It's that time again. The summer is winding down. The last few grains of sand in the season's hourglass are draining away. For millions of people, that means gearing up for the school year, but there's still time left for one last adventure! If you want to end your summer on a high note, here are some great destinations to visit before September 2.
Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama
For a pulse-pounding adventure beneath the waves, you don't have to travel to a far-off tropical destination. In fact, National Geographic reported that a trip to the artificial reefs in southern Alabama is one of the top 10 vacations you could take this summer. With 17,000 artificial reefs and even a sunken ship - the Lulu is the state's first whole-ship reef created for diving - to explore, this is could be the cherry on top of an adventurous summer.
Sierra City, California
You may want to cap off your summer with a calming introspective journey into the serene wilderness, and according to Sunset Magazine, there may be no place as relaxing and secluded as Sierra City, California. With a population of just 225, this trip won't force you to be with waves of tourists. You'll likely see more towering pine trees on the craggy nearby peaks than you see people. Take a day out on a boat in the Lower Sardine Lake, walk a pristine mountain path or gaze over the picturesque Sierra Buttes from the patio of a restaurant. Sierra City is the perfect place to clear your mind in preparation for the school year.
Paris, France
On the opposite end of the spectrum, you could go big and take that trip to Paris you've been dreaming about before it's too late. U.S. News & World Report seated Paris as the No. 2 best summer vacation spot, and the city is known for its large tourist industry. At the end of the day, seeing the Eiffel Tower, going to a French opera house and visiting the alluring tourist attractions in the City of Love may have been on your bucket list anyway. Why not cross off that item before you to back to school?
New York, New York
On the other hand, New York has some equally impressive sights and tourist attractions that may fit your taste. According to NYC & Company, there are free outdoor movie showings through August, an upcoming film festival in Central Park, music festivals and much more to experience on a trip. Better yet, you can go to one of the events before hitting the more popular tourist attractions like the Empire State Building, Times Square and the Statue of Liberty.
Make plans for Labor Day weekend
Then again, sometimes you've got a more specific trip you've been planning to go on that you haven't gotten around to yet. Student travel site S-Trip! suggested that Labor Day weekend is one of the best times to schedule that vacation you've had on the back burner. Go see the friend you've been meaning to visit or take some personal time to travel to a destination you've wanted to see. Time may be an issue once the school year starts, so you'll be thankful you traveled just before the summer ends.
Sources:- http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/best-summer-trips-2014/#/alabama-ship-dive-reef_79162_600x450.jpg
- http://www.sunset.com/travel/california/sierra-city-guide
- http://travel.usnews.com/Rankings/Best_Summer_Vacations
- http://www.s-trip.com/live/top-10-things-to-do-before-summer-ends
- http://www.nycgo.com
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