Whatever type of trail you prefer, the good news is that many of them enable you to take a walk through a part of history. These are some of the most popular historical trails in Arkansas.

1. The Louisiana Purchase Boardwalk:

(photo by briser50)

This 30-minute boardwalk hike allows you to view the area where Louisiana Purchase was surveyed. The trail features numerous signs that provide interesting facts and information about the historical Louisiana Purchase. It’s also quite a scenic trail and very popular with nature photographers.

2. The Historic Van Winkle Trail:

(photo by www.arkansasstateparks.com)

This 30-minute hike, known as the Historic Van Winkle Trail, is able to tell the interesting tale of Peter Van Winkle, a 19^th-century lumberman, as it passes by historic mill sites and homes along the way. It’s just 10 miles from the town of Rogers and is located in the beautiful Ozark Mountain region. It’s about 1.5 miles in length and situated in the lovely Hobbs Park conservation Area and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

3. The Knapp Trail:

(photo by jcbrandon)

This trail takes about 45 minutes to hike and features a boardwalk which is surrounded by several Native American mounds. This area was inhabited hundreds of years ago by Native Americans and the hike takes you back in time. This historical and scenic route can be found in Toltec Mounds Archeological State Park, which isn’t too far from the city of Little Rock.

4. The Tollantusky Trail:

(photo by www.arkansasties.com)

This 60-minute hike tells the interesting tale of early 19^th century Arkansas settlers. It follows the mighty Arkansas River down to the Cadron Settlement. The views of the river from the overlook are quite fascinating and mighty impressive. The trail can be found near the town of Conway, close to the Toad Suck Ferry region.

5. The Bear Hollow Trail:

(photo by www.city-data.com)

This relaxing hike can be found in the attractive Mount Magazine State Park. It’ll take you past some popular and scenic spots such as Sunrise Rock and Inspiration Point. The trail is located close to the town of Paris, in the picturesque Arkansas River Valley.

6. Indian Rock House Trail:

(photo by viewsfromtheopenroad.blogspot.com)

This rustic nature trail takes between three and five hours to complete. It’s a wonderful forested area with quite a variety of wildlife. You’ll place a former Native American shelter known as Rockhouse Cave. This pretty trail is close to the town of Yellville, near the Buffalo National River region.

7. The Rush Mountain Trail:

(photo by hikingtheozarks.com)

 It takes about three to four hours to hike this historical route, which is also located near the Buffalo National River region. It takes you past several charming buildings that were constructed in the area in the 1880s when it was filled with zinc ore mines. The views of the Buffalo River are also amazing.

8. The Seven Hollows Trail:

(photo by arklahomahiker.org)

This trail sits in Petit Jean State Park and takes about four hours to complete. It’s a spectacular hike that takes you past numerous prehistoric Native American sites. Some of the most popular spots on the walk are a box canyon, a natural stone arch, and rock shelters.

There are two major nature trails in the nature reserve. These are the Dikop Trail and the Grysbok Trail. The Dikop Trail, which is about 14 miles in length, gets its name from a nocturnal bird. If you want to hike the whole trail it’s a good idea to start out pretty early in the day.

(photo by fihliwe)

You will see quite a lot of interesting flora on this walk and you will also get some magnificent views of the coast. There’s a bird hide along the way where you can stop and check out the assortment of water birds that gather on the lake below.

There is a shorter version of this trail which is about six miles long. But the trail in general is a bit more strenuous when compared to the Grysbok trail. You will have to climb up some pretty steep sand dunes, but if you’re in reasonable shape you probably won’t find it to be too difficult. If you take the short version of the trail you won’t get the ocean views from the high cliffs that you see on the long version.

The Grysbok trail is a bit of an easier hike as it travels through a salt pan and along a crest of dunes. This area can get a bit boggy if it’s been raining. It’ll take you through some curves and twists and eventually to the beach. Some of this area is restricted as it’s used as a breeding ground for several types of birds such as the Black Oystercatcher, which is an endangered species.

If you’re lucky you might get to see some whales when you reach the coast. The trail will then head back and wind through some bushes and a wetland area. There are more species of birds here, especially during the breeding season, including weavers and red bishops.

You will see all types of amazing African animals in the Koeberg Nature Reserve. These include bontebok, zebras, eland, springbok, and impala, which are all original indigenous animals to this specific area.

