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It’s a picture-perfect island.
This iconic isle, known as the ‘Caribbean of California,’ has earned its place among the best islands in the continental US.
The elite list of 15 islands was curated by Travel + Leisure as part of its annual World’s Best Awards.
Determined by readers, the list recognizes the world’s top destinations and is considered among the hospitality industry’s most prestigious honors.
In the national ranking, California’s Catalina Island came in at a respectable, if not exalted, twelfth place.
Known for its turquoise waters and laid-back vibe, Catalina had an overall guest ranking of 81.98, putting it just behind the Florida Keys and a hair ahead of South Carolina’s Hilton Head Island.
A 76-square-mile island, anchored by perfectly crescent-shaped Avalon Bay, Catalina has long been a destination for nature lovers and sailboat enthusiasts.
Located just an hour by ferry from the Port of Los Angeles, the island was catapulted into the cultural lexicon with the once-fictional, now-actual Catalina Wine Mixer.
The outlet praised Catalina’s glass-bottom boat tours, clear waters, and historic casino, calling a jaunt to the island a perfect day trip from LA or an ideal overnight stay.
“Pack that sunscreen, toss a floppy hat into your weekend bag, and get ready to sip fruity drinks with tiny umbrellas. Catalina is your easy, breezy, California-style Caribbean getaway—no passport required,” they commanded.
The truly adventurous can opt to travel to Catalina on a Sea-Doo jet ski, thereby increasing the likelihood of being delivered to port in the sublime company of a pod of dolphins.
Top honors for the country’s best island went to Georgia’s Golden Isles, which include the barrier islands of St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Jekyll Island, and Little St. Simons Island, all of which are celebrated for their history, beaches, golf, and isolated brand of luxury.
Readers gave the Golden Isles an overall score of 91.59.
In addition to being crowned the best island in the US, the Golden Isles ranked number 11 in the world’s best islands ranking.
Georgia keeps going for the gold: earlier this year, St. Simons Island, Georgia, part of the Golden Isles, was voted the most underrated travel destination in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report.
Travel + Leisure also recently named it one of the best small towns for a summer getaway and one of the best places to retire on the East Coast.
Second and third place for T+L’s best island in the US went to Maine’s Mount Desert Island and Massachusetts’ Nantucket. The latter, with its pristine coastline and dense concentration of pre-Civil War homes, is described as “a postcard come to life.”
While Catalina failed to make it to the top of the best islands list, another California locale took first place in a different category.
Appellation Healdsburg, a retreat tucked among Sonoma County’s vineyards, was named the No. 1 resort in the continental U.S. and the best resort in California in the World’s Best Awards.
“We opened this hotel less than a year ago with one belief: that hospitality is at its best when it is rooted in place,” the hotel wrote on Instagram. “To win two categories and to be recognized this early in our debut year, by the travelers of Travel + Leisure whose opinions shape our industry, is a moment we’ll never forget.”
The 15 best islands in the U.S. in 2026
- Golden Isles, GA
- Mount Desert, ME
- Nantucket, MA
- Kiawah Island, SC
- San Juan Islands, WA
- Cumberland Island, GA
- Amelia Island, FL
- Mackinac Island, MI
- Longboat Key, FL
- Outer Banks, NC
- Florida Keys, FL
- Catalina Island, CA
- Hilton Head Island, SC
- Marco Island, FL
- Block Island, RI
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