Summer is the most anticipated travel season of the year. With long breaks in between holidays, by the time Memorial Day weekend comes around, you’re ready for a vacation.

In my upcoming book, 12 Trips in 12 Months, I took a travel challenge that required me to go on one trip every month. The idea was sparked as a way to distract myself from turning 30 and being single and childless by this milestone birthday.

Over the course of the year, it transformed into an empowering journey where I learned to love my own company and feel worthy and deserving independent of a relationship.

I ended up surpassing my goal, taking 21 trips to 41 cities across 11 countries.

Here are some of the places I visited, with unique offerings during the summer months.

Greek Islands

The best time to visit the Greek Islands is in the summer. They essential shut down from November to April, and you want to see them in full swing.

You can’t go wrong with a visit to Santorini, one of the most scenic places on earth with whitewashed cobblestone streets and blue domes.

The most popular neighborhood to stay is Oia, where you can get a dreamy rental with an infinity pool overlooking the Caldera.

South of France

There’s never a bad time to visit France, but summer is when the southern region is in bloom. You’ll see endless fields of lavender and sunflowers, reminiscent of a Van Gogh painting.

You can actually go on a Van Gogh art trail to find the real life places he painted around Arles, where he used to live.

Take advantage of the nice weather to do outdoor water activities. You’ll find options for every skill level, ranging from rafting to paddleboarding, at the Gorde du Verdon or Lac de Sainte Croix.

Toronto

Located in Canada, Toronto is a melting pot of cultures. With immigrants from around the world, it has a thriving international food and music scene.

They have an annual summer festival called Caribana, a carnival like event with grand costumes.

To get a taste of the diversity, visit Kensington Market on a food tour. You’ll taste everything from Tibetan momos to poutine to churros.

Mexico

Did you know Mexico is one of the only places where you can swim with whale sharks in the wild? This encounter occurs off the coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, around Isla Mujeres or Isla Holbox.

The season runs from mid-May to mid-September, with peak months being July and August. You’ll need to wear reef-friendly sunscreen and touching the whale sharks is prohibited.

Iceland

Iceland is an adventure lover’s dream, with bucket list experiences like diving between two continental plates, hiking through an ice cave, and seeing the Northern Lights.

In the book, I did the Golden Circle drive, seeing geysers, waterfalls, and craters along the way.

You can also plan to go to see the midnight sun. Iceland is so far north that around the Summer Solstice in June, the sun stays up till midnight.

It’s my hope that 12 Trips 12 Months inspires you to plan your own travel challenge, and is the nudge you need to stop waiting and start living.

Learn more about her book, 12 Trips, 12 Months

About 12 Trips in 12 Months:

Bestselling author Jen Ruiz takes readers on a trip around the globe in 12 Trips in 12 Months, defying societal expectations of what a woman is supposed to be—and empowering others to do the same.

The year before her thirtieth birthday, Jen Ruiz decided to change everything. Despite being professionally accomplished and contributing to the world as an attorney at a nonprofit, she had yet to achieve the most important goal, according to society: becoming a wife and mother. So, after more ghostings than a graveyard, tired of dating apps and sitting in a windowless office, Jen embarked on an epic challenge to send her twenties out in style.

Twelve months, twelve trips, no excuses.

She started booking flights instead of swiping right, teaching English online to cover costs. Over the course of the year, Jen descended into a volcano in Iceland, volunteered at an elephant sanctuary in Thailand, called in sick to fly in a hot air balloon, and went scuba diving at an underwater museum in Mexico.

She ended up taking twenty trips, almost double her original goal.

In a moving and inspiring story, Jen invites readers along through the year wherein she decided to stop waiting for others and start living for herself, discovered the power of solo travel magic, challenged herself physically and emotionally, made meaningful connections … and learned that she could feel fulfilled and happy on her own.

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