When many people think of summer, they think of vacations. The weather is usually nice, days are longer, and schools are out.
But, which destinations make the best summer vacations?
We often hear about Paris in the spring, the Winter Carnival in Quebec City, Canada, or in the fall, the Northern Lights in Reykjavik, Iceland, or the New England foliage in The United States. Where do you go in summer? Do you head for the beach or escape to the mountains to beat the heat?
For this quiz, we are visiting popular summer destinations. Hopefully, a few of them will inspire you to start making travel plans. How many have you visited? Can you tell where we are by the descriptions given? Good luck!
Answers can be found in the last article of this issue, “Next Month in This Awful Awesome Life – September 2025. Keep reading your way through this issue or you can use this link to jump to the answers,
Locations:
Costa Rica San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
London, England Mallorca, Spain
Mackinaw City, Michigan, U.S.A. Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
Seattle, Washington , U.S.A. Montecito, California, U.S.A.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Zurich, Switzerland
Cape Town, South Africa Ischia, Italy
Taos, New Mexico, U.S.A. Montego Bay, Jamaica
Curaçao in the Caribbean Loire Valley, France
Park City, Utah, U.S.A. The Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Hvar, Croatia Catskill, New York, U.S.A.
Tanzania, Africa Copenhagen, Denmark
Athens and Mykonos, Greece Fiji
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Fill in the Blank with the Name of the Correct Vacation Destination:
1. Hop on a bicycle and visit beautiful canals, harbors, historic monuments, and attractions like the Little Mermaid Statue, and Tivoli Gardens. _______________________
2. Visit an 18th century fort and fur trading village, a restored lighthouse, art, and music festivals, enter a fishing tournament, or enjoy stargazing at International Dark Sky Park. _________________________________
3. Enjoy famous wines, fresh fruits and vegetables, and fine dining at over 700 hotels and restaurants. Visit chateaux and other historic monuments, three Regional nature Parks, or make use of 550km of cycling trails._____________________________________
4. This area has been a haven for artists since the 1500s. Visit two major art institutions, enjoy music festivals, writer’s conferences, or historic architecture at this World Heritage Site. ____________________________________________
5. Cool off in the mountains while enjoying art and music festivals. Go tubing on the Weber River or enjoy other water related activities. Enjoy hiking and biking before you sample the local cuisine or visit the Swaner Preserve to learn about the importance of protecting the land and wildlife for future generations. _______________________________________
6. Visit pristine beaches, observe abundant marine ecosystems, and enjoy the beauty of Fynbos plant species unique to this part of the world. Go on a photo safari. Sample award winning local wines and coffees. ___________________________________________
7. Sample unique varieties of wines, enjoy hikes, biking tours, caving, swimming, snorkeling in crystal clear waters, and kayaking/boating. If you visit in late May, June or July, the lavender will be in bloom. The months between May and September offer warm temperatures and minimal rainfall – perfect weather to enjoy outdoor activities. __________________________________________
8. This dream destination has year-round temperatures in the mid-80s Fahrenheit. Enjoy beaches, coves, and expansive coral reefs. Go snorkeling or diving. Enjoy hiking or taking an ATV tour. Explore historic towns, and sample the famous liqueur. ______________________________________________________
9. Walk the narrow-cobbled streets of Old Town and enjoy the historic architecture and scenic river views. Take a boat cruise or a hike in a tranquil forest. Visit the many art museums, the FIFA Museum, or shop at eclectic boutiques and open-air markets. Don’t forget to sample the chocolate! __________________________________________________
10. Go whale watching, take a Zodiac boat tour to see a seal colony on your way to Bowen Island for dinner – craft beer and homemade pizza. Go cycling in Stanely Park, take a day or sunset cruise, or walk across the Capilano Suspension Bridge. Visit famous gardens, ride the Grouse Mountain cable cars, or visit the Wildlife Refuge. ___________________________________________________
