Bermuda

Bermuda is a 20-square-mile island located in the Gulf Stream that first became popular more than a century ago, when well-to-do New Englanders sought refuge from the rigors of harsh northern winters. The island was relatively close to the great East Coast cities, a critical factor in the days before rapid air travel and the development of stylish resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico. Nowadays, of course, winter vacationers want more than just a temperate climate, opting instead for tropical destinations where they can take a morning dip in the ocean and breakfast outdoors with the hummingbirds. To enjoy that privilege in Bermuda, you must visit between May and October, when the waters have warmed up sufficiently and the daytime temperatures reach into the low 80s. That said, Bermuda remains a distinctive place of quiet beauty that can lend itself well to a relaxing midsummer/autumn escape.