Most vacationers wish to go someplace to maintain cool on the sweaty finish of summer time within the Northern Hemisphere. Possibly you wish to assume past the essential seaside trip and head to the mountains and even the Southern Hemisphere, the place it is winter. Or maybe you are seeking to lastly e book that epic safari trip to see the Nice Migration make its means by way of components of East Africa.
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Since August additionally brings the final gasps of college summer time trip, you might even see increased costs and crowds in fashionable locations. However there are additionally many new airline routes and festivals value planning a visit round this August.
Listed below are 10 of the most effective locations to go to within the U.S. and past in August.
Seattle
With solar and little rain, August brings a number of the greatest climate Seattle will get all 12 months. It additionally brings the annual Bumbershoot Arts & Music Pageant to the music-centered metropolis from Aug. 30-31, with headliners Weezer, Vibrant Eyes, Janelle Monae, Digable Planets and dozens of different acts.
The brand new Cannonball Arts heart is scheduled to open downtown in late summer time. It’s being produced by the groups behind Bumbershoot and the Museum of Museums, who’re partnering with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe to create the brand new arts venue.
TPG tip: In Could, the town received a much-needed luxurious lodge injection, within the type of two eco-friendly, nature-inspired properties: Populus Seattle (charges from $355 per evening), the second location of the carbon-positive Denver authentic, and 1 Lodge Seattle (charges from $438 per evening), which contains practices resembling energy-efficient sensible thermostats, low-VOC supplies and superior air high quality administration methods.
The 1 Lodge can be a part of Amex High-quality Inns + Resorts, which incorporates perks like 4 p.m. late checkout, day by day breakfast for 2 and different unique advantages for cardholders who e book by way of that platform.
Associated: It is official: SH Inns & Resorts has rebranded as Starwood
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Traverse Metropolis, Michigan
Traverse Metropolis welcomes the inaugural Traverse Metropolis Meals & Wine competition from Aug. 20-24, bringing dozens of cooks to the shores of Lake Michigan, together with “High Chef” winner Mei Lin, Meals Community’s Tyler Florence and native expertise like Sarah Welch, a James Beard Award nominee for the Mink and Marrow eating places in Detroit.
The area can be nice to look at the Perseids, an annual meteor bathe that peaks round Aug. 12-13. For the most effective viewing circumstances, two Darkish Sky Locations — Headlands Park and Beaver Island — are every situated inside a four-hour drive of Traverse Metropolis. And whereas not an formally designated Darkish Sky Place, Sleeping Bear Dunes Nationwide Lakeshore is simply 40 minutes west of downtown Traverse Metropolis.
There’s additionally a brand new direct path to this nook of Michigan: In June, JetBlue launched seasonal nonstop flights from Boston Logan Worldwide Airport (BOS) to Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) 3 times weekly. One-way fares begin at $69 or 4,200 TrueBlue factors this August.
TPG tip: Use or earn Hilton Honors factors at Spark by Hilton Traverse Metropolis, a brand new model launched in 2023, inside what was a Fairfield Suites. Charges begin at $166 or 45,000 Hilton Honors factors per evening in August. A brand-new Residence Inn by Marriott Traverse Metropolis is about to open its doorways this summer time, however reservations aren’t accessible but.
Nantucket, Massachusetts
This beloved island and crusing hub off the coast of Massachusetts comes alive in summer time. Nantucket Race Week (Aug. 13-17) brings yachts and sailboats from world wide to check sailors’ information with difficult currents and ever-shifting sandbars alongside Nantucket’s 6-mile-long harbor.
When you desire artwork and music, this 12 months’s annual Boston Pops live performance at Jetties Seaside is Aug. 9 and features a drone gentle present. On Aug. 16, the Artists Affiliation of Nantucket will maintain its Sidewalk Artwork Present, the place guests can stroll alongside the cobblestone streets to find native artists’ work, sculptures and images.
Hungry? Take a look at Billie’s Nantucket, a brand new steakhouse, or Simple Avenue, a brand new all-day spot with pancakes within the morning and sushi within the night. Native potato chip firm Nantucket Crisps has additionally opened a retailer promoting all its domestically impressed flavors, gear and different picnic fare.
