20 vacation spots frequented by US presidents

Travel

FILE - In this Oct. 24, 2107 file photo, the air traffic control tower is in sight as a plane takes off from San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco. Video captured the moment that an off-course Air Canada jet flew just a few dozen feet over the tops of four other jetliners filled with passengers. On Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2018, the National Transportation Safety Board will consider the probable cause of the close call at the airport. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)
The power of wanderlust is real. Catch a glimpse of these gorgeous destinations across the globe, and you'll start packing your bags ASAP. If you can decide where to go first, that is.
Slide 1 of 21: From southern ranches and Rocky Mountain ski resorts to Pacific and Atlantic seaside retreats, US presidents have sought out some of the finest destinations and hideaways to escape the hustle and bustle of the White House. Here are 20 vacation spots frequented by US presidents.
Slide 2 of 21: Martha’s Vineyard—an affluent summer destination south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts—has served as an island getaway spot for two presidential families, both Democrats: the Obamas and the Clintons. The first families get their fill of biking, golfing, cruising, and taking in the stunning views of the sea.
Slide 3 of 21: From southern ranches and Rocky Mountain ski resorts to Pacific and Atlantic seaside retreats, US presidents have sought out some of the finest destinations and hideaways to escape the hustle and bustle of the White House. Here are 20 vacation spots frequented by US presidents.
Slide 4 of 21: In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt, “an avid naturalist and an ardent hunter,” went on a camping trip in the rugged Yosemite wilderness with the famous naturalist and Sierra Club founder John Muir that later led to the expansion of the park. With today’s Secret Service protection of presidents wherever they go, it’s hard to imagine a time when a sitting president could camp in solitude beneath the stars without the press or bodyguards. Presidents Obama, Taft, FDR, and Kennedy also visited Yosemite.
Slide 5 of 21: President Harry S. Truman visited the Little White House (pictured) in Key West, Florida, 11 times. The house initially served as command headquarters for the naval station during the Spanish–American War, the First World War, and the Second World War, before becoming Truman’s winter White House, where he enjoyed taking brisk morning walks, playing poker, swimming, and fishing.
Slide 6 of 21: President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who had polio as a child, first visited Warm Springs, Georgia, in 1924 in the hopes of finding a cure for his paralysis. He enjoyed the natural beauty of the area, especially the therapeutic heated springs, so much that he had the Little White House (pictured) built in 1932, which he later used as his presidential retreat that he visited every year except one until his death.
Slide 7 of 21: President John F. Kennedy and Jackie Onassis were married in 1953 in Newport, Rhode Island, famous for its magnificent mansions, and the first family continued to summer at the affluent seaside resort community at Hammersmith Farm, Jackie’s childhood home. President Dwight D. Eisenhower also had a summer home in Newport.
Slide 8 of 21: President Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) maintained a working ranch—including 400 head of cattle—as his getaway destination among the undulating hills and rolling rivers of Hill Country, Texas, where he was born, lived, died, and was buried. The president’s birthplace, the Texas White House, and his grave site now form part of the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park.
Slide 9 of 21: President Gerald Ford was an avid skier and first went to the upscale mountain resort of Vail, Colorado, while serving in Congress before he went on to become vice president and president. Ford continued to visit Vail with his family every winter and eventually bought a retirement home in nearby Beaver Creek with his wife, Betty. Eisenhower also liked to vacation in the Colorado mountains, but in the summer to go fishing.
Slide 10 of 21: Many presidents and their families have been drawn to the magical allure of Yellowstone, including the Clintons, the Obamas, Jimmy Carter, Theodore Roosevelt, FDR, and Ford. Old Faithful, the Yellowstone River, and the Grand Prismatic Spring are just some of the national park’s main attractions.
Slide 11 of 21: Perched atop the Santa Ynez Mountains of Santa Barbara, California, Rancho del Cielo served as President Ronald Reagan and wife Nancy’s getaway home. Overlooking the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley and the Pacific Ocean, the private retreat gave the president and first lady a much-needed break from the hectic demands of public life.
Slide 12 of 21: President George W. Bush’s hideaway of choice was his pastoral Prairie Chapel Ranch in Crawford, Texas (about 25 miles west of Waco). During his two terms as president, Bush visited the sprawling southern ranch 77 times, where he enjoyed biking, jogging, fishing, hunting, and even clearing brush.
Slide 13 of 21: One of President Barack Obama’s favorite vacation spots is his birthplace of Hawaii. Though the first family has stayed in several different Hawaii homes, the one dubbed the Obama Winter White House was Paradise Point, a luxurious rental fronting 2.5 miles of white-sand beach at Kailua Bay in Oahu, just 25 minutes from Honolulu.
Slide 14 of 21: Both George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush enjoy spending time at the Bush family summer vacation home in quaint Kennebunkport, Maine. The coastal compound at Walker’s Point has been in the family for over a century, drawing them back both for the natural beauty of the area and the connection with the community.
Slide 15 of 21: President Donald Trump likes to take a break from the White House at his private club, Mar-a-Lago (pictured), in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump bought his “American castle” in 1985 and has visited the sprawling estate nine times since becoming president. The president enjoys teeing off at his nearby Trump International Golf Club while in Palm Beach.
Slide 16 of 21: Florida was also a vacation hot spot for President Nixon. His first vacation home was the Florida White House, an expansive waterfront compound on Key Biscayne that he visited over 50 times as president. Reportedly, Nixon developed his plans for the Watergate scandal while at his Florida retreat, across the Rickenbacker Causeway from Miami.
Slide 17 of 21: La Casa Pacifica in San Clemente, California, was President Richard M. Nixon’s second summer home, dubbed the Western White House. The blufftop, Spanish-style mansion overlooks the vast Pacific Ocean and, after he resigned from the presidency, Nixon took up permanent residence and wrote his memoirs at the elegant beachfront estate.
Slide 18 of 21: After finishing his second term in the White House, President Obama whisked his wife Michelle away on Sir Richard Branson’s private jet to the billionaire’s private Caribbean island, Necker. The secluded luxury holiday destination that can host up to 34 guests and 100 staff members fetches $80,000 a night—but since Branson is an outspoken Obama supporter, it’s unclear whether the former president had to foot the bill.
Slide 19 of 21: Jacqueline, wife of President John F. Kennedy, designed the presidential couple’s ranch house retreat near Middleburg, Virginia, with breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Unfortunately, the estate, named Wexford by Jackie “after a county in Ireland where the Kennedy clan had roots,” was completed just one month before JFK was assassinated.
Slide 20 of 21: When he’s not at the White House or Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, President Trump likes to satisfy his penchant for golf by spending time at his luxury golf club and resort, Trump National, in Bedminster, New Jersey, about 45 minutes from New York City. The club’s amenities include “two 18-hole golf courses, a helipad, and a 25-meter pool with two Jacuzzis.”
Slide 21 of 21: President Bill Clinton visited the mountain resort of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, twice to escape the worries of Washington. Clinton partook of much golf to de-stress and the first family went on numerous hikes to take in the incredible views of the Teton Range and breathe in the fresh mountain air. Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan also vacationed in Jackson Hole.

