The summer travel season this year has been challenging, with a host of hurdles such as overcrowding, sweltering heat, hurricanes, fires and more. However, for those still seeking a getaway, there exist destinations where conditions are currently brilliant, with manageable crowds and the locales themselves at their prime. We guide you to six unexpected destinations across the globe for your late-summer retreat.
Considering a trip south…
This is a splendid time to explore Rio de Janeiro, courtesy it being the Southern Hemisphere’s winter season. The city buzzes with holiday spirit and revelry during the New Year and Carnival celebrations between December to February. However, it’s currently when a discerning traveller observes the city in all its glory: ideally balanced in terms of temperature and human traffic, living up to its alias, the Marvelous City. A sunny August day in Rio often presents itself with a distinctively clearer sky and an emphatically bluer ocean than any other season.
It would be wise to secure a spot in some of the most acclaimed fine dining venues of South America, like the 10-seater chef’s table in the Michelin-starred Lasai or the laid-back Oteque located in the Botafogo district.
Fans of the beach will appreciate the additional space at the typically bustling Copacabana. Surfers will relish the winter surf season, still open till about September, and can enjoy a surf at the Arpoador break, nestled between Copacabana and Ipanema.
Even for those concerned about missing out on Rio’s vibrant festivities, the city never disappoints. Be it bar crawls in the Lapa district or experiencing a samba jam session in some bohemian corner bar, the celebration never ceases in Rio. The samba schools that participate in Carnival rituals have already commenced practice for the forthcoming year; quite a few rehearsals are open to spectators (for instance, Mangueira or Salgueiro, among the largest schools, with Saturday night rehearsals). You could catch acclaimed artists such as Mariah Carey, Imagine Dragons and Katy Perry at the Rock in Rio music festival, set to begin on 13th September.
Alternatively, you could travel west…
While numerous holidaymakers converge to the famed national parks in the western part of America like Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon during summer, the less visited Olympic National Park in the northwestern part of the US, Washington, nonetheless, also a presents an equally fascinating vista of natural beauty.
Encompassing nearly a million acres of land on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula, the park provides an array of opportunities, including boating, fishing, hiking and camping, during the warmer months of July and August. The period is also rife with opportunities to observe wildlife such as Roosevelt elk and Olympic marmots, which are peculiar to the region. Furthermore, humpback whale-watching is a possibility.
Even though Olympic National Park may not be the first choice for many like Yosemite, it is no clandestine location, hence park officials advise visitors to use the bus to visit well-liked places like the Hurricane Ridge and thereby reduce traffic. But the palatial 95 per cent of the park is open, providing an opportunity for those seeking solitude.
The Caribbean might be perceived as a risky summer vacation spot due to hurricanes, most recently highlighted by Hurricane Beryl, Aruba, however, being off the customary hurricane path, is generally spared of severe tropical disturbances. Aruba’s weather is relatively steady throughout the year – warm, sunny, and breezy, the “natural air conditioning” courtesy of the local trade winds. The ever-present breeze has the divi divi trees lean nearly parallel to the ground, a sight so common it’s often seen on postcards.
Regardless of the season, visitors will be privy to the best weather year-round. However, there is an added incentive to visit now, as it’s the off-season and accommodation prices are at their yearly low. For instance, a night at the Ritz-Carlton in Aruba between August and September would cost around €740 compared to over €1,000 in the high season.
Eagle Beach in the Caribbean sees its finest days this time of year, offering a picturesque two-mile stretch of sand: an idyllic spot made all the more attractive by the minimal crowd.
Similarly, you could choose to explore the mountains…
Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, a rural sector of the US state bordering Quebec, is often overlooked. Despite its harsh winters, the summers here are breath-taking. The area is forested for the most part, with its largest towns, St. Johnsbury and Lyndon, each housing less than 8000 inhabitants. The small one-stoplight towns are quiet callbacks to an earlier America.
The affordability of the region extends to its summer season as well, with two-person cabin rentals averaging around €100 per night. There are abundant trails speckling the nearby forests which one can explore to make the best out of the climate. The Kingdom Heritage Trail System, established in 2019, provides hikers with a novel way of experiencing some of the area’s premier backcountry. Those who fancy a cycle ride can try their hand at the 93-mile Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, an ADA-compliant crushed stone path and New England’s longest rail trail. On the other hand, mountain bike enthusiasts can commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Kingdom Trails Association, a non-profit that’s created a network of popular biking paths on private property.
The region is farm-rich, and quaint general stores like Willey’s Store in Greensboro provide everything from award-winning local beers and maple syrup to delectable local cheeses, including those with a cult following like Jasper Hill’s Harbison.
Looking to stop and smell the flowers?
Medellin, Colombia, also known as the City of Eternal Spring, is renowned for its mild climate. The sun-soaked splendour of August sees an explosion of colours in the city’s parks and balconies, as the city’s lush vegetation is punctuated by blooming flowers.
The annual Feria de las Flores, commencing August 2nd, features the city’s largest celebration. For about ten days, the streets come alive with vibrant block parties complete with food stalls and artisans crafting straw hats embellished with flowers. A parade of silleteros is the event’s highlight where, in a breath-taking display, floral vendors from rural areas around Medellin create elaborate petal mosaics on tables-sized plates, which are then carried on their backs.
Even if the festival slips past you, the multitude of chic boutique hotels and vibrant food scene in the city are sure to hold your interest. You shouldn’t miss the El Poblado district, a delightful pedestrian-friendly network of retail shops, pubs and coffee houses which featured on the New York Times 52 Places to Go in 2023. It is an ideal spot to meander and immerse yourself in green landscapes.
Alternatively, immerse yourself in the procession
Visiting Laguna Beach, which lies in Orange County, California, nestled between Los Angeles and San Diego, gives an illusion of stepping into the “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous”, with its ceaseless display of stylish cars, driven by attractive individuals sporting luxury eyewear. However, even in California, there are particular months that make for a more optimal visit.
The locals characterise the weather during May and June as “May grey” and “June gloom”, when a foggy marine blanket turns the sky to a pale and gloomy shade for a substantial part of the day. If you want to witness Laguna in its full glory, the period from late summer to early fall is ideal, when the regular California sun returns and the holidaymakers start to dissipate.
“Additionally, this is when the sunset season hits its pinnacle,” declares Sarah Hutnick (41), an entrepreneur residing in Laguna who is enamoured by this season as “it almost guarantees those signature Southern California vibrant reds and pinks plunging directly into the sea.” This story was first featured in The New York Times.
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