TPG tip: Two new inns opened in Nantucket this summer time: The family-friendly Beachside Lodge (from $651 per evening) debuted in Could inside a reworked Nineteen Sixties motel, and the historic Seventeenth-century inn Veranda Home (from $449 per evening) has been fastidiously reconstructed after a 2022 hearth.
Edinburgh
Edinburgh in August makes excellent sense for a “coolcation” with a lot of solar, particularly for those who’re a theater connoisseur. Through the world-famous Fringe Pageant (Aug. 1-25), guests can choose from hundreds of reveals, together with musicals, performs and comedy. The Edinburgh Worldwide Pageant runs concurrently with dance, music, opera and different performances.
There are different cultural touchstones this month: Aug. 9-14 welcomes the Edinburgh Worldwide Guide Pageant, with greater than 600 occasions, and Aug. 14-20 sees the Edinburgh Worldwide Movie Pageant, with dozens of movie screenings and talks. Rock music followers ought to take be aware: Oasis is enjoying the town Aug. 8, 9 and 12, though tickets are already arduous to come back by.
You may get to the town through new seasonal Edinburgh flights on JetBlue from Boston and on American Airways from Philadelphia, which each launched this summer time.
TPG tip: Although the town is getting two new way of life inns this summer time, together with a brand new Hoxton and NYX by Leonardo Inns, you need to use your premium bank card perks on the 100 Princes Avenue boutique lodge. It opened final 12 months with 30 rooms and views of Edinburgh Fort. Nightly charges in August begin at $674, however the lodge is a part of The Edit by Chase, which presents cardholders perks like day by day breakfast for 2, space-available room upgrades, and early check-in and late checkout (when accessible).
Copenhagen
One other glorious spot to remain cool in August is Copenhagen, with common Fahrenheit temperatures within the mid-60s and low 70s. You will even have lengthy days of daylight (about 15 hours), permitting you to maximise your sightseeing time.
The annual Copenhagen Cooking Pageant (Aug. 15-24) brings cooks from world wide for courses, talks, lengthy desk dinners and competitions. Additionally in August is the Copenhagen Historic Grand Prix (Aug. 8-10) and Copenhagen Delight Week (Aug. 9-17), with the primary parade Aug. 16.
The Danish capital can be extra linked to the West Coast and Midwest this summer time, because of a brand new direct flight to and from Seattle 5 instances per week on Scandinavian Airways and a Delta Air Traces flight to and from Minneapolis 3 times per week, each of which launched in Could.
TPG tip: 1 Lodge Copenhagen is about to open in August because the model’s second European location. The property is a reimagining of the Skt. Petri, a historic lodge within the Latin Quarter, right into a 282-room retreat that mixes the model’s trademark biophilic design with Scandinavian craftsmanship. Charges begin at $454 per evening in August.
A few 20-minute drive north of the town heart, Park Lane Copenhagen, a Small Luxurious Inns of the World property, opened in January and has charges beginning at $330 or 65,000 Hilton Honors factors per evening.
Goriska area, Slovenia
August in Slovenia’s Goriska area is a superb various to overcrowded Italy. This western Slovenian enclave is on the Italian border and presents good climate for rafting down the Soca River. Late summer time can be the best time to see grapes rising on the vineyards in Brda, Slovenia’s reply to Tuscany.
Plus, for the primary time, Nova Gorica, Slovenia, and Gorizia, Italy, have been named twin Capitals of European Tradition for 2025, and each cities have been holding occasions and exhibitions all 12 months.
This month’s calendar features a group stroll within the surrounding forests with a panorama architect Aug. 27, a movie screening of Jože Babič’s “Three Quarters of the Solar” in Europe Sq. on Aug. 23, and a world bike occasion Aug. 30-31, with exhibitions and parades of historic bikes.
TPG tip: Technically, the closest factors lodge is the Finest Western Gorizia Palace Lodge (from $109 or 20,000 Finest Western Rewards factors per evening) simply over the border in Italy. However you too can e book the upscale DAM Boutique Lodge, which has an in-house Michelin-starred restaurant, by way of Chase Journey, utilizing your Chase Final Rewards factors. August charges begin at round $200 per evening.
