Hawaii: Flowers and Sand

Created by a massive volcano more than six million years ago, the island of Kauai—Hawaii's oldest—has been relatively quiet ever since. Homebase on the north coast, in ruggedly serene Haena, where the warm sea air sets the pace. Sure, you can go spelunking at nearby legend-drenched caves and marvel at the otherworldly flowers soaking up the sun at Limahuli Garden and Preserve, but lolling on the beach (where, by the way, South Pacific was filmed) has its rewards, namely the recharging of batteries. Also uplifting are all the green-space vistas. This wedge of Kauai has been farmed for more than a thousand years. "One reason the area has remained so pastoral is the rusty one-lane Hanalei Bridge, too narrow for tour buses," says Rita Ariyoshi, who wrote the National Geographic Traveler Hawaii guide.

•Logistics: Kauai's major airport, Lihue, is 40 miles from the island's north shore. Lodging: Hanalei Colony Resort's two-bedroom condos are peacefully unplugged (no TVs, no phones), from $240; www.hcr.com. Dining: Locals love the fish-and-chips at the Hanalei Gourmet; www.hanaleigourmet.com. Best link: www.kauai-hawaii.com.

Colorado: Gateway to Majesty

Add the city of Estes Park to your Rocky Mountain National Park itinerary for a best-of-both-worlds weekend. Not that the town in question is devoid of great-outdoors activities. You can raft the Cache La Poudre River and cast your line in Big Thompson River. Spend an hour at the Estes Park Area Historical Museum, where archaeological displays suggest that local Native Americans used the area as a summer resort. Embark on the self-guided city walking tour outlined in the museum guide. After the sun goes down, there's music and pulled-pork sandwiches at Lonigan's Saloon. "Trail Ridge Road has lifted drivers into Rocky Mountain National Park since the early 1930s. Hairpin curves head up to tundra that's snowy even in summer," says Steve Knopper, Rolling Stone contributing editor and author of Moon Handbooks Colorado.

•Logistics: Estes Park is a 90-minute drive from Denver. Lodging: Fawn Valley Inn sits on the trout-filled Fall River, from $90; www.rockymtnresorts.com. Dining: Have breakfast—get there early—at the local favorite Egg & I, +1 970 586 1173. Best link: www.estes-park.com.

Idaho: Along Western Rivers

Jump into a raft and take to the gentle waters—and rapids—on the Clearwater, Selway, or Lochsa Rivers, which are prime fishing spots for cutthroat trout, too. Hop on a mountain bike and ride the Coolwater Ridge Trail (it drops 6,000 feet in five miles). Mount a horse and head to Stanley Hot Springs for a soak and some lunch. No matter what you do, you'll be glad that you're resting up in a rustically luxurious cabin at River Dance Lodge, whose sense of place derives from its location, central Idaho's Wild and Scenic River Corridor. "Lewis and Clark traveled within a few miles of here," says lodge co-owner Peter Grubb. "You can drive to the Lolo Motorway and hike to sites recorded in their journals." When Lewis and Clark came this way in 1805 and '06, it was Nez Perce Indian country. The culture of this peaceful group is documented at the Nez Perce Historical Park, near Spalding, about a 90-minute drive west of the lodge.

•Logistics: The closest major airport is in Missoula, just over two hours away by car. Lodging: The lodgepole-pine cabins at River Dance Lodge blend in with the forests and mountains that surround them, from $129; www.riverdancelodge.com. Dining: Try the locally caught salmon with huckleberry (local too) sauce at the lodge's Syringa Café. Best link: www.northcentralidaho.info.

Montana: Wide-Open Splendor

Experience remote Glacier National Park—one of the largest in the lower 48—via a remember-always drive and a hike that takes in a wealth of glacial scenery. The 52-mile Going-to-the-Sun Road offers great scenics, from views of Lake McDonald to subalpine meadows—prime fauna habitat. "Where the road is etched into the cliffs, you drive on the edge of the abyss," says research ecologist Kate Kendall. The 13.6-mile hike along Gunsight Pass Trail rewards walkers with a place to eat and sleep. Built in 1913 of native rock, the Sperry Chalet fills up quickly; plan ahead and reserve early.

•Logistics: Glacier Park International Airport is some 25 miles away. Lodging: Hike-in-only Sperry Chalet (from $170; www.sperrychalet.com) and drive-to Many Glacier Hotel, from $142; www.glacierparkinc.com. Dining: Two Sisters Café, on the eastern end of Going-to-the-Sun Road, does a fine job with burgers and pies, lunch and dinner; www.twosistersofmontana.com. Best link: www.nps.gov/glac.

Published in the May/June 2009 issue of National Geographic Traveler.