Honolulu is just five hours from California, but ditch Waikiki for the other Oahu, where coastal roads pass dozens of empty beaches and solitary trails lead to jaw-dropping ocean vistas. Bike Hawaii (877-682-7433) will bring you to Kaaawa Valley, a pedaler's paradise where miles of singletrack wander along dizzying cliffs. Follow that with a jungle hike to a 200-foot waterfall in lush Manoa Valley. Or summit 4,040-foot Mount Kaala (pictured here), an all-day climb that ends in a forest preserve high above the coast. What next? Oh, yeah: surfing. The challenging breaks at Banzai Pipeline and Sunset Beach attract top pros; mere mortals get wet at Chun's Reef (rent boards at Surf n Sea; 800-899-7873). Hang up your trunks at Turtle Bay Resort (from $295; 800-203-3650 or ); every room has a view of the North Shore. (Adapted from an article I did a while back for a national magazine)

—Alex, 06/05/07