• Introduction
• Islands with Natural Beauty
• Island Beach Retreats
• Grand Island Hotels
• Historic Islands
• Mediterranean Islands

Grand Island Hotels

Years of tradition inform every aspect of these pedigreed refuges, all inextricably linked with their island locales.

GRAND HOTEL
Mackinac Island, Michigan
From your vantage point on the 660-foot-long front porch, a scene straight from the 1880s unfolds: Couples promenade through rows of lilacs, horse-drawn carriages clip-clop by (cars are prohibited on the island), and a green lawn rolls down to the point where Lake Michigan and Lake Huron converge. Inside, renovated Victorian elegance abounds in 385 rooms with heirloom furniture. As the island’s meeting place for more than 120 years, tradition is paramount, so you’ll be served tea in much the same way it was presented to guest Mark Twain in 1895 (from $225/night per person; grandhotel.com). Getting There: Take the ferry from St. Ignace or Mackinaw City, Mich.

SPRING HOUSE HOTEL

Block Island, Rhode Island

The cupola-accented roofline and oceanfront lawn here have been the backdrop for Kennedy weddings, but 156 years of ocean-frolicking guests attest to an easy atmosphere that’s in line with the island’s laid-back vibe. Despite renovations, the 33 TV-free, fan-cooled rooms in the main building have retained their original, uneven floors, a show of character typical of the Spring House. The hotel’s welcoming attitude is best seen at the annual summer concert series that draws thousands to the front lawn (from $250/night; springhousehotel.com). Getting There: Take a ferry from Point Judith or Newport, R.I., or from Montauk, Long Island.

JEKYLL ISLAND CLUB

Jekyll Island, Georgia
It may be the smallest of Georgia’s barrier islands, but what Jekyll Island lacks in size it more than makes up for in grandeur. Pulitzers, Astors, and Rockefellers docked their yachts here throughout the early 1900s, and while the Club’s guest roster today is decidedly more inclusive, a game of croquet and high tea on the 240-acre estate is still on the agenda. A comprehensive renovation of this National Historic Landmark’s 157 rooms in the 1980s preserved the signature turret while returning robber-baron elegance to the dining room’s impressive marble fireplaces (from $189/night; jekyllclub.com). Getting There: From Brunswick, Ga., cross a causeway to Jekyll Island.

THE SAGAMORE

Green Island, New York
Although it’s deep in the Adirondack Mountains, the Sagamore is a far cry from the typical wilderness lodge. Grand Colonial Revival columns reflect its fabled history as a luxurious wilderness retreat for the Philadelphia and New York elite starting in 1883. Lake George, insulated by six million acres of state park, provides the stunning backdrop for the 72-acre resort (listed on the National Register of Historic Places), which was renovated in 2002. Stay active with a round of golf or a ride on the Morgan, the Sagamore’s replica 19th-century touring boat (from $239/night; thesagamore.com). Getting There: From Bolton Landing, N.Y., cross a bridge onto Green Island.

See Fort Lauderdale Travel Guide