Warren G. Harding - 29th U.S. President - Palm Beach in Florida
Warren G. Harding, the United State’s 29th president, sadly passed away two years into his term. However, he still managed to squeeze in a well-remembered trip to Palm Beach, Florida, in 1921 before he died. The Sunshine State was already a favorite destination for him even before he was elected into office.
While there, he spent his downtime dining, golfing, and attending church. With Harding being a skilled musician, we don’t doubt he also spent many hours unwinding with an instrument in his hand. His patronage of the Floridian town is also credited for its development into the popular resort town it is today.
Woodrow Wilson - 28th U.S. President - Pass Christian in Mississippi
Woodrow Wilson’s first months in office were considered among the busiest ones of any presidency. So by the end of 1913, he needed a vacation. He was offered to stay at a stunning Cape Cod home (pictured right) but spent his holidays in Pass Christian, Mississippi.
There he established a winter White House and took time off from his presidential duties playing golf at the Mississippi Coast Country Club. He particularly enjoyed the Gulf Coast community because of its quiet atmosphere. By the end of his term in 1921, he had played about 1,200 rounds at the club.
James K. Polk - 11th U.S. President - Columbia in Tennessee
People today might consider James K. Polk a workaholic. In his four years in office, he only spent six weeks away from the White House, including a day trip to Mount Vernon. That likely contributed to his death just months after leaving his post as the 11th president.
Hopefully, he got to enjoy those last months of his life in 1849 fully. Polk and his wife Sarah prepared for his retirement ahead of time in their Columbia, Tennessee estate. A great lover of horses, he likely spent the remainder of his days riding across his home state’s scenic land.
John Tyler - 10th U.S. President - Charles City in Virginia
Perhaps anticipating the much-needed break that would come after his term, John Tyler bought a 1,200-acre estate he called Sherwood Forest in his hometown of Charles City, Virginia, during his presidency. See, the tenth chief executive of the United States came to power after elected president William Henry Harrison suddenly died.
That said, it seems like Tyler didn’t waste time when his term ended in 1845 and set out to spend his retirement in Virginia. A lawyer by training, he was also an avid hunter who compared himself to Robin Hood.
William Henry Harrison - 9th U.S. President - North Bend in Ohio
With William Henry Harrison’s presidency only lasting for about a month, he likely didn’t have time to go on a vacation. He died of pneumonia just weeks after he was sworn into office in 1841. On the bright side, he did get to spend many happy years as a local politician living in this historic home in North Bend, Ohio.
His career was spent both in politics and the military. However, Harrison was also known to spend his time investing in enterprises. The wealth he built likely helped his widow Anna to get by financially following his sudden passing. She notably sold their North Bend estate decades after the tragedy.
William Howard Taft - 27th U.S. President - Beverly, Massachusetts
William Howard Taft knew a thing or two about taking a break. In fact, he even suggested that everyone should have three months of vacation annually! The 27th president of the United States chose Beverly, Massachusetts, which was then considered part of America’s Gold Coast, to spend his summers.
He unwinded from the pressures of ruling the nation in an eight-bedroom home near the beach. Taft did so with his wife Helen, pictured with him in the left photo, and his son Charles. The family’s vacation home still stands today and went on sale in 2017 for $1.7 million.
Ulysses S. Grant - 18th U.S. President - Long Branch, New Jersey
Speaking of presidential vacation homes, Ulysses S. Grant also acquired a retreat during his own term. His was also a seaside one but located along the shores of Long Branch, New Jersey. The 18th president of the United States loved the seaside escape so much that he returned there every summer during his term.
Grant particularly liked to drive his carriage along the beach, perhaps to clear his mind from his duties. And it looks like he and his family also loved taking portraits during their getaways. Here he is pictured (left panel) with his wife Julia and their youngest son Jesse in 1872.
Theodore Roosevelt - 26th U.S. President - Sagamore Hill in New York
Theodore Roosevelt’s vacations were not so much for unwinding but for helping him shape his public image, as Politico magazine observed. That included his trips to his home in Sagamore Hill, New York, where he spent his time felling trees and chopping wood. All in front of reporters, of course!
The 26th president of the United States was also known to spend his afternoons on horseback. He didn’t go at a leisurely pace, though, and often opted to ride at fast speeds in attempts to escape his protectors. At the end, his desire to leverage the early 20th century’s burgeoning communications technology paid off. He remains one of America’s best-remembered chief executives today.
