The perfect summer vacation begins here.
Summer is almost here, and if you haven’t booked your vacation yet, we have a few ideas for the perfect June escapes.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Love beer, music, and Top Chef? The midwestern metropolis is the current setting for Bravo’s cooking competition, and a purveyor of fine things. And summer is the ideal time to travel there—especially for Summerfest. The annual festival features upcoming artists, local talents, and industry bigwigs. This year, it runs from June 20-July 6 and along with performances, there are a variety of events and activities to keep the heat on.
Milwaukee is also hosting Pride in June and vintage motorcycle enthusiasts will gather on June 16 for Brewtown Rumble.
WHERE TO STAY
Related: The Ultimate LGBTQ+ Travel Guide to Milwaukee
Anchorage, Alaska
June 21 is the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. After miserably dark winters, it is a joyous occasion to welcome 22 hours of daylight and Anchorage pumps it up with music, hiking, street parties, parades, and cookouts. Come and celebrate the advent of summer. There is also a half marathon, along with a celebration for Juneteenth and Pride Week.
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If you stay a tad bit longer, you can drive down to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. The largest national park in the U.S. is spread across 13.2 million acres—about six times the size of Yellowstone—and its rugged, raw beauty is a balm to the soul. Lose yourself in the vastness of glaciers as you go on hikes or drives through the park; the sun barely sets so it’s a unique experience to backpack here. The rivers beckon you to try rafting and anglers are rewarded with a bounty for their patience.
WHERE TO STAY
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
This sandy-beached peninsula is synonymous with summer. Sand dunes, art galleries, forest hikes, and great seafood draw travelers here in spades, but if you plan an early trip in June, you might be able to stay in a dreamy bed and breakfast without much fuss. One place that’s a must-visit is the artsy town of Provincetown on the northern tip, where painters, photographers, and artists unite.
WHERE TO STAY
Curaçao, Caribbean
For divers and snorkelers, the Dutch island of Curaçao is a blessing. It doesn’t take a long trek to the island from the east coast, and once you’re there you can experience its beautiful corals and diving sites. What’s also wonderful is that it’s outside of the hurricane belt, so there’s no danger of getting stuck in a storm during your holiday. June is also off season and the weather is dry and sunny.
WHERE TO STAY
Related: 11 Under-the-Radar Things to Do in Curaçao
St. Lucia, Caribbean
If summer equals beach vacay to you, then a Caribbean island is a no-brainer. St. Lucia is known for its luxury resorts, volcanic beaches, and diving sites. June is a bit wetter than early spring, but this also means fewer crowds competing for the same rooms and beaches and better prices. American Airlines is increasing its daily services to the island from Miami in June, and it also has a direct flight from Charlotte, North Carolina. JetBlue also flies non-stop to the eastern Caribbean nation.
WHERE TO STAY
New York City, New York
Things start to heat up in New York City in June. Outdoor plays, cocktails on rooftop terrace, picnics in the parks, and fun Broadway shows are major draws to visitors, who are also slightly more motivated to miss the peak summer crowds. But another reason you might want to book your flights are the fabulous night markets around its boroughs: Brooklyn Night Market, Queens Night Market, and Bronx Night Market are popular, and there are also the Latin Night Market and Vegan Night Market.
Also mark your calendars for Governors Ball Music Festival on June 7-9 and New York Pride on June 30.
WHERE TO STAY
Paris, France
Set your aims high if you can get away for longer in June. Before the madness descends to Paris during the Olympics and fares skyrocket, you can fulfil your wish for a stroll through the Jardin du Luxembourg, a bite of a tart or a macaroon, and a tour of the Eiffel Tower.
Apart from the usual suspects, there are open-air events in June (such as Fête de la Musique on June 21), concerts and exhibitions, and exclusive shows (such as L’Olimpiade opera at Théâtre des Champs-Elysées) in honor of the Olympics.
The weather is pleasant and the French city has non-stop flights from New York and Los Angeles, so that’s two more reasons to pack up your beret.
WHERE TO STAY
Related: Everything You Need to Know About Taking the Paris Metro