Hawaii is one of those destinations everyone seems to refer to dreamily, as in, "Ahhh, Hawaii." The islands are idyllic, exotic, distinctive, and yet still familiar and comfortable. Each has its own personality, so you can dabble in a little of this and a little of that when you visit (see "Choose an Island Personality."). But best of all, these little pieces of paradise are home to plenty of unspoiled beaches, pristine waterfalls, rugged canyons, and untouched wilderness for you to explore--if you're willing to ditch the tourist beaches of Oahu and Maui and get a little off the beaten path.

In recent months, Hideaways Travel Services has arranged member trips to Maui, Lanai, Kauai, and the Big Island of Hawaii, as well as a couple of multi-island trips that encompassed a smorgasbord of resorts and adventures. One of these was an impressive three-and-a-half-month odyssey to four islands taken by Priscilla and Jim Thompson of Boise, Idaho. The couple decided an extended visit to Hawaii would be just the right way to escape another Boise winter, now that Jim is retired. And boy, did they ever escape!

July 2010