11. Tour Casa de Herrero (Castle of the Blacksmith) and view its original collection of 16th -18th century art, tapestries, silver, furniture, rugs, library, and blacksmith shop. Visit botanical garden with examples of Japanese architecture, cactus collections, and topiaries. Visit Butterfly or Miramar Beaches or go hiking in the mountains. _______________________________________
12. These two destinations offer contrasting vacation experiences, but are often visited during the same vacation. Visit iconic historical sites, museums, theaters, and vibrant neighborhoods. Enjoy the nightlife, whitewashed buildings, picturesque villages, and golden-sand beaches with crystal-clear water. One is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the other offers windmills and exciting nightlife with beach clubs and bars that stay open late. _________________________________________________
13. Visit the famous Inca and Sineu markets, Cuevas del Drach subterranean cave systems, Roman ruins, historic walled villages with medieval charm, white-sanded beaches, and the Palma Aquarium. Enjoy paella and exceptional white wines after a day of hiking or snorkeling. _________________________________________________
14. Watch the Great Migration of the wildebeest from a hot air balloon. Take a walking safari or head to the coast to do some diving or snorkeling. Hike in the Empakaai Crater or climb a famous mountain. Visit a working coffee farm. _________________________________________________
15. Visit Margaritaville and the “Hip Strip.” Try the jerk chicken and a margarita when you take a food tour. Take an ATV tour, swim in a natural mineral pool, or sample fresh local produce. Relax on the beach or visit the Blue Hole and local waterfalls. Go horseback riding or zipline through the jungle._______________________________________________
16. Visit the palace, tour historic locations and spectacular gardens, museums, and art galleries. Take a river cruise, enjoy movies or theatrical performances under the stars, visit the flower market, or attend a pub crawl -eat authentic fish and chips and play darts. ______________________________________________
17. It’s considered the birthplace of American Art. Go hiking, biking, or swimming, and enjoy “farm to table” dining. Walk the Hudson River School Art Trail. Learn about fly-fishing or visit the famous KTD Monastery. Attend music and art festivals or have loads of family fun at Zoom Flume Water Park. ___________________________________
18. This UNESCO Heritage site boasts mountaintop restaurants, spectacular views, hiking, biking, rafting and horseback riding. Visit caves and outdoor mineral pools while learning about local ecology, geology, and wildlife. _____________________________________________
19. Visit lush jungles and pristine beaches. View unique wildlife, explore Manuel Antonio National Park, and take a night tour through the jungle. Enjoy an ATV tour or go ziplining through the jungle. Walk the hanging bridges in La Fortuna, go whitewater rafting, or visit the Poás Volcano. _____________________________________________
20. Visit the Batu Caves and the Petronas Twin Towers. Go shopping in the many pavilions, malls, and markets. Enjoy the bird park, Chinatown district, Sunway Lagoon, or the Islamic Arts Museum. ______________________________________________
21. Nature enthusiasts flock to these islands for their unique and diverse wildlife and biodiversity. These islands are at the confluence point for three ocean currents. _______________________________________________
22. Take a food tour of Pike Place Market and visit the Space Needle, Pioneer Square, Ballard Locks and Kerry Park. Enjoy hiking along wild coastlines, moss draped forests, and glacier-carved mountains. _______________________________________________
23. Explore coral reefs, scuba dive, or relax on white sandy beaches. Visit the Botanical Gardens of Thursten, the Sigatoka Sand Dunes, or the Colo-i-Suva Forest Park. __________________________________________________
24. Visit Castello Aragonese to explore its chapels, wine presses, prison, and the cemetery of the Poor Clares, Enjoy the therapeutic benefits of it’s hot springs, visit the beaches, take a hike or a boat ride and enjoy those stunning views. ________________________________________________________
25. Visit a Native American community with a 1,000+ year history. Go hiking, biking, rafting, Horseback riding, hot-air ballooning, and take a dip in the local hot springs. Explore the Bandelier Cliff Dwellings and Great sand Dunes National Park. Enjoy the vibrant arts community and local artisans.________________________________________
Sources for this quiz: