the buzz log

It's hard to pick the perfect escape when you're the leader of the free world. But word has it that the Obamas have found the hideaway they need: A 28-acre, $20-million property on Martha's Vineyard Island, off the coast of Massachusetts, called Blue Heron Farm. The 10,000-square-foot retreat has everything a president wanting some downtime needs, including a swimming pool, basketball court, and golf tee. And it is even dog-friendly.

The Obama family will pay its own way for a one-week getaway at the end of August, and it's not cheap: Rents reportedly run from $35-$50,000 a week for similar homes. (Not surprisingly, the town of Chilmark, where they're headed, was voted the most expensive small town in America a couple years back. And that was before the First Family said they'd be coming.)

While it may seem elitist in mid-recession to turn up at an exclusive resort, consider this: The Secret Service rejected some 20 other vacation spots before Blue Heron Farm got the seal of approval.

As the AP notes, the Obamas' visit is not as bad as you think—it actually adds to the rich history of the place: In the old days, black families vacationed on the island because they were unwelcome elsewhere. Now prominent African Americans who choose to spend their summers there include director Spike Lee, Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (yes, that Henry Louis Gates), and Obama's Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett.

The cost of taking a week's vacation when you are the president is undoubtedly high. But the value of family time, we're sure, is priceless.

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