These summer-season islands are delightfully laid back in fall, winter and spring.
By Donna Heiderstadt, Islands
Summer-season
islands are typically overrun with tourists for three or four months a
year — as anyone who’s strolled around Nantucket in July can attest —
but they can be delightfully laid back in fall, winter and spring. Here
are five islands that welcome visitors in the off-season, so there’s no
need to wait until Memorial Day to enjoy them.
Vancouver Island – Canada
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A beach near Tofino on Vancouver Island
JoN Whittle
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[post_ads]There’s so much natural beauty — soaring pine forests, rocky
coastlines, picturesque bays — on this rugged island located to the west
of Vancouver, British Columbia, that it’s season-less. While summer draws active travelers looking to hike, surf, fly fish and whale watch,
winter also lures romantics seeking to snuggle, sip wine by a roaring
fireplace and gaze out at dramatic waves rolling in from the Pacific
(some 15-20 feet in height). Yes, storm watching is a thing, and it
peaks from December to February. And it’s hard to beat the view from the
Wickaninnish Inn in Tofino. Vancouver Island
is also home to the charming capital city of Victoria, and a
world-class dining scene (fresh oysters, local salmon and BC wine) that
makes it perfect for a Canadian version of hygge, the popular Danish notion of cozy camaraderie.
Nantucket, Massachusetts
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Nantucket's Brant Point Lighthouse decorated for the holidays
Courtesty Nantucket Island Resorts
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Looking to step back in time on a pre-Christmas getaway that’s fun, festive and full of charm? This Massachusetts island
may be more famous for its sand dunes and July 4th clambakes, but come
December the streets of its historic downtown are lined with hundreds of
decorated fir trees, setting the scene for the Nantucket Christmas Stroll,
a four-decade-long tradition that resembles a jolly block party of
holiday cheer. Shop, sip hot chocolate and mulled cider, join local
carolers and welcome Santa and Mrs. Claus who arrive via Coast Guard
cutter. Even after the Stroll weekend is over, you can peruse local
shops and galleries (most stay open through Christmas), take a beach
walk and visit Cisco Brewers to sip a Winter Shredder. Two top
properties remain open for most of the winter: The Nantucket Hotel and The Jared Coffin House.
Bermuda
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A harbor in Hamilton, Bermuda
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This 21-square-mile island is located 570 miles off the coast of
North Carolina in the Atlantic, so it’s high season is generally during
the summer months. But if golf’s your game, six world-famous courses and
mild winter temperatures (60 to 70 degrees) make Bermuda perfect for an off-season getaway. Even non-golfers can enjoy the island’s scenic beauty — pink-sand beaches, picturesque coves and charming cottage-style architecture — and relax during a spa
treatment, traditional afternoon tea or a tasting of Gosling’s famous
dark rum. History buffs can explore the island’s maritime legends,
shoppers can buy Bermuda-style decor or beachwear and foodies can enjoy the island’s seafood specialties (it’s spiny lobster season from September to March). Plus, there’s a resort to suit any style — including the Hamilton Princess for traditionalists, Rosewood Tucker’s Point for luxury-seekers and The Reefs for cliffside romance — all are open year-round.
Aquidneck Island, Rhode Island
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A mansion along the Cliff Walk in Newport, Rhode Island
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Never heard of it? This 44-square-mile island in Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay is home to the state’s most famous city: Newport.
And the off-season here has plenty to offer, beginning with the annual
Christmas at the Newport Mansions extravaganza. From Nov. 18, 2017, to
Jan. 1, 2018, three of the destination’s most famous historic mansions —
The Breakers, The Elms and Marble House — will be decorated to the hilt
with Christmas gilt. Newport also has a Holiday Stroll (the first two
weekends of December) featuring shopping, live entertainment, hot cider
and warm-you-up New England clam chowder. Newport puts on the glitz into
the New Year with the annual Winter Festival (Feb. 16-25, 2018)
featuring daily events that include ice sculpting, warm drink contests
and the Illuminated Garden in Ballard Park. The perfect spot to warm up:
a lavish suite at The Chanler at Cliff Walk, where the cozy bar beckons you to sip a hot toddy beside the antique fireplace.
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Long Island, New York
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A winery on Long Island's North Fork
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Planning a winter escape to New York City? Add to your enjoyment by
pairing one of the world’s most famous islands, Manhattan, with the
charming, farmhouse-lined landscapes of the North Fork on this
fish-shaped island to the east. While Long Island’s South Fork is
synonymous with summer (it’s home to the Hamptons), its North Fork has a
wine trail featuring more than 35 vineyards,
many with tasting rooms that are open year-round. Check out Raphael in
Peconic, Lieb Cellars in Cutchogue and Sherwood House Vineyards in
Jamesport. Check in at the Jedediah Hawkins Inn in Jamesport, offering easy access to several tasting rooms.
