No. 1 STARGAZE UNDER DARK SKIES.
Nothing says summer in the South quite like a night sky full of stars, and having the time to watch them brighten—whether it’s from your backyard, on a Blue Ridge mountain trail, or on a cross-country road trip. In Big Bend National Park, the sunset brings not only a respite from the West Texas heat, but also the beginning of an awe-inducing spectacle. The expanse of 800,000 acres of desert, mountains, rivers, and canyons contains the least amount of light pollution of any national park in the contiguous United States. Take the Rio Grande Village Nature Trail for a blazing view of the Milky Way over the Sierra del Carmen and the Chisos Mountains, or settle into your tent or RV at one of the park’s four campgrounds to gaze upon two thousand visible stars and contemplate your foothold in the galaxy.
No. 2 LOUNGE IN THE MOST ELEGANT LOBBY IN NEW ORLEANS.
We all know and love New Orleans’ historic architecture, the Creole food, and all that jazz. But what about the obscene summer humidity? Hotel Peter & Paul’s airy lobby and other public spaces are a fine solution. This gorgeous inn was once a Catholic church and school, and from dark wainscoted corridors to colorful stained glass windows, the soothing cathedral vibe endures. A supersweet ice cream
