May brings the unofficial start of summer, and while we’re all for kicking the season off with a few lazy, barbecue-filled Saturdays and early beach trips, that’s just one way to spend the waning weeks of spring. Sunnier days and warmer temperatures make this shoulder season month a stealthily affordable time to enjoy major cities before the crush of summer crowds. And the natural world is just as alive with possibility, whether you’re chasing icebergs in Canada’s easternmost province or hiking to waterfalls in the Caribbean. Here, 12 destinations to make the most of your May vacation.