Summer Destinations
Our Favorite Summer Escapes
Get back to nature and recharge at one of our favorite off-the-grid locations. Here you will find wide open spaces where a kind of serenity can be found.
San Juan Islands, Washington State
Perfect Pacific Northwest Summer
There are few places where summer is more perfect than in the Pacific Northwest. Sunrise comes early and light lingers in the sky until well after 9 pm during the summer months. With so much to explore, you'll want to take advantage of the long days. Discover our favorite stops in San Juan Islands: 4-Night Stay
Getting there:
Board a Kenmore Air float plane from the South Lake Union terminal in Seattle, Wa. to Roche Harbor on the San Juan Island. Note that Kenmore Air does not operate afternoon flights from South Lake Union. We highly recommend an early flight as later departures take place at Kenmore’s location on North Lake Washington (approximately 35 minutes from Seattle).
Stay:
Book your 2-night stay in one of the 4 historic McMillan Suites at the Roche Harbor resort. Each suite provides the best views of Roche Harbor.
Must Do:
-
Enjoy a romantic dinner at McMillan’s restaurant at Roche Harbor resort.
-
Take a kayaking excursion at a federally designated whale sanctuary. From the water, you will see the majestic Olympic mountains and Vancouver Island in Canada. If you’re lucky, you may even spot a whale!
-
Venture in to Friday Harbor to peruse the shops and enjoy lunch overlooking Friday Harbor.
The Canadian Rockies - Banff. Lake Louise, Jasper
Canadian Rockies Escape
Jagged, ice-capped peaks, turquoise glacier-fed alpine lakes, and dense green forests make the Canadian Rockies a destination that will take your breath away. While tourists flock to this majestic place during the summer months, there is more than enough room to find serenity. Later in the summer is particularly enchanting as many of the crowds are gone and autumn can be felt rapidly approaching.
Getting there:
Calgary International Airport is the closet airport to the majestic Canadian Rockies. Banff is under 2 hours from Calgary. Visitors may also chose to fly into Edmonton International Airport in the province of Alberta.
Stay:
The Banff Springs Hotel, Banff
Chateau Lake Louise, Lake Louise
The Post Hotel, Lake Louise
Lodge at Kananaskis, Kananaskis
Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper
Emerald Lake Lodge, Field, BC
Must Do:
Whether you are hiking, canoeing, biking, horseback riding or exploring the local towns, there are few places more majestic than the Canadian Rockies. Don’t forget your bear spray!
Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge,Tofino British Columbia
Wilderness Meets Luxury
Accessible only by seaplane or boat, Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge is an off-the-grid destination so gloriously immersed in nature that it feels otherworldly…or at least of a past era. Nestled in a remote inlet of British Columbia’s Vancouver Island, the journey to Clayoquot is as enjoyable as the destination itself.
Getting there:
Fly into Vancouver, British Columbia and board a seaplane to the lodge’s dock on Bedwell sound. For those will more time, the drive to Tofino, British Columbia is an adventure in itself.
Must Do:
Disconnect completely and immerse yourself in the natural beauty and serenity of this remote landscape.
South Dakota’s Black Hills and Under Canvas Mt. Rushmore
Stargazing in the Black Hills
Dark skies can be increasingly challenging to find in today’s world, Yet, nights in the Black Hills of South Dakota are a cosmic wonder; a vast canvas of stars, uninterrupted by artificial light. A journey to this magical land is a must-do bucket list adventure. Twice acclaimed by Travel and Leisure as one of the world's premier hotels, Under Canvas Mt. Rushmore, cocooned beneath lofty ponderosa pines, boasts comforts including plush-down comforters, fireplaces, and modern bathrooms.
Must Do:
-
The iconic Needles Highway (SD Hwy 87), dubbed an impossible project by naysayers, is a national scenic byway. Completed in 1922, the road winds through 14 miles of rugged granite mountains and colorful forests of Aspen and Birch trees.
-
Bike the George S. Mickelson Bike trail.
For more tips click here.
Sitka Lighthouse, Sitka Alaska
Off-Grid Island Escape
Accessible only by private boat, the Sitka lighthouse perched atop a small private island is the epitome of an off-the-grid escape. Relax in your own private hot tub or sit by a cozy outdoor fire as you watch the storms roll in. When the weather clears, adventure out by kayak to explore around your island.
Must Do:
Au Sable River - Michigan
Winding River Escape
Meander in your canoe down crystal clear waters canopied by dense forest. Nearly 130 miles of winding river to explore. Pack a picnic and spend a day or two getting lost.
Must Do:
-
Canoe down the crystal clear waters
-
Picnic by the riverside