Passported HQ: Cool Ideas for Hot Summer Trips
Henley Vazquez
This week at the Passported HQ, we've been getting a lot of questions about places that you normally think of as colder climes, but are equally great (if not even better) in the summer months. Read on about what to do in Iceland, Jackson Hole and Whistler when the temperature goes up.
What should we do in Iceland in the summer?
Iceland is a great idea for a summer trip, but services are really expensive there. There are really great jeep tours (full day) in the summer months would probably run about $1,000. So while Iceland is super expensive, you don't necessarily need a tour guide to see a lot of the sights. You can easily rent your own car and break out a map (or GPS) and see the major sites. A lot of the trails for hiking and excursions are marked. To really see the more special sites though, a guide will help you navigate. Also, there is surfing in Iceland! You can actually start your day skiing down a glacier and end up on surf board at the beach by the afternoon. You can hike in a dormant volcano and walk under waterfalls, even with kids as young as five.
I know Jackson Hole, Wyoming is a fantastic ski destination, but how is it for a summer vacay?
We love Jackson, so much, especially for ski week, but did you know its actually more popular in the summer than in the winter? We love the Four Seasons and Amangani, which offer fun outdoor activities for the kiddos year round. There is also great restaurants and shopping. You could also combine a trip to Jackson with a few days in Yellowstone, which would be like an out west wildlife safari, bison, elk, geysers, horseback riding, fishing, rafting, bonfires at night, etc.
When I think Whistler and Vancouver, I think ski and snow, but is it a good summer destination?
Canada is a bargain these days with the exchange rate, 30-40% off retail! Whistler has a ton of programming and all the summer mountaintop experiences you can think of. Rooms at the Four Seasons are really affordable in the summer months. There are also nonstop flights from NYC. You could combine Whistler with a few nights in Vancouver, which has super diverse terrain and a ton to see and do: Stanley Park (biking, beautiful beaches), Pike Place Market, Science Museum, suspension bridges, FlyOver Canada flight simulation just to name a few. And in Whistler, the activities are never-ending: bear watching, glacier hiking, horseback riding, mountaineering, kayaking, summer dog sledding, trapeze, zip trekking, fishing. Folks are pleasantly surprised by the quality of the beaches too. Lost Lake is within walking distance of the village and Rainbow Lake has a beach volleyball court, outdoor bbq's, and kayaking. Also, Whistler Blackcomb Center does offer summer programs for kids so you could sign the kiddos up and they can exhaust themselves doing activities with new friends.