When most people think of exotic islands, they usually think of the Caribbean. Truth is, there are some really great island adventures to behold right here in the Northeastern United States. Much closer to home, islands such as Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard provide the quintessential New England experience.

Beachcombers' paradises, the islands of New England provide a serene backdrop to a lovely vacation. Low key but a feast for the senses, this underexplored corner of the United States serves up a wonderful way to luxuriate under the summer sun and enjoy a road trip.

Arranged like a northern Bermuda Triangle, these three islands are connected by a series of ferry routes and small airports to make traveling from locale to locale an easy and picturesque journey. Be aware that ferries and flights change depending on season and are much more frequent during the high season (late May to mid-October).

CAPE COD
(www.capecodchamber.org)
Cape Cod is not technically an island, although the Cape Cod Canal does separate it from mainland Massachusetts. This peninsula, jutting out into the waters off southeastern Massachusetts, has a discernible island feel and many small beach towns ripe for exploration. For me, the highlight has to be Provincetown. Located at the pointed tip of the Outer Cape, this beachside, artistic town is the epitome of Cape Cod island culture. Chockablock full of small cobblestone streets, fish houses and coffee shops, it’s as if a funky and hip downtown New York has been transplanted to or merged with a small fishing town. It’s a great juxtaposition. While here, make sure you visit Race Point Beach and its mile after mile of sandy dunes.

Other places to be sure to visit on this isle are the Cape Cod Maritime Museum, which chronicles the area’s seafaring heritage, and the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum, which features a multimedia exhibit on the life of our 35th president.

Stay at the Anchor-In in quaint Hyannis. Recently renovated, this cozy spot exudes the ultimate New England experience and is steps from ferries that go to both Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. Be sure to eat at Colombo’s Café, which serves the freshest Italian food I’ve had in years. Its chicken Sorrentino is alive with flavor.

NANTUCKET
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About an hour’s ferry ride from either Hyannis Port or Harwich Port (May to October only) and across the Sound from Cape Cod, Nantucket was originally an expansive whaling port with a history dating back into the 1600s. (Herman Melville’s classic tale Moby Dick begins here.) And because it is so historical, the whole island has been designated a National Historic District. Evidence of its storied history remains, most notably in its myriad seaside cottages and old-fashioned lamps lining the streets of its towns.

Now, instead of hunting whales, visitors to Nantucket find out that it is the perfect place for a day trip to espy these magnificent ocean mammals, or learn about them at the Whaling Museum. A highlight there is the skeleton of a 46-foot-long bull whale. Be sure also to visit Nantucket Town, the island’s hub for historical houses, shopping and fine dining.

For a totally amazing adventure, rent a 4WD vehicle and, legally, tear off along Nantucket’s beaches. Make sure your rental car has a beach permit (which might be added to your rental costs and which do not come cheap), and also study the list of dos and don’ts in regard to this activity. For some visitors, the idea of picking up a car at Nantucket Memorial Airport—after flying in from New York City—and then getting straight out on the sands is an incredibly tempting one. (Weekends—even day trips—are possible to all these three islands, even to Nantucket, the most far-flung one, but be warned, airplane seats sell out quickly. The ferry remains the more sedate way of arriving but definitely requires a weekend or long-weekend.

MARTHA’S VINEYARD
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Closer to the mainland than Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard is just seven miles off Cape Cod and also accessible by ferry or air. This island has six main towns, and their residents have included many famous writers, musicians, artists, architects and designers. That’s helped to create a great arts scene.

The Aquinnah Cliffs are the island’s true natural highlight. Created by glaciers 10,000 years ago, the cliffs are actually on Wampanoag Indian reservation land. Celebrated for their unique striated red clay walls, this area of cliffs also is known as Gay Head. Because of the area’s Native American heritage, Martha’s Vineyard is a treasure trove of indigenous crafts. The town of Oak Bluffs is home to the oldest working carousel in the nation, while Edgartown features numerous homes that once housed whaling-ship captains. Perhaps even Captain Ahab?

Another highlight is the Polly Hill Arboretum, which dates to 1958. Here you’ll see a variety of flora that is both local or from places as distant as Eastern Asia.

Stay at the Winnetu Oceanside Resort. Decidedly upscale, the resort features two outdoor pools, a private path to the beach and complimentary shuttle service to Main Street in Edgartown, among other perks.