Americans have undoubtedly held a long love affair with the automobile, but sometimes a good thing can just turn sour. Whether it's soaring gas prices or traffic congestion that have you ready to put the brakes on a car-centric vacation, or the prospect of dealing with a chorus of "are we there yets?" from the back seat, there’s no better time than the present to get a car-free vacation into gear. Happily, there are plenty of great U.S. locales where you can trade in the sound of car horns and sirens for quiet tranquility – and beat the pump, to boot. Explore these ten charming isles and mountain towns from a street-level perspective that no car ride can rival, plus throw in a kowtow to Mother Nature, as all of these sprees are carbon emissions free.