Skip ocean crowds — head to mountains for cool summer escapes. Top picks: 1) Aspen CO — summer concerts, hiking Maroon Bells, music festival; 2) Lake Tahoe (CA/NV) — water sports, beaches, mountain biking, lakeside dining; 3) Park City UT — Sundance ski town in summer, hiking, biking, Park Silly Sunday Market; 4) Jackson Hole WY — Grand Teton hiking, wildlife, town square cowboy vibes; 5) Asheville NC — Blue Ridge Parkway, breweries, art scene; 6) Telluride CO — bluegrass festival, gondola, hiking; 7) Stowe VT — green mountains, cycling, alpine slide; 8) Banff (just over Canadian border) for international flair; 9) Big Sky MT — Yellowstone gateway; 10) Lake Placid NY — Adirondacks, Olympic history. All have luxury hotels, fine dining, festivals. Cool air (60-75F days, 40-50F nights) when lowlands roast.