20 vacation spots frequented by US presidents

From southern ranches and Rocky Mountain ski resorts to Pacific and Atlantic seaside retreats, US presidents have sought out some of the finest destinations and hideaways to escape the hustle and bustle of the White House. Here are 20 vacation spots frequented by US presidents.

Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

Martha’s Vineyard—an affluent summer destination south of Cape Cod in Massachusetts—has served as an island getaway spot for two presidential families, both Democrats: the Obamas and the Clintons. The first families get their fill of biking, golfing, cruising, and taking in the stunning views of the sea.

Camp David, Maryland

Camp David, tucked away in the Maryland countryside, is the official presidential retreat and has been occupied by 13 presidents since Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) first used it. The woodland getaway provides many opportunities for outdoor activities, including tennis, swimming, shooting skeet (President Obama pictured), golfing, jogging, and biking as well as cross-country skiing, ice skating, and snowmobiling in the winter.

Yosemite National Park, California

In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt, “an avid naturalist and an ardent hunter,” went on a camping trip in the rugged Yosemite wilderness with the famous naturalist and Sierra Club founder John Muir that later led to the expansion of the park. With today’s Secret Service protection of presidents wherever they go, it’s hard to imagine a time when a sitting president could camp in solitude beneath the stars without the press or bodyguards. Presidents Obama, Taft, FDR, and Kennedy also visited Yosemite.

Key West, Florida

President Harry S. Truman visited the Little White House (pictured) in Key West, Florida, 11 times. The house initially served as command headquarters for the naval station during the Spanish–American War, the First World War, and the Second World War, before becoming Truman’s winter White House, where he enjoyed taking brisk morning walks, playing poker, swimming, and fishing.

Warm Springs, Georgia

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who had polio as a child, first visited Warm Springs, Georgia, in 1924 in the hopes of finding a cure for his paralysis. He enjoyed the natural beauty of the area, especially the therapeutic heated springs, so much that he had the Little White House (pictured) built in 1932, which he later used as his presidential retreat that he visited every year except one until his death.

