They say it’s good to be king, but being president of the United States has been known to offer a perk or two as well. When it’s time to take a breather from leading the free world, for instance, the commander in chief can always get away from Washington and hide out at his favorite presidential retreat. George W. Bush had Prairie Chapel Ranch in Crawford, Texas; other presidential retreats range from a small house in the woods to a sprawling estate on the coast. Like the men themselves, some presidential retreats are unassuming, while others are legendary.We’ve compiled the 10 best presidential retreats based on their intrigue, popularity, notoriety, and closeness of character with the presidents who spent time there. The public is also welcome to tour some of the presidential retreats featured here. As for some others, you’ll have to rank as a head of state — or at least be a major party donor — to gain access.

PINE KNOT
Albemarle County, Virginia

You may have the SUV and the spotless oh-so-outdoorsy clothes, but would you rough it without a latrine the way Teddy Roosevelt did? It was actually First Lady Edith Roosevelt who selected this 15-acre wooded parcel in 1905. The two-story cottage became a retreat for the family, but not necessarily a lavish one. Teddy may have been known as a Rough Rider, but Edith and their kids didn’t mind the spartan accommodations or lack of amenities either. In recent years, the site has undergone restorations to allow visitors access to this rustic presidential retreat.

KENWOOD
Chicago, Illinois

There’s a sense of change with the nation’s 44th commander in chief, and his presidential retreat underscores this. Barack Obama will presumably spend downtime at both Camp David and in Hawaii, especially considering his ties to the latter. Yet his ties to Chicago and the intent to maintain them are unique. Unlike past presidents who’ve isolated themselves on ranches or oceanfront estates, Obama is content to return to his house in Kenwood. At $1.6 million, it’s hardly a modest starter house, but its neighborhood location conveys an extension of its owner: tasteful and dignified yet not out of touch.

LBJ RANCH
Stonewall, Texas

You can’t deny Lyndon Johnson was a different kind of president, especially in comparison to Kennedy and Nixon. Some found him more likable than his predecessor and successor, although beagles might disagree. Regardless, his ranch near Stonewall is worth a look. Not too far from Austin, the ranch isn’t a silent, stuffy museum; it’s as straightforward as the man himself and an active attraction for the National Park Service.

MOUNT VERNON
Mount Vernon, Virginia

The first president — the first presidential retreat. Just a few miles from Washington, D.C. and Alexandria, the 18th-century estate and gardens are open every day of the year. In the 40 years George Washington and wife Martha lived there, he managed to expand the estate from 6 to 21 rooms, and the grounds from 2,000 to 8,000 acres (it’s a more modest but still impressive 500 acres now). We’re not sure how many cherry trees he planted, but we do know it’s been a publicly accessible presidential retreat since 1860. In the years since, almost 80 million have visited.

BUSH COMPOUND (WALKER’S POINT)
Kennebunkport, Maine

If countless hours of watching The Simpsons have taught us anything, it’s that George H.W. and Barbara Bush should have forgone Springfield and continued summering in Kennebunkport. The summer White House has been in the family for over 100 years, built by H.W.’s grandfather in 1903. Though the Bushes spend more of their time in Texas, they still come to the Bush Compound throughout the year. We can’t help but wonder if it’s to keep tabs on how George the younger treats the place on his periodic visits.

RANCHO DEL CIELO
Santa Barbara, California

In 1974, when the original actor-turned-California governor Ronald Reagan was nearing the end of his second term, he and wife Nancy first saw Rancho del Cielo, the 688-acre “Ranch of the Sky” outside Santa Barbara. They had to have it — and did — for $527,000. As president, Reagan retreated there often, and continued to do so until the mid-’90s, when the former president’s battle with Alzheimer’s disease intensified. Today, Young America’s Foundation owns Rancho del Cielo and tours are given — for a price. With a donation of $1,000 or more to the Foundation, you can secure an invitation.

MONTICELLO
Charlottesville, Virginia

You know that house on the back of the nickel? It looks a lot better in person. Located in Albemarle County, Virginia, Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello may only be a few miles from Teddy Roosevelt’s Pine Knot, but they couldn’t be further apart in all other respects. The Roman neoclassic house has a very consistent look and feel, despite the fact that Jefferson began construction in 1769 and didn’t stop fiddling with it until 1809. Apparently, he couldn’t quit monkeying with the name either. In early records, he referred to the property as Hermitage, which hardly has a prestigious ring to it. Possibly due to an Italian book of architecture, Jefferson eventually gave it the often mispronounced name we know today. By the way, it’s pronounced “Montichello.”

LITTLE WHITE HOUSE
Key West, Florida

Long before Parrot Head, stray chickens, Hemingway’s six-toed cats, and rainbow flags overran Key West, one of the unique features of the island was the large house built in 1890 as naval officers’ quarters. Beginning in 1946, President Truman began working and playing there, setting the stage for other presidents to follow suit. Today, official functions have given way to public tours and private parties, but the Little White House has been preserved much as Truman left it — ironically blending with the funkiness of Old Town Key West.

KENNEDY COMPOUND
Hyannisport, Massachusetts

The Kennedy Compound is like Yale’s Skull and Bones tomb with a view. So much infamous American history has taken place here that this presidential retreat has provided everlasting storytelling fodder. Few outsiders have been granted entrance and even fewer still speak of what goes on within. Even conflicting reports given under oath have been shrugged off. Just six measly acres of Nantucket Sound waterfront, it all began when Joseph P. rented the Marchant Avenue summer cottage in 1926. A couple of years later, he purchased and enlarged it, and it became the family’s summer retreat. Later, sons John and Robert bought neighboring homes, establishing what today makes up the compound and an evergreen source of urban legend.

CAMP DAVID
Catoctin Mountain Park, Maryland

Most associate the ultimate presidential retreat with President Eisenhower, who named Camp David after his grandson. It was really FDR who began hanging out here for his health, trying to beat Washington’s summertime heat and humidity. His advisers were also leery of him spending time on the USS Potomac — too vulnerable of a target for a nation at war. The camp was originally built for disabled children in the late ‘30s, then served as a federal employees’ family camp. In a way, it’s remained that way ever since Roosevelt first visited in 1942 — just with a smaller, more select federal employee family presence. Through the years, from hosting dignitaries to serving as a secluded getaway, Camp David continues to be the ultimate presidential retreat.