The days are getting longer, the weather is getting warmer, and you're craving a vacation.

Summer is just around the corner, and while the idea of travel may still be a distant fairy tale for some, let's not give up hope of jet-setting around Europe or going further afield for a beach break in a city.

While tanning is a big part of the summer experience, hanging out in the sun and taking the occasional dip in the ocean can get boring after a day or two, unless you have a great company, and a great book to read. Here are the top city beach breaks you don't want to miss.

1. San Francisco

Surrounded by some of the most remarkable settings in America, San Francisco offers more than just beaches. You're close to redwood forests, famous vineyards (Napa and Sonoma), and Yosemite. But let's explore what makes it such an ideal city beach getaway.

San Francisco has a range of top cultural activities to offer. The California Academy of Sciences is an absolute treasure for anyone interested in the natural world. With one ticket, you can enter the world's only aquarium, planetarium, rainforest, and natural history museum, all under one roof.

There's a Philippine coral reef, an earthquake simulator, about 40,000 animals, and this mysterious living roof we mentioned. And that's just a fraction of everything that's on offer. Walk through the rainforest environment, home to albino crocodiles, pythons, and a variety of other animals. Learn a thing or two about the prehistoric beasts that roamed the earth, and see birds swoop past unencumbered by cages. Afterward, head to an already amazing experience - the Living Rooftop Above Cherry. It's a 2.5-acre space atop a building with rolling hills that add a touch of surrealism.

The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art boasts a collection of more than 47,000 works, featuring names like Jackson Pollock, Frida Kahlo, and Andy Warhol. During your visit, you can also expect to see sculptures, installations, designs, and more multimedia art. If your idea of a good time away from the beach is a romp through one of the most prestigious galleries in the world, then San Fran is the place for you.

2. UAE

Most people's first impression of Dubai is that it's a rich city, with streets full of "tycoons," the world's tallest building - the Burj Khalifa, the sumptuous Sailboat Hotel, and the never-built World Island being the city's golden cards. Dubai not only has gorgeous skyscrapers, endless shopping malls, and great beaches for a vacation, but its tourism industry is also very well developed. Nowadays, nearly 25 million people cross the border at Dubai Airport each year, making it a world-class tourist city.

3. Vancouver

Located on the Pacific coast, Vancouver is a major port city in Canada and has been named the world's most livable city by UN-Habitat for many years. The city is surrounded by mountains on three sides and the ocean on the other, with the Pacific Ocean directly to the west. In the summer, the city is warm and comfortable, with temperatures usually around 20 degrees. There is no summer heat at all, and the key is that there are many world-famous beaches, such as English Bay Beach, Jericho Beach, etc., which are very suitable for a summer vacation.

We live on a blue planet, and the ocean accounts for a large area, although we can rarely feel the scenery of the center of the sea, go to the beach to embrace the sea, or do a very simple thing.