25 Great Summer Vacations for Doctors: 2023
Vacations bring a great opportunity to restore your spirit, see new places, feel a thrill from a new adventure, or share experiences and grow closer to your family or friends.
We've put together a list of 25 destinations that you may find intriguing. Some are within the US borders, others are beautiful and interesting international locales. See if some of these appeal to you.
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25 Great Summer Vacations for Doctors: 2023
Beaufort, North Carolina
Established in 1709, Beaufort, once known as Fishtown for the dominant industry, is packed with charm. Take a walking tour of the 150-or-so historic homes and stop at North Carolina Maritime Museum to view artifacts from Blackbeard's errant journey into the Bay. Dive the pirate's ship and other nearby wrecks in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Grab a cone on the Front St boardwalk or take a culinary tour through town.
Situated on a peninsula surrounded by tidal marshes, Beaufort looks east toward the southern reaches of the Outer Banks and Cape Lookout National Seashore, which can be accessed via ferry. Laze on the beach, go fishing, or try windsurfing and paddleboarding. Take a guided kayak tour to the Rachel Carson Reserve, a 2300-acre island complex where wild horses roam. Wind down with a Beaufort-brewed beer, some pimento cheese, and a platter of local flounder and shrimp.
25 Great Summer Vacations for Doctors: 2023
Jackson, Wyoming
As a gateway to Yellowstone and the Teton National Parks, the Old West town of Jackson is perennially popular. Cowboy culture is frequently on display, whether at Western-themed bars or dude ranches. Jackson (in a "hole" at 6200 feet) is dwarfed by the Tetons; eight peaks top 12,000 feet. Jackson excels in stunning views and is the perfect base for fly fishing forays, rock climbing, whitewater rafting on the Snake River, and photo safaris to capture bison, elk, moose, bears, bighorn sheep, eagles, and wolves. Or take in nature from afar at the National Museum of Wildlife Art. Join the throngs at Jenny Lake or enjoy some peace on the Phelps Lake trail.
Heartier souls can explore the backcountry, where solitude is guaranteed. Jackson is home to the rich and famous, explaining the town's high-end shopping, stellar restaurants, and posh spas. The budget-minded can find a good soak at Astoria Hot Springs and a cold beer at the local brew pub.
25 Great Summer Vacations for Doctors: 2023
Dauphin Island, Alabama
This small Gulf of Mexico barrier island continues to draw thousands each summer looking for rest and relaxation on its 14 miles of coastline. Beachgoers can move from one public access point to another for a single $10 daily parking fee, but many rent Gulf-front accommodations. Birders will enjoy spotting waterfowl or migratory songbirds at the 164-acre Audubon Bird Sanctuary, which includes a 1000-foot boardwalk into Galliard Lake.
Take the kids to the Alabama Aquarium for a look at Mobile Bay marine life, to Civil War–era Fort Gaines, or to Indian Shell Mound Park for a window into the region's Indigenous history. Spend a few hours on the Gulf trying to haul in supper: mahi-mahi, grouper, or speckled trout often bite. Or play a round on the island's public golf course and let someone else make dinner.
25 Great Summer Vacations for Doctors: 2023
Cocoa Beach, Florida
Some folks may remember Cocoa Beach as the setting for the 1960s sitcom I Dream of Jeannie, in which an astronaut falls in love with a genie in a bottle. The TV show was filmed in California, not Cocoa Beach, but there is an I Dream of Jeannie Lane dedicated to its memory. Visitors can learn about real astronauts at the Kennedy Space Center and the Cape Canaveral Space Force Museum or even see a rocket or satellite launch.
Big waves are a signature at Cocoa Beach, considered to be the East Coast's surfing capital, and lessons are amply available. Or just take a stroll out the 800-foot Cocoa Beach Pier and watch the surfers, preferably from one of the bars or restaurants along its expanse. Or visit the 32-acre Lori Wilson Park, with lush sand, a boardwalk, and a walkway. Explore the mangroves and flora and fauna including manatees on the Banana River via kayak or stand-up paddleboard.
