Part 2…What is a coolcation?…Where to travel for a coolcation?…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
Sometimes, crocs look like they are smiling.

For as long as I can remember, travel has been painted with sun-drenched postcards: palm trees swaying, sparkling turquoise seas, and endless stretches of white sand. The world has told us that paradise is hot, humid, and full of cocktails with tiny umbrellas. But lately, more and more travelers have begun to turn the compass needle in another direction. They’re swapping bikinis for cozy sweaters, air conditioning for crisp mountain air, and heat waves for soft mist curling over icy lakes. This is the rise of the “coolcation,” a holiday that celebrates the chill rather than escaping it. And if you’re wondering where in the world you could wander for such a refreshing escape, the options are more enchanting than you might expect.

The first place that comes to mind is Iceland. There is something transformative about stepping into a land where fire and ice coexist so harmoniously. In Reykjavik, you can sip hot chocolate in a snug café while the wind howls outside, and within hours, you’re soaking in a geothermal lagoon as snow flurries dance around your shoulders. A coolcation here is more than just a holiday; it’s an immersion in raw nature, from glaciers that gleam like diamonds to waterfalls that thunder into icy pools. Instead of slathering on sunscreen and insect repellent, you’re pulling on a woolen hat, watching the northern lights paint the sky in green and purple strokes. Iceland reminds us that sometimes warmth is not found in the temperature but in the awe of what surrounds us.

Another destination that belongs on any coolcation list is Norway’s fjord country. Imagine sailing between towering cliffs draped in mist, where small villages cling to the edges of the water as if trying not to slip into the sea. Summer here is gentle, never scorching, often cool enough for a jacket, and winter, while harsher, carries its own magic. There’s a certain comfort in stepping into a wooden cabin after a day of hiking or skiing, where the smell of a crackling fire mingles with cinnamon pastries. A coolcation in Norway invites you to slow down. You’re not rushing to the beach; you’re watching reflections ripple across still waters, or listening to silence so profound that it humbles you.

All of the animals get along at the waterhole.

Then there’s Scotland, a country whose weather has long been the butt of jokes but is now finding itself at the center of the coolcation trend. The Highlands are windswept and wild, with lochs that mirror the ever-changing sky and castles that seem to grow out of the mist itself. Edinburgh, with its cobblestone streets and cozy pubs, feels like a sanctuary when the drizzle begins to fall. A coolcation here isn’t about perfection; it’s about atmosphere. You wrap your scarf tighter, order a bowl of steaming soup, and let yourself feel the comfort of the gray skies. Somehow, Scotland teaches you that melancholy can be beautiful, that moodiness in the weather doesn’t dampen your spirit but deepens it.

If you’d prefer something farther afield, New Zealand’s South Island offers an invigorating coolness almost year-round. The mountains here look as though they were sketched by an artist with a flair for drama—sharp peaks dusted with snow, valleys carved by ancient glaciers, and lakes so blue they seem unreal. Queenstown is known as the adventure capital of the world, and it’s easy to see why: skiing, bungee jumping, and hiking all flourish in the brisk alpine air. What makes a coolcation here special is the clarity—it’s not just about escaping heat but about breathing air so crisp that it clears the fog of daily life from your mind.

Even closer to the poles, Canada’s Banff and Jasper National Parks promise an escape that feels almost otherworldly. In summer, wildflowers peek out along icy trails, and in winter, frozen lakes turn into playgrounds for skaters. A coolcation here is about grandeur—the Rocky Mountains rising like stone guardians, wildlife wandering freely, and the comforting ritual of pulling on layers before heading out into the chill. Something is grounding about it all. You realize, in the hush of snowy forests, how small your worries are compared to the sweep of the landscape.

Of course, coolcations don’t always require remote wilderness. Cities like Copenhagen, Helsinki, or even Berlin in late autumn make for refreshing escapes. They’re not beach destinations, but their charm lies in hygge cafés, steaming mugs of mulled wine, and the kind of cultural richness that feels amplified when you’re tucked in from the cold. In these places, the coolness slows you down, encouraging you to savor experiences rather than race from one attraction to the next. A coolcation in a city feels like slipping into a rhythm that’s more human, less hurried.

A yellow-billed stork and a heron are sociable at Sunset Dam.

At the heart of it all, the allure of a coolcation lies not just in temperature but in psychology. When the world grows hotter, both literally and metaphorically, we begin to crave spaces where our bodies and minds can breathe. The chill of the air gives us permission to rest, to reflect, to find coziness in simplicity. Packing for a coolcation means wool socks instead of flip-flops, novels instead of snorkels, and an openness to embrace the slower joys of travel.

So, where in the world should you go for your coolcation? The answer is simple: anywhere that invites you to step out of the swelter and into the refreshment of cool air, whether it’s a misty fjord, a snowy peak, or a gray-skied city street. The beauty of a coolcation is that it doesn’t promise perfection. It promises authenticity, the kind of travel that wraps you in a blanket instead of baking you under the sun. And perhaps that is the truest form of luxury: finding joy not in constant sunshine, but in the gift of cool, quiet, restorative space.

We have been fortunate to experience coolcations, even when they weren’t planned as such. As former Minnesotans, cold weather is familiar to us, although Tom particularly doesn’t care to travel to countries where it snows. But I don’t mind. I still cherish the cozy feeling of snow falling in a pretty place. Maybe that works for you as well if you decide on a coolcation.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 26, 2015:

At Rusty’s Market in Cairns, we were shocked to see the reasonable price on this exquisite arrangement at only AUD $20, USD $14.20. For more photos, please click here.

