Road Trips | Islands Edition

Let’s assume you’re reading this at work. Stuck in a cubicle the color of kitty litter. If you were to leave—just leave!—and get in your car rightnow, you could be soaking up sand, sun and slushy drinks by nightfall. On an island. No, not Mackinac—not that we have anything against tooling around in horse-drawn carriages. These four islands, all within driving distance, are a bit more obscure—from the one that serves beer in beach pails to the one that serves up quirky Canadian-isms (and a whole lot of local wine). Trust us, you won’t miss the palm trees.

Madeline Island

Tour sea caves, take shots at Tom’s Burned Down Cafe and train for a 2.1-mile swim across Lake Superior on this tiny Wisconsin island.

Beaver Island

“A whole lot of nothing” awaits on Michigan’s rural Beaver Island.

South Bass Island’s Put-in-Bay

Party down Key West-style or embrace local Lake Erie lore.

Lake Erie’s Pelee Island

Bring a passport to soak up this quirky Canadian respite.