1. Mt. Fuji, Japan
No matter what time of year you visit Japan, you’ll be enchanted by the elegant beauty of Mt. Fuji. The active volcano’s graceful slope and snowcapped peak reflecting in Lake Kawaguchi has served as the inspiration for countless works of art. But if you time your visit in July – the start of the Mt. Fuji trekking season – you can see what this world-famous attraction looks like from the top.
The hike itself is known for being a grueling ascent without much scenery or serenity. Aim to reach the top of Mt. Fuji around sunrise, when your chances of a clear, gorgeous view are best. The ascent can take anywhere from four to 10 hours, depending on where you start and which trail you take. Along the way, you’ll pass mountain huts that offer overnight stays; restrooms; and small shops with water, food, canned oxygen, hiking sticks, and other climbing gear.
Expect the challenging trails to be crowded with many other tourists making their way up the mountain. However, there’s a culture of camaraderie among the hikers – a unique part of this experience. You’ll feel a deep sense of accomplishment once you make it to the summit of this 3,776-meter-tall UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2. Baden-Baden, Germany
Baden-Baden, the «Summer Capital of Europe,» shines in July. The weather is warm, the pubic gardens are in bloom, and live music and dancing happens almost every night outside the Kurhaus of Baden-Baden.
Let the stresses of life melt away in this famous spa town. Some of the top tourist attractions in Baden-Baden are the historic baths. Visit the Friedrichsbad, a 130-year-old Roman-style bath, to experience a spa treatment like none other. It features a circuit of 17 luxurious bathing and spa services, including cold plunges, hot thermal pools, an exfoliating rubdown, a mud bath, and a nap in a serene circular room. The staff will even tuck you into the sheets.
For a more modern bathing experience, head to the nearby Caracalla Spa. You can spend all day at this 4,000-square-meter spa facility, soaking in the pools, warming your body in the hot rock grottos, and chilling out on lounge beds under therapeutic red lights. The waters in the spa come from mineral-rich springs, which are said to have healing properties.
After you’re thoroughly relaxed, take a stroll through the lovely Lichtentaler Allee. This charming park and arboretum features a 2.5-kilometer footpath down the Oos River that dates back to the 17th century. Along the way, you’ll pass the Cistercian Abbey of Lichtental and the Museum of 19th Century Art and Technology.
Don’t leave Baden-Baden without taking a ride up the Merkur Mountain Railway. It’s the longest and steepest funicular in Germany and offers 360-degree views of the Black Forest; Karlsruhe; and even Strasbourg, just over the border in France.
