The dog days of summer are upon us – these lazy, hot days at the end of summer are so named because the ancient Romans believed that the brightest star in the sky at this time of year, Sirius, brought intense heat. They called it “days of the dog star” and through the years it was shortened to “dog days.” The point is, it’s hot so why not seek out some of the cooler places to camp in August and enjoy summer’s end, and starry skies, without the heat!
The Pacific Northwest enjoys cooler summer temps thanks to the Pacific Ocean breezes. Some cool camping ideas here could include Oregon’s Cannon Beach, where summer temps hover in the mid-60s most of the time. Book a stay at Thousand Trails Seaside and explore the miles of beaches and great hiking trails here. Ecola State Park is great for hiking and enjoying cool weather picnics! Another great Pacific Coast destination is Thousand Trails Pacific City campground in Cloverdale, Oregon. Cloverdale was originally a dairy farming village and you can still enjoy dairy delights in the form of cheese and ice cream at both the Tillamook Cheese Factory in nearby Tillamook and the Nestucca Bay Creamery right in Cloverdale. Sand Lake Recreation Area is great for soaring dunes and beach fun.
Lake Tahoe boasts August daytime highs that max at 79 degrees. Add the cool mountain air to those temps and a visit to Lake Tahoe in August is one cool trip. Book a stay at Tahoe Valley Campground and enjoy this beautiful part of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. There’s plenty to do here and mark your calendars for the 7th Annual Tahoe Brewfest, scheduled for August 24, which highlights local brewers, cideries and distilleries. Other Lake Tahoe highlights include outdoor activities such as stand-up paddling, kayaking and swimming as well as hiking and biking. Historic Vikingsholm, a Scandinavian castle located within beautiful Emerald Bay State Park is worth a visit too!
Maine camping adventures with a side of cool temps can include Thousand Trails Moody Beach in Wells and any of the camping resorts in Bar Harbor. According to travelteam.com, Wells, with its fabulous beaches, enjoys August daytime highs of 74 degrees. Just north of Wells, Acadia National Park provides a great summer playground for hiking, biking and beach time with similar daytime highs. Choose your Bar Harbor camping resort from Mt. Desert Narrows, Narrows Too and Patten Pond. From late July to early September, Maine is ripe for wild blueberry picking or simply enjoying the bounty of this tiny fruit.
Head to Tennessee’s Pigeon Forge Landing RV Resort for a Smoky Mountain camping getaway and enjoy the cooler temps thanks to the higher elevations here. Another plus is that Gatlinburg, the popular mountain town considered the “Gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains” is less crowded in August. Things to see and do here include hiking, biking, whitewater rafting, ziplining, visiting Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies, and strolling downtown Gatlinburg with its shops, restaurants and distilleries.
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