02/07/2018
Where should you travel in July? Here are some ideas.
July is one of the most popular months to travel.Many destinations have a variety of festivals during the month. And there are plenty of cities that have beautiful parks for outdoor activity.
Here are a few destinations that are good deals for fun and value:
1) Anchorage, Alaska
Scott Keyes, founder of Scott’s Cheap Flights, suggests Alaska’s largest city because of its comfortable weather. Anchorage is located in the south-central part of the state on the Cook Inlet, which stretches 180 miles.
“Temperatures get up to the 60s and even 70s in July, far more comfortable than the rest of the year and a welcome escape from the blazing heat in parts of the lower 48,” Keyes says.
Another plus: The northern lights is in the midst of a waning phase, and Anchorage has a good vantage point for viewing. “You're more likely to see them this year than next,” he says.
2) Portland, Oregon
“Known more for rain than sunshine, the truth is that summers in the Pacific Northwest are warm, bright and idyllic,” Keyes says.
The International Rose Test Garden in Portland is blooming this time of year. There are also numerous summer festivals in town, including the Oregon Brewers Festival. The Waterfront Blues Festival--the largest blues festival west of the Mississippi River — draws crowds on the riverbank in Waterfront Park.
Flicks on the Bricks takes place over four consecutive nights from July through August at Pioneer Courthouse Square. Free movies and popcorn are available on Portland’s “largest outdoor screen.”
3) Colorado
July is one of the best months to visit Denver.
The nation's best rodeo, Frontier Days, takes place 90 minutes north of Denver in Cheyenne, Wyoming, from July 20 to 29.
4) New Orleans
The Deep South may be hot in July, but it is still a great time to visit New Orleans for its festivals. The city has been particularly festive this year as it celebrates its tricentennial.
Lauren Cardinale, luxury travel adviser at Travel Design Co., recommends Essence Fest from July 5 to 8, which celebrates African American music and culture.
On July 14, the New Orleans Museum of Art hosts a Bastille Day Fete featuring francophone musicians, guided gallery tours, pop-up shops, children's activities, and food and wine.
5) Jersey Shore
Two beach towns in New Jersey are making a comeback--Asbury Park and Atlantic City—thanks to two key openings. Asbury Lanes, a vintage bowling alley and bar built in the 1960s, joins The Stone Pony has the most prominent music venues in this beach town.
Meanwhile, Atlantic City now has a brand new hotel and casino complex—the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.
The hotel has 2,000 guestrooms and suites, a Rock Spa and Salon, a Body Rock Fitness Center, and the Rock Shop featuring Hard Rock merchandise and music memorabilia.
6) Montreal
This Canadian city comes alive in the summer. This has been a party year in general as Montreal has been celebrating its 375th birthday.
Festival International Nuits D’Afrique, from July 10 to 22, showcases African and African-influenced music at numerous indoor and free outdoor shows.
The Just For Laughs Festival, from July 11 to 29, brings both A-List comedians and up-and-comers together to perform at galas and club shows. It takes part in the sprawling outdoor site in the Quartier des Spectacles.
