In honor of summer vacation season, let's take a peek at some of the places where the guys who run the country kick back and, um, clear some brush (I'm still not exactly sure what that means).
Regardless of how they choose to spend their vacation time, the leaders of the free world, it seems, have a knack for finding the most gorgeous corners of the country in which to retreat from life in the White House. With a sky's-the-limit budget and a team of assistants, finding the perfect place to get away probably isn't too challenging for a commander in chief. But for those of us who do our own trip planning, the presidents' array of amazing vacation spots can provide some excellent summer travel ideas. Here are four of our favorite presidential destinations, with suggestions for planning your own stately retreat:
Martha's Vineyard, Mass.
This summer, the Obamas are once again jetting to Martha's Vineyard, a Massachusetts island freckled with sheep, apple orchards and seafood shacks (the Obamas have spent previous summer stays here). The island's pastoral, timeworn character belies its status as a travel destination for the most stalwart power circles. The Obamas are in solid Democratic company: Previous presidential Martha's Vineyard vacationers include the Clintons and the Kennedys.
The Obamas are returning to Blue Heron Farm, a 28-acre estate that overlooks the water. According to ABC News, "Tom Wallace, of Wallace and Company Sotheby's International Realty, said the property, which is home to a five-bedroom main house, also features a Cape Cod guest house, a swimming pool and a half-court basketball court. The Obamas will have their pick of activities on the property, ranging from kayaking on the West Tisbury Great Pond to a simple game of horseshoes."
A vacation for the rest of us: Martha's Vineyard has a handful of Victorian B&B's that ooze New England charm and, most importantly, offer reasonable rates for those of us without security details and private planes. We like the Oak Bluffs Inn, a 19th-century home with wicker rocking chairs on the porch and a cool polygonal tower. Rates start at $225 per night for the summer season.
Kennebunkport, Maine
In the quiet seaside town of Kennebunkport sits the famed Bush Compound, the vacation spot to which George and George W.'s family members have been returning for generations. I guess it's called a "compound" due to the prevalence of suited security guys in dark shades — there's a checkpoint on the road leading to the entrance — but I think "estate" or "mansion" sounds like a less frightening place to take one's summer break. The compound was originally known as Walker's Point Estate when it was constructed at the turn of the century. The expansive property features a four-car garage, a pool, a boathouse, tennis courts and a nine-bedroom main house.
A vacation for the rest of us: Like Martha's Vineyard, Kennebunkport offers plenty of Victorian B&B's (it's a New England thing). The Captain Lord Mansion, a popular B&B, has, without a doubt, the best name for a New England inn that I've heard yet. Built in 1812, the inn features lavishly appointed rooms with canopy beds and fireplaces, with summer rates starting at $239 per night.
Santa Barbara, Calif.
During his term as president, Ronald Reagan would often retreat to Rancho del Cielo in Santa Barbara, where he spent his time clearing brush, chopping wood and heroically riding around on horses. There's something, well, sort of paradoxical about traveling to a multi-million-dollar ranch to partake in brush clearing. But hey, that's what the Gipper liked to do.
The ranch spans 688 acres and provides views of the Santa Ynez Valley and the Pacific Ocean. Amenities include a quirky mix of the rustic and stately: There's a helipad, a Secret Service command post (the only federal building remaining on the property), a hay barn and pastures with cows and horses.
A vacation for the rest of us: Students who participate in Reagan Ranch programs and members of the Young America's Foundation's President's Club are eligible to visit the ranch by appointment. Is this you? No? Then we recommend a stay at the Santa Ynez Inn, a convenient hub for exploring the region's vineyards, art galleries and horse ranches. Rates start at $218.33 per night during summer, but the inn also offers various cycling tour and golf packages for bargain prices.
Key Biscayne, Fla.
Ah, the beautiful Florida Keys. Nixon may have had a penchant for political sabotage, but he certainly had fine taste in vacation homes. Known as the "Florida White House," Nixon's Key Biscayne retreat provided a tropical waterfront escape for the 37th president of the U.S. The compound (there's that word again) featured six bedrooms, eight bathrooms and oodles of ocean views — but it was razed in 2004 and replaced with a new home. Today, Key Biscayne's claim to fame is that Nixon once relaxed by the ocean (and occasionally consorted with certain Florida businessmen) on its shores.
A vacation for the rest of us: Key Biscayne is a tiny island close to Miami, where lovely beaches and the occasional Cuban restaurant are the main attractions. There's a Ritz-Carlton on the key, where rates range from $300 to $1,000-plus per night. For the budget minded among us, Silver Sands Resort offers a cool blue pool and beachfront digs with off-season summer rates starting at $129.