The term summer colony is often used, particularly in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

, to describe well-known resorts and upper-class enclaves, typically located near the ocean, lakes, or mountains of

New England New England is a region consisting of six states in the Northeastern United States: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. It is bordered by the state of New York (state), New York to the west and by the ...

, the Northeast United States, or the

Great Lakes The Great Lakes, also called the Great Lakes of North America, are a series of large interconnected freshwater lakes spanning the Canada–United States border. The five lakes are Lake Superior, Superior, Lake Michigan, Michigan, Lake Huron, H ...

. While some have roots in the 18th Century, many began in the 19th Century with the development of railroads and steamships and expanded with the invention of the automobile. During the summers, if the family could afford it, the mother and children of a family would escape the heat of cities and spend "the season" in cooler climates, especially if the family owned a "summer cottage". This is called "summering". The father would often work in the city during the week and take the train, steamship, or car to the "summer cottage" after work on Friday, returning to city in time for Monday morning. He would also spend his two-week vacation at the summer place, as close to

Labor Day Labor Day is a Federal holidays in the United States, federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday of September to honor and recognize the Labor history of the United States, American labor movement and the works and con ...

or July 4th as his seniority at his job allowed. Fathers without 9-to-5 jobs might spend the entire summer with their wife and children at the summer colony. The less affluent would only spend their one- or two-week vacation away from the city, often renting a room or a cottage at a summer resort or renting a stand-alone summer cottage for the one or two weeks. They would often rent the same cottage for the same two weeks a year. This pattern started to decline in the last quarter of the 20th Century as people work, social, and family patterns changed, as people became wealthier, and as travel became cheaper. Many of these historic communities are considered quiet bastions of

old money Old money is a social class of the rich who have been able to maintain their wealth over multiple generations, in contrast with new money whose wealth has been acquired within its own generation. The term often refers to perceived members of th ...

, though some, such as

The Hamptons The Hamptons, part of the East End (Long Island), East End of Long Island, consist of the town (New York), towns of Southampton (town), New York, Southampton and East Hampton (town), New York, East Hampton, which together compose the South Fork ...

, are now well known for their celebrity-driven social scenes. Additionally, their economies tend to be driven largely by this tourist trade, particularly those communities that are remote or on islands. Some summer colonies within sufficient proximity to an urban center, such as Lake Bluff, Illinois or Denville, New Jersey, may eventually become a year-round

commuter town A commuter town is a populated area that is primarily residential rather than commercial or industrial. Routine travel from home to work and back is called commuting, which is where the term comes from. A commuter town may be called by many o ...

, while retaining the original character. In

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

, the term

cottage country Cottage country is a common name in Ontario, New Brunswick, and other regions of Canada for areas that are popular locations for recreational properties such as cottages and summer homes. In the Greater Toronto Area, cottage country traffic r ...

is often preferred.

Well-known summer colonies in North America

United States

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

* Balboa Island *

Big Sur Big Sur () is a rugged and mountainous section of the Central Coast (California), Central Coast of the U.S. state of California, between Carmel Highlands and San Simeon, where the Santa Lucia Range, Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from th ...

* Avalon (an area in Catalina Island) *

Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe (; Washo language, Washo: ''dáʔaw'') is a Fresh water, freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the Western United States, straddling the border between California and Nevada. Lying at above sea level, Lake Tahoe is the largest a ...

*Lower Russian River Area * Malibu Beach Colony * Mendocino * Montecito (an area in Santa Barbara) * Newport Peninsula (an area in

Newport Beach Newport Beach is a coastal city of about 85,000 in southern Orange County, California, United States. Located about southeast of downtown Los Angeles, Newport Beach is known for its sandy beaches. The city's harbor once supported maritime indu ...

) * Stinson Beach *

Palm Springs Palm Springs (Cahuilla language, Cahuilla: ''Séc-he'') is a desert resort city in Riverside County, California, United States, within the Colorado Desert's Coachella Valley. The city covers approximately , making it the largest city in Rivers ...

Connecticut Connecticut ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York (state), New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. ...

