Summer travel to 'cooler' places

[Anonymous]

DH and I don't enjoy hot weather. We want to travel internationally this summer - I'm a teacher so it has to be summer - without insane temperatures and lame a/c. We've already done Ireland, which was great. He isn't comfortable with big cities but I like historical spots. Any recommendations?

[Anonymous]

Scotland

[Anonymous]

Iceland. Newfoundland.

[Anonymous]

Vancouver Island/Pacific NW. Scandinavia. Swiss/French Alps. Hokkaido (northernmost Japanese island). South Africa. Australia/New Zealand. Argentina/Chile/Brazil.

[Anonymous]

Bar Harbor, ME

[Anonymous]

Scotland is the obvious answer. Blend of history and nature and cooler weather. Even cooler than Ireland. Don't just go to Edinburgh, but head further north/west to the islands too. Skye and the Outer Hebrides are amazing and the Hebrides so far have escaped the tourist hordes now flocking to Skye. But also visit Inverness and Angus coastline.

Scandinavia is another option but more expensive.

[Anonymous]

I enjoyed Edinburgh with a one-day bus trip to the Highlands. The Fringe Festival looked great...we happened to be there during it but didn't have time to go to the shows because we had already pre-planned things like the Edinburgh Tattoo (bagpipe/band festival). It didn't feel like a true big city like NYC. Maybe more like DC around the monument area. I think many enjoy hiking in Scotland.

Europe can have heat waves in summer that rival U.S. temperatures. So, I'm not sure exactly where qualifies...however, I've enjoyed Helsinki, Finland, Stockholm, Sweden, and Tallinn, Estonia...if those are too big city, there are rural retreats and sites available after using them as gateway cities.

Also might consider Oxford and Bath in England.

I have not done it myself but Cotswold village walking and bicycling tours looked fun. These are also close to the touristic combo of Salisbury (town and cathedral) and Stonehenge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bar Harbor, ME

While parts of Maine may feel like another country, Bar Harbor definitely doesn't.

[Anonymous]

The baltics are great for this! And incredibly cheap.

[Anonymous]

Bhutan.

[Anonymous]

Scandinavia. We were there this past summer for exactly that reason. It was lovely.

[Anonymous]

Muskoka, Ontario. Cottage country on one of the lakes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Muskoka, Ontario. Cottage country on one of the lakes.

How are the lakes for swimming?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Scandinavia. We were there this past summer for exactly that reason. It was lovely.

Not incredibly cheap.

[Anonymous]

Montreal looks amazing.