You will be able to get some fantastic photos of these animals as long as you stay on the marked pathways. Just be aware that these particular animals aren’t shy or afraid around people. You’ll be able to see the majority of the game animals when hiking along the Dikop trail.

Both of the trails in the reserve are ideal for bird watchers as there are all types of species all over the area. If you keep your eyes peeled in the low bushes as well as in the sky you’ll have no problem spotting a variety of them. Keep on the lookout in the sky for some raptors.

When hiking either of these trails it’s a good idea to take along some water and food inside of a backpack. It can get pretty out in the reserve so make sure you don’t forget sun block and a hat. You will regret it if you don’t take along your camera and a pair of binoculars. There are a few pests along the way, especially in the bushes, such as ticks. If you go there prepared you should experience a once-in-a-lifetime adventure at the Koeberg Nature Reserve.

You’ll be able to hike the trail and come back, but if you would prefer to go just one way there is a shuttle service which lets you achieve this. It takes you through some exciting desert landscape close to the Gunnison River.

(photo by markbyzewski)

You will begin the hike by climbing up to the top of a small hill. When you reach the top, the beautiful canyon will be to the left of you. Here, you will find an information sign along with a trail register.

The trail then takes you through the canyon until you reach the end of it. You will come across a few sections of the trail where it could be blocked by boulders and rocks. When you reach these areas you’ll have to climb to the top of the slopes on either side of you. In other sections of the trail you’ll be passing between walls of rock as well as forested and open areas.

The total length of the hike through the canyon is about three miles and there is about a 600 foot gain in elevation along the way. You’ll find the Smith Mountain Road on the way and this is where you can catch the shuttle vehicle if you like. Most of the rock formations in the canyon consist of coal, sandstone, and shale. You’ll come across Dakota Formations as well as Burro Canyon Formations.

Both of these types of rock formations made their way to this area millions of years ago in the Lower Cretaceous Period. There is a great variety of animals in the area. These include Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, black bears, mule deer, bobcats, mountain lions, foxes, coyotes, rabbits, and squirrels.

You may also come across several types of snakes and lizards along the hike since they live in Cool Rock canyon. One of the species that makes its home here is the pygmy rattlesnake, which is now endangered.

Along with the selection of animals you’ll also see quite a few different species of birds of prey, with many of them being birds of prey. These include creatures such as kestrels, falcons, red-tailed-hawks, bald eagles, and golden eagles. The different types of plants you’ll be able to view are scrub oak, juniper trees, Mormon tea, and a selection of grasses and cactus.

It’s a splendid hike, but this part of America can get pretty hot once the sun gets high in the sky. The most comfortable time of the year to try it is during the spring and/or autumn time. At this time of the year it’s usually not too cold or hot. It’s not a good idea to make the hike during thunderstorms or rainstorms since there are several areas along the way that can hold the water. This will make it difficult to escape the rising water in the steep terrain.

The Cool Rock Trail isn’t really hard on the legs and the rest of the body and you can always turn around and go back if you feel you’ve gone as far as you can go. It’s quite an interesting trail and this part of western America offers some of the nation’s most spectacular scenery.

(photo credit: barkochre)

The Bibbulmun Track starts off in Kalamunda, which is just north of the major city of Perth. It winds its way through the South West and then down along the South Coast and ends up in the town of Albany. If you want to conquer the entire hike it can take anywhere between about 6 and 8 weeks. However, the track is also divided into different sections for those who want to hike certain parts of it. If you decide to tackle the whole 600 miles of trail, there are plenty of places to stop along the way for a rest as there are close to 50 different camp sites on it.

Another popular hiking trail is known as the Cape to Cape. This path is about 84 miles long and starts off at the lighthouse in Cape Naturaliste. It travels over the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge and then winds up at Cape Leeuwin. There are several campsites along the way and the entire hike usually takes between five and eight days to complete. This trail is also divided into smaller sections if you’d like a shorter hike.

The trail offers some exceptional coastal and forest scenery as much of it is along the coastline. You’ll also see plenty of headlands, cliffs, rock formations and caves on the walk.

At 3 miles long, the Bluff Knoll Bush Walk isn’t as long as the Cape to Cape and Bibbulman trails, but it’s just as exciting because of the awesome views. This hike travels through the beautiful Stirling Ranges, which are on the Southern Coast just north of Albany. There’s plenty of wildlife along the path, with reptiles and birds everywhere. It’s especially amazing from August to November because of the added beauty of the wildflowers. However, if you’d like to try longer hiking and camping trips in the Bluff Knoll, they’re available, just make sure you can handle the cold nights.

