Little Palm Island Resort & Spa, Fl
Little Palm Island
FLY IN, BOAT OUT: Little Palm from your taxi window This 28-bungalow retreat is as off the grid as it gets—120 watery miles south of Miami, accessible only by boat or floatplane. Snorkel and kayak off white beaches, or scuba-dive at the Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary. Then shine up with a seaside salt rub before dining on fresh lobster. Doubles, $745; 800-343-8567,
Inn at Langley, Wa
Built atop a bluff on Whidbey Island—a 15-minute ferry ride from the mainland—the inn’s 24 rooms and two cottages have private decks that deliver 180-degree Puget Sound views. Kayak through the Saratoga Passage, then warm up fireside with an in-room whirlpool tub. Doubles, $250–$495; 360-221-3033,
Big River Lodge, Mt
A stone’s throw from the Gallatin River, the lodge sits in primo trout territory. Or trade your rod for a raft and paddle the Class III whitewater of the Yellowstone and Madison rivers. Afterwards, gorge on braised native striped bass before bedding down in your streamside cabin. $450 per person per night; 800-628-1011,
Lake Austin Spa Resort, Tx
A freshwater oasis, the spa has achieved an award-winning rep for wellness, offering 100 signature treatments. Between botanical facials and river-rock massages, practice yoga on the suspension deck or take an Asian cooking class. At the end of the day, soak it all in from your private cottage’s veranda. Doubles from $1,300 for three nights; 800-847-5637,
Winstead Inn & Beach Resort, Ma
Settled into a private beach on Nantucket Sound, this 14-room Cape Cod inn has a wraparound porch that faces rolling sand dunes and sea tides. Rent a bike from the nearby Bike Depot and pedal the path from the inn to Saquatucket Harbor, where you can charter a sailboat or sportfish in the sound. Doubles from $165; 800-870-4405,