In this Wanderlust feature, we ask five tastemakers what their summer plans are. From revealing their top travel wishlist destinations, to insights on what their summer travelling plans looks like, these ladies take us on a journey into a high-summer. Along with picturesque travel inspo, they also reveal what they’re packing for their trips – for the ultimate summer inspo guide.

Her Excellency Khawla Al Serkal | Director General – Sharjah Ladies Club (Slc)

This is The Travel Issue – which locations are top of your travel list?

Cannes, Lugano, and Lake Como are at the top of my travel list. Cannes is always captivating – with its effortless blend of elegance, seaside charm, and cultural vibrancy, it’s the perfect place to immerse myself in art, film, and French Riviera glamour. Lugano offers a peaceful escape where Swiss precision meets Italian soul – its lakeside beauty and Alpine views make it a serene yet sophisticated destination. And Lake Como, with its timeless romance, historic villas, and calm waters, is simply a dream. Together, these places reflect the kind of travel I love – elegant, inspiring, and deeply rejuvenating.

Where will you be travelling to this summer?

This summer, I’ll be travelling to a few favourite destinations, but one that’s become a cherished yearly tradition is our family trip to Évian, France. Tucked between the Alps and Lake Geneva, Évian offers the perfect balance of nature, tranquility, and wellness. It’s a peaceful escape where the kids can enjoy the outdoors, and I can unwind in the crisp mountain air. From lakefront walks to fresh local cuisine, it’s a place that feels both grounding and rejuvenating. It’s not just a getaway – it’s a summer ritual that brings us together as a family in the most meaningful way.

Mona Bin Kalli | Entrepreneur

This is The Travel Issue – which locations are top of your travel list?

My favourite summer destination is Sardinia in Italy. The coastline is breathtaking with crystal clear emerald water. The entire island is stunning!

Where will you be travelling to this summer?

This summer I’ll be travelling to London, Paris and hopefully make it to Sardinia, which is my birthday ritual.

Jihane El Alaoui | Content Creator

This is The Travel Issue – which locations are top of your travel list?

London, Mykonos, Bodrum, Paris and Courchevel are on top of my travel list at the moment. I can’t wait to visit these destinations!

Where will you be travelling to this summer?

This summer, I’ll be travelling across Bodrum and Mykonos for a beautiful coastal escape. I might also head to the Maldives at the end of my trip.

Latifa Al Shamsi | Beauty & Fashion Content Creator

This is The Travel Issue – which locations are top of your travel list?

Japan and Morocco are currently at the top of my list. I love Japan for its unique blend of tradition and innovation – and Morocco for its colours, culture, and timeless charm. Both inspire me creatively in very different ways.

Where will you be travelling to this summer?

This summer is a beautiful mix of familiar favourites and new adventures. I’ll be spending time in Bodrum, Egypt, and Lebanon. And for a family escape, we’re still deciding – but it’s likely to be somewhere vibrant and exciting in Asia.

Natasha Oakley | Founder – Monday Swimwear

This is The Travel Issue – which locations are top of your travel list?

Dubai had been at the top of my list before this year. I’d visited when I was younger, but this January was my first time returning, and it was such a special trip. I absolutely loved my time there – it was even more meaningful because we were there with Monday Swimwear to celebrate our launch on Ounass. Next on my list is Africa. I’ve been dreaming of going on safari for as long as I can remember. I’d also love to explore South Africa – it’s been high on my list for years and I hope to make it happen soon.

Where will you be travelling to this summer?

I’m actually in the middle of my summer travels now. We started our trip in Paris, and I’ve spent the past few weeks in Greece, mixing work and leisure. My husband is Greek and we love coming back each year – this time we’ve had the chance to explore even more of the country. Devin, my best friend and business partner, has been with me the whole time as well, and we’ll be wrapping up this leg of the trip together at the end of our time in Greece. Italy is always calling us back – it’s probably our favourite destination. My husband and I got engaged in Capri three years ago and married there two years ago, so it holds a very special place in our hearts. We’ll be visiting Capri again this year, as well as Ischia and the Amalfi Coast. Usually we’d stay a little longer, but I’m heading back earlier than usual because we’re opening our very first Monday Swimwear store in Beverly Hills in mid-July. It’s such a huge moment for us, and I can’t wait.

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• Hightower Top Parking Lot (908.8) to Bearfence Mountain Hut (919.1)
• 2438 feet ascent 1955 feet descent 

The Heat Dome is officially over. The differnce in the air temperature and the humidity is profound.  The last few days, taking in air was hard. The high humidity left us gasping for oxygen among the H2O laden air. 

Both of us were awful at chemistry but it didn’t take a rocket scientist to understand that the ratio of hydrogen (H) to oxygen (0) was off kilter. 

Early Shuttle 

Wayne, our amazing shuttle driver said he was up at 5 am and would take us to the trail as early as we liked. We decided on 7 am, just on case we wanted to sleep in. 

