Engines off: Find vacation escapism on these car-free islands
There's no need to wait until the next Car-Free Day, September 22, to plan a trip without using this mode of transport, which is often associated with freedom and escapism in our culture's collective imagination. But that's certainly not the case in these six destinations
On the Greek island of Hydra, you get around by donkey. On the Greek island of Hydra, you get around by donkey. Image: CJ_Romas / Getty Images
There's no need to wait until the next Car-Free Day, September 22, to plan a trip without using this mode of transport, which is often associated with freedom and escapism in our culture's collective imagination. But that's certainly not the case in these six destinations...
Hydra (Greece)
With whitewashed houses, cobbled streets and a laid-back atmosphere, Greece's Cyclades islands offer an exotic experience, especially when you can only get around by bike or by donkey. In Hydra, for example, there are no cars. The only motorized vehicle you'll see is the garbage truck. The easiest way to reach Hydra is by boat from the port of Piraeus in Athens. But be warned, a vacation far from the noise of cars doesn't come cheap, since this Greek island is one of those Aegean destinations where a comfortable budget is a must. The sight of luxury yachts moored in the small port of Hydra says it all.Mackinac Island (Michigan, USA)
In a country as vast as the United States, where pick-ups and Hummers are proudly driven as signs of wealth, this island in the state of Michigan is something of an anomaly. In fact, Mackinac Island is a trailblazing car-free destination, having never lifted its ban on motor vehicles since 1898! Instead, you can travel by bicycle, or even in a horse-drawn cart. Get ready for a complete change of pace!Also read: Remote 'Banshees on Inisherin' islands reap Oscars tourism boom
