Top 10 Easy Summer Getaways

Azores

For dramatic scenery and Portuguese flair, skip the long flight to Lisbon and head to the Azores islands off the coast instead. This archipelago of nine volcanic islands is ripe for relaxation, but São Miguel—the largest and most populated atoll—is the easiest of the lot to visit, given that direct flights from the U.S. land here.

Bermuda

If you think Bermuda is an island in the Caribbean—a common misconception—you’ve probably been overlooking it as a summer getaway destination. Look again, as this Atlantic isle’s location—on par with Savannah, Ga.—means its weather is ideal from June to September (not January to March!). Pink-sand beaches and warm waters beckon, but there’s also plenty to do off the sand on this British-flavored island.

Bucks County, Pennsylvania

If antique shops, covered bridges and historic B&Bs are your idea of a charming way to spend a summer weekend, Bucks County, Pa., is tailor-made for you. Throw in some truly divine restaurants, abundant outdoor activities and a winery or two and you’ve got a getaway almost anyone can enjoy. Bucks County is less than an hour from Philadelphia.

Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia’s northernmost landmass of Cape Breton Island brims with rustic scenery, history and abundant wildlife. And with summer comes the perfect weather to enjoy all the adventure and beauty for which this colorful, cultural bit of the Maritimes is known. You can camp out in Cape Breton Highlands National Park after hiking one of its 27 trails; drive along the famed 185-mile Cabot Trail; stop at Ingonish Beach for a swim in the Atlantic; or get in touch with the area’s Gaelic roots by trekking the Ceilidh Trail.

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago’s our kind of town all year long, but the city really comes into its own in the summer months. Besides the legendary jazz and blues clubs, 7,000-plus restaurants and world-class museums, the onset of summer means enjoying Chicago dogs at Wrigley Field (or, if you’re a White Sox fan, at U.S. Cellular Field), sunning yourself on man-made Oak Street beach, taking in concerts in Highland Park during the Ravinia Festival, and getting your groove on at Summer Dance in Grant Park.

Jackson, Wyoming

Located at the doorstep of Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, Jackson is better known for its proximity to wide-open spaces than for its gallery spaces—but this Wyoming resort town’s chic Wild West reputation is getting a major boost from a new multidisciplinary Center for the Arts, an up-and-coming international film festival and a 500-seat performing arts center that opened in March.

Juneau, Alaska

It may be the 49th state, but Alaska’s natural scenery, awesome outdoor adventures, and rich cultural heritage are second to none. Juneau, the state’s capital, is a metropolitan hub with a small-town feel; a quirky place where politicians hobnob with fishermen and colorful Victorian houses speckle the streets. And with its 18 hours of daylight each summer, now’s the best time to visit.

Niagara-on-the-Lake

Niagara-on-the-Lake is enchanting all year long, but this quaint Southern Ontario waterfront town really ripens come summer, when abundant wineries open for tastings and tours, premier theater troupes take to the stage during the much-anticipated Shaw Festival and the annual Niagara Peach Festival comes to town.

Ojai, California

On the run from summer’s triple-threat of smog, traffic and hundred-degree heat, Angelenos have long escaped to Southern California’s idyllic Ojai Valley for its cool collection of New Age spirituality centers and luxe spa facilities. Factor in sparkling white Spanish architecture, fragrant citrus groves, and a heavenly Mediterranean climate (the ocean is only 20 minutes away) and you have the perfect recipe for a relaxing and rejuvenating retreat.

Reykjavik, Iceland

If you’re always saying that there just aren’t enough hours in the day, head to Iceland this summer, when the sun shines at midnight—you’ll have no excuse but to get out and explore Reykjavik and its unique natural surroundings—plan on teeing off at midnight and taking a dip in the fabled Blue Lagoon.

This article was originally published by ShermansTravel in June, 2007.