Though gas is not nearly as expensive as it was a year ago, I’ve noticed that just in time for summer travel, it’s on the upswing again. Looking around for vacation options that would require little to no car travel, I am lucky enough to look no further than my back door. Islands offer the perfect setting for car-free vacationing and the Pacific Northwest has plenty of them—most of them reachable via Washington State ferry.
Though not everyone is fortunate enough to have islands at their backdoor, the U.S., despite our intense car culture, does offer a bevy of island destinations where getting around is strictly by foot, bike, or horse—and all of them are worth a visit.
San Juan Islands, WA
The San Juans are a cluster of 172 islands located about ninety miles north of Seattle. The three major islands within this cluster—Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan—offer direct ferry service to and amongst them. The San Juan Islands are some of the most picturesque islands on the West Coast, where Orca whale sightings are famous, sunsets behind the Olympic Mountains are nothing short of life altering, and views up into Canada from Mount Constitution, on Orcas Island, are panoramic. The islands are small, making bicycles an effective and fun mode of transportation.
The San Juan Islands are famous for their kayak tours, meaning visitors can see a lot without having to get in a car. On the island of San Juan itself, Friday Harbor offers kayak rentals for self-guided excursions—perhaps a day jaunt about the island. There are also guided multi-day excursions available. These tours can take you from island to island and incorporate wine/dinner trips as an option.
Moran State Park on Orcas Island offers hiking, swimming, camping, picnicking, and an environmental learning center. Also located on Orcas is Doe Bay Resort, where small cabins and yurts tucked into the trees are available for rent. There is a café on the resort, a small library, a general store, a yoga studio, and soaking tubs, making it unnecessary to leave. But do—Moran State Park and small shops are just a short bike distance away.
Santa Catalina and Santa Barbara, CA
When one thinks of California, car-free travel is about the last thing that comes to mind. However, Santa Catalina, which is just twenty-two miles off the coast of Long Beach, used to be a hotbed of Golden Era Hollywood activity and has retained its old-timey charm. The seventy-five square-mile island boasts a year-round Mediterranean climate and has no freeways. The main mechanized mode of traffic on the island is golf cart, but most people ride bikes or walk. There are restaurants, shops, and scuba diving available off the turquoise shores, along with kayaking, ocean rafting, glass bottom boats, parasailing, and fishing. Explore the island and you might be surprised to discover indigenous foxes, bald eagles, and bison reside there.
Just across the water and to the north is Santa Barbara, which does have freeways, but is looking to entice pedestrian vacationers by offering car-free districts. Offers are made to anyone showing an Amtrak ticket; the specials range from hotel and bed and breakfast deals to discounted kayak trips, museum entrances, restaurant meals, and even free bicycle rentals.
Mackinac Island, MI
Working our way inland, Mackinac Island, Michigan provides another car-free destination. In fact, cars were banned here in the 1920s. You won’t find golf carts, but you will find plenty of horses. Mackinac Island loves its horses so much, they prohibited use of all personal motorized vehicles. Horse drawn carriages are seen throughout the island and they are available to carry you about town and to ride as well. The world’s oldest and largest buggy livery is located on Mackinac Island.
The island is home to two butterfly exhibits filled with tropical gardens and hundreds of butterflies in all stages of life. Natural wonders abound, including boreal forests, 15,000-year-old limestone formations, and caves. Guided and unguided trail rides are available, along with carriage tours of the island. Lack of stable space prohibits bringing your own horse to the island, but there are plenty to rent. No trip to Mackinac Island would be complete without a visit to Mackinac State Park, where you can get around with carriage tours or by bicycle. The park also offers 2,250 acres of hiking trails and admission is always free.
