The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco. Though it s widely attributed to him, Mark Twain didn t actually say this. But it s a popular saying because it rings true even when the Eastern part of the country is baking in a record-breaking heat wave, summer in San Francisco hardly feels like summer at all.

Cities along the East Coast set new high-temperature records for the day on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. In Baltimore, Wilmington, Del., Philadelphia and New York City, records set in 1999 were broken with highs above 102 degrees. Portland, Maine, saw a high of 95 Tuesday, the hottest it had been on that date since 1952. Suffield, Conn., not only beat its high-temperature record for the day but also hit its highest-ever recorded temperature, at 102, last seen in 1966. Later in the week, showers and thunderstorms are expected to return temperatures to seasonal levels, but the Eastern and Southern parts of the country are facing a warmer-than-usual summer this year, says Bruce Sullivan, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

The current stretch of heat may have reached some places that typically stay relatively cool during the summer like Maine but there are still plenty of cool-weather destinations in the U.S. and abroad for families looking to escape a sweltering summer. In Colorado s Rocky Mountains, for example, ski destinations like Aspen (predicted high of 72 for Thursday) or Vail (high of 70 Thursday) are in their off-season now, so travelers can find good deals and enjoy summer concerts and other events, says Jeanenne Tornatore, a spokeswoman for travel booking site Orbitz. They really do supplement their calendars in the summer, she says.

Here are some summer getaway ideas where the average temperature in July is below a balmy 75 degrees:

San Francisco

Average high temperature in July: 71 (according to Accuweather)
Forecast for Thursday: partly sunny, high of 71
Average daily hotel rate for July: $130 (according to Orbitz)
Sample vacation package: $576 per person for a Friday-to-Monday trip from New York, including a 40%-off stay at the Hotel Whitcomb
Things to do: Enjoy music and cocktails at the Thursday night NightLife events at the California Academy of Sciences (tickets $12). See special exhibits on flamingos and seahorses at Monterey Bay Aquarium (tickets $29.95, $17.95 for kids). Take a free walking tour of Chinatown. Go on a Napa Valley wine-tasting tour.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Average high temperature in July: 58
Forecast for Thursday: sunny, high of 60
Average daily hotel rate for July: $84
Sample vacation package: $1,324 per person for a Friday-to-Monday trip from New York, including a 25%-off stay at the 562 Nogaro Buenos Aires Hotel
Things to do: Take a tango class. Hop a flight to Ezeiza and ski in Penitentes but keep in mind that it s their high season, so don t expect discounts. To get as far away from summer as possible, head down to El Calafate in Patagonia and hike on the largest ice shelf outside of Antarctica.

Santiago, Chile

Average high temperature in July: 59
Forecast for Thursday: sunny, high of 60
Average daily hotel rate for July: $156
Sample vacation package: $1,755 per person for flight plus a three-night stay at the Caesar Business Santiago hotel at 30% off
Things to do: Take a wine tour. Visit Pablo Neruda s house (guided tour about $7). Ski in Valle Nevado (where it s also peak ski season).

Cape Town, South Africa

Average high temperature in July: 64
Forecast for Thursday: partly cloudy, high of 68
Average daily hotel rate for July: $218
Sample vacation package: $3,979 per person for flight plus a five-night stay at the Townhouse Hotel
Things to do: Go on a Big 5 safari. Take a wine tour. Keep in mind that the World Cup ends Sunday; travelers who wait until after a major event like that will often see deep hotel discounts, Tornatore says.

Sydney, Australia

Average high temperature in July: 60
Forecast for Thursday: showers, high of 63
Average daily hotel rate for July: $128
Sample vacation package: $3,300 for flights from Philadelphia plus 10 nights at the Swiss Grand Resort and Spa
Things to do: Have high tea at the famous Opera House ($145 per person). Or consider New Zealand both countries are in their off-season now, and Air New Zealand is currently offering discounted fares on flights from the U.S. The average daily hotel rate in Auckland in July is $82, and the forecast for Thursday is a high of just 54.

Anchorage, Ala.

Average high temperature in July: 58.4 (according to the National Weather Service)
Forecast for Thursday: mostly cloudy, high of 65
Average daily hotel rate for July: $149
Sample vacation package: $1,014 for flight plus a 35%-off stay at the Parkwood Inn
Things to do: It s peak season now for Alaskan cruises, but tour companies do offer day boat tours to see wildlife, whales and glaciers. Multiple-day cruises tend to book up early, but it s worth checking for last-minute deals, Tornatore says.