Finals week is nearly done.  AP testing is over, and the long-awaited summer break is getting closer. For students, summer means no homework, no tests or quizzes, labs, or any assignments. It means the time to hang out with friends and relax. 

          But for a lot of people, summer means vacation. 

          This year Nerdwallet estimates that almost half of the American population is going on a getaway, whether it is to see family in a neighboring state, visit the beaches of the southern U.S. or hop across the Atlantic to add a new country to their passport. Flights, hotels and restaurant reservations are filling up across the world as people start to plan their excursions.

         “My family always travels in summer,” Claire Inman ‘28 said, “My favorite place I’ve been over the summer is the Amalfi Coast in Italy.”

           Sometimes, during the summer, people stay in the U.S. and visit local or national parks. Others want to get more exotic and see history in a different country. Here are the top ten travel destinations in June 2026 according to USNews.

1. Florence, Italy
2. Lucerne, Switzerland
3. Glacier National Park, Montana
4. Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming
5. Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska
6. Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia 
7. Edinburgh, Scotland
8. Lake Tahoe, California 
9. Copenhagen, Denmark
10. Amalfi Coast, Italy

          “I’m going to Japan this summer, to see my family. We’re going to go around the Tokyo area.” Sara Armenta ‘28 said.

          For this year, travel trends are reflecting a lot of people looking to go outside of the country and head to Europe. At the same time, a lot of people are looking to go somewhere that is more outdoorsy, like National Parks, possibly to see wildlife, go hiking or just be outside. 

          While other people like waiting till later in the summer, most families like to start travelling as soon as Memorial Day weekend is underway. It makes it easier to take kids on trips and have fun when there is no academic stress or worry about having to make anything up.

          “I like travelling in the summer, it gives me more time to have fun and be able to explore,” AJ Eggemeyer ‘28 said. 

          Some people tend to want to stay in/near their home during the hot months of the year instead of packing up everything and travelling. Thankfully, Colorado is as much of a summer destination as it is a winter destination, and the state has so many fun activities to do in these warm months. According to Uncover Colorado, here are the top nine activities to do in the midst of summer in Colorful Colorado:

1. Drive a national scenic route (Gold Belt Tour, Grand Mesa, Santa Fe Trail)
2. Whitewater rafting (The Adventure Company)
3. Colorado National Parks – Rocky Mountain, Mesa Verde, Great Sand Dunes, etc.
4. Summer Solstice celebration on June 19-21 in Vail running a 5k or 10k,  Colorado Springs enjoying a hike in Garden of the Gods, or Boulder playing Ultimate Frisbee
5. Midsummer festival 
6. Camp out under the stars
7. Ride a rollercoaster at Elitch Gardens
8. Ride the Royal Gourge Train along the Arkansas River
9. Rockies Game – Harry Potter Night on Sept. 5 against the St. Louis Cardinals,, Star Wars Night on Aug. 22 against the Cleaveland Guardians

          By the end of May, school will be out, and summer will be underway for students. Whether the holiday means working, hanging out with friends or travelling, make sure to take a good break.