Sweating through the dog days of summer? Yearning for cooler temps, knowing we have many more months until the thermostat takes a dive?

Here are a few suggestions for travel to destinations that require long pants and jackets in the middle of summer:

Northeast Cruise to Nova Scotia and Quebec. Holland America Line offers options out of Boston with stops in Bar Harbor, Halifax and Quebec City, among others, with final destination Montreal. The summer air up there is cool and crisp and ports of call are easily accessible. Excursions are optional but not necessary as each town offers the opportunity to explore and learn the history that makes each stop unique in their own way.

Once in Montreal, another option is to hop on the Amtrak Adirondack for a ten hour, scenic ride to Penn Station. Riding the rails through the mountains, along Lake Champlain's shores and past the Hudson River offers amazing sights and relaxation before hitting the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple.

The Blue Ridge Mountains, in North Carolina, guarantee cooler temps in the higher elevations. Located directly on the Blue Ridge Parkway at 5,000 feet, the Pisgah Inn poses the perfect spot for mountain vistas, but you might need a blanket while sitting on your balcony, even in the middle of summer.

With a restaurant offering fine dining, a gift shop and country store on property, one might decide never to leave the premises. However, there are many Blue Ridge overlooks, trails and fascinating waterfalls to discover within a short drive. If you need a dose of city life, Asheville is within an hour's drive.

Pacific Northwest cruises also provide a break from the heat with Holland America Line offering a diverse choice of itineraries throughout Alaska. However, if you've been there, done that, there is a unique opportunity, out of Seattle, to explore Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands on a smaller American Cruise Lines ship.

Your itinerary includes Butchart Gardens in Victoria, British Columbia and Olympic National Park, along with several other ports, and the experience on a smaller ship is quite different. With only 170 passengers, at the most, on the American Constellation, you're not getting lost in the crowds of some larger ships, not to mention larger staterooms to enjoy while cruising. A complemental cocktail hour each night, as well as free WiFi, also make this a distinctive cruising experience.

San Diego, California's average August temperature is 72 degrees. Home to La Jolla, Mission Bay, Torrey Pines Golf Course and the San Diego Zoo, there are multiple opportunities to fill a summer vacation, whether it be with the family or a romantic trip for two. The beaches are cold but doable if you work up a sweat with a 3-mile boardwalk along Mission Beach and Pacific Beach. Balboa Park houses the zoo along with museums, gardens, shopping and fine food and drink.

The Oregon Coast also presents opportunities for cool breezes all year long in towns like Cannon Beach with its jaw-dropping view of the Haystack Rock formations looming off the shore. Stay at the Ashore Hotel in Seaside, for a Bohemian vibe, or, for a more upscale experience, the Stephanie Inn, in Cannon Beach, with its Adelsheim Vineyard for a sophisticated touch. There are miles of discoveries along the Oregon Coast and the wind off the water will make you forget about the high temps back home.

Of course, some don't mind the heat and may want to take the opportunity of the season to embrace the opportunity to visit a beach, cooling off in ocean waters. If warmer temps float your boat, go for a cruise to the Caribbean.

Cuba is still open to visitors with Norwegian Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean and Carnival offering affordable summer adventures. With ports like Havana and Santiago de Cuba, you'll find cities that seem to be in a time warp with 50's classic cars and eclectic Colonial and Art Deco architecture. Looking for a pristine beach? Head to Playa Paraiso, with its white sand and bright blue-green water. Also known as Paradise Beach, the waters will cool off those simmering summer temps.

Family fun on a Disney Cruise will provide a break from the heat, a smart choice from standing in lines at the theme parks. From Alaska to the Caribbean, a Disney cruise even offers a visit to their own private island, Castaway Cay. Plenty of refreshing water activities are available as well as scenic walking trails, open-air BBQ dining locations serving complimentary meals, and free tram transportation around the island.

No need to sweat the small stuff during summer's sweltering months. Pack your jacket and hop in a car, or on a train or plane to cooler destinations for sweet heat relief.

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