Now that Memorial Day Weekend is upon us, as much as we love our jobs, we can't help but think about taking off for summer vacay. Some of us are jetting to international cities, or booking island escapes, and others are exploring destinations closer to home. We're going on family trips, girls' getaways, and to friends' weddings out of town. If your travel plans aren't set in stone, we hope ours will inspire you to get crackin' -- because Labor Day will be here before we know it.
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Havana, Cuba
“I’m kicking off my summer with a bucket list girls’ trip to Havana! Our plan is to soak up as much Cuban culture as possible, and enjoy the beaches of Santa Maria and the rooftop bars in Old Town. Visits to Fabrica de Arte Cubano and Hemingway’s home, Finca Vigia, are also on the must-do list. I’m sure we’ll make some time for sampling the island’s world famous rum and cigars. It wouldn’t be a complete girls’ trip without at least one selfie in a vintage car.” — Megan Wood, Editor
Montreal, Canada
“Montreal is a perfect weekend getaway with something for everyone. Summer means that the city is finally habitable (to all but the steeliest northerners), and everything from Jean-Talon Market to the Quartier des Spectacles comes to life. Prowling the streets of Mile End — snagging everything from poutine to Montreal-style bagels to the most painfully bespoke t-shirts you’ll ever find — is a pleasure that’s not to be underestimated by even the world’s hippest citizens. And the riverfront along the Old Port is a stunner. The city also hosts major music festivals in the summer, and hikes up Mont-Royal are lovely.” — Kyle Valenta, Editor
Bermuda
View from Cambridges Beaches Resort.
“I’m heading to Bermuda this July and looking forward to having a redo vacation here — on my last trip there it rained the whole time, so I’m excited for some sunbathing on the pink-sand beaches. Bermuda is super accessible from the East Coast — it’s a two-hour flight from NYC, so it’s hardly longer than taking the train out to the Hamptons. Also, Bermuda is incredibly charming, with fascinating British Colonial history. St. George’s was settled in 1612, which is pretty mind-blowing! When it comes to food, Bermuda isn’t exactly known for haute cuisine, but there are plenty of cozy British-style pubs. One of the island’s claims to fame is inventing the Rum Swizzle.” — Kelsey Blodget, Senior Executive Editor
Croatia
View from Villa Dubrovnik.
“I’ll be taking a few trips this summer — Nashville (for the total solar eclipse!), plus the Finger Lakes and St. Barts for work (tough life, I know). But the vacation I’m perhaps most excited for is a destination that’s been on my bucket list ever since I stumbled across a photo of the stunning Plitvice Lakes National Parks: Croatia. The Eastern European country checks off all the boxes that my boyfriend and I were looking for: outdoorsy activities like hiking and water sports, dreamy beaches, rich history, and of course, sunny weather. The plan for the trip is to hit Dubrovnik, Split, Hvar, Korcula, Bol, Pula, Krka, and the aforementioned mind-blowingly gorgeous national park (no really, do yourself a favor and Google this place). And now that we have our hotels and excursions booked, there’s only one remaining to-do: start binge-watching ‘Game of Thrones.’” — Alisha Prakash, Editor
Alaska
“This July I’m headed off to Alaska. I’m an urbanite down to my core. Being surrounded by high-rise buildings and pizza joints that are open at 4 a.m. is my norm, so Alaska is a hard 180 from everything I know — and that’s why I love it. The endless waves of evergreen trees, frozen landscapes, and wildlife sightings are pure magic. Have I mentioned there are whales? It’s the perfect escape from my day-to-day.” — Maria Teresa Hart, Senior Editor
New Orleans
“This is a big summer of weddings for me, so I’ll be taking short domestic trips all season long: D.C., New York’s Catskills, Wisconsin, New Orleans, Nashville, and Charleston (during the eclipse!) are in the lineup so far. I do enjoy New York in the summer, though, so I’m happy to stick around here, too. But cheap flights to Europe are also very tempting!” — Stefanie Waldek, Editor
Paris
View from the Hotel Plaza Athenee.
“My family and I try to gift each other experiences instead of stuff, and about seven or eight Christmases ago, my mom “gave” me a mother-daughter week in Paris. She knew, of course, that I had never been, and wanted to take me for my first trip there. Fast-forward nearly a decade, and I am finally cashing in on the IOU. This is prompted in part by my recent, rather incidental intro to Paris, when I spent a measly 90 minutes in the city during a layover. What a tease! When she and I take the trip, I’ll have time to do more than just a down a flute of Champagne and bag a chocolate croissant to go.” — Anne Bauso, Editor
San Antonio, Texas
“I already took my big trip of the year — Belize — but I’ll still be making a couple of smaller trips this summer. For Memorial Day, I’m headed home to San Antonio, Texas for a wedding and some added family time. Despite it being called the less-cool sister to Austin, the charming and family-friendly city has a lot more to offer than just The Alamo. The Tex-Mex food is unbeatable; The Pearl area has trendy bars and music-filled farmer’s markets; and the Historic Market Square (El Mercado) sells a range of charming Mexican goods like hand-painted pottery and embroidered puebla dresses. Some travelers may want to avoid the summer’s 100-degree temps, but after begrudgingly surviving a New York winter, I’ll gladly take the heat.” — Lara Grant, Editor
New York City
New York City.
“Summer is my least favorite season to travel to far flung destinations, so I opt for an NYC staycation. By 3 p.m. on Friday, the city empties out, and it feels like mine, all mine. It’s a great time to snag a restaurant reservation, or hit a museum that stays open late. There’s tons of stuff to do every night of the week — and much of it’s free or cheap — from concerts in Central Park to flicks on rooftops. And there’s dancing the afternoon away (oh, is there dancing…) at MoMA PS1’s Warm Up.” — Rachel Klein, Editor
You’ll Also Enjoy:
- Our 9 Favorite Summer Hotel Amenities in the U.S.
- NYC Weekend Getaways: 6 Budget-Friendly, Last-Minute Destinations for Summer 2016
- 7 Top Domestic Getaways for U.S. Travelers This Summer
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