The Meelup Reserve Trail is 9 miles long and another wonderful Western Australian coastal hike. It starts out in Dunsborough and finishes in Meelup. If you’re lucky you may catch a glimpse of seals, whales, and dolphins along the way as well as a variety of land animals, snakes and birds.

For those who like riverside trails, you’ll be interested in the Luke Pen Walk, which is also on the South Coast near to Albany. This trail follows the Kaglan River and is about six miles long. It takes about four hours to complete and offers splendid views of the countryside and river.

If you’re just out for a pleasant day and aren’t looking for a long hike you can head over to Crooked Brook Forest near the town of Bunbury and enjoy the Forest Path. This is a short concrete path that travels in a loop. It’s ideal for people who aren’t very mobile and offers barbeques and picnic tables. There are also some longer hiking trails at Crooked Brook with the longest being about six miles. There are plenty of other fine trails in the South West region of Australia, such as Nancy’s Peak, the Margaret River trail, Oak Grove Walk, and Mount Frankland.

The reserve is 378-hectares in size and its rolling terrain sits inside of the Niagara Escarpment, but more specifically in Hockley Hills, which is about five miles north of the charming town of Orangeville. Hockley Valley, like its neighbor, the Mono Cliffs Provincial Park, belongs to the Niagara Parks System. UNESCO has designated it as a Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve.

(photo by the_girl)

The first thing you’ll notice when entering the nature reserve is the gorgeous tributary valley which is filled with lowlands forest and several rippling streams that are trying to flow their way into the nearby Nottawasaga River. There are several hiking trails that take you through meadows and woods and over and across several dales and hills.

The region around Hockley Valley has been sculpted out by ancient glaciers and the water erosion that was created when they melted. The hilly profile of the reserve has resulted from sand and gravel deposition that was also caused by the retreating and melting glacial ice.

Ontario Parks has classified the park as a nature reserve since it represents Ontario’s distinctive landforms and unique ecology. In addition, the tributaries in the bottomland forest are an essential water source to the local region. You’ll also come across some pretty rare plants when enjoying the cool forest, rolling terrain, and streams of the reserve.

These include the Cardamine bulbosa (Cuckoo Flower), the Viola adunca (Hooked Violet), and the endangered Juglans cinerea (Butternut Tree). Some rare animals can also be found in the reserve such as the Northern-Long-Eared Bat, Jefferson Salamander, and Northern Brook Lamprey. These are all pretty rare in most of the province.

When it comes to hiking, there are close to 10 miles of well-maintained trails inside of the reserve. Some of the famous Bruce Trail also runs through the park as well as quite a few side trails that branch off of it and form loops. Some of the best of the side trails include Glen Cross, Snell Loop, and Tom East. None of them are really hard to navigate, but you will find that you have to do a bit of hill-climbing and descending on most of them.

Overall, you need to be in pretty decent shape to negotiate the trails in the Hockley Valley Reserve. Crossing over streams and other water areas isn’t any problem at all as there are some excellent bridges in the reserve. However, some of the low-lying areas are prone to flooding when the winter snow melts and the spring arrives. This can make hiking a little trickier, but if the region does flood, it’s usually quite minimal.

Hiking through the reserve during any season of the year is an enjoyable experience and you can find a detailed map of Hockley Valley and its hiking trails on the internet. It’s also a pretty easy place to get to if you’re driving as it’s relatively close to Toronto, which is Ontario’s and Canada’s largest city. It’s just north-west of Toronto and the trip is mainly highway driving.

The parking in the reserve area is free of charge, but there aren’t any visitor facilities on hand. It’s basically a pure wilderness area and an excellent one at that.

1. The Tian Shan Mountains, Kyrgyzstan

(photo credit: dnevill)

Once you reach this former Soviet nation you’ll realize it’s a bit off the beaten path when it comes to tourism. However, the mountainous landscape and virgin forests are simply amazing. If you head to the north-eastern part of the country you’ll find the mountain range is ideal for trekkers who are hoping for a challenge. A visit to Issyk Kul is also a must since it’s the second biggest alpine lake in the world. This trekking location will also enable you to view the nomadic style of life that many of the residents live by.

