{"id":1487,"date":"2026-07-31T17:11:04","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T17:11:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wanderfullworldtravel.com\/?p=1487"},"modified":"2026-07-31T17:11:05","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T17:11:05","slug":"top-coolcation-travel-destinations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wanderfullworldtravel.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/31\/top-coolcation-travel-destinations\/","title":{"rendered":"Top \u201cCoolcation\u201d Travel Destinations"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Record-breaking summer heatwaves throughout Europe have more travelers looking for cooler destinations to spend the holidays. I have some favorites. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By: Lynn Elmhirst, <\/em>travel journalist and expert<\/em><\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some like it hot!  And since Coco Chanel made it stylish to spend even scorching summers on the French Riviera, heat-loving travelers have flocked to the Mediterranean during the season. Those who couldn\u2019t brave Mediterranean heat? Well, they stayed in more central areas of Europe in the summers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s been the pattern for decades \u2013 but it is changing fast. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

An early summer heatwave in 2026 shattered records across parts of Europe, making many top summer travel hotspots: London, Paris, Amsterdam – even Vienna and alpine Switzerland – feel like the high summer in the Med.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mediterranean destinations are designed for the heat, with thick walls, shutters and even afternoon siesta habits \u2013 helping residents and visitors stay comfortable. In places north of the Med, it\u2019s a much different story. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That makes one of the \u2018hottest\u2019 trends in travel today: the \u2018coolcation.\u2019 And there are my favorite places to travel in the summer – without breaking a sweat! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro Tip: consider cruising. Not only are these destinations best explored by coastal cruising, but it\u2019s also always a bit cooler over water, and there\u2019s always a breeze at sea! <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SCANDINAVIA<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Even more southern parts of Scandinavia and their capitals, like Copenhagen, are feeling the heat. To truly escape the climate, go even farther north. A coastal cruise up the fjords of Norway is one of the iconic, bucket list cruises with some of the most inspiring scenery and charming Scandinavian villages. Some cruises will take you far enough north to actually be Arctic \u2013 where you have the chance of even spotting polar bears! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

SCOTTISH ISLES<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Channel your inner Highlander along the windswept, rocky shores of Scotland\u2019s Shetland Isles or any of its other islands. Discover ancient stone structures, cozy inns, shops and pubs, and unforgettable puffin encounters. Not to mention the isles\u2019 trifecta of farm animals: rugged sheep, adorable Highland cows and coiffure-challenged Shetland ponies! I think the purchase of a piece of tartan or a Highland wool scarf may be mandatory!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ICELAND<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The \u2018land of fire and ice\u2019 does not disappoint, from geysers and glaciers and volcanoes and one-of-a-kind wild scenery, to Icelandic ponies and quirky local food like sheep hotdogs and fermented shark. You\u2019ll want to tour the \u2018Golden Circle\u2019 of scenic points outside of Reykjavik and catch a performance in the capital\u2019s stunning harborfront music hall, covered in reflective \u2018scales\u2019 that mirror the water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

GREENLAND<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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The sleeping giant of Arctic travel destinations. Greenland is a giant icecap, with edges of the coast inhabited by small communities and some of the most spectacular polar scenery: towering cliffs and fjords, glaciers and icebergs. Capital city Nuuk now has an airport and public art installations throughout its charming, part-Arctic, part-Scandinavian streetscape by the sea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

NEWFOUNDLAND<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Newfoundland is more than the vast scenery of Gros Morne National Park, or the archeological remains of Viking settlements that long pre-date Christopher Columbus. It\u2019s a cultural treasure.  You haven\u2019t really lived until you\u2019ve been \u2018screeched in\u2019 as an honorary Newfoundlander in a pub in St. John\u2019s, with local Irish seafarer-inspired bands playing in the background. You\u2019ll have to kiss a cod fish and down a shot of the local \u2018screech\u2019 \u2013 rum which is nowadays a lot smoother than its original version! And you\u2019ll never meet a Newfoundlander who can\u2019t sing or tell you a tall tale! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALASKA<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

And since we\u2019re talking cruising, I have to point out one of the most accessible coolcation destinations in our own back yard. Cruises to Alaska just keep growing in popularity, and why not? It\u2019s the perfect multi-generational destination, where everyone in the family finds something to love: spotting bald eagles and bears, otters and whales, glaciers and icebergs, and vast forests. And tasting local crab right out of the crab pots. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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But there\u2019s a catch: Alaska\u2019s getting warmer summers, too. Although Alaskan \u2018heatwaves\u2019 aren\u2019t nearly at Mediterranean levels, interior cities especially, like Fairbanks, can hit temperatures even over 95 degrees (35 C)! Especially with the \u2018white nights\u2019 where the sun is out 20 or more hours a day, this prevents nighttime cooling relief. Nonetheless, coastal areas remain cooled by sea breezes and Alaska cruises remain an easy way to experience the scenery and communities of America\u2019s Last Frontier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

