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(CNN) – Summer trips can be so inviting. There is less clothing to pack. The days are long to play outdoors. Outdoor dining is abundant. And you can’t overstate the simple joy of basking in the soothing rays of the sun.Whether you play it safe or just prefer relatively cooler temperatures over hot spots, here are nine places that typically make for cool getaways in summer. Take note of all travel precautions – especially if you are not fully vaccinated or if you are crossing international borders.
1. Switzerland
Mountainous Switzerland always offers a cool place somewhere. Dent Blanche, left, is next to the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps.
Fabrice Coffrini / AFP / Getty Images
Should it get too hot for you in the big cities like Geneva, Zurich and Bern (which is particularly unlikely at night), take refuge in the higher elevations for an Alpine hike. Even at the beginning of July, temperatures on the 5-lake walk near the Matterhorn can stay below 10 ° C for the high.Those who want it less strenuous can take a boat tour on the idyllic Lake Brienz.
2. San Francisco
Alcatraz Island can be seen from the Russian Hill neighborhood in San Francisco.
Brontë Wittpenn / The San Francisco Chronicle / Getty Images
“The coldest winter I’ve ever had was a summer in San Francisco.”
The quote, often attributed to Mark Twain, is a nice summary of the weather there. Summer isn’t even its warmest time of year – that honor goes to autumn. While much of the northwest has been baking this year, the city’s microclimate has kept things cool.
You can explore neighborhoods like rolling Russian Hill (home of crazy, crooked Lombard Street) or head to nearby Muir Woods for some serious tree time. Don’t forget a light jacket.
3. Anchorage, Alaska
A cool sight: Spencer Glacier in the Chugach National Forest.
Ray Bulson / Alamy
Alaska isn’t exactly the year-round block of ice you might think. It can get surprisingly warm in Anchorage at times. But compared to the Lower 48, it’s still usually a relatively cool haven in the summer. (In early July, CNN Weather predicts the hottest day at 63 F (17 ° C).
4. Iceland
Seljalandsfoss waterfall is a spectacular sight in southern Iceland.
Sven-Erik Arndt / Arterra / Universal Images Group / Getty Images
With a name like Iceland, you’d better be cool – unless you’re near a lava flow or bathing in a hot spring. The average July highs in the capital Reykjavík are 14 ° C (57 ° F).
5. Dubai
A skier competes at Ski Dubai during DXB Snow Week last year.
Francois Nel / Getty Images
No, we haven’t lost our minds. Dubai is indeed a hot desert emirate. But it offers snow skiing and other winter activities all year round. How can that be?
All of this is thanks to Ski Dubai. If you rake in oil money, you can build a huge indoor ski park and attract people from all over the world. In addition to skiing, you can experience penguin encounters, snow slides or take a chairlift from a bird’s eye view.
6. Air-conditioned shopping centers
You can retreat to shopping malls like CentralWorld in Bangkok and spend a full day indoors and never get bored.
Lauren DeCicca / Getty Images
Online shopping has dealt a severe blow to many malls, but there are major malls in the US and around the world that can satisfy your shopping and entertainment cravings with wonderful air-conditioned comfort.
The Mall of America in Minnesota is an air-conditioned playground paradise for kids with everything from an aquarium to a Nickelodeon theme park. Even hot, steamy Bangkok offers a cool respite when you visit malls like CentralWorld, which has an ice rink.
Be aware of all local requirements for wearing masks when visiting closed public places. Even if you are fully vaccinated, you may be asked to wear a face mask in some locations.
7. Tourist caves
In Postojna Cave, you can see stalagmites, stalactites, and formations called curtains.
Jure Makovec / AFP / Getty Images
– Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky: The longest known cave system in the world has an average temperature of 54 F (12 C). Bring a jacket for your tour.– Eisriesenwelt Höhle, Austria: It goes from cool to downright cold here. This is an ice cave and one of Salzburg’s favorite things to do.– Postojna Caves, Slovenia: See breathtaking formations from the comfort of a subway.
8. Fresh water swimming holes
An old stone bridge spans the Voidomatis River.
Antony Bouchagier / Alamy
All over the world there are all kinds of freshwater swimming holes that allow an exhilarating immersion even in the unbearable heat on land. Some examples:
– Barton Springs; Austin, Texas: Residents and visitors alike can escape the notoriously brutal Texas heat in this naturally-fed pool, where water is always 20-21 degrees Celsius. On a cold winter morning, the pool actually provides a relatively warm place to swim.– Voidomatis Springs, Vikos Gorge, Greece: These spring-fed pools are located on the Voidomatis River, deep in the Vikos Gorge in northern Greece. Note that they can dry out in late summer.
9. Cold water beaches
A couple walks along Coast Guard Beach in Eastham, Cape Cod.
Craig F. Walker / The Boston Globe / Getty Images
Even when the sun is strong, some beaches have cool ocean currents that make for cool air and refreshing – even shocking – dips. Some of them are:
– Nazaré, Portugal: This charming place on the Portuguese coast north of Lisbon is known for surfing, but the waves are generally the biggest in winter. In summer the Atlantic is usually quieter here. The water temperature was 17 ° C (62 ° F) in early July.–Bryher; Isles of Scilly, United Kingdom: Bryher has rough Atlantic waves on one side and calm sandy beaches on the other. It is located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the south-western tip of Cornwall. The water is pretty cold for long swims unless you’re very rugged, but it won’t take long to cool off with a dip here.
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