Sick of the Heat? Try One of These Cool Vacations

When the mercury soars, the last thing you want to do is sweat out your vacation in an equally sweltering destination. Instead, head for the places on the planet where it's delightfully cool -- and even downright chilly -- and get away from the heat as well as the every day.

Sailing in San Francisco
San Francisco is one of the few cities in the United States where you really need a warm sweater in the middle of August, which makes this the perfect time of year for heat-phobes to visit the City by the Bay.

Take a nighttime tour of Alcatraz for chills of the spooky variety, hike among the redwoods in the Muir Woods or really chill out by getting right onto the water: The OSCC Sailing school in Berkeley, which has a fleet of 50 boats, offers classes for beginners to near pros.

Stay at the new Cavallo Point Lodge, on the northern end of the Golden Gate Bridge, with a view of the bridge, city skyline and the bay.

Adventures in Chile
Adrenaline junkies beat the North American heat by heading for the South America. In Chile's Patagonia, try canyoning in the Andes mountains, where you'll get outfitted in a wet suit, helmet and gloves, hike up a cliff -- and then get back down through a blend of cliff jumping, waterfall sliding, rappelling. Canyon Gelves offers guided experiences from beginners to experts to people flirting with insanity, accommodations available at in a lodge in the village of Futaleufu.

If you'd like just a little adventure along with some relaxation, try Tierra Atacama, a new adventure spa in the Atacama desert in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. Spend half the day climbing a volcano, mountain biking or going on a wild flamingo watching tour, and the other half receiving spa services.