Cool-Cations

Why ‘Cool-cations’ Are The Hottest Ticket This Summer

Travellers are rethinking old habits and seeking new destinations this summer. New “cooler” destinations in both senses of the word. Vacations where adventures are enjoyed without worrying about air conditioning or heat exhaustion. The travel industry has jumped on the trend, and we have refreshing new areas to explore.

Norway’s famous fjords are a feast for the eyes, and one of the best ways to see them is from the decks of a small ship. Hurtigruten’s Coastal Express, or the newer Norwegian line Havila, offers a real taste of local life as it travels the historic coastal route up and down the western coast. Some itineraries extend to Svalbard, one of the northernmost inhabited places in the world. Watch for grazing reindeer in the capital, Longyearbyen.

In summer, enjoy the novelty of a midnight sunset in the Lofoten islands near the Arctic Circle; the island community is one of the country’s most idyllic locales for sauna culture. Sweden, another Nordic country, is home to one of the region’s most engaging cities. Stockholm has fewer than a million people and punches above its weight with world-class museums, a working royal palace to tour, and an enchanting, pedestrian old town full of cobblestone streets, lively markets, and shopping.

Escape Europe’s soaring temperatures this summer by heading to the southern hemisphere, where the seasons flip. In northern Chile, the Atacama Desert is a relatively undiscovered gem that never gets too hot thanks to its higher altitude. Think highs of 72 F (around 22 C) from June through August. Here, visitors find unique natural landscapes, flamingos in salt flats, rare wildflowers, and incredible bird life. Ask us about the standout luxury accommodations in the Atacama.

For skiers, the bragging rights of skiing in July and August never get old, consider Bariloche, Argentina, or Portillo, Chile. Add layovers in the remarkable cities of Santiago or Buenos Aires to get a real feel for South American culture and its cuisine.

Visitors to Vancouver Island in British Columbia will find old-growth forests and misty rainforests along the coast. An ultra-small-ship sailing cruise into the province’s inside passage offers exceptional wildlife viewing and stunning natural beauty.

Farther north, the state of Alaska awaits with its many glaciers and dramatic mountain ranges that extend right to the shoreline. This is where water-based exploration excels, consider kayaking trips from a luxury lodge on Fox Island (near Seward) or hiking and wildlife viewing with a bucket-list overnight trip in Denali National Park.