U.S. Islands to Visit for Relaxation & Adventure

Little St. Simons Island is well known for its worlds-away secluded appeal, gracious hospitality, and amazing natural beauty. One of the crown jewels of Georgia’s Golden Isles, the island provides visitors with 7 miles of beautiful beaches as well as 11,000 acres of wilderness for relaxation and exploration. Little St. Simons is a privately owned island and can only be reached by boat, allowing visitors to enjoy a unhurried coastal way of life and charm. Nature lovers will certainly appreciate the island with its host of naturalist-led and recreational activities, such as swimming, fishing, bicycling, hiking, tours, kayaking, and canoeing.

Assateague Island is a 37-mile-long barrier island, along with its surrounding waters and adjacent marsh islands, just off the coast of Virginia and Maryland, and the island’s visitors center can be found on the mainland. The island is made up of three different public areas: Assateague State Park, the Assateague Island National Seashore, and the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge. The Assateague National Seashore offers plenty of opportunities for recreational fun and exploration of the dynamic island, including swimming, fishing, hiking, and camping. The visitors center offers activities as well as various programs led by park rangers.

Situated approximately 12 miles off the coast of Rhode Island in the Atlantic Ocean is Block Island. The island offers visitors an amazing place for pure relaxation at a beautiful destination, something that seems to be getting less possible these days. Block Island is well known for its long stretches of public beaches, dramatic bluffs, crystal-clear waters, well-preserved wide-open spaces, and plenty of fun activities for people of all ages. For many years, it has been an oasis for visitors and locals alike, who have found an excellent quality of life on the island, where everything is slower, simpler, and more carefree.

Catalina Island is a haven for those who want to leave the chaos of their busy lives behind them for a bit and escape to a slower pace to life. The island has a storied and rich history; here, movies have been made, soldiers have lived, hospitality abounds, and couples have fallen in love. The southernmost island of California’s Channel Islands, Catalina is 22 miles from Los Angeles and consists of the towns of Two Harbors at the western end and Avalon at the eastern end. Outside these two towns, Catalina Island is filled with majestic beauty and rugged wilderness.

Fire Island provides the ultimate island getaway, offering pristine beaches with no pretension at all. Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and Great South Bay, Fire Island has long been a beloved destination for several generations of watersports enthusiasts, outdoor adventurers, and beach-goers.

The island is car-free and, subsequently, is without the chaos cars bring, offering an entirely different world from the nearby metropolitan life of New York City with its hustle and bustle. A visit to the island transports vacationers to nature, offering many different activities, such as kayaking, swimming, biking, surfing, hiking, tennis, and beach volleyball.

Jekyll Island offers a stunning combination of discovery and serenity, from its historical ruins to its sprawling sandy beaches. Located in the Golden Isles chain, the island is only a few miles away from Brunswick, Sea Island, and St. Simons Island. Jekyll Island is a state park as well as a coastal haven in which people and nature harmoniously exist together. Visitors will know they have arrived at a special place from the very moment they see the “turtle crossing” signs. The island consists of an ancient maritime forest and an oceanfront promenade, with a towering canopy of live oaks that draws visitors in.

The island of Hawai’i is the largest and also the youngest of the Hawaiian islands, and gets its nickname of the “Big Island” due to being almost twice as large as all the other islands in the Hawaiian chain combined. Due to the island’s elevation, visitors can journey through a number of different climate zones, ranging from the wet tropics to the tundra. Hawai’i Island offers an unparalleled display of nature’s magnificence, from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park’s molten magma to the snow-capped peaks of Mauna Kea to the jet-black sand of Punalu’u Beach to the lush Hamakua coast.

Amelia Island can be found along the coast of northeastern Florida. While the island is easily accessible, it is also nearly unforgettable. With its 13 miles of pristine beaches, clear waters, and abundant native animals, the barrier island has been a popular place to relax and have fun for both residents and visitors for quite some time. Local restaurants offer dishes made with fresh produce and seafood, ranging from casual outdoor cafés to bistros to fine dining. Visitors can cruise the waters and watch the sunset, cast a fishing line, paddleboard on the ocean waters, or kayak through marshes.

Kauai is the fourth largest island of the Hawaiian islands and is also known as the “Garden Island.” The northernmost and oldest island of the chain, Kauai is made up of jagged cliffs that have been aged by the elements and time, surrounded by sharp mountain spires and emerald green valleys. Cascading waterfalls, forking rivers, and tropical rainforests have been formed on the island over the ages. Visitors can enjoy hiking the trails of Kokee State Park, snorkeling at Poipu Beach, and kayaking along the Wailua River. Kauai also boasts a rich culture and a laidback atmosphere in the small towns.

Kiawah Island, located about 25 miles southwest of Charleston of the coast of South Carolina, is a haven of renowned hospitality and untouched beautiful nature for anyone seeking a luxurious and adventurous retreat from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The island features sand dunes, perfectly preserved maritime forests, and marshes in which seabirds, white-tailed deer, and turtles abound. Approximately 10 miles of beautiful pristine beach on the island are divided into two different areas, known as the West Beach and the East Beach. Beachwalker County Park provides the only public access to the beach on the island.