Grover Cleveland - 22nd and 24th U.S. President - Cape Cod in Massachusetts
Many firsts marked Grover Cleveland’s time in office in the late 19th century. For starters, he’s the first American president to serve two non-consecutive terms. He’s also the first to have a summer White House when he spent his breaks in his holiday home Gray Gables in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
It was during his summers there that he indulged in his passion for fishing, as this photo demonstrates. His wife Frances also fell in love with Cape Cod and influenced his decision to buy a home. Unfortunately, the house was later burned down in a fire.
Benjamin Harrison - 23rd U.S. President - Cape May in New Jersey
Benjamin Harrison’s vacation in Cape May in the summer of 1891 was not really a holiday in the traditional sense. The 23rd president of the United States found himself in the New Jersey peninsula because of the then-ongoing renovations at the White House and fulfilled his duties from Congress Hall.
We bet Harrison still enjoyed his time in the seaside escape, though, the same way his predecessors did. Besides, he did get to experience some much-needed R&R after his term ended. Following his time in office, which saw him sign the Forest Reserve Act, the Harrison family resettled in the Fulton Chain Lakes area.
Chester A. Arthur - 21st U.S. President - Green River in Wyoming
There was more to Chester A. Arthur’s trip that began at Green River, Wyoming, in 1883 than just a vacation. It was part of a larger plan to convince the 21st president of the United States to save the Yellowstone National Park from commercialization.
Together with an expedition headed by Lt. Gen. Philip Sheridan, Arthur enjoyed a three-week fishing trip that saw him catch a lot of trout. The publicity that came with the president’s trip helped Sheridan and his crew make a case for conservation, effectively keeping Yellowstone intact for the next generations.
Franklin Pierce - 14th U.S. President - Hillsborough in New Hampshire
Growing up in his family’s homestead in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, Franklin Pierce likely didn’t anticipate that the home would be a historic site today. It was where he spent his boyhood and adulthood before leaving for Bowdoin College and then the presidency in the 1850s.
Like his predecessors, the 14th chief executive of the United States likely returned there to unwind and indulge in a bit of drinking. Pierce’s time in office was marked by the chaos of the Antebellum period and the creation of the Republican Party. After his term, he returned to New Hampshire and died there in 1869.
James Buchanan - 15th U.S. President - Lancaster in Pennsylvania
James Buchanan was a man of many hobbies. He liked to take long walks, read voraciously, and collect fine wine. So, it’s likely that these are the activities he passed the time with during his rest and recreation days in his home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Dubbed Wheatland, the Federal-style house also served as campaign headquarters for him during his bid for America’s highest executive post in the 1850s. The home was also where Buchanan spent his retirement following his term. His abode and its library are still intact to this day and are currently considered a historic landmark.
Abraham Lincoln - 16th U.S. President - Lincoln’s Cottage in Washington D.C.
Inheriting a nation at the brink of civil war, Abraham Lincoln’s presidency was the furthest thing from a walk in the park. He saw the United States divided in 1861 and later reunited in 1865 in a war fought due to clashing stances on slavery.
That said, Lincoln still found the time to relax, or as close as he got to that given the circumstances, at the cottage in the Old Soldier’s Home in Washington D.C. There, he found moments of quiet as he enjoyed the cool breeze and wrote the Emancipation Declaration. Today, the home has been renamed Lincoln’s Cottage in honor of the 16th chief executive.
Zachary Taylor - 12th U.S. President - Louisville in Kentucky
Much of Zachary Taylor’s formative years were spent in his family home Springfield in Lousiville, Kentucky. It was where the war hero-turned 12th American president learned to shoot. It was also where he and his wife Margaret had their wedding and welcomed all but one of their five kids.
That said, it wouldn’t come as a shock if Taylor sought out the comforts of home during his one-year term. Unfortunately, he passed away in the middle of his time in office in 1850, far from Springfield. Today, the Taylor family estate remains standing and is considered a historic landmark.
Martin Van Buren - 8th U.S. President - Kinderhook in New York
Democratic Party founder and eighth American president Martin Van Buren was an avid horse rider and racing enthusiast. So, we don’t doubt he spent many days galloping around the village of Kinderhook, his New York hometown. He loved the place so much that he even purchased an estate called Lindenwald during his time in office.
He retired there following his failed attempts at another term in 1844 and spent his days as a farmer. Looking back on his life, Van Buren described his time at Lindenwald as his “happiest years.” His 36-room mansion still stands strong today and is preserved as a historic landmark.
