Try These Non-Tropical Islands For Your Next Getaway

If you’d like to escape the rest of the world from the comfort of your own island paradise, you may want to trade out the overdone palm trees and white sands for a more unique version of an island getaway.

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The San Juan Islands, easily reachable from either Seattle or Vancouver, are the perfect destination for whale watching, kayaking, hiking and more. The pristine Pacific Northwest scenery offers every traveler an itinerary to suit them, whether it be biking through the historic towns, touring the local wineries or ziplining through untouched wetlands.

Prince Edward Island is located near Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, a quaint island with a distinctively New England feel. Sure, there are beaches, but the sands aren’t quite white and you won’t spot any palm trees. You’ll still find lots of water activities, though, and local arts and culture, golf and a fresh culinary scene focused on the region’s abundant seafood.

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The dramatic landscapes of the Faroe Islands can be the perfect setting for a reclusive getaway. Located between Norway and Iceland, the islands have a Viking history that only adds to the historic and romantic appeal. Visit ruins and homes dating back to the ninth century, rappel down natural rock walls overlooking the ocean or go sailing through the narrow straits.

If you’d rather head to the bottom of the world, book a trip to the Falkland Islands, where you’ll probably be the closest to Antarctica you’ve ever been, right off the coast of Argentina. Hang out with penguins, take a yacht around the archipelago, experience wilderness fishing or explore the historic battlefields of the Falklands War.