Outer Banks, North Carolina
It was at Kill Devil Hills in the Outer Banks that the Wright Brothers took their momentous first flight that changed the world in 1903. Today, these deliciously remote barrier islands in North Carolina continue to make history. The one and only Dr. Beach (AKA coastal expert Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman) put Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach at the very top of his annual list of America’s Best Beaches for 2022. Lighthouse Beach also made the top 10. Other superlative pursuits in the Outer Banks include hang-gliding at Jockey’s Ridge, the largest sand dune on the East Coast, as well as going to Cape Hatteras to climb North America’s tallest brick lighthouse.
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Mackinac Island, Michigan
Car-free, family-friendly, and charming, Mackinac Island in Michigan is brimming with fudge shops, colorful façades, and century-old lodgings. Grand Hotel is one such property that has been impressing residents and visitors alike since 1887 (its 660-foot porch is said to be the world’s longest). Mackinaw floats in Michigan’s Lake Huron and more than 80 percent of the island is part of the protected Mackinac Island State Park, meaning it’s well preserved for its humble population of 500 year-round residents. As automobiles have been banned since 1898, you’ll have to explore this Victorian-like island on foot, by bike, on horseback, or on your very own horse and carriage ride.