When summer highs get unbearable, it's time to go jump in a lake. Literally! Our top picks for lake vacations will help you choose which watery oasis to dive into – in both hemispheres – during the dog days of summer. Pick between easy-to-get-to lakes in the United States and Canada, top draws in Europe and Japan, and even a match in far-flung New Zealand (where peak summer season runs from December to March). No matter whether you prefer to rough it at a lakeside campsite or sleep in 300-plus-thread-count Egyptian-cotton sheets at a top-tier resort, you're bound to find a perfect lake vacation fit on this watery-wonderland list.

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