25 Great Summer Vacations for Doctors: 2023
Edgartown, Massachusetts
It hardly gets more New England–quaint than the whaling port of Edgartown, founded in 1861, on the eastern end of Martha's Vineyard. Tourists stroll brick sidewalks and peruse 19th- and early 20th–century wood-framed buildings and chic boutiques of the historic district. Climb the Edgartown Lighthouse for a view of the harbor and Chappaquiddick Island. To see Martha's Vineyard at a leisurely pace, rent a bike and ride the 6 miles up to busier Oak Bluffs, where you might run into former President Barack Obama and his family, who have been visiting annually. Hardcore cyclists can tackle the island's entire 62-mile circumference.
Families enjoy the popular Joseph Sylvia Beach, with its shallow waters. There are more than two dozen beaches, each with a different character. Pick up some fresh lobster, clams, and oysters at Menemsha Harbor to-go and have your own clambake. Don't feel like cooking? Edgartown is home to some of the island's finest restaurants.
25 Great Summer Vacations for Doctors: 2023
Chincoteague, Virginia
This sleepy town, renowned for its wild ponies, has become a getaway for Washington DC–area residents seeking quiet and charm. Chincoteague Island sits in a bay at the Maryland-Virginia border, protected from the Atlantic Ocean by 37-mile-long Assateague Island, which boasts wide beaches and is a popular camping spot. Wildlife refuges on both islands offer fishing, crabbing, shelling, hiking, biking, birding (more than 300 species have been spotted), kayaking, and pony-watching. Every summer, in a 100-year-old tradition, the ponies (which actually live on Assateague Island) are rounded up and auctioned off to help control the overall size of the herd and raise funds for the fire department.
Learn about the town's history, like the centuries-old cultivation of oysters, at the Museum of Chincoteague, with its many collections. Or opt to take in the town's preserved charm via boat tour. In the evening, dig into a platter of raw or fried bivalves, just a warm-up for the main event: a crab cake made from freshly caught crustaceans.
25 Great Summer Vacations for Doctors: 2023
Lubec, Maine
A true off-the-grid Maine experience can be found in Lubec: population 1300. The easternmost point in the United States lies on the Canadian border, across from Campobello Island, where Franklin D. Roosevelt summered. Visitors to Roosevelt Campobello International Park in New Brunswick, Canada, can see the former President's cottage and take in a rugged landscape by car or on foot. Artists and musicians have been drawn to Lubec because of the vibrational energy emitted by the Bay of Fundy's daily 25-foot tidal shift.
The town was once a center of sardine-canning and herring-smoking, a history honored at McCurdy Smokehouse Museum. Learn to play an instrument in an immersive class at Summer Keys. Explore the red-and-white-striped West Quoddy Head Light, hike the rough shorelines of Quoddy Head State Park or get out to the beaches, coves and islands of Cobscook Shores. You'll have your fill of wild blueberries, lobsters, clams, mussels, and fish; you can also find vegetarian eats, a microbrewery, and craft cocktails in town.
25 Great Summer Vacations for Doctors: 2023
Santa Catalina Island, California
The mountainous 22-by-8–mile Catalina Island is popular with day trippers who take the ferry from Los Angeles. It is temperate year-round, with summer highs in the mid-70s — perfect for hiking or backpacking the 38.5-mile Trans-Catalina Trail. More than 50 movies have been filmed on Santa Catalina Island, including scenes from Jaws. Day and weekend visitors come to enjoy turquoise waters at the beach club near Avalon's palm-fringed waterfront or to leisurely shop. There's mini-golf, zip-lines, glass-bottom boat tours, a nature center, and Jeep tours of the island's interior, where you're sure to spy the wild bison herd.
Delve into the past at the Art Deco–era Catalina Casino and Catalina Museum for Art & History. Avalon, which is largely car-free, has both luxury and budget-friendly hotels and top-notch restaurants. Take a ferry over to the quieter Two Harbors village. Glamp in a cabin or book a room at the cliffside Craftsman-style Banning House Lodge. Two Harbors is a jumping-off point for mountain biking, scuba diving, paddleboarding, and other water sports.
25 Great Summer Vacations for Doctors: 2023
Telluride, Colorado
At 8750 feet above sea level, Telluride provides a natural Rocky Mountain landscape. Set in a box canyon, the old mining town, just 8-by-12 blocks, offers perfect summer weather, endless outdoor recreation, and a slate of festivals celebrating everything from bluegrass music to architecture to wine and food. Downtown boutiques offer locally-made leather goods, art, housewares, chocolate, outdoor gear, and clothing.
Take a thrilling 4x4 ride over mountain passes to explore abandoned mines and ghost towns. Summer is peak wildflower season; forage for lupine, columbine, Indian paintbrush, and other species on the 15-mile Wasatch Trail Loop. Soak out the soreness at Dunton Hot Springs or head to the tiny community of Ouray and its big public pools. Wade into the San Miguel River to hook some trout or take a float trip down the Gunnison River to trawl for a big one. Slide into the night with martinis and steaks at the 1890s-era New Sheridan Hotel.
25 Great Summer Vacations for Doctors: 2023
Fire Island, New York
It's not the Hamptons, which is why many New Yorkers spend summer days on this car-free, 32-mile-long barrier island on the south shore of Long Island, reachable only by ferry. Fire Island's beaches, with their high, undulating dunes, are a big draw. Most visitors arrive in Ocean Beach, the center of the island's shops, restaurants, and nightlife.
The LGBTQ+ crowd heads for Cherry Grove and The Pines. On the western end, Kismet, which is popular for group-house rentals, has great views of the Fire Island Lighthouse and is close to the popular Robert Moses State Park. Fire Island National Seashore offers birding, surfing, fishing, kayaking, and hikes through a 300-year-old maritime forest. No one's in a hurry here; getting around means biking or walking with your stuff piled into a wagon. And each of the island's 17 hamlets has a different feel to leisurely explore.
25 Great Summer Vacations for Doctors: 2023
Blue Ridge, Georgia
On land that was once home to the Cherokee people, this community in the Blue Ridge Mountains near North Carolina and Tennessee has been a popular destination since the late 1880s, when the railroad first came through. It has a growing LGBTQ+ population, whose businesses cater to throngs of tourists seeking downtime. Blue Ridge is known for its high-end restaurants, live music, art galleries, antiques shops, and a summer jazz and wine festival.
The Chattahoochee National Forest features 300 miles of hiking trails. Take a dip in one of the area's 16 waterfalls or fish for trout on the Toccoa River and nearby waterways. Hop on a jet ski or kayak to explore the nooks and crannies of 11-mile-long Lake Blue Ridge. For a seated view, take the 4-hour excursion on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway. Take the kids to check out what's in season at the pick-your-own Mercier Orchards and then enjoy some adult time at a local vineyard.
25 Great Summer Vacations for Doctors: 2023
The Black Hills, South Dakota
Many come just for Mount Rushmore. But the Black Hills offer much more: other-worldly granite spires and sedimentary volcanic rock, dense evergreen forests, and a deep tie to Lakota history. If you're not camping or in an RV, the small town of Custer, with its retro motels and taverns serving elk steaks, is a good base.
Travel the 70 miles of the Peter Norbeck Scenic Byway in Custer State Park, keeping an eye out for bison, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, antelope, and prairie dogs, then cool off in one of the park's four mountain lakes. Tour the colorful underground caverns at Jewel Cave National Monument or the vast complex at Wind Cave National Park, where, according to Lakota tradition, the first humans and bison emerged. The South Dakota Native Tourism Alliance is developing culturally significant sites and attractions, including the massive Crazy Horse Memorial, which has been under construction for 75 years and is already popular. Once complete, it will stretch 641-by-563 feet.
25 Great Summer Vacations for Doctors: 2023
Saugatuck/Douglas, Michigan
An hour southwest of Grand Rapids, the small sister cities of Saugatuck and Douglas sit perched on the shores of Lake Michigan. It can get crowded in summer, but varied beaches, from the 100-yard Oval Beach to the 2.5-miles of shoreline at Saugatuck Dunes State Park, leave plenty of space. Saugatuck is busier, with more shops and restaurants; award-winning farm-to-table establishments are abundant.
Culture is front and center, with courses and exhibits at Ox-Bow (affiliated with the Art Institute of Chicago) and live theater at the Saugatuck Center for the Arts. Discover the lost city of Singapore, buried under the sands and best explored on a dune buggy tour. Rent a pontoon boat to party on the Kalamazoo River or board the Star of Saugatuck, a paddle-wheeler, for a sunset cruise. Tour the handful of wineries in Fennville and discover the delights of a Michigan Riesling. Or take the kids to the many U-pick farms in the area for a bounty of peaches, cherries, blueberries, and raspberries.
25 Great Summer Vacations for Doctors: 2023
Port Townsend, Washington
Once an active seaport, this small city on the Olympic Peninsula is a hot spot for second-home buyers and tourists who come for the mild climate and the dramatic mountain and Puget Sound views. The whole town, packed with hundreds of Victorian homes, is a National Historic Landmark. Eminently walkable, Port Townsend is full of entertaining boutiques, art galleries, and second-hand clothing stores. It even has a shop for steampunk aficionados and an annual festival celebrating the sci-fi genre.
The Northwest Maritime Center offers boating classes and tours and sponsors September's Wooden Boat Festival. Most whales pass through by mid-summer, but you might catch some strays later in the season. Dizzy yourself looking up into the old-growth forests at Olympic National Park or hike up a glacier-capped mountain. Closer to town, great hiking, mountain biking, and boating can be found in Fort Worden State Park. Tame your well-deserved appetite with fish and chips or hold out for a more upscale experience with fresh salmon and premium local oysters.
25 Great Summer Vacations for Doctors: 2023
Grand Marais, Minnesota
The tiny art-centric community of Grand Marais sits almost at the Canadian border on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Visitors can bask in cool daytime temperatures and choose to be as active or relaxed as they'd like. Many come to paddle in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, hike in Superior National Forest, or explore the Pincushion Mountain's trail system. Less-ambitious hikers can walk out to Artist's Point to take in the sunset or drive the 57-mile Gunflint Trail, with its ample stop-off opportunities for hiking or single-track bike rides.
Learn painting or ceramics at the Grand Marais Art Colony or basketry or fiber arts at the North House Folk School. Catch a national musical act at The Arrowhead Center for the Arts. Start with a hot latte at the local java shop, peruse small boutiques, then end your day with fresh fish by the lakeside.
25 Great Summer Vacations for Doctors: 2023
Montreal, Canada
Travel to a foreign land without crossing the Atlantic! Montreal is a world-class destination — a melting pot of global culture and cuisine. From French bistro steak frites to a Syrian tasting menu to rooftop cocktails overlooking the Old Port, Montreal has it all. Summer temperatures in the 70s beckon visitors to explore this city of 1.7 million.
Various festivals cover the waterfront: jazz, Afro-Caribbean, Italian music and food, comedy, sci-fi, film, arts, Pride, rock, pop, electronic music, and action sports. Rent a bike to cruise 400 miles of paths, including along the Lachine Canal, which runs from Old Montreal to its industrial districts. Spend a few hours at the massive Montreal Museum of Fine Arts or stop in at Daphne, an Indigenous-run art center.
25 Great Summer Vacations for Doctors: 2023
Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico
Looking for a Cabo San Lucas experience without the crowds or the cost? Loreto, about 350 miles north of Cabo on the Sea of Cortez, boasts few resorts but has an international airport, a stunning golf course, sandy beaches, and turquoise waters. Check out the National Marine Park, known as the Galápagos of Mexico, with 800 species, including sea lions, turtles, dolphins, and rays. Book a kayak or catamaran tour to explore the park's five islands.
Founded in 1697, Loreto was the first Spanish colonial settlement on Baja. The 18th-century Misión de Nuestra Señora de Loreto sheds light on that past. Sport fishing enthusiasts come to Loreto for abundant dorado, marlin, and sailfish. For a dry-land pursuit, hike in the Sierra de la Giganta mountain range, but mind the summer heat, which can climb into the 90s. Stroll the Malecón in the evening before tucking into some local bounty: almejas chocolata — clams with chocolate-hued shells — snapper ceviche, and an icy margarita.
25 Great Summer Vacations for Doctors: 2023
Donegal, Ireland
Donegal is a great base to explore Ireland's less-touristy and more-ancient northwestern corner. Donegal County was named the "coolest place on the planet" by National Geographic Traveler in 2017. Its beaches have been named among the best in Europe. Hike the 2-mile Pilgrim's Path at the Slieve League cliffs to take in a dramatic 2000-foot drop. Follow the Wild Atlantic Way coastal road for stunning Emerald Isle views.
Explore Glenveagh National Park's 35,000 acres of lakes and woodlands and stop in for a tour of the 19th-century Glenveagh Castle and its gardens. Or stay in a castle on a lake outside of Donegal and enjoy a spa treatment. The Donegal Golf Club is a traditional seaside course that in June hosts a PGA Pro-Am tournament. For a more rustic stay, try a traditional thatched cottage on Cruit Island. Foodies won't feel deprived; the wealth of area farms and fishermen supply local restaurants. There's plenty of pubs to nip into also.
25 Great Summer Vacations for Doctors: 2023
Narbonne, France
Tourists usually veer east to the Côte D'Azur, overlooking the laid-back beaches and vineyards of Narbonne, an hour from Spain in the center of France's largest wine region, the Languedoc-Roussillon. The new Narbo Via museum reconstructs Narbonne's history as a crucial Roman trading city. The region's natural history can be explored by horseback or on foot at the Regional Natural Park of Narbonne, with marshlands, flamingo-studded lagoons, and la Clape mountain mass, home to rare orchid species.
Water sports are abound: Kiteboarding, windsurfing, and paddleboarding are all popular. Pick up a picnic at Les Halles, an early 20th–century market that houses butchers, cheeses, fresh local fruits and vegetables, and of course, patisseries. The region is a leader in biodynamic and organic wines, and you can stay at a wine-centric resort on a seaside hilltop. Feast on Mediterranean grouper, dorado, oysters, razor clams, and whelks, all fresh from the sea.
25 Great Summer Vacations for Doctors: 2023
Menorca, Spain
Overshadowed by showier Mallorca, this Balearic island gets kudos for its laid-back vibes. It's easy to get active: Kayak or snorkel in the calm stellar turquoise waters, hike the Camí de Cavalls (a 115-mile trail that circumnavigates Menorca), or set out to visit as many of the island's 100 beaches as possible.
Menorcan towns host night markets in summer featuring live music and street-side dining and drinking, offering a respite from daytime heat. Explore the two main cities, Ciutadella, known for its nightlife, and Mahón, the capital, where you can rent a jet ski or book a boat tour. Menorca's Indigenous, Roman, medieval, and colonial past is thoroughly documented at the Museu de Menorca. Sip cocktails in a cave burrowed into a seaside cliff. Be sure to dine on caldereta de langosta, a traditional spiny lobster stew. Or check out one of the local vineyards' red wines, made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes.
25 Great Summer Vacations for Doctors: 2023
Tinos, Greece
Located in the Aegean Sea, south of mainland Greece, the 75-square-mile Tinos is less expensive and quieter than nearby Mykonos. With 40-plus villages and 50 beaches, crowds aren't typically overwhelming. Known for centuries for its Meltimi (summer winds), marble carving, and pilgrimages to Chora's Church of Panagia Evangelistria, Tinos was not generally associated with luxury. But the island is becoming more visitor-focused, with wineries, small breweries, craft cocktails, and some fine dining. You could easily subsist on fresh seafood, local cheeses, stewed lamb, artichokes, honey, olives, and smoked meats served by small tavernas.
Rent a car and tour the picturesque whitewashed villages — some built into hillsides, one with a sculpting school and museum — spotting the ancient Venetian dovecotes (homes for the birds that they ate) along the way. Take surf lessons at Kolibythra beach or wade in the calm shallows off Pachia Ammos beach.
