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10Best Note: Be sure to familiarize yourself with local restrictions at each location and check with companies for the latest updates on openings/closings and guest needs before leaving.
You don’t want to fly to the Caribbean for a relaxing getaway on an island full of beautiful beaches and remote adventures. We’ve combined 10 of the most productive island getaways in the United States that you can reach by car.
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A relaxed island getaway within walking distance of downtown San Diego, Coronado Island has a long stretch of award-winning beach that shines in the sun thanks to a mineral in the sand called mica.
The small beach of the city is the best position to rent a motorcycle and explore the beautiful gardens. And if you spend the night, the historic Hotel del Coronado is a must.
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The Florida Keys are a necklace of tropical islands connected via the Overseas Highway, from Key Largo, just south of Miami, at the end of the road to Key West. In 2009, the highway known as “All-American Road”, the biggest popularity under the National Scenic Byways program.
The trail offers plenty of island getaways with a combination of emerald green harbours, turquoise seas, palm trees and wildlife-rich mangroves.
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Chincoteague Island in Virginia is more productively known for two things: generously salted oysters and its exclusive wild pony population. The island is a component of a 14,000-acre national retreat, meaning it remains perfectly underdeveloped.
The tours will offer the possibility to see wild ponies in their herbal habitat, or make a stop last July to see the local “saltwater cowboys” move the herd their annual pony.
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The tranquil beach of the city of Tybee Island is one of the most productive kept secrets in the entire Southeast American. This under-radar barrier island is located along Georgia’s pristine sea coast, just 30 minutes from historic colonial downtown Savannah.
It makes the ideal spot for every sort of beach activity, from beach-combing for shells along the secluded northern beaches to kite surfing and kayaking with dolphins from the wind-swept south end.
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Florida’s Marco Island sits along the Gulf Coast between Naples and the mangroves of the Ten Thousand Islands as they stretch into the Everglades. Here you can find perfect white-sand beaches along with some of the best beachfront dining in the state.
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Climb aboard a ferry from Washington State to Anancortes and you will soon land on the island of Orcas, a rugged, forest-covered gem on the islands of San Juan. Watch the whales to watch orcas peeking into the Emerald Sea or explore the lush forests for a stop at Cascade Falls in Moran State Park.
A walk to the mountain of the most sensible Constitution offers exceptional views of the islands and snow-capped peaks in the distance.
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Off the coast of North Carolina, the barrier islands of Outer Banks are connected via a coastal road, offering simple beaches and attractions, from Cape Hatteras National Seashore to the Wright brothers’ first flight site to Kitty Hawk.
Not to mention you will have miles of off-road beach and opportunities for fishing, surfing, diving and many other water sports.
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Mount Desert Island, Maine’s largest island, is a popular escape for those who need to escape. Those looking to cook can stay at Bar Harbor to see Millionaire’s Row properties and walk up to Cadillac Mountain. But nature lovers deserve to head straight to Acadia National Park, where they can explore lonely beaches and canyons dug into glaciers.
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The Thousand Islands in the promising State of New York is the thousand ishest dress house, which you can follow from its birthplace in Clayton, and are also found along the Great Lakes Seaway Trail, an iconic and picturesque road that runs along Lake Erie, Lake Ontario and the San Lorenzo River.
The domain is complete with activities, such as world-class fishing and bird watching. And don’t miss the opportunity to explore an exclusive pair of island castles, Boldt Castle and Singer Castle.
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Nicknamed “Key West of the Midwest” for its eclectic characters and lively nightlife, Put-in-Bay is a town on South Bass Island in the Ohio section of Lake Erie. A car ferry makes it easy to drive onto the island, and once there you can rent a bike, golf cart or scooter to get around the friendly town.
Adventurers can take a kayaking trip on the lake or visit Crystal Cave to see the world’s largest geode.