Andrew Jackson - 7th U.S. President - Nashville in Tennessee
Andrew Jackson spent a portion of his presidency expanding his home, which he named The Hermitage, in Nashville, Tennessee. Since he directed the White House's construction, he likely didn’t get to spend much of his vacation days at the developing estate.
The seventh American president did manage to squeeze in four long retreats in the coast of Virginia, though. There he took a break from discouraging corruption in the government by bathing and breathing in the fresh sea air. But once his duty was done, it was the comforts of The Hermitage Jackson returned to.
John Quincy Adams - 6th U.S. President - Quincy in Massachusetts
Peacefield, a historic residence in Quincy, Massachusetts, served as a home and retreat for generations of Adams, including the sixth president of the United States. John Quincy Adams and his family resided there for much of his life, although he notably passed away in Washington.
A voracious reader, Adams kept a collection of manuscripts in the home and likely spent his days there engrossed in various reading materials. That hobby lives on today as his son Charles followed Adams’ wishes to have his books kept together in a library following his death.
James Monroe - 5th U.S. President - Charlottesville in Virginia
James Monroe was among the most traveled United States presidents during his time. He notably toured across the nation during the first years of his term in the 1810s. But it seems like he enjoyed his time best when he was home in Highland, his estate in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The fifth chief executive of America was known to partake in hunting and riding, hobbies he possibly indulged in during his retreats to Highland. Unfortunately, Monroe was forced to sell his home at the end of his two-year term due to money problems. The plantation still stands today and is open to the public.
James Madison - 4th U.S. President - Orange in Virginia
Keeping with the tradition of presidents naming their homes and retreats, James Madison’s family dubbed their residence Montpelier. Situated in Orange, Virginia, the 2,650-acre estate was where the fourth president and Founding Father spent his boyhood and retirement years.
And with his home only being three hours away from Washington D.C., he likely returned to Montpelier. He notably had construction going on at the estate during his time in office. That said, he took off time from the White House and spent his visits overseeing the creating of a drawing room and extensions.
Thomas Jefferson - 3rd U.S. President - Bedford County in Virginia
As one of the Founding Fathers and the third president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson faced many challenges in his political career. So, the need to unwind from his duties from to time was apparent. That could be why he built a retreat in Bedford County, Virginia, in 1806 during his presidential term.
Dubbed Poplar Forest, the Neoclassical home sitting at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains served as a refuge to Jefferson. He visited the property up to four times a year, with each vacation typically lasting a month, to enjoy time with his family. He was also known to spend his mornings riding, reading, and writing.
Donald Trump - 45th U.S. President - Mar-a-Lago in Florida
Donald Trump’s presidency was particularly eventful, especially with the pandemic happening during his last year in office. So, we don’t blame him for taking advantage of his downtime to go to his club and golf course in Mar-a-Lago, Florida. In fact, NBC News estimates that he spent a total of 133 days there during his term.
We don’t doubt many of those days were spent golfing, given his well-known love for the sport. Of course, the 45th United States president also spent time with his family while at the retreat. Here he is with his wife Melania and son Barron during one of their trips there.
Barack Obama - 44th U.S. President - Camp David in Maryland
As the first president of African American descent, a lot was riding on Barack Obama’s terms. And many would say that he did a great job, as he impacted the country’s public health care system and climate change stance. That said, the 44th man in office definitely earned the right to spend many a day unwinding in Camp David in Maryland.
A popular destination for presidents, the country retreat saw Obama and his family play basketball, go to church, and celebrate birthdays. These days, though, they’re probably spending more time at the Martha’s Vineyard home they bought in 2020.
Bill Clinton - 42nd U.S. President - Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts
Speaking of Martha’s Vineyard, that’s also where the 42nd president of the United States chose to spend his vacation days. It must be something in the Massachusetts air, huh? Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary reportedly spent their time staying at a 20-acre estate with luxe amenities.
Clinton, who faced a scandal involving a White House intern during his term, unwinded by browsing through books at the local bookstore and practicing his golf swing. Now free from the stress of the presidency, he seems to be busy enjoying life and was last seen celebrating former president, Jimmy Carter’s 75th anniversary in July 2021.
George W. Bush - 43rd U.S. President - Prairie Chapel Ranch in Texas
George W. Bush had a lot to deal with during his term. It was during the 43rd American president’s time in office that 9/11 and the subsequent war on terrorism occurred. That said, it was a must for him to clear his head, and he did so at the Prairie Chapel Ranch in Texas.
