5 US Vacation Ideas for Summer

It’s no secret that I’m travel obsessed. A lot of the fun for me is the planning process.  It’s so fun, in fact, that I sometimes research and plan trips that I never actually take.  I thought I’d share some of these ideas with you guys, in case anyone is looking for inspiration for summer (also, just thinking about warmer weather helps me get through winter!)

Lake Tahoe

I’ve always wanted to go to Lake Tahoe because of the combination of blue water and beaches plus mountains. Some of the pictures I’ve seen could be from a Caribbean island! The Hyatt Recency Lake Tahoe looks like it’s worthy of a splurge if you want a resort experience complete with a sandy beach. Add in hiking and fresh mountain air, and it seems like the perfect summer getaway.

Photo from laketahoe.regency.hyatt.com

Bald Head Island

Ok, so I’ve obviously been to Bald Head, but I think it’s a great place to go because it’s relatively close if you’re on the east coast, but still feels like a total escape from the hustle and bustle of cities and cars.  The bigger, oceanfront houses are pricey in the summer, but you can rent a house in the forest to save money and still be a short golf cart ride away from beautiful beaches. Bring some of your own groceries and add in a temporary membership to the Shoal’s Club to get access to the oceanfront pool with tropical drinks and kids area.

 

Canada Cruise

How cool would it be to jump in a cab and just hop on a cruise ship?  I dreamed of this Canada cruise when we were living in Dallas because the summers were so hot that I’d crave a destination where the temps were in the 60’s.  Plus, Nova Scotia is a gorgeous and peaceful place to visit.  A cruise would be a good way to do it since it’s not super easy to get to some of the more remote areas, and you can hop between a few places (and end in French food heaven in Quebec!).  A few cruise lines have similar itineraries, but I’ve heard Cunard is very baby friend while still being classy and affordable.

Photo from Cunard.com

Phoenix/Sedona

Obviously Arizona is HOT and not a place you might think of for a summer trip.  But it has lots of nice resorts with sprawling pools, and you can get a great deal in the summer. Matt and I took a trip here when we were on a tight budget in grad school, and had the best food (prickly pear margaritas!!!) and just totally relaxed.  We stayed here back when it was the Firefly for $99/night. Sedona is a bit cooler than Phoenix and has amazing scenery, a little wine country, and lots of outdoorsy activities, including slide rock state park.

 

Portland/Willamette Valley/Cannon Beach

I feel like a lot of people are talking about Portland these days, but I don’t know many people who have actually done this trip. It’s a little far from the east coast, but there is so much to do once you’re out there.  I’d want to combine a couple of days eating my way through Portland with a stop in the Willamette Valley for a day or two of wine tasting (with my eye on the luxurious Allison Inn & Spa) and then end with a couple of days at the cute town of Cannon Beach. There seem to be a lot of options for accommodations (hotels, inns, and rentals), so you could make this a budget trip or a splurge trip depending on where you stay and how long you stay in each place. It’s a unique vacation in that you can combine city, wine country, and beach without having to drive too far between each place.

Photo from www.cannonbeach.org