Two summers ago, I was halfway up a scree-strewn slope in California’s Eastern Sierra when I noticed that my shirt was clingy with sweat and my face was the same shade as my dog’s geranium-patterned collar. I made a promise: no more more hikes with the mercury pushing 90; future summer adventure planning would take temperature into serious account.
I’m not alone. Travelers are keeping an eye on the thermometer and rethinking vacation plans, according to a recent survey by the World Travel Market which found close to 30 percent of travelers overall and 43 percent of travelers age 16 to 39 are changing plans to avoid extreme weather.
Last year, Phoenix recorded 70 days when the temperature hit 110 degrees or higher, while Las Vegas reported its all-time high of 120 degrees. And these aren’t isolated instances; it’s heating up pretty much all over. Seventeen states had their warmest year on record in 2024, and the past five years have seen the average number of heat waves across the U.S. increase to more than six a year, up from four in the nineties and fewer than three in the seventies. And the average length of what the EPA terms “heat wave season” has soared from just over 20 days a year in the 1960s to 70 days.
Chasing cooler weather doesn’t have to limit your adventures. In fact, it can lead to some serious finds to add to your list of cool small adventure towns. I’ll be happy every time I throw on a jacket to kayak a glacier-studded lake or count constellations in an inky sky, thinking about the hikes and rides I didn’t have to give up for heat.
Check out these 7 adventure-packed spots where summer temps are unlikely to top 80.
Bar Harbor, Maine
Summer temperatures: mid to high 70s, lows 50-60
Why we love it:
Bar Harbor may be best known as the gateway to Acadia National Park, but from its perch on Mount Desert Island it’s easy to find every kind of coastal adventure. I loved hiking and biking the Schoodic Peninsula and climbing Blue Hill in 82-acre Blue Horizons Preserve, picking as many wild blueberries as I could eat along the trail.
Further away and far from the crowds, Shackford Head and Cobscook Bay state parks offer coastal views and tide pools. In the national park, climb Cadillac Mountain, the northeast’s highest coastal peak, for stunning views of island-dotted Frenchman’s Bay.
I counted a ridiculous number of seals, whales, and glimmering fish on an excursion with Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company and next time plan to paddle around the Porcupine Islands with Coastal Kayaking Tours. Popular bike trails include the Eagle Lake carriage road trail and the gentle loop to Witch Hole Pond.
Where to Eat:
Lobster rolls are a must; my favorites are at Geddy’s and the Thirsty Whale Tavern. The varied breakfast menu at Café This Way, located in a Victorian cottage with lawn seating, includes blueberry pancakes, corned beef hash, and breakfast burritos.
Where to Stay:
The newly restored Little Fig Hotel (rooms from $479) features stylishly decorated rooms with complimentary breakfast in the heart of the old town, while the glamping tents at Terramor Outdoor Resort (rooms from $325) are more luxurious than many hotel rooms. I loved soaking my sore muscles in the hot tub, toasting s’mores around the group campfire, and hearing stories of other guests’ adventures.
Bellingham, Washington
Summer temperatures: low to high mid–70s, lows 50-60
Why we love it:
Located where the Olympic Mountains plunge into Samish Bay, Bellingham became one of the northwest’s top adventure towns with the advent of the Galbraith mountain biking trail network, known for swoopy trails like Mabel’s Monkey Wrench and radical jumps like Double Vision and Air Chair. Dig Deep Tours rents mountain, gravel, and e-bikes with trailside delivery and leads daylong and multi-day bike tours.
Climb 5 miles up the rocky promontory of Oyster Dome for stunning views, then see the bivalves being farmed— and enjoy a few—at Taylor Shellfish Farm. The 6-mile Heliotrope Ridge Trail winds through old-growth forest, opening out for views of Coleman Glacier and Mount Baker.
For a more leisurely outing, ride the 2.6 loop around Lake Padden or head for 240-acre Whatcom Falls Park with its WPA-era stone bridge and take a dip in the swimming hole at Whirlpool Falls.
What to Eat:
Brewpubs are a Bellingham tradition; my favorites are Aslan for its organic brews, Mexican-inspired El Sueñito, and Menace, a low-key neighborhood hangout. DaVinci’s Market is my go-to for to-go breakfasts and sandwiches.