A son of the Lone Star State, he preferred to return home to take a break from the pressures of his duties. Bush’s 1,600-acre property was completed in 2001 and boasted many natural glories that the presidential family enjoyed. He himself loved the retreat’s scenic bike trails. He continues to live at the ranch as of 2021.
Jimmy Carter - 39th U.S. President - Plains in Georgia
Many presidents choose to return to their hometown when looking for a break from their duties. Jimmy Carter, America’s 39th leader, is one of them. In his case, it was the small city of Plains, Georgia, that he went to for a temporary escape from leading the country through a recession and an energy crisis.
His trips home saw him partake in softball games, often with the Secret Service as players. Unfortunately, he eventually chose to vacation elsewhere after his hometown became the target of protests. Now 96, he still lives in Georgia, where he celebrated his 75th wedding anniversary with his wife Rosalynn in 2021.
Joe Biden - 46th U.S. President - Rehoboth Beach in Delaware
With sitting president Joe Biden being inaugurated into office in 2021, people are excited to see where he’ll take his vacations as the United States’ 46th leader. And it looks like he’ll be spending a lot of time at his family home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.
He and his wife Jill have already been spotted there as they celebrated the first lady’s 70th birthday. The couple was spotted happily riding bicycles near their property during the outing. The Bidens are no stranger to Rehoboth Beach as they notably visited it during a 2012 trip, pictured right.
Franklin D. Roosevelt - 32nd U.S. President - Warm Springs in Georgia
The White House serves as the first family’s home for much of the year. But they often choose to stay someplace else in the summers. For Franklin D. Roosevelt, it’s Warm Springs, Georgia, that he came back to year after year. According to the National Park Service, the 32nd United States president particularly took advantage of its therapeutic waters.
Roosevelt swam in the historic district’s pools in hopes of healing his polio. He took refuge in a then newly-built home there twice as he helped America navigate the Great Depression in the ‘30s. In fact, Roosevelt loved the place so much that he kept coming back until he died in 1945
Ronald Reagan - 40th U.S. President - Santa Barbara in California
Ronald Reagan holds the distinction of having been both a movie star and the 40th president of the United States. So it doesn’t come as a shock that the Republican politician knew how to vacation in style. His retreat of choice was he and his wife Nancy’s ranch in Santa Barbara, California.
Named Rancho del Cielo, it housed the pair about three times a year during Reagan’s eight-year term. Always dressed for the part, he spent his downtime from the AIDS crisis riding horses and cutting wood. He later spent his post-presidency life in a Bel Air home, where he passed away in 2004.
Lyndon B. Johnson - 36th U.S. President - Stonewall in Texas
Although it looks like he wasn’t having fun in these photos, Lyndon B. Johnson truly loved the hills of his hometown Stonewall, Texas. It was where he retreated to regain his strength as he found himself the 36th president of the United States following John F. Kennedy’s 1963 assassination.
He spent his time there walking through fields of blooms with his wife, Lady Bird, by his side. Johnson, who was a high school teacher before politics, was at his most exuberant in Stonewall. After leading America through the Vietnam War and the passing of the Civil Rights Act, he returned to Texas and lived there until he died in 1973.
Richard Nixon - 37th U.S. President - Key Biscayne in Florida
Although the 37th president’s term had its highs, like the end of the Vietnam War, it was marred by the Watergate scandal. And the interesting thing is that Richard Nixon reportedly hatched the plan for the Democratic office break-in while on vacation in Key Biscayne.
Nixon spent his presidential vacations in a ranch-style home in the Floridian town. There he unwinded by tanning and dining at local caverns like the Joe's Stone Crabs restaurant. All with his dog King Tamahoe in tow, of course! Nixon sold his Key Biscayne home after his resignation and died in New York in 1994.
Gerald Ford - 38th U.S. President - Vail in Colorado
Saying Gerald Ford was athletic is quite an understatement. A college football player, he took his love of sports into his presidency. The 38th United States president was often photographed golfing and swimming in his downtime. It was skiing that he loved to do, though, when he vacationed in Vail, Colorado.
Here he is all smiles during one of his trips to the now-famous ski town. Ford’s frequent presence in Vail made him “mountain royalty” as he loaned his name to many local causes there. After overseeing the end of the Vietnam War and surviving assassination attempts, he retired to Colorado and then California, where he passed away in 2006.
