islands

The Overseas Highway connects Florida’s mainland to the Key Islands. The highway itself is impressive, spanning more than 100 miles and including 47 bridges. But beyond that, it’s a great way to see some of the best sights Florida has to offer.

“It’s a cross between Hawaii and Ireland;” that’s how the Azores (Os Açores in Portuguese) are commonly described. Owned by Portugal, these nine volcanic islands sit in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean about 1,500 kilometers (1,000 miles) west of the European mainland. The Azores are filled with typical island features: gorgeous beaches, streaming waterfalls, and natural swimming pools. But next to all this, you can also find lush pastures filled with cows, vast fields of tea plants, and stunning hillsides covered in vibrant blue hydrangeas. The Azores are unlike any place you have been, and once there, you may never want to leave.

The Island of the Gods. The land of a thousand temples. The island nation of Bali is home to many mystic and spiritual things. Probably the most visited tourist destination in Indonesia, Bali is home to seven key temples known as the seven temples of the sea. The temples are arranged in a visual chain, creating a circle of protection around the nation. The temples were built in the sixteenth century by Nirartha, a Majapahit monk, in order to honor the Hindu sea gods. Visitors often comment on the temples’ beauty and locations—and monkeys.

Twenty-year-old German composer Felix Mendelssohn is at sea more than 1,200 miles from home. The rough surf hisses and heaves, tossing the boat recklessly through the waves. Reaching what seems to be the edge of the world, he enters Fingal’s Cave on the coast of Staffa, a secluded Scottish island.

Kayakers in the cays can jump directly out of their boats and begin fishing for the day’s catch. Photo by Ryan BonneauPulled in by the promise of year-round perfect weather, pristine beaches, and tropical flora and fauna, vacationers flock to the Bahamas in droves—an average of over 4 million per year, 85 percent of whom come from the United States. Just 160 miles from Florida’s coast and featuring a major airport, Nassau, the Bahamas’ capital city, has long been a travel hotspot for tourists with money to burn.

The village of Santorini lies perched on a steep hillside. Photography courtesy of Denise Jones