Do you ever have dreams of beautiful & exotic islands? Islands have been calling to me and yes, and as you can tell with this image of a Big Island sunset,…I’m hopelessly in love! Let me help you search for the islands of your dreams. I’ll share a few of my favorites and some new ones on my radar.

Hawaii’s Big Island has a fabulously amazing diversity. Akaka Falls State Park, outside of Hilo, is a wonder and features a 442′ waterfall.

Big Island sunsets are legendary.

The simply stunning isle of Guernsey is part of the Channel Islands near the French coast. My sister moved here after marrying her penpal. This may sound familiar if you’ve read the “Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society” book.

Sausmarez Manor in St. Peter Port Guernsey has an outdoor tea room for a delightful break under the trees. This is the perfect place to be a quasi-aristocrat for an hour or two.

Visit one of my very favorite secret places by taking a ferry from Guernsey to the Isle of Sark. It is one of the few places in the world where cars are banned. The ambulance and fire engine is pulled by a tractor. Transport is by bike, horse-drawn carriage, or walking. The guard rails and road on “La Coupee” connecting “Big” and “Little Sark” were built by German prisoners of war. Only 550 people live on the Island.

Marla and my nephew Steven arrive at La Sablonnerie, a hotel and restaurant converted from a 400-year-old farmhouse. The ride is beautiful and exhilarating.

Try the freshly caught Sark lobster

Bali is known as the “Island of the Gods” casting a magical spell on enchanted visitors from around the world. A Balinese priest at Uluwatu Temple. We just made our 25th trip in June.

A family on a motorbike stops to admire an “Ogoh Ogoh figure being built for the Balinese New Year.

A terraced rice field near the Gunung Kawi temple.

A short flight from Spain will take you to Mallorca, an island of great beauty and unique culture. The island offers quaint countryside villages, secret beaches, and 9 Michelin starred restaurants!

Palma is Mallorca’s capital city.

Maui is of course….marvelous! A morning view of Molokai in the distance from a beach near Napili-Honokowai.

Is a trip to Maui just to savor a Mai Tai and a slice of Hula Pie at Kimo’s in Lahaina worth the trip? Well of course!

One of France’s best-kept secrets, the island of Corsica, weaves a magical spell with its visual beauty. Marla wanders around ancient Sant’Antonino high in the hills outside of Calvi.

Arinella Beach near Lumio in Corsica. It is a wonderful place for a swim!

The Amanpuri resort on Phuket Island holds a very special place in our heart!!!

After being featured in the 1974 James Bond movie, “The Man With the Golden Gun”, the sleepy limestone island of Khao Phing Kan (now known as James Bond Island) was placed firmly on the Thailand tourist trail. 

Marla floats blissfully in the warm water at Mazzaro Beach near Taormina, Sicily. The beach restaurants have a delicious retro vibe!

I simply love Taormina, Sicily! Fabulous hotels and restaurants along with a gondola to take you down to the beach area. The ancient Greek temple was built in the 3rd century BC. Mount Etna is shrouded in mist in the distance.

The island of Isola Madre is a little jewel box in Italy’s Lago Maggiore. Owned by the Borromeo family since the 16th century it is open for tours and reached by a ferryboat. I once spotted a gorgeous pure white peacock while walking on a path.

The Island of Capri has been capturing hearts and minds for millennia. Easy to visit by taking a ferry from many ports on the Amalfi Coast. I really want to stay a few nights here!

Koh Samui is one of Thailand’s 1430 Islands and one of the most beautiful. This is the Anantara Bophut Resort. We enjoyed a sunset sail on the boat in the bay above.

ISLANDS ON MY TRAVEL RADAR.

The island of Kefalonia in Greece.

I’ve wanted to visit the Ile de Porquerolles ever since seeing it on an old 18th-century map. Easy to visit from Hyeres by ferry. Le Mas du Langoustier, shown above is the place to stay. This is an island to escape with walking paths and bike rentals.

We put a trip to Sri Lanka on hold after a terrorist attack. I would love to visit as the island/country is amazingly diverse! “Lonely Planet” named it the best place to visit in 2019! https://youtu.be/PTSvtOOySFA

I hope this has ignited your quest to search for the island you have been dreaming of! I know I am ready for new and beautiful adventures!

PHOTOS: Dick Gentry. 1-12, 13-15, 18-23. Not to be used without permission.