START YOUR (COOL!) TRIP!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Top image courtesy of Viking Cruises<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other Images: Lynn Elmhirst<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All rights reserved. You are welcome to share this material from this page, but it may not be copied, re-published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Record-breaking summer heatwaves throughout Europe have more travelers looking for cooler destinations to spend the holidays. I have some favorites.  By: Lynn Elmhirst, travel journalist and expert  Some like it hot!  And since Coco Chanel made it stylish to spend even scorching summers on the French Riviera, heat-loving travelers have flocked to the Mediterranean during the season. Those who couldn\u2019t brave Mediterranean heat? Well, they stayed in more central areas of Europe in the summers.  That\u2019s been the pattern for decades \u2013 but it is changing fast.  An early summer heatwave in 2026 shattered records across parts of Europe, making many top summer travel hotspots: London, Paris, Amsterdam – even Vienna and alpine Switzerland – feel like the high summer in the Med. Mediterranean destinations are designed for the heat, with thick walls, shutters and even afternoon siesta habits \u2013 helping residents and visitors stay comfortable. In places north of the Med, it\u2019s a much different story.  That makes one of the \u2018hottest\u2019 trends in travel today: the \u2018coolcation.\u2019 And there are my favorite places to travel in the summer – without breaking a sweat!  Pro Tip: consider cruising. Not only are these destinations best explored by coastal cruising, but it\u2019s also always a bit cooler over water, and there\u2019s always a breeze at sea!  SCANDINAVIA Even more southern parts of Scandinavia and their capitals, like Copenhagen, are feeling the heat. To truly escape the climate, go even farther north. A coastal cruise up the fjords of Norway is one of the iconic, bucket list cruises with some of the most inspiring scenery and charming Scandinavian villages. Some cruises will take you far enough north to actually be Arctic \u2013 where you have the chance of even spotting polar bears!  SCOTTISH ISLES Channel your inner Highlander along the windswept, rocky shores of Scotland\u2019s Shetland Isles or any of its other islands. Discover ancient stone structures, cozy inns, shops and pubs, and unforgettable puffin encounters. Not to mention the isles\u2019 trifecta of farm animals: rugged sheep, adorable Highland cows and coiffure-challenged Shetland ponies! I think the purchase of a piece of tartan or a Highland wool scarf may be mandatory! ICELAND The \u2018land of fire and ice\u2019 does not disappoint, from geysers and glaciers and volcanoes and one-of-a-kind wild scenery, to Icelandic ponies and quirky local food like sheep hotdogs and fermented shark. You\u2019ll want to tour the \u2018Golden Circle\u2019 of scenic points outside of Reykjavik and catch a performance in the capital\u2019s stunning harborfront music hall, covered in reflective \u2018scales\u2019 that mirror the water.  GREENLAND The sleeping giant of Arctic travel destinations. Greenland is a giant icecap, with edges of the coast inhabited by small communities and some of the most spectacular polar scenery: towering cliffs and fjords, glaciers and icebergs. Capital city Nuuk now has an airport and public art installations throughout its charming, part-Arctic, part-Scandinavian streetscape by the sea.  NEWFOUNDLAND Newfoundland is more than the vast scenery of Gros Morne National Park, or the archeological remains of Viking settlements that long pre-date Christopher Columbus. It\u2019s a cultural treasure.  You haven\u2019t really lived until you\u2019ve been \u2018screeched in\u2019 as an honorary Newfoundlander in a pub in St. John\u2019s, with local Irish seafarer-inspired bands playing in the background. You\u2019ll have to kiss a cod fish and down a shot of the local \u2018screech\u2019 \u2013 rum which is nowadays a lot smoother than its original version! And you\u2019ll never meet a Newfoundlander who can\u2019t sing or tell you a tall tale!  ALASKA And since we\u2019re talking cruising, I have to point out one of the most accessible coolcation destinations in our own back yard. Cruises to Alaska just keep growing in popularity, and why not? It\u2019s the perfect multi-generational destination, where everyone in the family finds something to love: spotting bald eagles and bears, otters and whales, glaciers and icebergs, and vast forests. And tasting local crab right out of the crab pots.  But there\u2019s a catch: Alaska\u2019s getting warmer summers, too. Although Alaskan \u2018heatwaves\u2019 aren\u2019t nearly at Mediterranean levels, interior cities especially, like Fairbanks, can hit temperatures even over 95 degrees (35 C)! Especially with the \u2018white nights\u2019 where the sun is out 20 or more hours a day, this prevents nighttime cooling relief. Nonetheless, coastal areas remain cooled by sea breezes and Alaska cruises remain an easy way to experience the scenery and communities of America\u2019s Last Frontier. START YOUR (COOL!) TRIP! Top image courtesy of Viking Cruises Other Images: Lynn Elmhirst All rights reserved. You are welcome to share this material from this page, but it may not be copied, re-published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1487","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-river-or-ocean-cruises"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wanderfullworldtravel.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1487","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wanderfullworldtravel.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wanderfullworldtravel.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wanderfullworldtravel.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wanderfullworldtravel.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1487"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wanderfullworldtravel.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1487\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1494,"href":"https:\/\/wanderfullworldtravel.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1487\/revisions\/1494"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wanderfullworldtravel.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1487"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wanderfullworldtravel.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1487"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wanderfullworldtravel.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1487"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}