Newport, Rhode Island

President John F. Kennedy and Jackie Onassis were married in 1953 in Newport, Rhode Island, famous for its magnificent mansions, and the first family continued to summer at the affluent seaside resort community at Hammersmith Farm, Jackie’s childhood home. President Dwight D. Eisenhower also had a summer home in Newport.

Hill Country, Texas

President Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) maintained a working ranch—including 400 head of cattle—as his getaway destination among the undulating hills and rolling rivers of Hill Country, Texas, where he was born, lived, died, and was buried. The president’s birthplace, the Texas White House, and his grave site now form part of the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park.

Vail, Colorado

President Gerald Ford was an avid skier and first went to the upscale mountain resort of Vail, Colorado, while serving in Congress before he went on to become vice president and president. Ford continued to visit Vail with his family every winter and eventually bought a retirement home in nearby Beaver Creek with his wife, Betty. Eisenhower also liked to vacation in the Colorado mountains, but in the summer to go fishing.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho

Many presidents and their families have been drawn to the magical allure of Yellowstone, including the Clintons, the Obamas, Jimmy Carter, Theodore Roosevelt, FDR, and Ford. Old Faithful, the Yellowstone River, and the Grand Prismatic Spring are just some of the national park’s main attractions.

Santa Barbara, California

Perched atop the Santa Ynez Mountains of Santa Barbara, California, Rancho del Cielo served as President Ronald Reagan and wife Nancy’s getaway home. Overlooking the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley and the Pacific Ocean, the private retreat gave the president and first lady a much-needed break from the hectic demands of public life.

Crawford, Texas

President George W. Bush’s hideaway of choice was his pastoral Prairie Chapel Ranch in Crawford, Texas (about 25 miles west of Waco). During his two terms as president, Bush visited the sprawling southern ranch 77 times, where he enjoyed biking, jogging, fishing, hunting, and even clearing brush.

Kailua, Hawaii

One of President Barack Obama’s favorite vacation spots is his birthplace of Hawaii. Though the first family has stayed in several different Hawaii homes, the one dubbed the Obama Winter White House was Paradise Point, a luxurious rental fronting 2.5 miles of white-sand beach at Kailua Bay in Oahu, just 25 minutes from Honolulu.

Kennebunkport, Maine

Both George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush enjoy spending time at the Bush family summer vacation home in quaint Kennebunkport, Maine. The coastal compound at Walker’s Point has been in the family for over a century, drawing them back both for the natural beauty of the area and the connection with the community.

Palm Beach, Florida

President Donald Trump likes to take a break from the White House at his private club, Mar-a-Lago (pictured), in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump bought his “American castle” in 1985 and has visited the sprawling estate nine times since becoming president. The president enjoys teeing off at his nearby Trump International Golf Club while in Palm Beach.

Key Biscayne, Florida

Florida was also a vacation hot spot for President Nixon. His first vacation home was the Florida White House, an expansive waterfront compound on Key Biscayne that he visited over 50 times as president. Reportedly, Nixon developed his plans for the Watergate scandal while at his Florida retreat, across the Rickenbacker Causeway from Miami.

San Clemente, California

La Casa Pacifica in San Clemente, California, was President Richard M. Nixon’s second summer home, dubbed the Western White House. The blufftop, Spanish-style mansion overlooks the vast Pacific Ocean and, after he resigned from the presidency, Nixon took up permanent residence and wrote his memoirs at the elegant beachfront estate.

Necker Island, British Virgin Islands

After finishing his second term in the White House, President Obama whisked his wife Michelle away on Sir Richard Branson’s private jet to the billionaire’s private Caribbean island, Necker. The secluded luxury holiday destination that can host up to 34 guests and 100 staff members fetches $80,000 a night—but since Branson is an outspoken Obama supporter, it’s unclear whether the former president had to foot the bill.

Middleburg, Virginia

Jacqueline, wife of President John F. Kennedy, designed the presidential couple’s ranch house retreat near Middleburg, Virginia, with breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Unfortunately, the estate, named Wexford by Jackie “after a county in Ireland where the Kennedy clan had roots,” was completed just one month before JFK was assassinated.

Bedminster, New Jersey

When he’s not at the White House or Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, President Trump likes to satisfy his penchant for golf by spending time at his luxury golf club and resort, Trump National, in Bedminster, New Jersey, about 45 minutes from New York City. The club’s amenities include “two 18-hole golf courses, a helipad, and a 25-meter pool with two Jacuzzis.”

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

President Bill Clinton visited the mountain resort of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, twice to escape the worries of Washington. Clinton partook of much golf to de-stress and the first family went on numerous hikes to take in the incredible views of the Teton Range and breathe in the fresh mountain air. Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan also vacationed in Jackson Hole.

Source: Read Full Article