Escape America’s Brutal Heatwaves at These 10 Surprisingly Cool National Parks
Escape America’s Brutal Heatwaves at These 10 Surprisingly Cool National Parks
Greg Meland/Shutterstock
https://www.fodors.com/news/photos/10-national-parks-to-escape-summer-heatwaves-in-the-u-s
Even in the sweltering days of July and August, these national parks offer a respite from the heat that will beat a day spent indoors by the AC.
As the world continues to heat up due to climate change, more and more of us are looking for natural spaces where we can cool off from the sun’s heat. National parks are some of the best places to take a break from sitting in air conditioning during the worst of summer, but not all of them offer respite from baking temperatures. Whether you are looking to enjoy an alpine lake or take a hike without worrying about heat exhaustion, there are some national parks that provide outdoor activities without the burn.
PHOTO: GRANT CHESIN/ISTOCK
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Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain’s elevation means that the weather often stays cooler during the high summer months than in other areas of the country. Winding your way up Trail Ridge Road, it is rare that you won’t catch a cool breeze at 12,183 feet. Many hikes also include alpine lakes that remain around 60 degrees even in July and August, though you will need to swim with caution and make sure you have a chance to warm up quickly afterward.
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Kenai Fjords National Park
Frigid winds from the Harding Icefield, which covers 51 percent of the park, maintain a pleasant temperature even through the height of summer. Most of the park’s activities are water-based, and it’s not uncommon to spot humpback whales feeding in the glacier-fed ocean on a tour. Still feeling warm? Consider a kayak tour that will take you right through the stunning Resurrection Bay.
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Crater Lake National Park
As the heart of the park, the deepest lake in the United States boasts some chilly waters. While the Cleetwood Cove Trail leading to the main swimming area is currently closed for rehabilitation, hikes around the lake are often cooler because they are close to the snow-fed water. Even during the summer months, temperatures rarely rise above the high sixties.
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North Cascades National Park
Another Washington gem, North Cascades National Park, offers lakes, higher elevations, and hiking trails with plenty of tree cover providing shade. It is also one of the least-visited national parks, which means that you are likely to experience plenty of solitude, whether you choose to spend time on the water or on the trail. Just be warned that if you plan to take a dip in the blindingly turquoise Diablo Lake, you will be facing brutal temperatures of fifty degrees or lower, even during the hotter months of July and August.
PHOTO: SCOTT KLEIN/SHUTTERSTOCK
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Voyageurs National Park
Located in the very northwestern corner of Minnesota, Voyageurs National Park includes 218,000 acres of streams, lakes, and forests ideal for cooling off when the heat starts to turn up. Camping, kayaking, and fishing are some of the most common activities you can find here. The park also has several affiliated businesses that offer guided camping and paddling trips so visitors can reach the coolest areas where they can set up their tent, cast a line, and catch a breeze.
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Denali National Park
Alaska is the ideal state to visit once summer starts ramping up. Not only is it the farthest north, but it also has the highest concentration of glaciers, estimated at 100,000. And no trip to the Last Frontier is complete without a visit to “The Great One.” Denali’s temps rarely rise above the sixties in the summer–perfect for taking on the trail. Wildlife is out and about, and with over 20 hours of daylight, you’ll have plenty of time to raft on the Nenana River or take a flightseeing trip over the mountain itself.
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Glacier National Park
While the average summer temperature rises every year and the glaciers are diminishing at a rapid rate, Montana’s Glacier National Park still remains cool close to the frigid Lake McDonald and on the trails with tree cover. At Logan Pass, the park’s highest point at 6,646 feet, it can be nearly 15 degrees cooler than at lower elevations, though sun protection is still a must. Hot after a long day of hiking? Glacier has a documented 762 lakes where you can take a dip.
