Eight Cool Vacations: By Lakes, Rivers, Oceans — London To Hawaii

With parts of the U.S. still experiencing extreme heat, the search term “lake vacation” is currently trending higher than it has in a year. To cool off, here are eight selections of waterside escapes by lakes, rivers and seas to beat the heat from Maui to London.

Lakeside

Deer Path Inn – Lake Forest, IL This English-inspired boutique hotel reminiscent of a Tudor manor home is on Chicago’s North Shore. The inn’s Picnic in the Park package (available through September 30), includes complimentary bike rentals for a trip to the shores of Lake Michigan. You receive a customized picnic basket filled with curated snacks and beverages.

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Inns of Aurora – Aurora, NY At this luxury lakeside resort in the Finger Lakes, you’ll enjoy water activities on Cayuga Lake, or embark on an excursion with the Outdoor Adventure Guide to learn about proper paddling techniques. Private fishing lessons are led by resident Outdoorsmen along the 3.5-mile outdoor trail system, or via a private fishing charter. Later, relax by a lakeside firepit with a glass of local wine and gourmet s’mores.

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Riverside

Biltmore Mayfair – London On Grosvenor Square, the hotel offers opulent accommodations and a prime location. The property offers ultra-luxe private tours of London, including a champagne and canapés cruise aboard a luxury Venetian tender on the River Thames.

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Club Med Québec  – Québec, Canada This four-season, all-inclusive resort is Club Med’s first in Canada, an hour away from Quebec City in the Le Massif de Charlevoix region. This waterfront mountain resort offers 360-degree views of the St. Lawrence River from every angle, including through destination experiences like kayaking, whale watching excursions, riverfront train rides to the charming village of Baie-Saint-Paul, and guided waterfront hikes through the surrounding mountains.

The expansive wellness area has a 25-yard heated pool and outdoor jacuzzi, and locally-inspired dining is at one of the resort’s two onsite restaurants, all overlooking the river.

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Rockin’ The River in Fort Worth, TX The summer-long Rockin’ The River music series is presented on a waterfront stage on the Trinity River. Concertgoers can enjoy the show from the shore or while relaxing, beer in hand, in an inner tube in the water. Musical performances by country, rock and roll, and soul bands are held Saturdays from July to mid-August, with free admission and a $6 rental fee for innertubes. Each evening ends with a fireworks show overlooking the river and the city skyline.

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Oceanside

Wailea Beach Resort – Wailea, Maui Nestled between two of the island’s golden sand crescent beaches, Wailea Beach Resort spans 22 acres, and also offers three spectacular pool experiences.

Beyond immersive cultural activities and fitness offerings with a unique Maui twist, you can book private, customized, candlelit oceanfront dining experiences and floating pool cabana dinners, and bespoke picnics under the stars at the shoreline via the hotel’s partnership with Maui Luxe Picnics.

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The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club – Waikiki, Hawaii As one of Waikiki’s most dog-friendly hotels, there are no additional dog fees or size limits when bringing pets along. The hotel provides an exclusive partnership with SUPDog Hawaii, which offers guests and their four-legged friends surf and paddle lessons together, while the Surfjack’s hotel dog, Jack is ready to share all the best dog-friendly Waikiki spots.

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The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village– Cape Coral, FL With more than 400 miles of navigable canals and waterways surrounding the resort, travelers can dive-in to the property’s numerous aquatic guest services with access to private fishing charters, kayaking, paddle boarding, and exclusive water taxi services to Fort Myers Beach. The resort’s laid-back, waterfront restaurant, The Nauti Mermaid, allows visiting by land or sea, as there is a dockside bar with slips. A “Docktails” menu is curated for those who spend time on the water and dock.