Popular and unusual summer destinations

There's a 95 percent chance Senior Editor Christine Sarkis is thinking about travel right now. Follow her on Instagram @postcartography and Twitter @ChristineSarkis.

Christine Sarkis is an SATW-award-winning journalist and executive editor at SmarterTravel. Her stories have also appeared on USA Today, Conde Nast Traveler, Huffington Post, and Business Insider. Her advice has been featured in dozens of print and online publications including The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, and People magazine. She has also shared travel tips on television and radio shows including Good Morning America, Marketplace, and Here & Now. Her work has been published in the anthologies Spain from a Backpack and The Best Women's Travel Writing 2008. She is currently working on a travel memoir.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: The Trtl Pillow. It's easy to pack and comfortable, and makes it so I can actually sleep on flights.

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: Seeing the Aurora Borealis from the comfort of somewhere warm, like a glass igloo or hot spring.

Travel Motto: Curiosity is an amazing compass.

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: Aisle all the way.

Email Christine Sarkis at editor@smartertravel.com.

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ASTA (the American Society of Travel Agents) and OffbeatTravel.com both recently published travel lists for 2008. I thought I’d combine them so that whether you’re looking for a hot spot or a destination off the beaten path, you’ll find a bit of inspiration.

First up, ASTA’s list of summer 2008 popular travel destinations, a roundup based on travel agent bookings. The first five of the top 10 domestic destinations are Orlando, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Miami. Internationally, the top five are London, Rome, Cancun, Paris, and Montego Bay, Jamaica. You’ll also find other lists, including the most popular states and international regions.

Meanwhile, OffbeatTravel.com has a list of top offbeat towns for 2008. They are: gold-rush town Dahlonega, Georgia; brewery-crazy mountain town Fort Collins, Colorado; laid-back beach town (and, I can attest, home to some pretty delicious shave ice and good beginner surfing) Hanalei on Hawaii’s Kauai; John Deere-centric Moline Illinois; and historic and accessible Taos, New Mexico.

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