Fiji
Fiji’s legendary Cloudbreak will host the World Surf League Finals for the primary time. The occasion brings the boys’s and ladies’s high 5 surfers to one of the iconic breaks on the planet, Aug. 27-Sept. 4.
Put aside time to take part in Fiji’s new Loloma Hour initiative, which launched in April and invitations vacationers to dedicate one hour of their go to to conservation or group service. Over 20 inns and tour operators throughout Fiji’s islands are collaborating, with actions starting from coral planting at Six Senses Fiji to reef conservation with Captain Prepare dinner Cruises.
Now a full-fledged member of the Oneworld alliance, Fiji Airways additionally has a brand new direct flight from Dallas Fort Value Worldwide Airport (DFW), making it simpler than ever for U.S. vacationers to entry the islands.
TPG tip: Nanuku Resort Fiji, a Small Luxurious Inns of the World property on the southern coast of Viti Levu, not too long ago accomplished a $12 million redesign. In August, charges begin at $596 or 105,000 Hilton Honors factors per evening.
Medellin, Colombia
Colombia is the second-largest exporter of reduce flowers globally, exporting greater than 4 billion reduce flowers to the U.S. yearly. Medellin — the Metropolis of Everlasting Spring — celebrates the nation’s flower growers with the annual Feria de las Flores, from Aug. 1-10. The competition contains greater than 140 occasions, and highlights embrace the Chiva (open-sided bus) Carnival and the Silletros Parade that includes fastidiously crafted floral designs worn on individuals’s backs.
Expertise the meals of Medellin at glorious costs throughout Medellin Connoisseur (August-September), a culinary circuit the place high native eating places supply particular menus at nice worth.
TPG tip: New direct flights to Medellin’s Jose Maria Cordova Worldwide Airport (MDE) embrace a United Airways route from Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) launched final November and an Avianca (a part of Star Alliance) route from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Worldwide Airport (FLL) on March 30.
Shanghai
Delta Air Traces resumed nonstop flights between Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) and Shanghai Pudong Worldwide Airport (PVG) in June, a route that had been paused as a result of pandemic, encouraging vacationers to consider China visits once more.
A brand new draw to the town, Legoland Shanghai Resort opens July 5, and it is going to be the world’s largest, with greater than 75 interactive rides, reveals and points of interest. Along with a mini Lego reproduction of the Shanghai skyline, there can be eight themed sections, together with Ninjago, Lego Buddies and the world’s first Monkie Child space.
Whereas the opening date will not be confirmed, the Shanghai Grand Opera Home within the Expo Houtan neighborhood close to the Huangpu River could open by August. If not, the Snohetta-designed constructing can be seen on the riverbank, with its helical roof floor evoking an unfolding fan.
TPG tip: The Hilton Shanghai Zhangjiang Science Metropolis opened in April within the Pudong district. It has 475 rooms and digital artwork within the public areas. Charges begin from $160 or 40,000 Hilton Honors factors per evening.
Maasai Mara, Kenya
Occurring safari in August within the Maasai Mara means glorious climate and probability of seeing a part of the Nice Migration, which usually happens between July and September. It is prime time to see thousands and thousands of wildebeests, zebras and gazelles operating throughout the plains and the mighty Mara River.
TPG tip: The much-anticipated Ritz-Carlton Masai Mara Safari Camp is about to open in August within the coronary heart of the Maasai Mara Nationwide Reserve. Elevated amid the bushes on a secluded island surrounded by the Sand River, this retreat has 20 tented suites, a stargazing sky deck, a spa and wellness heart, an outside gymnasium, a swimming pool, and a images studio. Charges begin at $3,528 or 321,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening in August, all-inclusive with two personal sport drives per day.
In June, Mahali Mzuri, Sir Richard Branson’s luxurious Maasai Mara tented safari camp that is a part of the Virgin Restricted Version assortment, reopened following a full inside redesign. The 12 luxurious tents now have floor-to-ceiling glass home windows and new textiles, {hardware} and customized furnishings sourced from Nairobi-based suppliers. Charges at Mahali Mzuri begin at $3,100 or 330,000 Virgin Purple factors per evening, together with all meals and drinks and twice-daily sport drives.