2. Ladakh, India

(photo credit: caffeineam)

The hiking trails of Ladakh are suited for more experienced hikers and trekkers. The trails are pretty much underdeveloped and you may need the help of a horse and/or guide to help get you through them. You’re free to explore the trails on your own, but if you do, be very careful. Many of the routes take you through some pretty remote villages as well as some high mountain sides. The area offers an exceptional cultural and scenic experience.

3. The Tatra Mountains, Slovakia

(photo credit: asturdesign)

These are the highest mountains in the Carpathian range and they form a natural border Poland and Slovakia. It’s a popular area with skiers in the winter, but pretty isolated during the rest of the year. The mountain peaks create some wonderful valleys and you’ll come across some scenic glacial lakes and waterfalls here. The Orla Perc trail is considered the most challenging and is designed for experienced trekkers only.

4. The Simien Mountains, Ethiopia

(photo credit: travel_aficionado)

These mountains offer some amazing scenery and wildlife. You’ll be able to see some animals that are unique to this part of the world. These include the Gelada Baboon, Walia Ibex, and Caracal as well as unique types of wolves. The landscapes have been created by seismic activity over the years and the views are second to none with numerous monoliths, ravines, deep ridges, waterfalls, and canyons. Trekking here is a truly amazing and unforgettable experience.

5. The Caucus Mountains, Georgia

(photo credit: anabadili)

The Caucus Mountains feature diverse landscapes and climates. You’ll find everything from glaciers, to marshes and meadows. The country is pretty secluded due to the nearby Caspian and Black Seas. This makes it an ideal place to explore if you’d like to be away from the crowds. You’ll find plenty of gorges here along with traditional medieval towns and villages. There are some beautiful historic stone churches in the mountains’ foothills.

6. Patagonia, Chile

(photo credit: worldresourcesinstitute)

This mountainous region is largely unspoiled and filled with fantastic meadows, waterfalls, rivers, crystal clear lakes, and glaciers. In addition, the mountains are pretty close to forested areas, the dry Pampas, and grasslands. With ecosystems are very diverse in this part of South America, which makes Patagonia one of the world’s most beautiful and exotic destinations.

The days are also pretty long in this part of the world because it’s quite a way south from the equator. You’ll find that many of the days enjoy about 18 hours of sunlight during January and February. One of the best areas to visit is Futaleufu Valley as it’s quite secluded.

It’s important that you stay hydrated while heading out on a hike. It’s often hard to predict how hard a hike might be and you might underestimate its difficulty. You need to make sure you have enough water with you at all times. If you start to get dehydrated you may suffer some symptoms such as muscle cramps, dizziness, nausea, and perhaps even heart palpitations.

You can never have too much water with you. If you get any of these symptoms while hiking make sure you stop and drink some water.

If you don’t have any left, then it’s time to pack it in and head back to your campsite as quick as you possibly can.

Another priority when taking a hike is clothing. Make sure you’re dressed properly for the physical conditions and the weather.

The weather can change drastically even on a short walk, especially if you’re in a high altitude. Storms and cold temperatures can appear before you know it, so it’s important to have something with you to keep you dry and warm. You need to keep your body temperature at the proper level when hiking.

If you end up getting soaked in the back country then it’s too late to think of clothing. You’ve already gone as far as you should go as being cold and wet could lead to hypothermia. If you’re out in the woods and a storm strikes you need to take cover wherever it’s safe. If you end up getting soaked head back to camp and if there’s any sunshine at all make sure you walk in it.

While hiking can often lead to some closeup encounters with beautiful animals such as deer, remember they’re in their natural habitat and you aren’t in yours. It can be tempting to get as close as possible to some types of animals, but you could scare them and you never know how they’re going to react.

In addition, if it’s a baby animal then there’s a good bet that the protective parents are somewhere in the vicinity too. Keep your eyes out for animals, especially bears, and if you suddenly find yourself surrounded by an unusual number of them of if they’re acting strangely, you might want to turn back.

You also need to keep on the beaten path as much as possible when hiking in the wilderness. Don’t stray too far from it or you may never find your way back to it. Marking the path is always a good idea if you’re going to be returning on the same route. You can use anything you can find to do this.

If you happen to get lost or lose the trail for any length of time, you can’t assume that you’re going to meet up with it again. You should always have some type of map, compass, and communication device when taking long hikes in the woods. If you get lost and you suddenly find the trail again, it’s a good idea to head back.