We were up early and ready at 6:30 am. Wayne was early too so it was an unintended meeting of the minds. 

We returned his free bottle of scentfree laundry soap and added to the shuttle hiker box my leftover 1/2 shaker of bottle medicated powder. 

Another Fast Start

After low temperatures in the 80s, the mid 70 temperature of early morning was refreshing. We zoomed through the mile and a half we had skipped ahead in just 25 minutes. Had we done it two days before, I expect it would have been two or three times longer. 

We were encouraged and happy. It felt like a different life than the heavy drudgery of just 36 hours prior. 

First Blackberries

At 8:36 am, we encountered a patch of ripe wild  blackberries the Shennandoah are famed for. They were so delicious. 

Many trail snacks are berry flavored. Nothing compares to fresh picked, wild berries. Even our organic home dehydrated berries paled by comparison. 

We remembered together the fun we had last summer Huckleberry picking. Huckleberries are to Glacier National Park what blackberries are to the Shennandoah. Tourists come to eat Huckleberry foods and go pick some. 

Last summer was a particularly good year for berries and tourists. Visitors go on organized berry excursions where they are given buckets and a brief lesson in berry picking. No one ever tells them the BIG berries are up the steep hillsides on bushes that are hue from accumulated snow melt. Thwy stick to the sides of the trail where the bushes are short and the berries tasty, but small. 

Passers by notice us deep in the bushes and turn their heads away in modesty. They all assume we are on cathole patrol, not picking berries. 

This summer, we enjoyed our berries trailside, tourist style. We were focused on hiking, not berry picking. Also, we were concerned not to eat too many berries and accidentally increase our cathole patrol. 

More Food

We brought out sandwiches .adequate from vegetables, sour dough bread and pimento cheese.  We burried them in our packs to keep them cool. They were a great post berry repast.

For dinner, we ate apples. They were a crisp and refreshing dinner after a long, still hot hike. Carrying them was well worth the extra weight. 

Bouncing on Blowdowns

The afternoon threatened thunder and lightening. We paid close attention to where the rumbles issued forth. We did not want to be on an open, rocky sections with no cover. 

After a couple of hours of vigilance, along with temperatures in the low 90s, we were wearing down. The day was a rocking success, but it was getting time to rest and sleep. 

Our speed gradually increased in a fit of “horse to the barn” syndrome. I stepped tall and wode to clear a 2 foot high blowdown. My trailing right foot almost cleared the blowdown but not quite. 

I found myself hanging a couple of feet above the ground, face down over a blowdown,  balanced precariously on my left hiking pole, eyeball to eyeball with a patch of poison ivy. 

So much for hurrying. Never works. We extracted me successfully without engaging the poisen ivy. We hoped. 

Limping into Home Plate

The fall was relatively inconsequential but having jammed my fist and hiking pole into my rib I did notice. As we rounded the bend to the shelter, I spotted the first of the summer eccanacia.

It is well known for its healing power. Tonight, its golden rays made me feel better just by looking at it. 

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I’ve made it about halfway! And for now that’s my signal to take a pause from blogging here. My main reason for sharing my blood, sweat, and tears on the trail here was in support of my fundraiser, but it hasn’t gained me the support needed to reach my goal. It’s been my incredible friends and family who have mostly been cheering me on, and so for now I will just be doing limited posting on my social media. Thank you so much for the support from those who have been following along here– some days it was just what I needed to brighten my day, and I hope it added to yours as well. Perhaps I will post here again in the future if things shift.

Thruhikes are hard even without sharing the experience with the world, even “rest days” often being carefully crafted to be efficient and almost militant just to get stuff done: gear repair, food resupply, laundry, paying the bills, calling friends and family, post office, hiker box, getting to and around the towns you end up in, stretching and relaxing and maybe getting some dang lotion on those terrible looking but strong feet– you get the point. I have to use my time wisely. Like I said, I will still be posting on social media and am also trying to brainstorm right now on how to create some LNT material for the CDTC while out here!

As I’ve hiked further and further north into Colorado I’ve also begun to feel as if I’m hiking deeper and deeper into the trail and being consumed by my emotions. There’s a lot to deal with, both personally and with big picture systems (and they are ultimately intertwined) and at times it can feel overwhelming.

When I hiked the PCT in 2017, it was a strange time but I felt able to fully disconnect from the world, I was only on the trail. But now I feel the elsewhere on the trail too– I see the pain occurring in the world right now and the consumption of nature rather than the stewarding of it and I want to implode. The chaos is exhausting.

I should be able to enjoy a quiet, beautiful trail without being worried for people in my home community disappearing or friends who may lose their healthcare or jobs. Without worrying about the defunding of our public lands. And more than that. But I can’t. But I have to, or they win.

Cheers from Steamboat 🖤

This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price as they would otherwise, and your purchase helps to support The Trek’s ongoing goal to serve you quality backpacking advice and information. Thanks for your support!

To learn more, please visit the About This Site page.