Where to Stay:
It’s easy to get local intel at the hip, but refreshingly unpretentious Heliotrope Hotel (rooms from $169), where gathering spaces include a common room, firepit, and lawn with games. Hotel Leo (rooms from $144), built in 1929, bolsters its historic ambiance with a library complete with pool table and speakeasy-style bar with live music. And there’s a workout room better equipped than many gyms for a pre-adventure warm up.
Crested Butte, Colorado
Summer temperatures: highs 75-78, lows mid-40s
Why we love it:
One of the birthplaces of fat tire mountain biking, Crested Butte’s adventure cred is bolstered by the wild west vibes of the clapboard storefronts and high-ceilinged saloons of its 19th-century mining heyday. The 401 Trail reigns supreme for scenery, rollercoastering over multiple wildflower-blanketed alpine passes. Crested Butte Mountain Resort’s Evolution Bike Park features two double black diamond downhills: Psycho Rocks and Captain Jack.
Hiking trails range from the 9-mile West Maroon Trail over 12,500-foot Maroon Bells Pass, to the relaxed hour-long stroll to Judd Falls. It’s under two miles–with 1200 feet of elevation gain—to the 12,162-foot summit of Crested Butte Mountain to gaze over the Elk Mountains and Gunnison Valley far below. Long-distance trekkers seek out Conundrum Hot Springs, a 17-mile roundtrip.
Paddlers in search of white water can choose from the class III and IV rapids churning through Cement Creek’s narrow canyons or the gentler surge of the Gunnison River. Come sunset, I love to watch my oars break the glassy mirror of Taylor Reservoir reflecting the surrounding peaks.
Where to Eat:
Patio tables and lighted beer gardens line Crested Butte’s pedestrian-friendly main drag, where Secret Stash serves up creative pizza combos and Bonez grills savory fajitas. And no visit would be complete without an elk burger—I found them equally flavorful at Public House and Elk Avenue Prime.
Where to Stay:
I loved the Nordic feel of the Cristiana Guesthaus (rooms from $196), especially the Swedish dry sauna and outdoor jacuzzi, and the bike and ski storage comes in handy. I also appreciated the hearty breakfast at Old Town Inn (rooms from $239 a night) as well as the friendly welcome for my pup.
Valdez, Alaska
Summer temperatures: Highs mid-50s to mid-60s, lows high 40s to low 50s
Why we love it:
Situated at the mouth of a fjord encircled by the majestic Chugach Mountains, Valdez offers a picturesque gateway to Prince William Sound and its five accessible glaciers. Glacier viewing cruises depart twice a day to the terminus of Columbia Glacier, its sheer ice walls rising 300 feet above the sea, or take a helicopter ride with Alpine Air Alaska and climb on the glacier after heart-stopping helicopter ride. Kayaking Aialik Bay is a bucket list adventure for many; Pangaea Adventures and Anadyr Adventures offer trips of varying lengths and difficulty.
The Mineral Creek Trail climbs for 14 miles up a lush canyon canyon while less challenging trails include Dock Point and Overlook. You can also hike the historic trail of 1899 that led prospectors to the gold fields, passing Valdez Glacier Lake, a prime spot for paddling among freshly calved icebergs.
The Valdez Museum documents the region’s disaster plagued history, which includes surviving an 8.4 earthquake in 1964 and the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Getting around town by bike is easy thanks to the DOT Bike Path, which connects downtown with the Robe River area six miles away.
Where to Eat:
You can’t not go to a place called The Fat Mermaid, the town’s top option in town for vegetarian and plant-forward fare. You’ll also find Po’ Boys and other Cajun specialties at Poor Bettys food truck and a lively crowd sharing local news in the taproom at Growler Bay Brewing.
Where to Stay:
Take advantage of the breakfast buffet and pool at Totem Hotel and Suites (rooms from $340) or the free shuttle offered by Keystone Hotel (rooms from $124.)
Copper Harbor, Michigan
Summer temperatures: highs low 70s to 80, lows 40-55
Why we love it:
Breezes off Lake Superior keep temperatures cool on the Keweenaw Peninsula, which juts off of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Copper Harbor, located on the northern bank, has long been legendary among midwestern mountain bikers for its 40-mile lacework of rock-jumping singletrack. The poster child, Stairway to Heaven, features a series of raised wooden bridges, On the Edge boasts cliff-hugging views, and The Flow is one long smooth descent. Gravel bikers have laid claim to the old logging roads that crisscross the peninsula’s tip.
