Like you, the warmer months are here; manymany are hitting the road for that long-awaited summer vacation. But not everyone will want to spend their well-deserved time off in scorching summer heat or unbearable humidity. Instead, why not choose a destination with a more relaxed summer climate and great places to stay? If you do, you’ll likely have a far better experience, especially when traveling by car.
Where Are the Best Cooler Summer Destinations In America?
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Among the cities with the coldest annual temperatures is Detroit. It also ranks as one of the cities with the lowest average daily maximum summer temperatures. Indeed, during the height of summer, Motor City only has an average high of 83 degrees and a low of 64. On the other hand, Ann Arbor is a city with a relaxed vibe and a vibrant food scene. It’s arguably much better than Detroit. Moreover, it’s only 30 minutes away from its larger neighboring city.
Home to the University of Michigan
Just the sixth largest city in Michigan, Ann Arbor is best known as a college town—one of the country’s best public universities, Michigan home to Michigan Stadium. In fact, the stadium is the largest in the country and world’s second largest. Additionally, you will find attractions like Gerald Ford Presidential Library. If that’s not enough, you should see the University of Michigan Art Museum and Law School Quadrangle.
Downtown Ann Arbor
Among other leading attractions are the Washington Street Gallery, Michigan Theater, and the vibrant Main Street area. Moreover, it’s the same Main Street that Bob Seeger once sang about. This summer’s leading events are Michigan Elvisfest in Ypsilanti’s historic Depot Town and the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair. Indeed, the latter has been recently the best art fair in the country. If you want to beat the summer heat in Ann Arbor, book a reservation towards the end of summer. Not only is it more relaxed, you’ll have smaller crowds.
Related: Summer Travel Tips
Ann Arbor Foodie Scene
Of course, there is no shortage of dining in a rising foodie city like Ann Arbor. In detail, there are Zingerman’s Delicatessen and the James Beard Award-winning Zingerman’s Roadhouse. In addition, there is the French-fusion restaurant Mikette Bistro and Bar and the French-New American Taste Kitchen. Even further are restaurants with James Beard Award-winning chefs, like Vinology and the Slurping Turtle. Stay at Graduate Ann Arbor, Residence Inn Ann Arbor, the Bell Tower, and the Kensington Hotel for lodging.
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Denver, Colorado
Despite summer highs in the mid-80s, Denver ranks among the top five cities with the lowest daily temperatures. However, the primary reasons behind these mild temperatures are pretty simple. To illustrate, it has a semi-arid, high desert climate with very low humidity. What’s more, it has an altitude of 5,280 feet above sea level. Of course, this lends to the city’s claim of more annual hours of sunshine than Miami or San Diego. But then again, there is far less summer heat than those two coastal cities.
Denver Top Attractions
There are several exceptional spots to visit outside of the city. For instance, there are Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, the University of Colorado, and Grand County’s Winter Park. Of course, there are plenty of great things to do within the Mile High City. For example, there are Coors Field, 16th Street Mall, Denver Zoo, Colorado State Capitol, and Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Denver is an excellent spot to visit to escape the summer heat.
Denver Lodging
Among the top lodging recommendations are Brown Palace Hotel and Spa, the ART, which was named the best hotel in Colorado, the landmark Oxford Hotel, and the dazzling new Crawford Hotel.
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a great city to visit any time of the year, but there’s no better time to visit than in the summer. Nicknamed the City of Roses, Portland has a daily summer mean of 67 degrees, but that doesn’t mean temperatures won’t reach 80 and above. Even then, visitors can enjoy many of this vibrant city’s leading attractions, the world-famous International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park, Portland Japanese Garden, Pittock Mansion, Portland Museum of Art, and the beloved Powell’s City of Books, the largest independent bookstore in the world.
Take In The Natural Beauty
Visitors should also consider traveling outside of the city, especially along the Columbia River Gorge, to see the famous Multnomah Falls, take a wine tour of the Willamette Valley, visit the breathtaking Oregon coast, take a luxury steamboat ride onboard the American Empress, or visit the city of Vancouver, Washington, just north across the Columbia River from Portland.
Portland Events
If that’s not all, Portland will also feature several essential summer events, like the Oregon Zoo Summer Concerts featuring leading artists like Melissa Etheridge, Billy Idol and the Roots, the Waterfront Blues Festival featuring George Thorogood, the Revivalists and more, Oregon Brewers Festival and the Pickathon indie roots music festival. As the largest city in Oregon, Portland offers several lodging options, including upscale hotels like the Duniway Portland, the Nines, the Sentinel, and the Heathman Hotel. Best of all, you won’t have to experience summer heat.
San Francisco, California
Despite its reputation as an expensive city, San Francisco is a great place to visit, especially for visitors seeking a cooler climate. San Francisco consistently ranks top amongst all major American cities with the most incredible summer temperatures. Although the crowds will be more significant, visitors will always want to visit the city’s most famous attractions, like Alcatraz Island, Chinatown, the most important outside of Asia, Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39, Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants and Golden Gate Bridge. If you want to escape the summer heat, the City By the Bay is a top choice.
Related: Best Hiking On The West Coast
San Francisco Lodging
For lodging, visitors may be surprised how affordable the weekday rates can be, especially when booking last-minute reservations through reliable booking sites like Expedia, Kayak, and Trivago, as well as last-minute travel apps like HotelTonight. Recommended hotels include the Marker, Galleria Park Hotel, Hotel Zoe, and Hotel Zephyr, or even pricier spots like the Argonaut Hotel, Hotel Vitale, and the St Regis San Francisco.
Seattle, Washington
As the largest city in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle ranks just below San Francisco for perfectly cool summers, averaging 65 degrees between June and August. While there will be a slight chance of rain, the Emerald City offers all sorts of fun activities to enjoy, mainly because of its proximity between Puget Sound and Lake Washington and its many evergreen forests. For instance, visitors can enjoy a boat tour from Seattle Harbor, kayaking at places like Discovery Park Lake Uniake, a ferryboat ride to Bainbridge Island, or a day trip to Mount Rainier.
Additional Things To See In Seattle
However, the most famous attractions are suitable within the city, such as Safeco Field, home of the Seattle Mariners, Pike Place Market, and summer festivals like Bite of Seattle, Seattle Street Food Festival, and Seafair. Seattle offers several luxury hotels, including the Fairmont Olympic and Edgewater hotels. Incidentally, you typically won’t need to turn up the heat at any hotel in Seattle.
Related: FAQs for the First-Time Visitor to Los Angeles
About The Author
Randy Yagi is an award-winning freelance writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS Local from 2012 to 2019. More than 900 of his stories still appear in syndication across 23 CBS websites, including CBS New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. During his peak years with CBS, Randy had a reported digital audience reach of 489 million and 5.5 million monthly visitors. Additionally, his stories have appeared in the Daily Meal, CBS Radio, Engadget, and Radio.com.