These are just a few of the things that will make your hike safer, but there are many other safety guidelines you should follow, such as taking an emergency kit and first aid kit with you.

The wilderness park sits in the North Cascades region of British Columbia and is filled with turquoise lakes, jagged peaks, spectacular ridges and alpine meadows. The main hiking area is about 10 miles from where you have to leave your car and is mostly uphill.

(photo credit: iwona_kellie)

It takes between six and eight hours if you want to backpack the route up an access trail or you can catch a ride from Cathedral Lakes Lodge as they offer campers a ride up the hill for a fee. However, there’s no cost if you’re staying at the lodge.

Once you reach the park you’ll find there are three different campgrounds to choose from. The most popular one is located at Quiniscoe Lake, which is actually just a five-minute hike from the lodge. This ground offers 30 campsites that are all snuggled in against the wonderful lakeshore. The campground offers pit toilets, tent pads, fire rings, food caches, and picnic tables. The park’s ranger station also sits on the edge of this campground.

If you’d like to be a bit more isolated when camping, you can hike about 20 minutes further and you’ll find the Lake of the Woods and Pyramid Campgrounds. Lake of the Woods offers 28 campsites while Pyramid has another dozen. These campgrounds don’t offer fire rings and picnic tables, but the views are fantastic and the grounds are quite tranquil.

The park offers an exceptional network of hiking trails and they can also be accessed from the campgrounds. There are several types of trails available that are suitable for beginners and experts. Some of them are quite flat trails around the lakes and others are more challenging as they cross over rougher terrain. You can easily spend a few days exploring all of the different hikes.

You can start and finish some of the best routes from the Quiniscoe Lake campground. These will offer you some awesome views of the lakes as well as the Coast and Cascade Mountains. You’ll be able to wander around the beautiful meadows and wildflowers when you reach Scout Mountain and take in the views of the Okanagan Valley from the top of Red Mountain. The scenes from Quiniscoe Mountain are also jaw-dropping.

If you happen to be at Cathedral Provincial Park on a dull or overcast day then one of the best hikes from the campground is the five-mile roundtrip to Goat Lake. It’ll take you alongside Lakeview Creek and then through an alpine valley. The scenes are perfect for misty days as you’ll see the craggy and rocky peaks of Denture ridge and Grimface Mountain high above.

If you’d like to enjoy a short hike, you can head over to Glacier Lake, as it’s less than two miles roundtrip. The waters are a wonderful shade of blue and green and the scenery is superb. To get to the park, you’ll enjoy a four- hour scenic drive from Vancouver. It’s located about 20 miles southwest of the town of Keremeos.

(photo by dogwoodinitiative)

1. Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia, Canada

The Great Bear Rainforest on Canada’s West coast is probably one of the only rainforests in the world that houses bears. There are no roads in the forest because it’s just too rugged. There are hotels that actually sit on barges and they’re towed into the region when winter disappears. You can take a guided seven-day trip in the forest to view grizzly bears. You’ll also find the spirit bear in the region, which is basically an albino black bear.

2. Australia

While many people associate Australia with the Outback and dusty trails, you’ll find some excellent rainforests in the North Eastern area of the country. These are home to snakes, frogs, and crocodiles. In addition, if you head to Port Douglas, you’ll find that over half of Australia’s bird species can usually be found within 100 miles of the town. Some of the best sports include Cape Tribulation and Daintree National Parks where you’ll find black swans, rainbow lorikeets, blue-winged kookaburras, and manikins.

3. River of Caves, Belize

The rainy season in Belize is between July and December. This is an ideal time to head though the River of Caves which lies underneath the jungle of Belize. There’s a seven-mile long river which you can tube down and explore. You can also get guided tours where you’re shown how to survive in the wilderness by building shelter, finding food, and brewing medicinal teas. You can also relax above the Caves Branch River in a jungle tree house.

4. The Amazon, Peru

The best way to explore the amazing rainforest in the Amazon in Peru is to take a seven-day cruise on a riverboat. These vessels can hold up to 30 people and they’ll paddle through jungle lakes and rivers. You’ll be able to fish for piranhas and meet the local indigenous residents. You’ll also head through the jungle and look for iguanas and sloths and enjoy the warm waters of secret local swimming holes.

