Shoot for an extraordinary summer

Adventure awaits: Make the most of your PTO with our guide to this summer’s most exciting events. Whether you’ll be ooh-ing and ahh-ing at a fireworks festival, eating your way around the ultimate food market or taking your seat at center court, the one thing you won’t be is bored.

Find bands and beach life in LA

Los Angeles, CA

True, it’s kind of always summer in LA, but the actual months of May through September are when you’ll find concerts at the Hollywood Bowl, the iconic outdoor amphitheater that has hosted everyone from The Beatles to Pavarotti. Don’t forget to BYOP (bring your own picnic), a tradition embraced by locals that blends casual dining and high culture. You also owe it to yourself to see the equally iconic (if less high-culture) volleyball scene at Manhattan Beach, punctuated by the Manhattan Beach Open from August 18–20; and shoot some sunset hoops at the legendary Venice Beach basketball courts.

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Feast in NYC’s ultimate food market

New York, NY

Brooklyn’s Smorgasburg is exactly what it sounds like: A smorgasbord of food—from ramen to vegan burgers to wild innovations like “spaghetti donuts”—in the nation’s largest weekly open-air food market, which unofficially announces the start of T-shirt weather in New York. It’s held Fridays at the World Trade Center, Saturdays in Williamsburg (hence the “burg” of the name), and Sundays in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. Head to the latter, where on top of cuisine from 100-plus local vendors you’ll find spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline. Pair this with either Shakespeare in the Park (world-class theater that’s somehow free) or the U.S. Open—the Grounds Admission ticket gives access to nearly every court and is arguably the best deal in all of sports.

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Join an art party in San Francisco

San Francisco, CA

From the idyllic local favorite Alamo Square Park to the 1,000-year-old trees of Muir Woods, the Bay Area is at its best in summer. And San Francisco’s Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival (August 9–11) is a perfect way to celebrate it. Every base is covered. Music? Lineups range from indie up-and-comers to rock gods. Art? Large-scale installations are sprinkled throughout iconic Golden Gate Park. Then there’s the food and drink: The Taste of the Bay Area features local gourmet offerings, which you can wash down with regional drinks in “Wine Land” or “Beer Land.” 

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Fly high then hit the pool in Vegas

Las Vegas, NV

To squeeze the most out of summer in Vegas, consider a hot-air balloon ride over the desert at sunrise, offering a serene and awe-inspiring start to the day. Or, more realistically, maybe this is the end to your night—especially if you’ve taken full advantage of Vegas pool season, where pools anchor the many day parties with DJs, swim-up bars, and swim-up blackjack. When it gets dark? You’ll still find night swim parties, and even “dive in” movies at The Cosmopolitan, where you’ll lounge in the pool and watch a classic film on the marquee above the Vegas Strip.

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Catch a film with Venice’s cultured crowd

Venice, Italy

Martin Scorsese. Darren Aronofsky. Orson Welles. These are just some of the filmmakers who gained acclaim through the Mostra Internazionale d’Arte Cinematografica della Biennale di Venezia, aka the Venice Film Festival (August 28–September 7). The red carpets and celebrities fetch the headlines, but the festival has a massively underrated perk: It’s shockingly accessible. You don’t need to be a film mogul to attend; anyone can buy tickets online. Try to catch a film at the open-air theater at the Palazzo del Cinema, which screens movies under the stars. And if you can’t score a ticket? You’re in Venice. You’ll be fine. 

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Party with Pride in Toronto

Toronto, Canada

Spanning the entire month of June, Toronto Pride draws over one million people and is known for its vibrant costumes, creative floats, inspiring work by local artists, and joyous celebration of inclusivity, love and life. The parade is one of the world’s largest, and was birthed in the early 1980s after Canadian police raided several bathhouses and arrested hundreds of gay men. These “Bathhouse Raids” (also called “Operation Soap”) sparked outrage, protests—and then a defiant and even jubilant celebration of LGBTQ+ culture, which continues to this day. 

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Get up close to ghosts in Loei

Loei, Thailand

Held in Thailand’s mountainous northeast province of Loei, the Phi Ta Khon Festival (July 7–9), aka the Ghost Festival, is deeply satisfying on three levels. Spiritually, it’s part of the larger Buddhist celebration of Bun Luang that commemorates the tale of Buddha, the prince who achieves enlightenment. Second, you’ll find more locals than tourists. The third? It’s just flat-out entertaining, featuring colorful ghost masks carved from coconut-tree trunks, dancing, parades, and rituals such as the firing of handmade rockets to bring rain for the crops. String together an itinerary that also hits Phuket (and the technicolored Carnival Magic amusement park, over 40 sprawling acres) and The Grand Palace in Bangkok.

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Chase blooms and beers in Hokkaido

Hokkaido, Japan

Thanks to world-class skiing, winter in Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Japan, gets all the hype. But summer brings less crowds and is just as compelling, especially for floral enthusiasts. The late-season flower viewing (July to August) offers an endless buffet of poppies, marigolds, Japanese lilies, lavender fields, and a golden sea of sunflowers. Consider taking a photography workshop (with a floral theme) to get the most out of the experience. For some livelier counter-programming, plan your trip to coincide with the Sapporo Summer Festival (late July to August), which showcases local cuisine, the Bon Odori (a traditional Japanese dance), and a delightfully wide selection of Japanese beer.

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Look to the skies in Montreal

Montreal, Canada

Scientific fact: It’s hard to have a bad time at a fireworks show. And it’s impossible at Montreal’s L’International des Feux Loto-Québec, the international fireworks competition that runs every Thursday from June 29 through August 10. Each team has 30 minutes to tell a story with music and explosions of color, competing for the gold, silver, and bronze “Jupiters” (trophies). The real winner is the audience, which is why three million attend each year. During the day, picnic in Parc Jean-Drapeau then rent a bike to explore the Lachine Canal.

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Combine sports and history in London

London, England

Is there anything more London than Wimbledon? Tennis’ flagship tournament, from July 1–14, oozes tradition (dating back to 1877), impeccable formalities (the players’ all-white dress code), and royal trappings (queens and kings attend). But what you don’t see on TV is that it’s also insanely good fun and surprisingly democratic—fans can line up day-of and buy tickets. When you’re not on court there’s the city to explore: Immerse yourself in British history at Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, and Westminster Abbey.

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