PHOTO: NPS/D. LEHLE
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Grand Teton National Park
The compact-but-stunning Grand Teton is slightly warmer than what you will find farther north, but with a number of alpine lakes and water-based activities, there are a variety of activities available to help you cool off. Families will love the Taggart Lake hike–at 4.8 miles, minimal elevation gain, and the chance to see one of the park’s most beloved lakes, it is a highlight. Camping is also delightful here in the summer as temperatures during the night lower into the forties.
PHOTO: SANYA KUSHAK/ISTOCK
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Isle Royale National Park
With over 400 islands to explore in one of the nation’s most remote national parks, Isle Royale in Michigan requires making the journey across the expansive Lake Superior. As a favorite park among backpackers, its location in the north of the United States, as well as its proximity to cool waters, makes it an excellent overnight destination for outdoor enthusiasts who don’t mind a little bit of prep. If you own a boat, you can also dock and camp with a permit, and the fishing is renowned for being some of the best in the Lower 48–over 40 species of fish call Isle Royale home.
PHOTO: BLUE BARRON PHOTO/SHUTTERSTOCK
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Gates of the Arctic National Park
Gates of the Arctic is one of the most difficult national parks to reach, but because it is located entirely within the Arctic Circle, you will not have to worry about hot weather. The only way to visit is by taking a bush plane or hiking in, and it’s not uncommon to be entirely on your own during your time exploring. Advanced navigation and bushcraft are required to spend time here since there are no permanent facilities, signs, or designated trails. However, if you plan on spending time in a spot virtually untouched by humans or heat, this is the park to do so.
Sirius Hotel Group exec details how to balance a portfolio of owned and franchised hotels
Firm aims to grow from nine to over 30 hotels within a decade
Among Sirius Hotel Group's portfolio is the 78-room The Resident Soho, London. (CoStar)
https://www.costar.com/article/1346167705/sirius-hotel-group-exec-details-how-to-balance-a-portfolio-of-owned-and-franchised-hotels
The Sirius Hotel Group, formerly Resident Hotels, is using its name change as a path forward to expand its portfolio of owned and managed hotels.
Matt Lederer, director of acquisitions at The Sirius Hotel Group, joined the latest episode of “The Upgrade: EMEA Hospitality News.” The company is keeping its owned-and-operated hotel brand, The Resident, he said. But its managed hotels — currently all affiliated with Marriott International's brand Four Points Flex by Sheraton — may be joined by assets from both Marriott and other hotel brand companies.
The Four Points Flex portfolio started when Sirius’ owner, Mactaggart Family & Partners, acquired a majority stake in Sleeperz Hotels Group in late 2022 and converted its hotels after signing a franchise agreement with Marriott, Lederer said.
The plan allows “for multiple brands under one umbrella, one operating company, and with the acquisition of [the Sleeperz] portfolio … it felt, I think, all in all, the right time to rebrand and be ready for the next five to 10 years where we hope to take the portfolio from nine hotels now to 30-plus,” Lederer said.
The partnership with Marriott and the Four Points Flex brand gives Sirius first-mover advantage and the ability to shape that brand’s hotel offerings and market recognition, he added.
“When you are early into a brand and its growth story, that can be beneficial from a commercial perspective. You obviously benefit from that initial push that the franchisor will be giving that brand from a sales and marketing perspective,” he said. “But really, it is about fit. … It is trying to balance CapEx cost, program time, upside potential on the other end, marrying the vision on how hospitality should be delivered,” he added.
For more from The Sirius Hotel Group's Matt Lederer on the company's hometown of Edinburgh, how U.K. demand for hotels is likely to pan out this summer, and more, listen to the podcast embedded above.
Aimbridge restructures sales operations under unified global office
https://hotelsmag.com/news/aimbridge-restructures-sales-operations-under-global-office/?
Aimbridge Hospitality, the world’s largest third-party hotel management company, has announced the launch of its Global Sales Office, unifying its regional sales operations under a single global structure.
The new structure connects Aimbridge’s sales teams across the United States, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and its all-inclusive division under one coordinated organization and Salesforce platform. Regional teams and property-level support remain unchanged. The capability is part of Aimbridge’s integrated commercial platform, which combines sales, marketing and revenue management.
