Eight Islands in the US you Probably Have Not Heard of

From My Travel Readings this week on Discover.com

"You know about the Hawaiian Islands. You know about Catalina Island. You know about Jekyll. But the U.S. has many more islands, many of which you probably haven’t heard of — and those lesser-known islands can make great vacation spots, too. Here are eight American islands you’ve probably never heard of, but should definitely add to your bucket list.

1. Block Island, Rhode Island

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For such an unassuming little island, Block Island boasts a big variety of things to do.

 During the summer, taste the flavors of Restaurant Week, enjoy a six-day music festival,

 or check out the Block Island Film Festival. The island’s lighthouses, such as the 

Southeast Lighthouse and the North Lighthouse, are also popular attractions. 

Block Island has a variety of bird species, too, making it a great destination for

 birdwatchers.

2. Coronado Island, California

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“California’s crown jewel” is located near downtown San Diego and is often voted to

 have the best beaches in the United States. The beaches in Coronado contain mica

 (a mineral), so the sand sparkles in the sun. Biking, surfing, kayaking, and other 

active outdoor activities are all popular ways to enjoy the sunshine. The

 Hotel del Coronado,  which has been around since 1888, has been visited by 

many famous presidents and celebrities over the years.

3. Topsail Island, North Carolina

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Topsail, a 26-mile barrier island in the water off North Carolina, boasts uncrowded 

beaches with plenty of wildlife and breathtaking sunsets. The island has three towns,

 North Topsail Beach, Surf City, and Topsail Beach. Topsail Beach features a 

marina  and a fishing pier; it also has a unique museum that tells the story of the 

WASPS, female pilots who flew American military aircraft during WWII. If you get

 bored during  your visit, go searching for Blackbeard’s treasure,Topsail got its name

 from  the pirates who used to hide their boats behind the island (incoming ships

 could see  the sails poking up over the land), and some people say Blackbeard’s

 treasure is still hidden somewhere on the island.

4. Kodiak Island, Alaska

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Kodiak Island is big — 3,670 square miles, to be precise. It’s Alaska’s largest island, 

and it’s also the second-largest island in the entire United States. Its namesake town 

is a fishing port surrounded by wilderness that's brimming with wildlife. take a trip to

 the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge to try to spot some of the 3,500 bears that

 live there. You can also go fishing or visit the Kodiak History Museum.

5. Isle au Haut, Maine

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Set off the coast of Stonington, Maine, Isle au Haut is home to a small community of

 summer residents plus lots of federal park land (part of Acadia National Park), 

where bicycling and hiking are popular. If you enjoy seeing remote scenery and 

don’t care about tourist amenities (the most you’ll get here are some pit toilets), 

Isle au Haut could make a wonderful and peaceful vacation for you.

6. Daufuskie Island, South Carolina

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You'll find Daufuskie between Hilton Head Island and Savannah, though it's easy to miss. 

At just five miles long and 2.5 miles wide, this island is one of South Carolina's smaller ports.

 Daufuskie has no bridge to the mainland and just a few paved roads; instead most of the 

island  is filled with Spanish moss and beautiful white sand beaches. There are a few nice

 golf courses, and plenty of opportunities to ride horses on the beach and enjoy some 

delicious island food, such as fresh seafood, okra, and blackberries.

7. Sapelo Island, Georgia

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A barrier island off the Georgia coast, Sapelo Island is only accessible by air or by 

sea.  If you’re traveling with a group, you can stay in the R.J. Reynolds Mansion, 

which was built in 1810 by Thomas Spalding. Walk the beach, go biking and

 watch for birds and stop in the visitor’s center for educational information on 

everything you’ve seen.

8. Dry Tortugas, Florida

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The Dry Tortugas are a group of seven islands in the Gulf of Mexico, 67 miles west 

of  Key West. The islands were discovered by Ponce de Leon in 1513, and today, 

make a wonderful place for a weekend vacation. Rent a seaplane to travel to the 

islands in  style and to see marine wildlife from above; then, go snorkeling in North 

America’s only living coral reef. Then stop by the island stronghold Fort Jefferson

 for one of the most stunning military forts in the world.

8. Dry Tortugas, Florida

Credit:Boogich/iStock

The Dry Tortugas are a group of seven islands in the Gulf of Mexico, 67 miles west 

of  Key West. The islands were discovered by Ponce de Leon in 1513, and today,

 make a wonderful place for a weekend vacation. Rent a seaplane to travel to the

 islands in style and to see marine wildlife from above; then, go snorkeling in 

North America’s only living coral reef. Then stop by the island stronghold 

Fort Jefferson for one of the most  stunning military forts in the world.

About the Author: Hailey Hudson is a full-time freelance writer from Atlanta, Georgia.

Meanwhile, Did you Know That.....

10,000 years ago, a land bridge or chain of islands connected Taiwan and the northern Philippines, allowing early Austronesians to migrate freely. Rising sea levels eventually submerged these pathways, leaving only the Batanes Islands as traces of this lost route.

Surprising Fact: The genetic and linguistic similarities between Filipinos and Taiwanese indigenous groups, like the Amis and Atayal, support the theory that the Philippines was a key stepping stone in the Austronesian expansion across the Pacific!