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Few things ruin a beautiful place like screeching tires, honking horns and the smell of exhaust fumes.
That’s where car-free islands can help (of course, they’re free of the above-mentioned items by default).
And there are more than you imagine.
These six gems, for starters, range from a time-traveling spot in the US where you can ride in horse-drawn carriages to a Greek paradise where anything with wheels is strictly forbidden, and from an islet in the Channel Islands that’s a stargazer’s paradise to an Indian Ocean paradise that boasts “the best beach in the world.”
Read on to find out how you can enjoy a smoke-free getaway…
Tresco, Isles of Scilly, British Isles
‘Award-winning accommodation, deserted bays and aquamarine seas’ await visitors to car-free Tresco. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Twenty-eight miles off the coast of Cornwall, in the heart of the Isles of Scilly archipelago, lies the family-friendly island of Tresco, where arrival options range from boat to helicopter (or a long swim).
Car owners must leave their vehicles on dry land.
What will they discover there? “Award-winning accommodations, deserted bays and aquamarine seas,” according to www.tresco.co.uk.
The car-free Greek town of Hydra (above) is praised for its turquoise waters, hidden coves and winding alleys.
Located in the Saronic Islands of the Aegean Sea, this island is “almost unbeatable”, according to MailOnline’s travel editor Ted Thornhill, thanks to its picturesque harbour, hidden coves, winding alleys, chic shops, turquoise waters and car-free roads.
All wheeled vehicles are banned on the island, and Ted notes: ‘The absence of mopeds buzzing around like wasps and cars winding their way along pretty roads creates a remarkably calm and carefree atmosphere.
‘Children can run freely and sounds that might otherwise be hidden can be heard clearly.
‘The horseshoe-shaped harbour is beautiful, with a mix of pretty fishing boats, speedboats, yachts and superyachts. The waters are warm, sometimes teeming with fish, and crystal clear thanks to the rocky seabed. Every day you wake up at the hotel, go out, dive and repeat.’
Sark, Channel Islands, United Kingdom
Sark, above, is advertised as “a magical island straight out of a fairy tale.”
Although cars are banned on Sark (the third smallest of the Channel Islands, measuring just three miles by one and a half miles), visitors and residents are welcome to get around in horse-drawn carriages.
And it is a paradise for lovers of cycling and hiking.
Visitors can also enjoy fishing, rock pool viewing, clay pigeon shooting, archery and guided donkey rides. In addition, the skies are renowned for their excellent conditions for stargazing.
The islands The official website saysSark has a very unique character and personality that distinguishes it from other islands and the rest of the world.
‘Without the hustle and bustle of modern life, you get a wonderful feeling of freedom. Stargazing on Sark is a unique and special activity. Many people who live among streetlights have never seen the Milky Way or experienced the wonder of total darkness with millions upon millions of stars overhead.
‘Sark is nothing short of a magical island straight out of a fairy tale, ready to be explored!’
Mackinac Island, Michigan, United States
Time warp: Motor vehicles have been banned on Mackinac Island since 1898
Arch Rock, an impressive rock formation on Mackinac Island
This Michigan island in Lake Huron has banned the use of any motorized vehicles, with very limited exceptions, since 1898, and the car-free environment helps cement its Victorian-era charm.
Locals get around by bike, on foot, in horse-drawn carriages or by boat (there are numerous boats floating in the harbour).
This time-warp-like island offers plenty of hiking opportunities (there are 60 miles of trails) and stunning natural rock formations to see, including Arch Rock and Sugar Loaf.
Mackinac Island also has a rich military history; visitors can stroll through Fort Mackinac and watch old-fashioned weapons demonstrations, the Associated Press says, adding: “During the summer months, the entrance (to the fort) also takes you to historic buildings in the main village, including a blacksmith shop and the former site of the American Fur Co.
‘It’s free to walk through the streets of the center, where you will find shops, churches, museums and other buildings.’
For more information visit Mackinac Island Tourism Office.
Vrnik, Croatia
Vrnik in Croatia offers “a postcard Mediterranean scene where seeing a pod of dolphins is not at all unusual”
Behold Vrnik, a postcard-perfect little gem on the Adriatic.
Toni Hrelja, founder of the rental company Villsy.com And a local Croatian says: ‘Vrnik is a tiny island (0.11 square miles), part of a small archipelago, a Mediterranean postcard scene where seeing a pod of dolphins is not at all unusual.
‘Accommodation on the island is private, with apartments or houses for rent. There is a restaurant and a fast food bar.
‘The wonderful thing about staying on the small island is that you have the option to completely disconnect or just hop on a boat and explore the small places and neighbouring islands.’
In the summer months Vrnik can be reached by a regular taxi boat from Korčula town.
La Digue, Seychelles
La Digue, pictured, “has beaches that seem straight out of a dream”
‘The palm-fringed sands of Anse Source d’Argent (above) on La Digue island are often considered the most beautiful in the world,’ says Siobhan Grogan.
There are 115 islands in the Seychelles archipelago, but car-free La Digue is arguably the dreamiest.
In fact, travel writer Siobhan Grogan declares that it “has beaches that look like something out of a dream.”
He adds: “The palm-fringed sands of Anse Source d’Argent on the island of La Digue are often considered the most beautiful in the world.”
Visitors to this Indian Ocean location can meet giant tortoises, go kayaking and see butterflyfish, porcupinefish, batfish and damselfish while snorkelling.