Where should we go on vacation in July? (about 5 days; we're in NYC)?

Question

NYC can get pretty hot in July, so we'd prefer to go to a milder climate. We don't have a lot of money, so expensive destinations like Iceland are out (although I would love to go one of these days...). We also have a baby boy (who will be 11 months in July), so we would prefer not to go on a long flight or road trip (so destinations like Southeast Asia are out, too, desirable as that would be as well). Finally, we would prefer to go someplace where it isn't the peak high season (although that's admittedly a little difficult to find in July), so Europe may have to be out. We went to Toronto last year and it was nice. Where should we go this year? (Montreal?)

Answer 1

It sounds like you prefer cities, but for me, Prince Edward Island or the Shediac area of New Brunswick are the best. The Gulf Stream (if it keeps going) warms the waters off PEI, so it's a lot nicer than the Maine beaches. Lobsters are everywhere (including a large cement one in Shediac). New Brunswick is also the home of the Bay of Fundy, which has the greatest difference in high and low tides in the world, and you can actually walk on the Bay floor at low tide! It's quite an experience.

These places are enough off the well-beaten paths that you are not crowded and can find lots of beach space.

Remember you need passports to come back into the US, even for the baby.

If you're interested, I can give you contacts if you want to rent a cottage.

Answer 2

July is hot too so visiting someplace cool is kind of nice. You could fly to Calgary and rent a car. My family and I did this a few years ago. Since it isn't peak season there, you can often rent condos near the parks. We stayed in Canmore which was right on the border with the Banff park. It was really reasonable. We had two bedroom condo with a fireplace and full kitchen for less than we would pay for a hotel in Chicago. From there, you can hike Banff, visit Lake Louise, and see the Columbia Ice Fields near Jasper. They are spectacular. Best to see the glaciers now because they are disappearing fast.