Part 1…What is a coolcation?…

Posted by worldwide-admin on with 0 Comment
Another giraffe comes to call.

Over the years of travel, we’ve noticed that trends come and go. Words appear in glossy travel magazines, only to be forgotten by the time the next season rolls around. Yet every so often, a term emerges that really makes sense in today’s world. Right now, that word is coolcation. At first glance, it sounds almost playful, as though someone took “vacation” and added a bit of breeze. And in many ways, that’s precisely what it is, a journey into cooler places, away from the heat, the sweat, and the relentless sun that so many travelers have grown weary of.

For decades, the great escape was always toward warmth. People dreamed of sandy beaches, sun loungers, and turquoise waters. Travel posters lured us in with images of palm trees swaying under endless summer skies. But times are changing, and with the rise of climate shifts, extreme heatwaves, and wildfires scorching places once thought of as idyllic paradises, more and more travelers are deciding that it’s not the sun they crave anymore. It’s a relief. It’s comfort. It’s cool air on their cheeks instead of blistering rays on their shoulders.

A coolcation is precisely that…a holiday deliberately spent in a cooler climate. Instead of rushing to Spain’s Costa del Sol in August, travelers are now looking north to the fjords of Norway or the mountains of Scotland. Instead of sweating it out in crowded city streets in midsummer, they are wandering along Iceland’s black sand beaches or sitting beside a misty Irish loch with a hot mug of tea. The appeal is obvious: less sunburn, fewer crowds, and a gentler pace that comes with breathing crisp, fresh air.

For full-time nomads like us, the idea of a coolcation resonates on an even deeper level. We’ve experienced both extremes—days when the sun felt like a punishment, and others when the sharp bite of winter made us long for a sweater pulled tight around our shoulders. What we’ve come to realize is that “perfect weather” doesn’t always mean sunshine. Sometimes, perfection is stepping outside without being knocked back by oppressive heat. Sometimes, it’s being able to walk without constantly searching for shade or gulping down bottles of water. A coolcation, at its heart, is about restoring that balance between adventure and comfort.

Nathan, Nina, Natalie, Nola, and Nora are shown in this photo.

There’s also a psychological shift at play here. Traditionally, vacations were sold as escapes from cold, dreary winters. But summers are no longer always the reward they used to be. They can be dangerous, stifling, and overwhelming. For many, the thought of taking precious holiday time only to swelter in 40°C (104°F) heat is no longer appealing. A coolcation becomes less of a luxury and more of a survival tactic by choosing destinations where relaxation is possible, where nights are restful, and where sightseeing isn’t dictated by the need to avoid the hottest part of the day.

I think what makes the concept even more beautiful is how it reintroduces travelers to places often overlooked. The Arctic Circle, once reserved for the most adventurous explorers, is now becoming a summer retreat for those wanting a reprieve from soaring temperatures. The highlands of Europe, whether in Switzerland, Austria, or even the Pyrenees, are seeing renewed interest. Rural Canada, the rugged coastlines of New Zealand, and even Alaska are drawing travelers in not just for their scenery but for their cool, breathable air. Suddenly, the world’s “edges” are being celebrated as sanctuaries.

Of course, it’s not only about the weather. Coolcations often bring with them a different rhythm. Instead of lying by a pool, travelers are hiking, cycling, and exploring landscapes where the very air feels restorative. Meals are heartier, not rushed in search of relief from the heat. Fireside evenings, even in summer, add a layer of coziness that sun-soaked resorts can’t replicate. There’s a slower intimacy in these trips when conversations linger longer, books are read without distraction, and time feels stretched, not squeezed.

There’s also a growing sense of responsibility tied to coolcations. With rising awareness of sustainability, many people are questioning the environmental impact of flying halfway across the world for a suntan. Shorter flights northward or inland, closer to home, are becoming more attractive…not just for the lower temperatures but for the smaller carbon footprint. A coolcation doesn’t have to mean crossing an ocean; it can be as simple as trading in a beach town for a nearby mountain cabin.

When I think of the best memories we’ve gathered from our years of travel, many of them weren’t formed in the blazing sun. They were shaped in the coolness of misty mornings, wrapped in sweaters, sipping coffee on a veranda where the mountains hid behind soft clouds. In Antarctica, the cool weather, familiar to us from living in Minnesota, wasn’t unpleasant but rather refreshing.

So while the word itself may be new, the idea has always been there…an instinctive pull toward cooler climates when life gets too hot to handle. Perhaps the rise of the coolcation is less about trends and more about common sense, a return to balance in how we travel and how we care for ourselves.

My favorite kudu, Bossy, stops by with family members.

And maybe, just maybe, it’s a reminder that joy doesn’t always need to be baked in sunshine. Sometimes, happiness is found in the shiver of a breeze, the comfort of a blanket, and the quiet thrill of discovering that the world is just as beautiful—if not more so when it’s cool.

The cool winter in South Africa these past few months was delightful, and now, once again, we are experiencing the familiar heat of South Africa’s often high temperatures in spring, fall, and summer.

Tomorrow, we’ll share where to travel for your coolcation. See you then.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, August 25, 2015:

From Rusty’s Market in Cairns, Australia: fresh greens appear to be a little higher priced than the grocery stores, but they are primarily organic. For more photos, please click here.