“The launch of our Global Sales Office represents a significant step forward in how we support our owners, allowing us to leverage the scale of our global portfolio while maintaining the local relationships and market knowledge that drive results,” said Allison Handy, chief commercial officer at Aimbridge Hospitality. “By connecting our teams, systems and expertise across regions, we are creating a stronger foundation for long-term growth and enhanced revenue opportunities for our owners.”
Aimbridge plans to launch with a focused set of global accounts and multi-region relationships, each managed by a single designated seller. The company is also expanding its vertical expertise in areas including corporate travel, group travel, and third-party intermediaries, among other priority segments, to share knowledge and best practices globally rather than within a single market. The program is designed to scale as global account relationships deepen and the model matures.
“This new structure provides greater transparency for owners and accountability across their assets,” said Handy. “Aimbridge can now measure an account’s full revenue potential across all regions in a single platform, identify where incremental opportunity exists, and deliver standardized cross-region reporting with clearer visibility into global account activity at the property level.”
One of Air Travel’s Biggest Hassles Is Finally Disappearing in the U.S.
tookapic/Shutterstock
https://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/experiences/news/one-of-the-most-frustrating-parts-of-u-s-customs-is-finally-going-away
A growing number of international travelers can now skip reclaiming and rechecking bags at U.S. customs, thanks to a new CBP screening program.
For years, U.S. border regulations made arriving on an inbound international flight with an onward connection to another city more onerous in the United States than in many other countries. The regulations required all passengers—regardless of whether they were connecting to another flight—to claim their bags before continuing their journey.
The rule made arriving in the U.S. time-consuming for returning residents and incoming visitors, requiring minimum connecting times of a few hours in order to give passengers enough time to collect their checked bags and check them back in for their onward flights.
The U.S. is one of the few countries to require onward passengers to claim their bags at their first point of entry. In early 2025, however, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) introduced International Remote Baggage Screening, allowing inbound international passengers to complete entry formalities, then proceed directly to their connecting flights without claiming their checked bags.
The program was initially limited to specific airlines and specific flights arriving from select cities. In April 2025, American Airlines flights from Sydney, Australia, became the first flights to allow connecting passengers to proceed without collecting their bags.
The system uses advanced screening equipment to scan passengers’ checked luggage at foreign origin airports. The images are then submitted to CBP for review prior to the flight’s arrival. CBP flags any bags they want to inspect, which can be sent to baggage claim (and passengers are notified by a CBP agent at arrivals), but the majority of passengers will have their bags automatically transferred to their next flight without having to claim and recheck.
Delta Air Lines and Korean Air, via their joint venture partnership, have been early adopters in the program, starting with Seoul Incheon to Atlanta in August 2025. Delta’s flights from Incheon to Minneapolis and Detroit came online in April, and flights to Los Angeles and Seattle-Tacoma are now participating. Korean Air says its participation in the program saves passengers up to 20 minutes when connecting to onward flights from their U.S. gateway city. Korean also says that the program reduces the number of passengers who miss their connecting flight in the event of a delay.
“Seamless Baggage Transfer simplifies the connection experience for customers traveling to the United States,” Jeff Moomaw, Vice President – Asia Pacific at Delta Air Lines, said in a statement. “By expanding this service to Seattle and Los Angeles, we enable customers to move through U.S. airports more efficiently and have more time to relax between flights.”
While Delta and Korean have been the largest adopters of the program so far, United Airlines also allows customers arriving at San Francisco International Airport from Sydney to also head directly to their connecting flight without claiming and rechecking their bags. United also has plans to expand the program to more gateway cities for flights from more international destinations.
Inbound international customers on pre-cleared flights from U.S. Customs stations in Canada, the Bahamas, Abu Dhabi, Ireland, Aruba, and Bermuda are also not required to collect their checked bags before heading to their connecting gate.
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