovesdumbo]

I'm from MA. Last year our family of 5 had a great trip to Newfoundland. We drove through Maine, then New Brunswick into Nova Scotia and took the boat from Sydney NS to Newfoundland. It is stunningly beautiful, the people are so friendly, and reasonable prices with the strong US dollar. We saw icebergs, whales, Viking settlement, and miles and miles of stunning vistas! We arrived in Newfoundland July 4th. One morning it was the 40s. Most days were quite pleasant. We concentrated on the west coast but you can take one ferry to the west coast, drive across the island and take another ferry from east coast back to Nova Scotia.

The summer before we took boat from Portland Maine to Nova Scotia. Toured Nova Scotia, PEI & New Brunswick and drove home. That would usually be cooler than MA also but we had record highs (90s) in PEI that year.

This year we're bringing oldest DD to upstate NY for college orientation then we're going to Niagara Falls and Ontario.

 

[Norton figment]

Come to canada, vancouver, Calgary, ottawa,east coast of Canada. Our national parks are free this year too. Also the exchange rate is in your favour here. You would have about $4000 Canadian. It's really not that exensive here.

 

[disneedee]

oregon coast. crater lake. canada (think they are having free national parks this year) disneyland california,

 

[Donnainnj]

San Diego. Loved it there and the weather is great.

 

[arminnie]

Good luck. I've had the most incredible BAD LUCK with getting away from the heat in these locations:

Boulder, CO
San Francisco, CA (multiple trips)
Newport, RI (multiple)
Maine seacoast (multiple)
Palo Alto, CA (multiple)
Boston, MA (multiple)
Wellesley, MA
Williamsburg, VA (in FEBRUARY)
New York

When I've visited these locations to NOT BE IN THE HEAT it has often been in the mid to high 90s. With NO AIR CONDITIONING ANYWHERE. I have never been so miserable in my life. I truly thought I was going to have a heat stroke.

I'd much rather be in Houston or New Orleans with 95 degree heat and air conditioning.

 

[Dakota731]

The Hershey Park suggestion - not so much! It felt cooler and less humid in Orlando in July than Hershey! How about a lake vacation in Maine?

 

[firefly_ris]

I would avoid all of the Mid-Atlantic (as someone who grew up in Maryland) during the summer.