Four Fantasy Islands

1. The Lofotens, Norway. Way, way, way, up north by the Arctic Circle, off the coast of Norway, are the Lofotens, a magical land ot twenty-hour days, wild blueberries, and fresh cod in the Unfortunately it’s a rain-soaked, freezing nightmare of fog and cold in the winter. However, summer visitors should spend at least a week wandering through these islands, which even the Norwegians see as a rugged and somewhat adventurous destination. Bring hiking boots, bug spray, the best raincoat you can afford, and be prepared for friendly people, sweeping vistas, and lots of fish on the menu.

2. The Isle of Man, Britain. This island (located between Britain and Ireland in the Irish Sea) technically belongs to England but has its own parliament, dialect, and (most importantly to the British) tax laws. For some reason known only to God, the islanders take great pride in two of the local animals: the Manx cat (which has no tail), and the Manx loghtan sheep (which has four horns). Horny sheep and tail-less cats aside, the island is perfect for hiking and walking and has some of the most impressive scenery in Britain.

3. Bornholm, Denmark. This little bit of Denmark stuck way off to the east in the Baltic Sea is a popular summer destination for Scandinavians, and I highly recommend a visit. If you go, take the bus down to the enormous fortress at the northwest end of the island, and by all means take the mail boat (which actually sails most of the way) out to Christianso, a tiny island off the coast of Bornholm where the Danes used to exile the politically inconvenient.

4. Sifnos, Greece. Sifnos is in the Cyclades, the most popular of the Greek Islands, but it’s far enough off the beaten trail to be semi-livable, even in early July (from mid-July through August, forget it). If you can get there early in the season, you’ll understand why these islands are so crowded; the heat, the brilliant white houses with deep-blue roofs, the aquamarine sea, the food, the tiny churches, and the sense of history that seems to hang in the air. Go early, as I said, but go, and you’ll understand.