No Passport Required: Incredible Island Getaways in the U.S.

Just 22 miles off the Southern California coast, Catalina Island feels like someone dropped a slice of the Mediterranean into the Pacific. Here, palm trees sway over terracotta rooftops, golf carts outnumber cars, and the water sparkles in shades of blue so clear you’ll think you’ve been magically transported to Greece.

The island’s main hub, Avalon, is a technicolor postcard of seaside charm with pastel storefronts, an old-school promenade, and the iconic Catalina Casino (spoiler: it’s not for gambling, but it is for gawking). Snorkel or kayak around Lover’s Cove, spot bison on a hiking trail, or sip a cocktail with your toes in the sand at Descanso Beach Club—no passport or plane ride required.

It's probably no surprise that Puerto Rico makes our list of U.S. islands: it's spectacularly beautiful, it's just a few hours' flight from the East Coast, and it's a U.S. territory. And while the Isla del Encanto feels like another world (or at least another country), one of the official languages is English, and the U.S. dollar is the currency.

In this scenic port-of-call, a salty island breeze perfectly complements the 80-degree average year-round temperature. We love the miles and miles of white-sand beaches, Spanish architecture, and breathtaking natural wonders, including a beachfront rainforest and phosphorescent bay.

If you like a little more New England in your island, you're going to love the small enclave of Nantucket. With more than 100 miles of sandy coastline, a ridiculously quaint downtown, postcard-perfect architecture, and the softest, most photogenic sand dunes, Nantucket is one charming addition to our list.

Don’t worry about bringing your car over on the ferry—with 35 miles of bike paths, cycling is one of the best ways to explore the island.

Slow down. No, slower. There you go—total tranquility. Because in the Florida Keys, life moves at its own pace. Slowly, in other words. It's just the right speed to leisurely stroll miles of powder sands, ankle-deep in aquamarine sea. For spending an entire day diving, exploring, sunbathing, or swimming. For visiting art galleries, dolphin-watching, fishing, or restaurant-hopping. For doing everything or nothing at all.

An island in Michigan? You got that right. Charming Mackinac Island is like Hollywood's version of an old-fashioned seaside town. We're talking pastel, Caribbean-esque facades and homemade fudge, water-view golfing and Victorian everything. The 3.8-square-mile island is an ideal place to swap the car for a bike (there are no cars on the island), to explore limestone bluffs and waterfront hiking trails along picturesque Lake Huron. Spend a week here, and you may never again want to crack open your passport.

You may think you know the tropical side of our lovely nation, but you haven't seen paradise until you've visited the U.S. Virgin Islands. This Caribbean trio—St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John, to be specific, are home to transparent turquoise waters, lush greenery, and pillow-soft beaches white enough to be called pearlescent.

And did we mention, the weather in the U.S. Virgin Islands is perfect: 77 to 83 degrees on average, and slightly warmer (86 to 91 degrees) at the beach—just the right inducement to take a dip in the Caribbean. And if you like shopping, the capital city of Charlotte Amalie offers excellent duty-free goods.

If you grew up on the East Coast, chances are you have at least heard of North Carolina's Outer Banks. But for those who live mid- or west-, and for those who haven't ever visited, welcome to a slice of pure, seaside Americana. The Outer Banks are a nostalgic string of islands with their own mountainous sea dunes, iconic lighthouses, wide beaches, and fabled history.

The Hawaiian Islands are unlike any other place in the nation. Active volcanoes spewing red-hot, molten lava; jagged cliffs, plunging waterfalls, and many more spectacular sights are found here. Oh, and did we mention the beaches? They're mind-blowing. Not to mention, the water sports and the fishing and the food and the… well, everything. The trick is picking the island that best suits your vacation personality, whether it's bustling Oahu, the visually stunning Kauai, luxe Maui, or the super-chill Big Island.