If you don't yet live in paradise, you can still find it right next door. Many beautiful islands lie just a bridge, ferry ride or short flight away. Even from inland states, you can be in a dreamy island setting within half a day or less, at bargain prices. For ISLANDS' favorite weekend destinations, see the new PDF viewer below for the full article from the July/August 2009 issue. Or scroll down for links from this "Best" list.

Best for Commuting
Key Biscayne, Florida
This may be the most convenient island escape in the world, at least if you live in Miami. The Silver Sands Beach Resort here is a midcentury motel close to Florida's resort roots with terrazzo floors and doors that still use keys. silversandsbeachresort.net

Best for Relaxation
Gasparilla Island, Florida
There's Old Florida, and then, across the Boca Grande Causeway, there's ­Gasparilla Island, Florida. At the center of island culture since it was built in 1911, the Gasparilla Inn & Club is a retreat from the stresses of modern life but not from civilization. the-gasparilla-inn.com

Best for Variety
Galveston Island, Texas
Less than an hour from downtown Houston, Galveston Island is 32 miles long and has 32 miles of beach. That means it's all beach. Well, there's also shopping and dining in the Historic Downtown Strand District. galveston.com

Best for Biking
Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts
Summer is the season on the Vineyard. The Steamship Authority -- in business since ships ran on steam -- runs ferries almost hourly dawn till dark between Woods Hole on the mainland and Vineyard Haven (without a car it's $7.50 per person). steamshipauthority.com

Best for History
Outer Banks, North Carolina
Kitty Hawk at the north end of the Outer Banks is just 79 miles south of the airport in Norfolk, Virginia. Cape Hatteras to the south was declared the United States' first national seashore in 1953, and the Outer Banks calls itself "America's Beach." outerbanks.org

Best for Colors
Mount Desert Island, Maine
Home to Acadia National Park, Mount Desert is an island for all seasons. Revel in some of America's oldest luxury at the Spa at the Bar Harbor Club. Built by J.P. Morgan in 1929, the club stands as testament to the enduring value of retreat. barharborclub.com

Best for Name-Dropping
Long Island, New York
Fire Island Wilderness off the south shore and accessible by ferry and bridge offers New York's only designated wilderness area. Dr. Stephen Leatherman, aka Dr. Beach, named two of Long Island's beaches in his 2008 list of best U.S. beaches. discoverlongisland.com

Best for Seafood
Prince Edward Island, Canada
For U.S. readers, Prince Edward ­Island, a Canadian province unto itself, is the most remote island in this list. Crossing the bridge from New ­Brunswick feels like entering another world. You can also get direct flights here from Boston, New York and other hubs. tourismpei.com

Best for Wildlife
Channel Islands, California
How did the Pacific look from the coast of California 500 years ago? The five island jewels -- San Miguel, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, Anacapa and Santa Barbara -- that comprise Channel ­Islands National Park offer a glimpse. nps.gov/chis

Best for Views
Whidbey Island, Washington
It's about 25 miles from downtown Seattle to the dock in Mukilteo, but once you're on the ferry to Clinton on Whidbey Island, the commute is over and Puget Sound views begin. The views of Deception Pass are spectacular. whidbeycamanoislands.com