1. Great Diamond Island, Maine
Twenty-five minutes from Portland, Maine, by ferry, this place is one of the most picturesque in the US and the quintessence of secluded Northeast living. Besides the views, what’s also special about this secret island is that only 77 people inhabit it. But wait, there’s something even more impressive: they navigate through the limited network of roads with bicycles and golf carts.
No cars are allowed here, which is perfect if you want to escape the grind of city life. You can traverse acres of old-growth forests, enjoy the sun on one of the island’s unsheltered beaches, or chill at the Inn at Diamond Cove.
Reading enthusiasts may want to know that Harriet Beecher Stowe and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, two literary greats, frequented this secret island, which was known as an artists’ retreat.