Calvin Coolidge - 30th U.S. President - The Black Hills in South Dakota
After spending the first few vacations of his presidency along the east coast, Calvin Coolidge set his eyes on the Black Hills in South Dakota. Here he is atop a horse during one such trip in the ‘20s. However, the abundance of fishing spots reportedly convinced the 30th president to come out west.
As a result, Coolidge became the leader of the United States to establish a summer White House further out than any of his predecessors. His getaways to South Dakota also involved him in helping the state develop its infrastructure. Today, a statue of him wearing cowboy boots with his business attire stands in the state’s Rapid City.
Herbert Hoover - 31st U.S. President - Rapidan Camp in Virginia
Herbert Hoover is another president who loved fishing. And so, he set out to find spots comparable to the ones he enjoyed in his youth in Iowa. In the process, he found Rapidan Camp, a retreat high up above in the Virginian wilderness.
According to the National Park Service, the camp provided more than just fish to the 31st president of America. He and his wife Lou also found solace there amid the market crash that led the nation to enter into one of the worst financial crises in its history. Now known as Camp Hoover, the place attracts nature lovers to this day.
Dwight D. Eisenhower - 34th U.S. President - Augusta in Georgia
It looks like golfing is one of the most popular pastimes among American presidents. Joining the club is Dwight D. Eisenhower, whose favorite spot to swing is the national club at Augusta, Georgia. In fact, he loved the place so much that he visited it 29 times during his term!
Looking at these photos, he definitely enjoyed all those vacation trips. But aside from getting his daily dose of exercise at the golf course, Eisenhower reportedly spent his downtime attending services at the Reid Memorial Presbyterian Church. The 34th American president’s cabin at Augusta still stands at the club as of 2021.
Harry S. Truman - 33rd U.S. President - Key West in Florida
Harry S. Truman was another president who appreciated the Floridian sun. His retreat of choice is the island city of Key West, where he vacationed in an estate dubbed as the Little White House. But while he enjoyed his time there relaxing and reading, he continued to work even on his “off days.”
Not surprising considering that Truman entered office in the aftermath of World War II and the advent of the Cold War. Sources even say that his first months as the 33rd president were so grueling that it left him physically exhausted. He returned home to Missouri after his term and embarked on a career as a university lecturer.
John F. Kennedy - 35th U.S. President - Cape Cod in Massachusetts
When John F. Kennedy found the time for a break, he rode his helicopter from the White House to the family home in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. There he would be welcomed by his children, nieces, and nephews for a getaway filled with boating and golfing.
And when he returned to his office to lead America through the Cuban missile crisis, the 35th president had framed photos of home surrounding him. Unfortunately, he died a long way from home in Texas, where he was assassinated in 1963. Kennedy is buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
Andrew Johnson - 17th U.S. President - Greeneville in Tennessee
A man who came from humble beginnings, Andrew Johnson spent many years of his adulthood in this humble brick home in Greeneville, Tennessee. Here, he made a living as a tailor before rising on the political ladder to become the 17th president of the United States.
Not much is known about how Johnson spent his breaks from White House duties. However, he reportedly took the time to tend to a family of mice during his tumultuous time in office. He ended up being impeached in 1868 for violating the Tenure of Office Act and retired home to Tennessee.
Rutherford B. Hayes - 19th U.S. President - Fremont in Ohio
Meanwhile, Rutherford B. Hayes entered the White House a man of means. He already had a large estate called Spiegel Grove in Fremont, Ohio, which reportedly had a mansion with 31 rooms. The 19th president of the United States particularly loved lounging in the home’s spacious veranda and was photographed there with his wife in the 1880s.
Although we couldn’t get information about his presidential retreats to Fremont, we don’t doubt he enjoyed his time there. Hayes, who supported Republican Reconstruction policies, notably opted not to run for a second term and spent his retirement in Spiegel Grove, where he was buried after his death in 1893.
Millard Fillmore - 13th U.S. President - East Aurora in New York
Millard Fillmore, the last Whig Party member in the White House, built this simple clapboard home in East Aurora, New York, decades before his presidency. That said, it’s unknown if the 13th chief executive of the United States ever spent his sabbaticals in the one-and-a-half-story residence.
It would have made for the perfect getaway, though, due to its proximity to Niagara Falls. Fillmore, who is perhaps best remembered for reducing tensions between the South and the North, retired to New York following the end of his one-term presidency in 1853.