"I always go to Hyannis Port to be revived," said John F. Kennedy, who often retreated to this former Cape Cod fishing village turned resort for the rich and famous. Kennedy came to the expansive family compound, located on six acres fronting Nantucket Sound, for sailing, sunning and R&R. Though the compound is off-limits, visitors can hit the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum, go cruising or day-trip to Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket Island.
For more information: JFK Hyannis Museum
In 1883, the Roosevelt clan first visited tiny Campobello Island, a Canadian fishing community sprinkled with luxury enclaves and estates. The Roosevelts eventually acquired a 34-room "cottage," (pictured above) where FDR hunkered down until polio and the demands of the presidency limited his visits. Modern-day visitors can bird-watch and kayak within the 2,800-acre Roosevelt Campobello International Park—the only park partnership between U.S. and Canada. On the island you'll find the Roosevelt cottage, a lighthouse and lush walking trails. Camping is permitted at the adjacent Herring Cove Provincial Park.
For more information: Roosevelt Campobello International Park
When Herbert Hoover became president in 1929, he immediately sent his secretary to secure a retreat. His stipulations: high elevation, near Washington, D.C., and excellent trout fishing. Hoover's wishes became Rapidan Camp, located in what would become Virginia's Shenandoah National Park. At the "Brown House," Hoover hosted dignitaries like Winston Churchill and fished like mad. A recent restoration returned Rapidan to its original state, and tourists can fish for wild trout, camp or take a four-mile round-trip hike to explore Hoover's summertime home.
For more information: National Historical Park
Sunny Key West was President Truman's escape in wintertime, when he bunked in a regal, circa-1890 naval command center. During his presidency, Truman spent 175 days vacationing at the waterfront "Little White House," which is being restored to its 1949 grandeur complete with classic wallpaper, furnishings and period-specific artwork. Visitors can stroll the Little White House and the lush botanical gardens on the grounds, before deep-sea fishing or hitting the haunts of that other famous Key West figure: Ernest Hemingway.
For more information: Truman Little White House