* Litchfield * Candlewood Lake (an area in Danbury) *Blue Lake (an area in

North Stonington North Stonington is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States which was split off from Stonington, Connecticut, Stonington in 1724. The town is part of the Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut, Southeastern Connect ...

) * Fenwick (an area in Old Saybrook) * New London

Delaware Delaware ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic states, South Atlantic regions of the United States. It borders Maryland to its south and west, Pennsylvania to its north, New Jersey ...

* Bethany Beach * Dewey Beach * Fenwick Island *

Lewes Lewes () is the county town of East Sussex, England. The town is the administrative centre of the wider Lewes (district), district of the same name. It lies on the River Ouse, Sussex, River Ouse at the point where the river cuts through the Sou ...

* Rehoboth Beach

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...

* St. Simons * Sea Island * Jekyll Island

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

* Chain O'Lakes * Lake Bluff * Lake Forest

Maine Maine ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the United States, and the northeasternmost state in the Contiguous United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Provinces and ...

* Bar Harbor and

Mount Desert Island Mount Desert Island (MDI; ) in Hancock County, Maine, is the largest island off the coast of Maine. With an area of it is the List of islands of the United States by area, 52nd-largest island in the United States, the sixth-largest island in th ...

*The

Mid Coast MidCoast Council is a local government area located in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. The council was formed on 12 May 2016 through a merger of the Gloucester Shire, Great Lakes and City of Greater Taree Councils. T ...

, including Boothbay Harbor, Camden, Rockport and Islesboro * The Southern Maine Coast, including (from south to north) ** Kittery **

York York is a cathedral city in North Yorkshire, England, with Roman Britain, Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers River Ouse, Yorkshire, Ouse and River Foss, Foss. It has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a Yor ...

** Ogunquit ** Moody Beach (a section of Wells) ** Kennebunk/ Kennebunkport **

Biddeford Pool Biddeford Pool is a neighborhood within the city of Biddeford, Maine, named for a large tidal pool located off Saco Bay (Maine), Saco Bay south of the mouth of the Saco River. It is approximately southeast of downtown Biddeford, Maine, Biddeford ...

** Old Orchard Beach * North Haven * Vinalhaven * Winter Harbor, Grindstone Neck *

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...

Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a List of cities in the United Kingdom, city and non-metropolitan district in the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It is the county town of Cambridgeshire and is located on the River Cam, north of London. As of the 2021 Unit ...

* Easton * Ocean City * St. Michaels

Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

Cape Cod Cape Cod is a peninsula extending into the Atlantic Ocean from the southeastern corner of Massachusetts, in the northeastern United States. Its historic, maritime character and ample beaches attract heavy tourism during the summer months. The ...

Duxbury Duxbury (alternative older spelling: "Duxborough") is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. A suburb located on the South Shore (Massachusetts), South Shore approximately to the southeast of Boston, the population was 16,090 ...

Gloucester Gloucester ( ) is a cathedral city, non-metropolitan district and the county town of Gloucestershire in the South West England, South West of England. Gloucester lies on the River Severn, between the Cotswolds to the east and the Forest of Dean ...

* Great Barrington * Lenox * Manchester-by-the-Sea * Marblehead * Marion *

Martha's Vineyard Martha's Vineyard, often simply called the Vineyard, is an island in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, lying just south of Cape Cod. It is known for being a popular, affluent summer colony, and includes the smaller peninsula Chappaquiddick Isla ...

Nantucket Nantucket () is an island in the state of Massachusetts in the United States, about south of the Cape Cod peninsula. Together with the small islands of Tuckernuck Island, Tuckernuck and Muskeget Island, Muskeget, it constitutes the Town and Co ...

* Padanaram, South Dartmouth *

Plymouth Plymouth ( ) is a port city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Devon, South West England. It is located on Devon's south coast between the rivers River Plym, Plym and River Tamar, Tamar, about southwest of Exeter and ...

* Rockport * Beverly Farms

Michigan Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...

* Baldwin * Beaver Island *

Charlevoix Charlevoix ( , ) is a cultural and natural region in Quebec, on the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River as well as in the Laurentian Mountains area of the Canadian Shield. This dramatic landscape includes rolling terrain, fjords, headlands ...

