Top 10 presidential getaways

By ShermansTravel editorial staff

updated 2:50 p.m. ET Dec. 8, 2008

No matter what your mother told you, chances are you're never going to be President of the United States — after all, only 43 (soon to be 44!) men in history can make the claim. So where on earth does the leader of the free world go for a little R&R? Anywhere he wants. It may come as a surprise, however, that the favorite places of the first families are often decidedly low-key destinations — places ordinary civilians vacation every day. So even if your job isn't quite as stressful as the Commander in Chief's, take a trip to one of the destinations on our top 10 presidential getaways list, and you can vacation like it is.

1. Bahamas
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was a man of many travels, but it wasn't all work and no play. In fact, the 32nd President traveled south to the Bahamas on fishing expeditions several times during his presidency. It's no wonder FDR made the trek — besides its crystal-clear water and soft sandy beaches, the Bahamas are known for excellent deep-sea and bone fishing. With near-constant fishing events and competitions, as well as experienced guides, fishing lodges, and charter boats on nearly every Bahamian shore, there's no shortage of ways and places to cast a line in the Bahamas. You might have a real "fish tale" to tell once you've vacationed in this premier sport-fishing spot — the islands claim more than 50 record catches.

2. Catoctin Mountain Park
You'll know you've hiked too close to Camp David, the 125-acre mountain retreat used by every president since FDR, when you're stopped, "X-Files" style, by armed secret-service agents. Dubbed Shangri-La by FDR and renamed by Eisenhower in honor of his grandson, Camp David is situated in a top-secret location within Maryland's forested Catoctin Mountain Park, where camping, picnicking, fly-fishing, and cross-country skiing welcome presidents and civilians who come to escape the sweltering heat of Washington, D.C., 60 miles to the southwest. Stay in one of the quaint-but-austere cabins built by the Works Progress Administration in the '30s, or head to the nearby town of Thurmont and book a room at the historic Cozy, an inn and restaurant packed with presidential memorabilia.

3. Glenwood Springs
Named for its mineral springs and awed for its scenic Rocky Mountain beauty, Glenwood Springs garnered attention long before neighboring swanky ski resorts of Vail or Aspen ever did. In 1905, the Hotel Colorado, today a National Historic Landmark, was the base for then-President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt during a three-week bear-hunting expedition.

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Legend has it that the teddy bear was born here when maids presented the President with the stuffed animal after an unsuccessful day of hunting. Make the Roosevelt Suite — the same room where the President stayed — your home base for a vacation spent at the confluence of the Colorado and the Roaring Fork rivers and known for its white-water rafting, fly-fishing, and cave tours.

4. Hyannis Port
When you see those classic photos of JFK and Jackie on a sailboat with the wind blowing through their gorgeous hair, you're looking at the waters off Cape Cod. The quaint village of Hyannis Port is the Kennedy family's most beloved retreat and the former President even referred to the area as a place "to be revived, to know again the power of the sea, and the Master who rules over it and all of us."

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The family compound comprises a main house —nicknamed the Summer White House — plus two other Kennedy-owned residences and several guest homes to house the vast Kennedy clan. Hyannis Port is positively bursting with visitors who come for the Cape's miles of sandy shores, delectable fried seafood, and of course, sails around the peninsula.

5. Jamaica
Winning the general election certainly calls for celebration, and that's exactly what Gerald B. Ford and wife Betty did after his team's 1972 win. The locale of choice? Montego Bay, Jamaica, where the well-documented vacation of the soon-to-be 38th President and his wife produced photographs of them lounging on beach chairs, deep-sea fishing, and napping on their chartered boat. Today, you can enjoy these same activities in Montego Bay — and then some. This slice of Jamaican paradise is known for its uber-luxe resorts, ever-present Reggae beats, laid-back vibe, and spectacular natural surroundings. If you're looking to make it a romantic retreat, make like Ford and take along your favorite first lady.

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