The United States, a country-continent surrounded by two oceans, can also be visited offshore, a welcome little detour during a road trip on the west coast or in Florida, or a city break in New York.
Our selection invites you to explore five islands with strong character.
Visit Ellis Island in New York Bay, Nantucket in Massachusetts, Alcatraz and Catalina Island in California, and Sanibel off the coast of Florida.
To discover
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These small, typical islands have the advantage of being able to be visited for the day.
So many original excursions to add to your program.
The most historic: Ellis Island
More than 100 million Americans have at least one ancestor who passed through Ellis Island.
Marley White / NYC & Company
Ellis Island was not always this peaceful haven in New York Bay.
From the end of the 19th century until November 12, 1954, this island on the water's edge housed a huge reception center for migrants wishing to settle in the United States.
In almost half a century, more than twelve million people have landed here, most often from Europe.
With mixed fortunes: 2% of arrivals were forced to leave.
The island was restored in the 1980s and then transformed into a museum, under the leadership of the National Park Service.
The exhibition now tells the story of the migrants' journey, from their registration to the eventual delivery of the precious ticket allowing them to settle permanently on American territory.
How to get there ?
Ellis Island is accessible by ferry from the southern tip of Manhattan.
Departures from Battery Park daily, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in winter.
Price: $24 ($12 for children 4 to 12 years old).
Most picturesque: Nantucket
Nantucket's harbor hasn't changed much since New England times.
Luigi Chiesa
50 km off Cape Cod and the coast of Massachusetts, Nantucket seems frozen in the New England era.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, whaling was the island's main activity.
Nantucket is also extensively cited in
Moby Dick
, the famous adventure novel by Herman Melville.
Harpoons and other memorabilia from those days are now on display at the Nantucket Whaling Museum.
Measure yourself against the impressive skeleton of a fourteen meter long sperm whale!
Nantucket has established itself above all as a popular vacation spot, growing from around 10,000 residents in winter to 50,000 residents in summer.
How to get there ?
Hy-Line Cruises ferries take one hour to connect Hyannis to Nantucket.
Departures from 6:10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Price: $87 for round trip.
The most chilling: Alcatraz
The former Alcatraz penitentiary is located on an islet in the middle of San Francisco Bay.
Marco Verch
In the heart of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz is a windswept rock that is not very hospitable.
The American administration made no mistake by opening a military prison here in 1909 and then a high-security federal prison in 1934. Alcatraz then housed the toughest prisoners, including Al Capone, the king of the underworld. during the Prohibition period.
The spectacular escapes of inmates ultimately led to the closure of the prison facility.
The island has since been preserved as is and open to the public.
Visitors flock to take photos in the cells or enjoy the view of the bay from the steps of the promenade courtyard.
Here you are in the footsteps of Clint Eastwood, in
Escaped from Alcatraz
!
How to get there ?
The Alcatraz Cruises company operates rotations between San Francisco and Alcatraz.
Departures every day between 8:40 a.m. and 1:35 p.m. in winter.
Price: $42.15 ($25.80 for ages 5 to 11).
Also read: From San Francisco to Los Angeles, five stops not to be missed on Highway 1
The most natural: Catalina Island
At the end of the port, the imposing Catalina Island Casino, 12 stories high, is dedicated solely to shows.
Adobestock
Administratively, Santa Catalina Island is part of Los Angeles County.
In practice, this small island located an hour by ferry from Long Beach is a world apart.
This 35 km long by 13 km wide rock is home to lush flora and the local authorities emphasize the preservation of the environment with strict rules.
So, visitors are not allowed to drive on the island and the 4,000 permanent residents drive around in golf carts.
To discover the places, you must either walk or follow a guided excursion.
Before returning to the mainland, take the time to enjoy the terraces of the many bars and restaurants of Avalon, the unusual “capital” of the island.
How to get there ?
The quickest way to reach Catalina Island is to take a Catalina Express ferry from Long Beach.
Departures from Los Angeles from 6 a.m. to 3:50 p.m.
Price: $84 round trip.
The most heavenly: Sanibel
Sanibel Island appears as a long crescent 19 km long.
Brand USA
Off the coast of Fort Myers, Sanibel offers a postcard-worthy setting: crystal clear sea, endless white sand beaches, tropical vegetation and pictorial sunsets.
Above all, the island has proclaimed itself the “shellfish capital of the world”!
Its particular orientation in the Gulf of Mexico allows marine currents to drain more than 200 different species of molluscs onto its beaches.
Among the places not to be missed, lay your towel on Lighthouse Beach, Bowman's Beach and Tarpon Bay Beach, the three most beautiful beaches on the island.
Sanibel will also delight lovers of
snorkeling
(fins, mask and snorkel) and diving with easily accessible reefs and wrecks.
How to get there ?
Since 1963, a 5 km bridge has connected Sanibel Island to the mainland, the Sanibel Causeway Bridge.
Toll price: $6 per car, free for bicycles.
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