iStock International
Go for a paddle or take a dip – nothing beats a lakeside retreat for beating the heat
Finger Lakes
Nestled snugly between Lake Ontario and the northern border of Pennsylvania, the Finger Lakes district of New York State is a popular summertime playground for kids of all ages, attracting locals from bustling regional cities such as Syracuse or Rochester, as well as in-the-know out-of-towners who are initially lured by the abundance of idyllic lakeside retreats, and end up enthralled by the many historic sites, sloping vineyards, wine trails, and annual festivals that occupy the shores surrounding the unique bodies of water. As you may have guessed, the area takes its name from the 11 slender blue lakes which stretch out, parallel to each other in almost finger-like formations; these are interspersed by pastoral landscapes of quaint waterfront villages and scenic vistas of gushing waterfalls and rocky gorges. Two top lakes are Keuka Lake, a pristine Y-shaped body of water, and Seneca Lake, the deepest and second longest of the group; both are widely regarded as the most beautiful of the Finger Lakes, and are well-equipped for tourists and recreational activities.
See Japan Travel Guide | See New Zealand Travel Guide | See California Travel GuideSee New York Travel Guide
$209+: Manhattan hotel near Rockefeller Center & more Amsterdam Court Hotel
$219+: NYC hotel nr theater district & Times Square Wellington Hotel
$76+: Great rates at Los Angeles Marriot nr beaches Marriott Hotels
$83+: Dinner & a movie nts in Redondo Beach Marriott Marriott Hotels
$99+: Stay in sunny Palos Verdes hotel for less Marriott Hotels
$103+: Couple, family & girls' night packages in CA Marriott Hotels
$64+: 3rd nt free in North Dallas hotel Marriott Hotels
$64+: Romance, shopping & more in Dallas Marriott Hotels
$94+: Stay in Wisconsin Marriot w/brkfst & WiFi nr brewery Marriott Hotels
$89+: Great prices on Midwest hotels w/buffet brkfst Marriott Hotels
$99+: Great deals on pet-friendly Illinois hotels Marriott Hotels
$64+: Low rates at Dallas hotels nr top attractions Marriott Hotels
$84+: Budget hotel on sale in Queens w/free shuttle to JFK Hotels.com
$92/nt+: Four-star hotel in NYC nr Empire State Building Booking.com
$113/nt+: Low rates at NY ski resort w/25% off lift tickets Kaatskill Mountain Club
$129/nt+: Montauk Yacht Club hotel w/free bottle of bubbly Montauk Yacht Club Resort & Marina
Up to 15% off: NYC hotel across from Madison Square Garden Booking.com
$100/nt+: Low fall foliage rates at Catskill Mountain resort Villa Vosilla Resort
$299/nt+: Times Square near Radio City & 5th avenue shops Crowne Plaza Times Square
$299/nt+: Low rates at upscale NYC midtown hotel Crowne Plaza Times Square
$839+: 7-nt London to NY cruise w/up to $300 ship credit American Express Travel
$449+: 7-nt Bahamas luxury winter cruise w/up to $800 credit Cruise.com
$152+: Cheap round-trip domestic winter fares Expedia
$150+: Cheap fares to Niagara Falls (round-trip) Major Airlines
$15.95+: Low rates on rental cars in major cities across the US Hotwire
$10/day+: Cheap car rentals from major US airports CarRentals.com
$460+: New York City 2-night trip w/flight from DC Wellington Hotel
$613+: NYC Rockefeller Plaza 5-star hotel 3 nts w/air Four Seasons New York
$657+: Upper West side NYC budget hotel 3 nts w/air Hotel Alexander
$386+: Great deal on NYC hotel near Madison Sq 3nts w/air Affinia Manhattan
$577+: NY 3-nt getaway at hotel nr Central Park w/flight On The Ave Hotel
$735+: Midtown New York 3-nt getaway w/air from Chicago The New Yorker Hotel
$493+: Up to 25% off 3-nt stays at budget New York hotel w/air The Pod Hotel New York
$476+: Stay 3 nts at NYC hotel nr Broadway theaters w/air Washington Jefferson Hotel