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.
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.
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:
