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Courtesy of Grand View Lodge
Escape the Heat at These Cool Vacation Destinations by Andrea Guthmann
Ready to plan your summer escape? Here are some hot destinations where you can cool down, whether mountain resorts, peaceful lakes, or hip college towns.
Lake Life Live life at a slower pace at an old-school lake resort in Minnesota, land of 10,000-plus lakes. Grand View Lodge, 130 miles north of the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul, will take you back to an era before Facebook, when being social meant talking face to face. Almost a century old, the iconic timber lodge with its classic Northwoods vibe is one of Minnesota’s most legendary vacation destinations. Owned by the same family since 1937, a stuffed moose, antler chandeliers, crackling fireplace and vintage photos greet you in the cozy lobby, while wi-fi, cable and high thread count sheets make it easy to relax at the end of the day. Stay in the main lodge, a classic cabin, or the resort’s upscale boutique hotel. A daily events calendar offers something for everyone. Fishing excursions on pontoon boats and inflatable banana boat rides are complimentary, or relax at the Glacial Waters Spa. Or you can just sit back in the Adirondack chairs and enjoy breathtaking views of the lake and stately lawn below.
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Thrive Magazine for Better Living • April 2021
Rocky Mountain High Experience new heights at one of Colorado’s top ski resorts. These year-round destinations offer cool mountain air and fabulous outdoor adventures, whether your idea of fun is a zipline or gentle hike, alpine slide or spotting wildlife. Consider The Pines Lodge in Beaver Creek, one of a handful of RockResort properties honoring the legacy of the hotel brand’s founder and conservationist Laurance Rockefeller, whose aim was to build luxury resorts in spectacular natural settings. Bordered by the White River National Forest, it’s a nature lover’s paradise nestled among four acres of aspen and pine trees. A more budget-friendly option is Y of the Rockies. Nothing like your neighborhood YMCA, Y of the Rockies, outside Rocky Mountain National Park and also in Winter Park, has rustic lodges with cabins that generations of families have enjoyed. Kids will delight in activities like crafting and roller skating.