Hike through verdant forest to the rocky shoreline of Horseshoe Bay at 1200-acre Mary Macdonald Preserve at Horseshoe Harbor or loop among massive Eastern White Pines, some up to 500 years old, in Estivant Pines Nature Sanctuary.
You can paddle the 100-mile Keweenaw Water Trail, which hugs the shore of the so-named peninsula, passing lighthouses, sea caves, and sheltered coves. You can find your own way using a map from the Keweenaw Land Trust, or explore the wildest part of this untamed shoreline on an overnight camping tour with Keweenaw Water Adventures. It’s a three-hour ferry ride to Isle Royale National Park, one of the most isolated in the park system.
Where to eat:
Start your day with a scone or turnover from Jamsen’s Bakery and finish it feasting on Lake Superior whitefish and trout at Harbor Haus or sampling the smoked trout pizza at Mariner North. Just outside Copper Harbor in Eagle River, udon noodles and chickpea tagine share the menu with burgers and mac and cheese at Fitzgerald’s Hotel and Restaurant.
Where to Stay:
A sprawling complex of lodges and cabins, the Bella Vista Motel (rooms from $140) boasts a private dock, while family-run Brockway Inn (rooms from $117) features a popular coffee shop and store for easy outfitting. Or snag one of the historic log cabins at WPA-built Keweenah Mountain Lodge (rooms from $275), where a prime trailhead is steps from your door.
Bandon, Oregon
Summer temperatures: highs mid-60s to low 70s; lows mid-50s
Why we love it:
Sea stacks, cedar-fringed cliffs, and miles of solitary beach in the Bandon State Natural Area make Bandon the perfect Oregon hideaway. Named for its history of prohibition-era whiskey smuggling, the Whiskey Run mountain biking trail network features 64 soft loamy trails covering 32 miles of county-owned forest. Surfers chase the waves at the beach of the same name, part of the Seven Devils State Recreation Area, and I’ve found many a treasure beach combing on its two-mile stretch of driftwood-inflected sand. At low tide, I head for the rocky outcrops at Coquille Point or Face Rock.
The Coquille River Trail links downtown Bandon with the harbor, with more coastal trails winding through the salt marshes of Bandon Marsh National Wildlife Refuge, where I’ve spotted ospreys, loons, kites, and ducks from pintails to mallards.
Where to Eat:
Tony’s Crab Shack is the place to go for the day’s fresh catch, as well as fishing supplies and guidance. Shrimp scampi and Tuscan cacciucco, a seafood stew, are highlights at Allora Wine Bar. I head to Sunnyside Café’s for generous mushroom omelets and bacon veggie hash to fuel up active days.
Where to Stay:
Sunset Oceanfront Lodging (rooms from $145) and Table Rock Inn (rooms from $149) both offer beach access and ocean views. I chose the latter for the chance to have a kitchenette, since I like to fuel up and get an early start. Itty Bitty Inn (rooms from $99) in North Bend has draft beer and cider on tap, free cruiser bikes, and rents mountain bikes on site and guests can book trailhead drop-offs and pick-ups and guided tours.
North Conway, New Hampshire
Summer temperatures: highs: mid-70s to 80; lows high 40s to low 60s
Why we love it:
During summer months, the town of North Conway transforms into a lively home base for hiking, biking and paddling the White Mountains. Trails in the downhill mountain bike park at crange from flowy and beginner-friendly Mainline to thrill-chasing Derailer and Steam Punk. The Marshall Conservation Area features 16 miles of easy to moderate trail, while the Hurricane Mountain Zone is known for jumps, berms, and high-speed descents.
You’ll find waterfalls, swimming holes, and three summits with 360-degree views on the Moat Mountain Trail and steep ascents at Black Cap and Table Mountain while climbers scale Cathedral Ledge and Whitehorse Ledge. River outfitters Saco Bound and Saco Canoe Rental will set you up for kayaking, SUP, canoeing, rafting and tubing including guided day and overnight trips.
Where to Eat:
Shitake mushroom dumplings and Brazilian hanger steak are on the menu at Barley & Salt Taphouse Irish pub May Kelly’s Cottage serves up shepherd’s pie and potato cakes. The seemingly endless breakfast options at 27 North include omelets, benedicts, wraps, breakfast sandwiches, and waffles.
Where to Stay:
Bed down in one of the riverfront cabins at Merrill Farm Inn (rooms from $159) or choose a bunk or private room with shared bath at Coho Hostel (beds from $20; private rooms from $130), which also offers suites for families and larger groups.