5. Tijuca National Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

This spectacular national park is the biggest urban rain forest on the planet. It’s only about a 25 minute drive from Rio de Janeiro. The forest features over 30 waterfalls and is home to a variety of birds, butterflies, and monkeys. The views of the city below are also amazing. You can hike through the forest and then head to the top of Corcovado Mountain to visit the huge Christ the Redeemer statue. You will be able to find Jeep tours of the forest as well.

6. Tongass National Forest, Alaska, USA

This is the biggest national forest in America and features some unforgettable scenery due to its diverse landscapes. You’ll be able to canoe with otters and whales in the forest’s misty fjords and bike through the historical ghost towns of the Gold Rush era. The salmon fishing is splendid and you’ll be able to raft down rivers and take dogsled rides to Mendenhall Glacier. Kayak tours are also available.

7. Madagascar, Africa

Madagascar is a beautiful isolated island that sits in the Indian Ocean just off of the coast of Mozambique in Africa. Mother Nature has done an excellent job here as you’ll find there are about 150,000 different types of animal species here that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. These include a wide variety of frogs, cockroaches, and lemurs. The rainforest also features some wonderful white sandy beaches that are surrounded by palm trees.

1. The San Juan Islands, Washington, USA

(photo credit: kitby)

These wonderful Islands lie in the Puget Sound between the Canadian province of British Columbia and the Western American state of Washington. There are over 400 Islands in the archipelago, but just a handful of them are actually inhabited. The only ways to reach them are by water or air. You can take autos on the ferry and leave them there or just walk on.

The Islands are very popular with nature lovers, boaters, and cyclists. Orca whales are common in the nearby waters and you’ll be able to camp out, sleep in bed and breakfast or find a luxury resort.

2. Koh Lipe, Thailand

(photo credit: chrisgusen)

This gorgeous Island is located about 30 miles off of Thailand’s Southwest coast. It’s one of many Islands in the area that are well known for their amazing beaches and friendly residents.

You can explore the different beaches by boat. There are plenty of rustic bungalows for accommodation and a day trip to Ko Tarutao National Marine Park is a great idea. You’ll be able to see colourful coral reefs and tropical fish as well as other types of interesting marine life. It’s a superb spot for snorkeling due to the crystal-clear waters.

3. Hydra, Greece

(photo credit: mascardo)

This fantastic piece of land is about two hours by hydrofoil from the mainland city of Athens. It’s car-free and beautiful. The harbour and whitewashed buildings are inspiring and the way of life is simple. If you’d like to explore the countryside just make your way from the bustling waterfront. It’s an ideal location for exploring, swimming, and just relaxing.

4. Molokai, Hawaii

(photo credit: patrickmcnally)

This is probably the most peaceful major Island in Hawaii. It’s filled with rural charm and excellent deserted beaches. It’s an ideal destination for horseback riding journeys alongside the Island’s rugged coastline. You’ll also be able to go whale-watching, fishing, and snorkelling in the pristine waters.

5. Monhegan, Maine, USA

(photo credit: patrick_dockens)

This small and rocky Island lies off of the coast of Maine. It’s quite small and is an ideal isolated retreat with less than 100 permanent citizens. Most of the Island is uninhabited and is filled with some excellent hiking trails. It’s also a fine destination for fishing. The local catch of seafood and lobster usually finds its way to Maine’s nearby restaurants each day. It’s also been known as artists’ colony since the late 1800s.

6. Fire Island, New York, USA

(photo credit: nydiscovery)

Fire Island was originally used by whale hunters as a lookout spot in the 1600s. It sits just off of Long Island’s coast and is a popular retreat in the summertime for New Yorkers and visitors. There are miles of beautiful sandy beaches as well as marshes, woodlands, and over 300 different bird species. This makes it a super spot for bird watching and the 30 miles of coastline are perfect for hikers.

The Island’s historic lighthouse dates back to 1825 and was usually the first thing European settlers saw while sailing over to this region of America.

7. Mackinac Island, Michigan, USA

(photo credit: odalaigh)

This Island is car-free and sits in Lake Huron in the northern region of Michigan. You can explore the fantastic Island by foot, horseback, and bicycle. It’s quite a popular spot in the summers, especially with sailors. The Island is the where the annual sailboat race from Chicago-to-Mackinac finishes. This is known as the world’s longest freshwater boat race at a distance of over 300 miles.