Summer is just around the corner and with rising temperatures it’s time to find some places to cool off. Unfortunately not everyone lives close to an ocean, so some of us have to find alternative swimming holes. Grab your swimsuit, pack a towel and don’t forget your friends and family and let’s get wet! We found the best swimming holes around the country so you can cool down in style.

The Homestead Caldera, UT

Locals refer to this as the Crater and it’s an amazing swimming hole that is literally a hole. In Midway, Utah sits a naturally heated spring inside a huge hole in the ground that was created by mineral deposits. Now it’s a commercial swimming hole that is open all-year-round. Scuba divers use this as a training place, but everyone can use it to cool down in the hot summer months. The 10,000-year-old crater is easily the most unique swimming hole on this list.

Bridal Veil Falls, GA

Come to Georgia for a 45 ft waterfall and a really cool place to chill out. People slide down the granite rock face in a natural waterslide that will leave a huge smile on your face. Locals love this place and it’s free, so swim on my friends. This place is wonderful and located in a State park.

Barton Springs, TX

Located just outside of downtown Austin, TX; Barton Springs has long been the cooling off spot for young University of Texas students. That is one of the draws to this swimming hole, the abnormally high amount of young, attractive college students. Only costing $7, Barton Springs is a great way to cool off in the heart of Austin. If you’re lucky, the waterfall will be flowing from the 1,000 ft wide limestone cliff.

White Rock Park, IN

Come for the cliff diving and stay for the chill vibes. With steep cliffs surrounding the water, there are plenty of places to jump. You’ll find the swimming hole is packed on the weekends but there is still plenty of space to spread out. Check out the floating barges where you can catch some rays and slip right into the water.

Enfield Falls, NY

A really cool collection of waterfalls located just outside of Ithaca, New York will take your breath away. These natural beauties are easily accessible from Ithaca and only a few hour drive from New York City. You’ll find some amazing hikes circle around the falls and give numerous views to take in. The water is chilly and great at cooling you off after a hard hike.

Queen’s Bath, HI

Located on the island of Kauai in Hawaii and known to have healing powers, Queen’s Bath is naturally formed pocket of lava rock that creates a swimmable pool. Visitors have to hike over lava fields and tough terrain to reach the beautiful pool but it’s well worth the trouble. Once there you’ll find a remote pool on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, warmed by the sun and oh so inviting.

Sliding Rock, NC

Located outside of Asheville North Carolina, is Sliding Rock, a natural water slide that keeps tourists and locals coming back every summer. The 60-foot water slide is the king of all swimming holes and a perfect way to cool out while having some fun.

Traveling for business is viewed differently by the industry. There are some who love traveling as it means entertaining clients in a luxury environment. Others have so much experience that a few aspects of a trip that go poorly will not impact them in the slightest. Planning is always going to be of paramount importance when you are traveling for business. You want to have some control over this as you don’t want to be set up for failure due to lodging in a poor location or a distance from meeting locations. The following are mishaps that can happen when traveling for business and what you can do. 

A Car Or Truck Accident Occurs

Accidents can happen during an important business trip while you are on the road. Finding the right car or truck accident attorney will be very important especially if injured outside of your home city. There is also a chance that you have been involved in a rideshare accident. There could be different avenues to pursue in these cases so finding an experienced attorney in this niche is imperative. You want to document as much as possible in order to protect yourself legally. 

An Important Client Cancels A Meeting

Heading to a city to see a single client is always a risk as unexpected events can occur. Getting the most out of a business trip means to make the most out of seeing clients and potential clients. Seeing a client physically can mean more in some industries than others. There are a number of virtual meetings and relationships that have remained remote. Rescheduling the meeting while you are in town is very important to salvage the trip. Try to have a meeting with a few sales prospects while out of town if you cannot set meetings with loyal clients. 

Falling Behind On Work During The Trip

Most professionals that travel frequently for work might have a buffer of a few days with deadlines approaching. Staying current with your work can allow you to relax a bit when you do return to the office. Nobody expects a person traveling to do as much work as they would in the office. Take the time when you are flying or on a train to knock some daily tasks out. There are even options to use Wi-Fi on a plant that can be relatively reliable. Save your work as there are some airlines that have far more reliable internet than others. 

Flights Being Delayed

Being at the mercy of the weather when flying can be such a stressful situation. Clients will not be upset about a storm delaying a meeting as most people have encountered this before. 

Business travel can add some variety to your routine if you understand that not everything will happen perfectly. If you are constantly traveling for work, you will need to get into a routine for each city that you frequent. There might be a city that you visit that you look at as a nice treat monthly.

Summer vacation is around the corner and now is the time to start planning your beach trip. If you are thinking Caribbean then you most likely are looking into Cancun, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica, the three most popular destinations. These places are awesome, cheap and beautiful but also the busiest, so maybe a quieter destination ids for you.   Let’s get away from the crowds and find a vacation spot that is just as beautiful and affordable while we visit the quieter side of the Caribbean.

Costa Rica

If surf is your goal then Costa Rica is your paradise. Considered the best surfing in the world, with warm waters and consistent breaks all year long, Costa Rica needs to be on your list if you like water activities. Costa Rica straddles both coasts with the Caribbean side being the calmer side with smaller waves and thicker jungles. The Caribbean side is generally cheaper than the Pacific side and much more laid back.

Honduras

Honduras isn’t on most people’s lists because the city of San Pedro Sula is currently the murder capital of the world but its well over an hour away from the beaches. This beautiful country sits right on the Caribbean Sea and boasts some of the most beautiful beaches around. Check out Roatan, the largest island off the coast and a major vacation hub. You can fly direct from major US cities like Houston, so no need to worry about the crime riddled central cities.

Panama

Nobody thinks of Panama when booking Caribbean vacations but that is their fault. This Central American country boast some of the region’s most secluded private islands and luxurious retreats. Find the above water villas you’ve been searching for with unspoiled marine life just waiting to be explored. Panama has some awesome wildlife and plenty of sanctuaries you can explore and enjoy all that nature has to offer. Panama also has a rich history so you can see some really cool ruins.

Trinidad and Tobago

Tourists still under utilize the only actual Caribbean islands on this list, Trinidad and Tobago.   The country isn’t focused on tourism like the other Caribbean nations so they don’t offer as much variety of resorts as the other islands. Trinidad is the business island and Tobago is the pleasure center of the two, so I advise you stay on Tobago. These islands have those authentic laid back vibes you’ve been searching for.

Belize

If you want the best snorkeling and scuba diving in the region than look no further than the Barrier reef off the coast of Belize. The largest barrier reef in the Northern Hemisphere is full of marine life and intense coral reefs. Belize also has some radical Mayan ruins you can check out that are located deep in the lush rainforests. There are plenty of guided hikes and activities to keep you entertained and more than enough sandy beaches to relax on. Belize is nestled between Mexico and Guatemala, so it’s easy to get to and affordable.

Try one of these less traveled paths and your vacation will be filled with chill Caribbean vibes.