Easy End of Summer Quick Getaways

The end of summer is quickly approaching. Your boss is wondering when you will stop sneaking out early on Fridays, stores are stocking school supplies and mothers are anxiously waiting for the day when their children will head back to school. Don’t worry though; it’s not too late to book a last-minute summer getaway. In fact, the end of summer can help you save a little cash and beat the crowds that have been hogging the best spots all season long. Take a peek at a few of our favorite spots to run off to before the chill of autumn settles into the air.

Jersey Shore

If you haven’t hit the beach yet, now is the time to do it, whether you crave the Ocean City boardwalk or want the Victorian elegance of Cape May, you can never go wrong with a weekend on the sand. Both beach towns are great for friends traveling together, or families looking for just one last getaway before school starts. Ocean City’s boardwalk houses a seemingly endless supply of entertainment through the shops, arcades and amusement park rides. Cape May brings it down a notch through old-fashioned Victorian beach charm, but there is still plenty to do and see while at this beach on the southern tip of New Jersey.

Vail, Colorado

Colorado is better known for its ski slopes, but mountain resorts like Vail are prime summer spots as well. Mountain bike, hike, swim or just take a stroll through town as summer all too quickly turns into autumn. While the East Coast is still baking, Colorado’s altitude brings cool breezes and low humidity to late summer days. Best of all, Vail sees a huge dip in prices (up to 43 percent) in the summer, which means this winter ski destination just got a whole lot easier to visit.

Tofino, Canada

British Colombia’s surf destination is beautiful year round, but the sunsets as the summer begins to wan are not to be missed. Snag a property on the beach as families start to prepare for back to school. Warm up with a cup of Joe from Tofino Coffee Roasting Co. after you ride the waves with the locals in the morning (don’t forget your full body wetsuit!), and reminisce over the day around a late night bonfire on the beach.

Caribbean

Hurricane season scares a lot of visitors away, which is why late summer is the best time to grab a last minute deal to the island of your choice. Keep an eye out for deals on all-inclusive resorts in the Dominican Republic, beachfront property in Puerto Rico, and even cruises. Be ready to jump when a deal pops up. If you like to book ahead of time, just make sure you get travel insurance. They don’t call it hurricane season for nothing and conditions can change quickly.

Traverse City, Michigan

It stays hot and humid in the Midwest well into September, which is why most residents and visitors like to find a nice lake town to cool off in, even as summer ends and kids go back to school. Traverse City sits on Traverse Bay in Lake Michigan, about a five-hour drive from Chicago. The soothing color of the water looks like it would be more at home in the Caribbean, and there is no end to the activities you can do at the end of summer. You can still golf, hike, bike, paddleboard and go trout fishing, but don’t skip the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore. Climb to the top for the best views of the lake, or just sit and star gaze at night.

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