* Grand Haven * Harbor Springs *

Mackinac Island Mackinac Island ( , ; ; ; ) is an island and resort area, covering in land area, in the U.S. state of Michigan. The name of the island in Odawa is Michilimackinac and "Mitchimakinak" in Ojibwemowin, meaning "Great Turtle". It is located in ...

* New Buffalo/Union Pier/Grand Beach * Lake Michigamme * Petoskey * Saugatuck * South Haven * Traverse City

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

Lake Minnetonka Lake Minnetonka (Dakota language, Dakota: ''Mní iá Tháŋka'') is a lake located about west-southwest of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Lake Minnetonka has about 23 named bays and areas. The lake lies within Hennepin County, Minnesota, Hennepin and ...

Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...

Lake of the Ozarks Lake of the Ozarks is a reservoir created by impounding the Osage River in the northern part of the Ozarks in central Missouri. Parts of three smaller tributaries to the Osage are included in the impoundment: the Niangua River, Grandglaize Creek ...

New Hampshire New Hampshire ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Gulf of Maine to the east, and the Canadian province of Quebec t ...

* Cornish * Jackson *

Holderness Holderness is an area of the East Riding of Yorkshire, on the north-east coast of England. An area of rich agricultural land, Holderness was marshland until it was drained in the Middle Ages. Topographically, Holderness has more in common wit ...

* Little Boar's Head * Sugar Hill * Wolfeboro

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

Listed from north to south: * Franklin Lakes * Denville * Rumson * Elberon * Deal * Allenhurst * Loch Arbour * Spring Lake * Sea Girt * Barnegat Peninsula, including: ** Point Pleasant Beach ** Bay Head ** Mantoloking ** Lavallette ** Island Heights * Long Beach Island, including: ** Barnegat Light ** Loveladies ** North Beach ** Harvey Cedars ** Beach Haven *

Brigantine A brigantine is a two-masted sailing vessel with a fully square-rigged foremast and at least two sails on the main mast: a square topsail and a gaff sail mainsail (behind the mast). The main mast is the second and taller of the two masts. Ol ...

* Longport * Avalon * Stone Harbor *

Cape May Cape May consists of a peninsula and barrier island system in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is roughly coterminous with Cape May County and runs southwards from the New Jersey mainland, separating Delaware Bay from the Atlantic Ocean. Th ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

Adirondacks The Adirondack Mountains ( ) are a massif of mountains in Northeastern New York (state), New York which form a circular dome approximately wide and covering about . The region contains more than 100 peaks, including Mount Marcy, which is the hi ...

Chautauqua Chautauqua ( ) is an adult education and social movement in the United States that peaked in popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Chautauqua assemblies expanded and spread throughout rural America until the mid-1920s. The Cha ...

* East Marion *

Fire Island Fire Island is the large center island of the outer barrier islands parallel to the South Shore of Long Island in the U.S. state of New York. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy once again divided Fire Island into two islands. Together, these two isl ...

** Cherry Grove ** Fire Island Pines * Fishers Island *

, including (depending on definition): **

Southampton Southampton is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Hampshire, England. It is located approximately southwest of London, west of Portsmouth, and southeast of Salisbury. Southampton had a population of 253, ...

**Water Mill, New York, Water Mill **Bridgehampton, New York, Bridgehampton **East Hampton (village), New York, East Hampton **Sagaponack, New York, Sagaponack **Sag Harbor, New York, Sag Harbor **Amagansett, New York, Amagansett **Montauk, New York, Montauk *Lake George (village), New York, Lake George *Lake Placid, New York, Lake Placid *Putnam County, New York **Brewster, New York, Brewster **Putnam Lake *Thousand Islands

