Situated off the coast of Nova Scotia, remote Sable Island is a largely uninhabited wilderness of shifting sand dunes and deserted beaches. The island is best known for its wildlife, including hundreds of wild horses and the world’s largest colony of grey seals.

Lunenburg’s UNESCO-listed old town is the best surviving example of a planned British colonial settlement in North America, with its picturesque wooden buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. You can also see a replica of the famous schooner Bluenose, an icon for Nova Scotians, which was built at the port.

At the tip of Cape Cod, on a coastline of wild dunes and beautiful beaches, lies welcoming Provincetown, where the Pilgrim Fathers sought shelter on board the Mayflower in 1620. Writers and artists have long been drawn here, as evidenced by the town’s many galleries, and it’s also a popular holiday destination for the LGBT community.

Just seven miles off the coast of Cape Cod, the island of Martha’s Vineyard is a world apart from the mainland, with no chain restaurants or motels in sight. A-listers and other well-to-do types have their summer boltholes here, attracted by the Vineyard’s arty vibe, pretty beaches, rolling hills and friendly locals.