The dog days of summer are here, and at least in some parts of the country, being outside past noon is downright unpleasant. In Oklahoma City today, the high is expected to hit 104! According to Wikipedia, the ancient Romans believed that during the dog days, “the seas boiled, wine turned sour, Quinto raged in anger, dogs grew mad, and all creatures became languid, causing to man burning fevers, hysterics, and phrensies.”

If you’re looking for an escape from summer’s punishing temperatures, your US passport might be just the ticket. Here are some possible destinations to help you beat the heat:

Norway: The average temperature in Oslo in July is only 63.1°F. Nice! Plus, the country has a variety of activities available that are guaranteed to chill you out, such as glacier walking or visiting the North Cape, where the breeze that hits your face comes directly from the North Pole itself. In Norway, summer is also the season of the famous midnight sun.

Patagonia: Located at the southern edge of South America in Argentina and Chile, the Patagonia region is the perfect destination for skiers, snowboarders and nature lovers. Since it’s in the southern hemisphere, when it’s summer here, it’s winter there. Ski resort towns like Bariloche, Argentina combine fresh powder with delicious food and a vibrant nightlife.

Iceland: Even if the middle of summer, it’s almost unheard of for the mercury in Iceland to ever rise above 60 degrees. Add in glaciers, hot springs and a variety of other activities and it’s easy to see how a visit to Iceland would make for a refreshing interlude from the scorching heat of midsummer.

If you don’t have a US passport yet or you need to get yours renewed, don’t despair. While regular passport processing takes about six weeks, there are a number of other options that can help you get your passport more quickly. For example, you can apply for expedited processing from the Department of State, which will cut processing time down to three weeks. For even faster service, you can either make an appointment at a regional passport agency office or use a private passport expediting company like RushMyPassport to get your US passport application processed in as little as 24 hours.

Need a US passport, fast? Contact us today!