25 Great Summer Vacations for Doctors: 2023
Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
Virgin Gorda's not for the budget-conscious; it is dotted with billionaire's villas and superyachts. But summer is the off-season on this 9-by-3–mile island with a population of 4000. Badly damaged by two hurricanes in 2017, Virgin Gorda has recovered. Its unparalleled crystal-clear waters beckon sailors, divers, snorkelers, fishers, kayakers, and paddleboarders.
US News ranked BVI's beaches as best in the Caribbean, with Virgin Gorda's The Baths, a boulder-strewn area dotted with caverns and tide pools, at the top. Savannah Bay's sandy expanse isn't too bad, either. A chartered boat is the best way to explore the islands and snorkel and dive spots around Virgin Gorda. On land, hike up the 1370-foot Gorda Peak. Stay at a luxe waterside resort where you can indulge in a massage with herbs and leaves from local flora. End the day at a dockside restaurant with a Painkiller or Rum Punch cocktail, and then tuck into some fresh Caribbean lobster, conch fritters, and grilled mahi-mahi.
25 Great Summer Vacations for Doctors: 2023
Slovenia
Sharing borders with Italy, Austria, Croatia, and Hungary, tiny Slovenia has a bit of each in its DNA. The snow-capped Julian Alps, glacier-fed lakes and rivers, lush forests, and Adriatic coastline make it an adventurer's paradise. Skiing, hiking, biking, canyoneering, kayaking, and whitewater rafting are just some of the pursuits. Lake Bled, with a picturesque church on a tiny islet, is a hotspot.
Visit a 1000-year-old castle and walk or bike around the lake. You won't feel guilty about your two servings of kremšnita, a cream cake. Slovenians pride themselves on farm-fresh meats, cheeses, honey, and produce; you can expect to gorge on eggs, charcuterie, pasta, pizza, and greens drizzled with pumpkinseed oil. Slovenia's vineyards have been overlooked; the country has three wine-growing regions with more than 2500 producers. Slovenia has become renowned for its orange wines. The cosmopolitan and eco-friendly capital of Ljubljana has a car-free center, a museum district, and, naturally, a medieval castle.
25 Great Summer Vacations for Doctors: 2023
Vilnius, Lithuania
If you want to boldly go, follow in the footsteps of actor William Shatner, whose homeland is Lithuania. Over the centuries, the nation has been claimed by the Swedes, Russians, French, Polish, and Germans. The Museum of Occupations and Freedom Fights documents Lithuania's fraught history. In 2023, as part of its 700th birthday celebration, Vilnius will host a performing arts festival with emerging and established artists.
The cobblestoned streets of Old Town feature baroque, gothic, and neoclassical buildings that house shops selling glassware, amber, and crafts. Artists make the neighborhood of Užupis funky, and hipsters have claimed Naujamiestis-Uptown. Like any other European capital, Vilnius is full of coffee shops, fine restaurants, and cocktail bars. Amble through Hales Turgaviete, the central market, to sample traditional Lithuanian fare like kibinai pastries (turnovers stuffed with meat, potatoes, or jam), stuffed potato dumplings, cold beet soup, and dark rye bread.
25 Great Summer Vacations for Doctors: 2023
Accra, Ghana
Ghana has drawn travelers to Cape Coast and Elmina castles with their sad histories of being the launch point for enslaved Africans. Many African American visitors say they feel a deep sense of welcome in Ghana. Their journeys often start in Accra, the city of almost 3 million, which has become a leading center for cutting-edge food, fashion, art, and culture. Peruse the endless stalls selling snacks, produce, consumer goods, beads, lotions, and medicinal potions at the Makola Market and be sure to haggle if a bolt of Kente cloth catches your eye.
After Makola, a day's respite on Labadi Beach is warranted. A more-modern shopping experience can be found in the Stanbic Heights district, where galleries rub elbows with dance clubs. Sip on an akpeteshie, a sugar-cane cocktail, while you nod along to some highlife music, the West African style with roots in Ghana. Catch a late-night bite of fufu (cassava flour dumplings) or jollof rice at the street-food purveyors known as chop bars.
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