Escape to one of these 10 New England islands for your next vacation – USA Today 10Best

New Englands coastline is dotted with idyllic islands where flawless beaches are abundant and natural beauty is around every bend. Low-key island pleasures include salty sea swims, sandy sunset strolls and eating fresh seafood at casual lobster shacks.

It's a low-impact getaway, as a bicycle or your own two feet are favored methods of transportation. Islands have a remote, rustic feel and sense of seclusion thats a balm for these times. In truth, theyre easily accessible via causeway or breezy ferry ride.

If you're looking to satisfy your wanderlust on a getaway with plenty of nautical charm, consider these 10 scenic islands, all with hotels for a comfortable overnight stay.

Acadia National Park's rocky shores Photo courtesy of Visit Maine

Mount Desert Island is Maines largest coastal island. Home to Acadia National Park, its beauty is so intense it borders on mystical. Hikers, cyclists and horseback riders will find trails interlaced with wide carriage roads carpeted with crushed stones, winding past ponds and woodlands.

These Atlantic waters are a tad chilly for many swimmers, though nature cruises and lobster boat rides put you in pole position to glimpse seals, porpoises and whales frolicking.

Stay: Overlooking Frenchman's Bay in Bar Harbor, Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina is a relaxed retreat at Acadia National Parks doorstep.

Mohegan Bluffs Photo courtesy of Visit Rhode Island

Block Island is a nautical paradise with 17 miles of sandy beach, hundreds of freshwater ponds and water so blue that you might think youre in the Caribbean. With over 250 bird species landing here annually, its an avian wonderland. A web of walkways connects miles of unspoiled habitat with stunning vistas. Ponder the immensity of Mohegan Bluffs and hike rolling trails at Rodmans Hollow.

Foodies shouldnt miss a meal at Champlins Galley House, where the chef spins magic with just-caught seafood.

Stay: Overlooking Crescent Beach, Block Island Beach House has vintage-inspired rooms with sea views and a wrap-around porch. Warm hospitality wraps it in a bow.

Great Diamond Island Photo courtesy of Colwen Hotels

Great Diamond Island was once a retreat for American literary greats such as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Today, visitors may explore this car-free jewels Casco Bay landscapes and maritime tranquility on a bike or golf cart. Sheltered beaches, old-growth forest and historic Fort McKinley are just a speedy ferry ride from Portlands Old Port district.

Stay: Inn at Diamond Cove offers 44 condo-style units. A heated pool, firepit, tennis courts and restored turn-of-the-century duckpin bowling alley are surrounded by peaceful walking trails.

Edgartown Lighthouse Photo courtesy of Brand USA, Amon Focus

Old-fashioned lighthouses and pristine beaches are some of Marthas Vineyards seaside charms. Enchanting villages include Edgartown, its narrow lanes framed with dignified Greek revival homes once inhabited by whaling captains.

Kids (and kids at heart) will enjoy a ride on a painted pony at Oak Bluffs Flying Horses Carousel and a nostalgic nibble at Murdicks Fudge, where theyve used the same delicious candy recipes since 1887.

Stay: Edgartown Inns village location and farmhouse aesthetic are a winning combination.

Rocky beach on Peaks Island Photo courtesy of Visit Maine

Just a 17-minute ferry ride from Portland, Peaks Island feels a million miles away. Its a close-knit community with both rocky and sandy beaches and a quirky Umbrella Cover Museum, which is exactly what it sounds like. Swim or kayak to Catnip Island from Sandy Beach for an easy adventure.

Simple pleasures include enjoying a cup of island-roasted coffee at Peaks Island Coffee Roasters and a just-baked cinnamon bun at Peaks Caf.

Stay: Inn on Peaks offers seven cottage-style rooms with Jacuzzi tubs and private decks.

Steps Beach Photo courtesy of Jamie Holmes

Nantuckets cranberry bogs and windswept bluffs paint a dreamy panorama. Understated elegance and 82 miles of enviable coastline help to explain why loyal beachcombers return each year.

Shady bike paths are ideal for cycling. Pedal to Siasconset, a fairytale hamlet brushed with rose-covered cottages. Stop by the Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum and view unique hand-woven rattan and wood baskets that have been made here for centuries.

Stay: Occupying a prime in-town location, boutique Greydon House offers 20 stylish rooms.

Monhegan Island cottages Photo courtesy of Visit Maine

Monhegan Island is a rocky haven where lobster traps line unpaved roads leading to yesteryear villages, verdant meadows and high ocean cliffs. Known for its robust art community, watch artists create in their studios, visit a crafts co-op, and explore Monhegan Museum of Art & History. Build an appetite traversing miles of hiking trails and sample some of Maines freshest lobster.

Stay: Fall asleep to the sound of the sea at Monhegan House, a simple bed and breakfast with 26 rooms and lighthouse views.

View of New Castle Photo courtesy of Wentworth by the Sea

Located off New Hampshires 17-mile sliver of seacoast, New Castle captivates. Visit Fort Constitutions Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse and soak in history, as the American Revolutions first victory took place here. Stop by Great Island Common, a shoreline green space with sailboats breezing by.

Connected by bridge to neighboring Rye and Portsmouth, its perfectly situated to investigate Portsmouths dynamic food scene or jump waves at Jenness State Beach.

Stay: Upscale Wentworth by the Sea is nestled on flower-filled grounds with harbor views, swimming pools and delectable dining options.

Vinalhaven's granite shores Photo courtesy of Visit Maine

In the middle of Penobscot Bay sits Vinalhaven, an oasis of pink-hued granite that was once used to build important monuments throughout America. Home to one of Maines most lucrative fleets of lobster boats, its a working island with a vital year-round population that swells in summer.

Known for its commitment to conservation, the island's patchwork of walking trails is an excellent way to soak in suggestive scenery. When its time to cool off, jump in crystal-clear water at one of two refreshing swimming holes, Booths Quarry and Lawsons Quarry.

Stay: The Tidewater offers homey rooms, some with private terraces.

View from the inn's porch Photo courtesy of Chebeaugue Island Inn

Postcard-pretty Chebeague island is Casco Bays largest unconnected island. Crab traps hang from the dock, local children fish for striped bass, and harbor seals sun themselves on nearby rocks. At low tide, stroll over to Little Chebeague Island via sandbar. Come in summer and pick abundant wild blueberries until your fingers are stained purple.

Stay: Chebeague Island Inn has been thoughtfully restored to capture Maines commitment to fine craftsmanship. Stone fireplaces and local artwork give sense of place.

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Escape to one of these 10 New England islands for your next vacation - USA Today 10Best