North Carolina

Listed from north to south: *Roaring Gap, North Carolina, Roaring Gap *Little Switzerland, North Carolina, Little Switzerland *Bodie Island including: **Carova Beach, North Carolina, Carova **Corolla, North Carolina, Corolla **Duck, North Carolina, Duck **Southern Shores, North Carolina, Southern Shores **Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Kitty Hawk **Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, Kill Devil Hills **Nags Head, North Carolina, Nags Head *Hatteras Island including: **Rodanthe, North Carolina, Rodanthe **Waves, North Carolina, Waves **Salvo, North Carolina, Salvo **Avon, North Carolina, Avon **Buxton, North Carolina, Buxton **Frisco, North Carolina, Frisco **Hatteras, North Carolina, Hatteras *Ocracoke, North Carolina, Ocracoke Island *Crystal Coast including: **Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, Atlantic Beach **Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina, Pine Knoll Shores **Indian Beach, North Carolina, Indian Beach **Salter Path, North Carolina, Salter Path **Emerald Isle, North Carolina, Emerald Isle *Topsail Island including: **North Topsail Beach, North Carolina, North Topsail Beach **Surf City, North Carolina, Surf City **Topsail Beach, North Carolina, Topsail Beach *Figure Eight Island, North Carolina, Figure Eight Island *Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, Wrightsville Beach *Pleasure Island (North Carolina), Pleasure Island including: **Carolina Beach, North Carolina, Carolina Beach **Kure Beach, North Carolina, Kure Beach *Bald Head Island, North Carolina, Bald Head Island *Oak Island, North Carolina, Oak Island *Holden Beach, North Carolina, Holden Beach *Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, Ocean Isle Beach

Ohio

*Kelleys Island, Ohio, Kelleys Island *Lakeside, Ohio, Lakeside *Marblehead, Ohio, Marblehead *Middle Bass Island *South Bass Island *Vermilion, Ohio, Vermilion

Pennsylvania

*Pocono Mountains *Erie, Pennsylvania, Erie

Rhode Island

*Block Island *Little Compton, Rhode Island, Little Compton *Narragansett, Rhode Island, Narragansett *Newport, Rhode Island, Newport *Watch Hill, Rhode Island, Watch Hill

Virginia

*Colonial Beach, Virginia, Colonial Beach *Chincoteague, Virginia, Chincoteague *Deltaville, Virginia, Deltaville *Gwynn's Island *Hot Springs, Virginia, Hot Springs *Sandbridge, Virginia Beach, Virginia, Sandbridge *Warm Springs, Virginia, Warm Springs

Washington (state), Washington

*Seabrook, Washington, Seabrook* Rosario Resort and Spa, Orcas Island, was a hangout for John Wayne. The Wayne family's summers were often spent in the waters off the Pacific Northwest coast, from Seattle to the San Juans.

Wisconsin

*Door County, Wisconsin, Door County *Eagle River, Wisconsin, Eagle River *Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, Elkhart Lake *Green Lake, Wisconsin, Green Lake *Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, Lake Geneva *Madeline Island *Manitowish Waters, Wisconsin, Manitowish Waters *Minocqua, Wisconsin, Minocqua *Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, Twin Lakes

Canada

Prince Edward Island

* Cavendish, Prince Edward Island

Nova Scotia

* Bras d'Or Lake * Annapolis Royal * Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, Lunenburg County

New Brunswick

* Saint Andrews, New Brunswick, St. Andrews

Quebec

* Eastern Townships * Laurentides * Outaouais

Ontario

* Central Ontario, including: ** Parry Sound, Ontario, Parry Sound-District Municipality of Muskoka, Muskoka-Haliburton County, Haliburton ** Kawartha Lakes ** Bancroft, Ontario, Bancroft and Northern Hastings County ** Ottawa Valley * Eastern Ontario ** Rideau Lakes, Ontario, Rideau Lakes ** Prince Edward County, Ontario, Prince Edward County * Northwestern Ontario ** Kenora, Northwestern Ontario, Ontario

Manitoba

* Whiteshell Provincial Park * Division No. 1, Manitoba, Eastern Manitoba * Interlake region, Interlake *Riding Mountain National Park *Onanole *Wasagaming

Saskatchewan

* Prince Albert National Park

Alberta

* Banff, Alberta * Canmore, Alberta

British Columbia

* Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia * Lake Country, Lake Country, British Columbia * Whistler, British Columbia {{colend

Summer colonies outside of North America

The Philippines

* Baguio

References

Distribution of wealth Types of populated places, Summer Colony Lists of towns, Summer Colonies Resorts Summer