Summer Suggestions

I think you've been everywhere, but what about Alaska? Rent a car in Anchorage and explore from Homer to Fairbanks, including Denali. Spend a few nights at the Glacier Bay Lodge, but otherwise stay out of the Panhandle towns where the cruise ships disgorge thousands (sometimes including me) every day.

Not sure on what continent you want to be, but I would say generally speaking every 1,000 ft of elevation gets you 5 degrees cooler weather (which is why I live at 8200 ft:). There are many places in Colorado that would fit your bill! Ouray is pretty high up and too small for big crowds. It has a very nice hot springs pool that they have just expanded and IMHO it's the most beautiful area of Colorado.

Winter in New Zealand is June to August.

Take a good look at the area between Port Angeles and Port Townsend in Washington State. No heat, water, mountains, good food, and the ability to get to Vancouver or Victoria, or Seattle, fairly quickly. Plus the days are really long, with sun from 0430-2200. It gets crowded at times, weekend can be bad for the ferries, but these are not big cities and you can easily escape the crowds.

I second KGC’s recommendation. I personally find Port Townsend more appealing and I have stayed in both areas. PT has more charm in my option. When we were staying in Port Angeles we were RV camping, so didn’t stay in town. The Olympic Peninsula is gorgeous.

Thanks for the replies.

I haven't been to the Olympic Peninsula since I was a kid so it's now high on the list.

I'm also thinking of the Canadian Maritime Provinces. Any opinion/experience regarding crowds?

I'd recommend the Lake Superior Circle tour. I've done it several times. There is also one for Lake Michigan, which I have done as well. Obviously, Lake Superior is better because Minnesota borders it.

Maine-I'm thinking only Bar Harbor would be crowded?

might be a bit cooler somewhere in the southern hemisphere

South Africa or Australia or Argentina or Chilie.

I just returned from 10 days in and around Sydney. Getting there from Europe was brutal but I'm glad I went.

I’ve been to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and around Gaspe in June when the season was just opening. Not crowded at all. I can’t help you with July and August.

Do you like driving trips? If so, Newfoundland is amazing. There's some great nature activities and some fascinating historical sites. The North Atlantic Aviation Museum in Gander was the sleeper hit of the trip for us in the museum/historical site category. The Rooms museum in St. John's has some interesting bits related to the Titanic because the first distress call was picked up on Newfoundland, among other things. And the highlight is L'Anse aux Meadows. Lots of other interesting places related to the First Nations and early settlement of the island.

For outdoors activities, the national parks throughout the province are wonderful. I'll just mention Gros Morne and Terra Nova to start. Go see the fossils at Mistaken Point (reservation for guided hike required) and the birds at Cape St. Mary's.

That's just a taste. You'll have to cover a lot of ground, but I found it totally worth it. We flew into St. John's and out of Deer Lake, getting as far north as Red Bay in Labrador (via the car ferry) and L'Anse aux Meadows on Newfoundland. We were there in July/August and the weather was cool. Very few crowds, with the exception of the time we ran into a cruise ship tour (but a small museum was open for them that we wouldn't have been able to see otherwise) and also when our whale watching tour out of St. Anthony had to be rescheduled because a cruise ship need to use the dock to process passengers as they tendered in from the ship.

I highly recommend Newfoundland.

How about the Scottish Highlands? Perfect for avoiding heat and crowds, plus it's outside the Schengen zone.

I spend about 2 months a year in Scotland. And in the summer, the Highlands are very crowded. Most accomodations are booked.

I'll be there next week.

But thanks for the idea.

Regarding Australia....too many things that can kill you. Plus, I hate spiders. Once I saw the Huntsman, I said "no thanks."

I lived on the Olympic peninsula for several years. If you want more ideas/info on a trip there, PM me and I can help.

Hi Frank, huntsman spiders are not dangerous., one on my wall in front of me at the moment. I will have to catch him and move him before my wife arrives though.
Where I live only things that can kill you are eastern brown snakes. They kill one person in my state every 3 years (well not the same person haha). No deadly spiders here, redbacks hurt when they bite you. Only large critters are our magnificent lace monitors, they will occassionally kill small dogs.
The 3 deadliest animals here are men, bovines and horses.

Brazil might be a great option. It's got diverse destinations and you can find something for everyone. I’d recommend Rio de Janeiro. It’s vibrant with plenty to do - beaches, mountains, and culture. Your high schooler and college student would probably love the energy there.

For a sneak peek, you can check out the camera online in Copacabana. Watching the live feed gives you a feel for the weather and local vibe. I saw so many people exercising and enjoying the beach, which really sold me on visiting someday. Plus, it’s winter there in June, so you avoid the extreme heat and crowds of Europe!

What about Norway, it is great in the Summer.

It doesn't rhyme that well with number 3, but apart from that I'd suggest that you have a look at Scandinavia. Low risk of heat waves, and while it's certainly crowded in some areas the crowds as rarely on a Prague or Amsterdam level. And there are many amazing areas that are more or less undiscovered. If you tell us a bit more about what you're looking for, there are many places I can recommend.

Thanks for all of your suggestions.

I've decided to spend the summer in a few key locations in the UK.

We'll alert the folks in the Olympic Peninsula to look forward to your visit some summer soon!

The Olympic Peninsula gets very busy in the summer, and yes, it can get hot! I did a half marathon a few years back and we had a heatwave, where it was 84 that morning while we were running it. The peninsula has been discovered and it gets very busy now. We won't even think about going around a weekend. The smoke from wildfires are an issue there as well.

I agree with the Alaska suggestion. Head further north, and you avoid all crowds. I can get hot there too though, on the solstice one time it was 90 degrees at 9pm that night. We were swimming in the creek to stay cool.

We'll alert the folks in the Olympic Peninsula to look forward to your visit some summer soon!

I want to get back to the Olympic Peninsula but not during the summer. Too crowded and too hot.

The surprising thing to me is how cheap good hotels are in the Birmingham-Manchester--Liverpool area. Some are around $100/night. These are four star hotels. And yes, that's US dollars.

It's actually cheaper for me to fly to the UK and stay there much of the summer than to stay in the US.

You have framed your question in the negative. All about what you hate. Perhaps you should say what you like or want. Anywhere you go, you will have tourists. And you cannot count on weather anymore that far out. Today is expected to be 104 degrees in Bangor, Maine, which is up by the Maritime provinces someone had recommended.
You need to go somewhere no one goes, excepting that no one goes there for a reason. And, those sorts of places often have little infrastructure.
Try not to hem yourself in with weather especially. If it is summer, well, it is hot.

treemoss.....have you read any of the responses....especially the two I posted saying what my plans were for the summer?

Hey there! If you're looking for a chill spot away from crowds and heat, you've gotta check out Westgate Branson Woods Resort. It's nestled in the peaceful Ozark Mountains, so you get fresh air and nature vibes without the hustle-bustle. There are plenty of shady spots to relax, plus cool pools and hiking trails to explore. The cabins are cozy and the staff are super friendly. It's the perfect combo of relaxation and outdoor adventure, minus the usual touristy chaos. Trust me, you'll love unwinding there! This is their website: https://www.westgateresorts.com/hotels/missouri/branson/westgate-branson-woods-resort/

For the third time.....my summer plans are set. Thank you to those who responsed.

Yet it's amazing how many people don't bother to read any of the responses. They just read the original post, ignore the date, and respond.