Beat the Heat with a “Cool-cation”: Four Amazing Destinations in the US for Cooler Weather Summer Vacation

Jul 12, 2025

Beat the heat this summer and check out our list of cool weather getaways! We’ve scoured the country for the ultimate summer vacation destination without the heat and humidity. We’re heading away from the midwest in search of some cooler temps, stunning mountain and coastal scenery, and plentiful options for outdoor activities. Bear in mind that each of these destinations offers an abundance of trails, beaches, history, entertainment and excitement, so you’ll want to spend a few days to a week at each location for maximum enjoyment, but we’ve collected some of our favorite highlight reels to get you started!

First up on our travel plans: Acadia National Park, Maine! Summer is the ideal time to visit Acadia to enjoy outstanding hiking, swimming, kayaking, and camping as well as taking advantage of clear roadways for its many scenic drives. June through August are peak visiting months for pleasant weather and beautiful sightseeing. This is the trip to take if you’re looking to get reacquainted with nature and unplug for a while, as it’s got some of the most breathtaking cliffside and mountainside vistas and unmatched night-sky stargazing opportunities. If you’re looking for an immersive experience at this national park, you’ll want to dedicate at least 3 to 5 days to explore its main attractions and check out the hiking trails. Must-see highlights include: Cadillac Mountain, Park Loop Road (27-mi scenic drive), Ocean Path Coastal Trail featuring Thunder Hole and Otter Point, Sand Beach and the Bowl Trail to Beehive Trail route.

Next up on our list: San Francisco, California! This city is chock full of vibrant culture and sightseeing, and is nearly always a balmy 70 degrees or less with mild, sunny weather. You’ll be well-advised to travel with a few zip-up hoodies as you travel, just to take the chill out. While it’s a very walkable city accessibility wise, there’s lots of hills, so you’ll probably be opting for public transport ala cable care or otherwise. We highly recommend taking a walking tour of the Golden Gate Bridge (30 minutes, each way), with a little extra time left to do some serious photo ops for those stunning bay views and trek through Golden Gate Park! Of course, you’ll also need to make a trip to the museums and historic sites including Alcatraz Island, SF Museum of Modern Art, the Exploratorium, Legion of Honor, Asian Art Museum, and more. The San Francisco Botanical Gardens are a delightful escape from city buildings and tourist attractions, with plenty of sunny areas to relax and have a bite to eat with a BYO picnic lunch as you explore the coastal scenery and diverse flora.

Third on our destination guide: Lake Tahoe, California. If you seek a vacation with near-perfect weather during the summer, then this will do you right! With an average temperature of 60 degrees in the evening/night and 80 degrees max during the day, you’ll find plenty of respite from oppressive summer heat. Plus, on the warmer days, you’ll find plentiful options for dunking yourself in the crystal-clear water for swimming, fishing, boating, paddleboarding, and even kayaking! When you’ve had your fill of aquatic activities, you can dry off and take a hike into the woods and nearby Van Sickle Bi-State Park which offers panoramic views of the lake. Sand Harbor State Park is the most popular beach in the Lake Tahoe area; it offers gorgeous views of Lake Tahoe as well as prime spots for scuba, swimming, and kayaking. Traveling with pets in tow? No problem – hit up North Lake Tahoe’s Waterman’s Landing beach and South Lake Tahoe’s Kiva Beach, for pet-friendly fun in the sun, dog friendly paddleboard rentals, doggy dining, and plenty of digging in the sand by the beach! The area also has numerous free outdoor concerts on both the North Shore and South Shores alike.

Our fourth and final vacation destination for a cool-cation is Seattle, Washington. During the summer months the rain in this Pacific Northwest region is minimal and humidity is ultra low. The city is bustling and jiving with lots of energy, events, outside eateries, and plenty of festivals. While the city itself is jampacked with historic and tourist attractions such as Pike Place Market, Seattle Great Wheel, the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Museum of Pop Culture, and the Seattle Aquarium, there are so many gorgeous natural wonders both in and out of the city limits: Discovery Park offers hiking trails and beach views of the Puget Sound; Green Lake Park offers walking, cycling, and running trails as well as lakeside boat rentals; Bellevue Botanical Gardens has 53-acres of cultivated gardens, woodlands, and wetlands; Snoqualmie Falls area is not only home to the infamous Twin Peaks show but a stunning area for hiking; take a day trip to Olympic National Forest or Mount Rainier National Park; take the ferry to Bainbridge Island and explore the local island town and views.