The America Islands that Feel Exotic to Visit

As much as we all wish to see every corner of the globe, it can be a challenge to do it all with limited funds and few vacation days. Seeing exotic islands either in the Caribbean or in Southeast Asia, for example, seem like fantasies. Luckily, the United States is diverse enough to offer an array of exotic locales, from golden beaches to volcanic islands. Let find out The America Islands that Feel Exotic to Visit below.

The America Islands that Feel Exotic to Visit

Dry Tortugas, Florida

Turquoise water, tons of green sea turtles and white-sand beaches with visibility seeming to stretch to forever. Sounds like the Caribbean. The Dry Tortugas, 67 miles off Key West into the heart of the Gulf of Mexico, pack epic snorkeling alongside southern stingrays, parrotfish and schools of Creole wrasse in one of the best U.S. islands. This is all just a ferry or seaplane ride from the Conch Republic.

San Juan Islands, Washington

With conifer forests thick along its coasts and a marine climate with cool summers and mild winters, the San Juan Islands of Washington state feel a lot like Norway. Both destinations are renowned for sea kayaking as well as whale watching tours, and, yet, the San Juan Islands are just a three hour drive and a ferry hop north of Seattle. Plus, with alpaca ranches and lavender farms covering the hillsides, the experience also includes a touch of Peru meets Provence. That is once of The America Islands that Feel Exotic to Visit.

Assateague Island, Maryland

Like Portugal’s Soajo Mountain, Maryland’s Assateague Island is home to wild horses more than 150 in total. These feral ponies have free range of the beaches, marshes and forests. For the best viewing, try the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge’s Wildlife Loop Road, a three hour walk. For a more unique spectacle, time your visit with the annual pony swim, held every July, wherein a group who call themselves the Saltwater Cowboys wrangle up the horses, leading them on a swim across the Assateague Channel.

Culebra, Puerto Rico

Travel to Puerto Rico for one of your next tropical vacations in the U.S. Culebra, a satellite island of Puerto Rico, is often referred to as one of the Spanish Virgin Islands and for good reason. Its sugar sand beaches are mostly undeveloped, lending it to the feel of Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands.

Elizabeth Islands, Massachusetts

Just south of Cape Cod lie the Elizabeth Islands of Massachusetts, including Penikese and Cuttyhunk, two of the only inhabited islands in the bunch not owned by the Forbe family. Cutthyunk, in particular, still exudes British flavor, carried over from 1602 when it was the first British settlement on the new coast.

Kauai, Hawaii

One of the wettest places on the planet, Kauai packs its mountains with unending greenery, punctuated by a dozen epic waterfalls. This makes the island every bit as lush and exotic as Tahiti but at a fraction of the flight time. Worth the splurge, a helicopter tour of the Na Pali Coast where Jurassic Park was filmed shows visitors more highlights than they could see in a week of hiking.

Aleutian Islands, Alaska

Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, a chain of 14 volcanic outposts that string out west of the state, remain one of the most remote places on the planet. Sea kayakers treasure the destination, willing to brave the inclement weather for chances to see grey, minke, orca, sperm and humpback whales, as well as walruses, seals and sea lions.
From these United States islands, it’s possible to view the Northern Lights year round. For those who aren’t into roughing it, know that there is lodging at places like the Grand Aleutian Hotel on Unalaska Island.

Cedar Key, Florida

Overwater bars weathered and leaning on stilts give the fishing village of Cedar Key off Florida’ Gulf Coast a back in time vibe, like that of Bocas del Toro, Panama. But, unlike Bocas, Cedar Key averages in the low and mid 80s, making for more pleasant conditions for sea kayaking, for which the area is renowned.
The Suwannee River empties into the Gulf roughly 10 miles north of Cedar Key, and the sound separating the two is lined with uninhabited islands, perfect for any boaters to enjoy day picnics and exploring.