20 Vacation Spots That Will Make You Want to Book a Summer Trip ASAP

Say goodbye to the last signs of winter by heading to the Iceberg Capital of the World just off Newfoundland’s northeastern coast. Through July it’s the perfect place from where to watch the frozen giants float by.

Because of its high altitude, Mexico’s capital isn’t as hot in summer as the country’s beach destinations. This exciting city has everything: world-class museums, a lively arts and music scene, excellent food, historic sites – and it’s cheap too!

If you’re looking for a Caribbean resort holiday, you can’t go wrong with Punta Cana. July is a good time to go, since the weather’s great and you’ll find plenty of very affordable resort packages.

In summer, hardly a day goes by in Montreal without some kind of festival happening, including the famous Montreal International Jazz Festival and the International Festival of Circus Arts. This year’s festival calendar promises to be bigger than ever with the city celebrating its 375th anniversary.

Churchill in northern Manitoba may be famous for its polar bears, but in summer it offers a wildlife adventure of a different kind: thousands of beluga whales gather in the waters off the coast.

When it’s summer in Canada, it’s winter in Rio, which means prices plummet for the low season. Of course, a Rio winter still means perfect beach weather during the day while things cool down to a comfortable level at night.

In summer, Iceland becomes a green land and the best way to see the country is to travel its Ring Road. You can keep costs down by cycling and camping in the dramatically beautiful landscape.

If the white, sandy beaches and vineyards aren’t enough to convince you to make the drive to Southern Ontario, Prince Edward County’s summer festivals might. These include the Prince Edward County Jazz Festival and the unconventional Classical Unbound Festival.

In August, first head to Nashville for the weird and wacky Tomato Art Fest; then pay homage to The King on the 40th anniversary of his death by visiting Graceland in Memphis during Elvis Week. Be back in Nashville on August 21, since it’s the largest city to be in the path of the total solar eclipse on that day.

When Bulgaria’s summer tourists descend on the Black Sea, the country’s capital becomes even more laid-back than usual. It means you can enjoy Sofia’s museums, ancient ruins, historic buildings and the Sofia Public Mineral Baths in relative peace.

One of Canada’s biggest, most raucous events takes place in Calgary in early July. With rodeos, live music, agricultural exhibits and more, the Calgary Stampede has something for everyone. Cowboy boots are optional.

With about 15% of Canadians claiming Scottish ancestry, Highland Games are found across the country but what better place to toss a caber than in New Scotland itself? The Antigonish Highland Games in Nova Scotia are held in early July.

The island of Madeira is a paradise for adventurous travellers, with kayaking, scuba diving, mountain biking, canyoning and hiking along the historic aqueducts known as levadas just some of the activities on offer. Summer is whale-watching season.

The highlight of the Bregenz Festival, held in July and August, is the opera performed on Lake Constance. The stage, known as the Seebühne, is famous for its extravagant designs. This year’s production will be the sultry Carmen.

Even though it’s the third-largest population centre in Nunavut, the hamlet of Arviat is still very much steeped in Inuit tradition. In summer the surrounding tundra is a burst of colour with mosses, lichens and wildflowers while wildlife is abundant.

One of the summer’s most fascinating sporting events is the National Naadam Festival, held over three days in July in the Mongolian capital. It showcases what Mongolians call the “three manly sports”: wrestling, horse-riding and archery.

In the summer months, Minneriya National Park is home to the world’s largest gathering of Asian elephants, with several hundred of these animals making the trip to find water and green grass. You could also spot other animals in the park, including monkeys, deer, sloth bears and Sri Lankan leopards.

If you can’t get enough of the summer sun, Dawson City in the Yukon is just the destination for you. The Dawson City Music Festival is held in late July so you can dance under the midnight sun.

Seattle may be the largest city in King County but this summer, celebrate the new series of David Lynch’s weird and wonderful Twin Peaks by visiting the filming locations in Snoqualmie, North Bend and Fall City.

If the summer heat makes you longing for colder climes, head to the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho, where mid-year is also mid-winter. Here you can ski or simply frolic in the snow, African style.