Clean getaways around the country

Cycling through wine country

Leave from: Portland

The jaunt: Oaky or minerally, fruity or peppery? Whatever. Wine just tastes perfect after biking through undulating, vine-filled valleys—especially when you haven't splurged on a plane ticket to Europe for the pleasure. Thanks to Bicycle Adventures' four-day trip, Portlanders can hop in a van to the nearby town of Lafayette to begin pedaling through the Willamette Valley, with the daily mileage tailored to your ability (usually between 15 and 40 miles per day). That leaves plenty of time for lingering at a dozen vineyards (including the acclaimed Willakenzie Estate), trying chocolate truffles at a monastery, and poking through small-town boutiques. And don't worry about your luggage: Instead of inn-hopping or camping, Bicycle Adventures arranges for guests to spend all three nights at the same B&B.

Your chariots: A 90-minute van ride from downtown Portland and a custom-made Rocky Mountain road bike

Check into: The Youngberg Hill Vineyards and Inn's seven rooms look out onto 17 acres of pinot noir vines.

Bicycle Adventures
Tel: 800 443 6060
$2,090 per person, including three nights' lodging, bike, and all meals

Float the Chattahoochee

Leave from: Atlanta

The jaunt: With all due respect to air conditioning, nothing beats the Atlanta summer heat like drifting down the 320-mile-long Chattahoochee River as it flows from the Blue Ridge Mountains. After all, who writes songs about built-in AC? In less time than it takes to fight crosstown traffic, Atlantans can be lazily floating the Hooch on an inner tube, shaded by mountain laurel and hemlock trees. The slightly more active set can choose from canoes, kayaks, pedal boats, and water bikes, all available from Chattahoochee Outfitters, a rental company with two riverside shops and five pick-up/drop-off points along the river. Rentals are available by the hour or by the trip; it takes about four hours to cover the six and a half miles between Johnson's Ferry and Paces Mill.

Your chariot: A tube, a canoe, or anything that's buoyant

Check into: The Twelve Centennial Park is right next to the Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta's other can't-miss waters.

Chattahoochee Outfitters
Tel: 770 650 1008

Twelve Centennial Park
Tel: 404 418 1212
Doubles from $200

Soaking up the Berkeley Scene

Leave from: San Francisco

The jaunt: Let the tourists have Fisherman's Wharf and the Golden Gate Bridge. When we want a carefree, car-free weekend in the Bay Area, we head for Berkeley, the original home of earth mothers and flower power. Our perfect day starts with cinnamon brioche French toast and lattes at La Note; and ends with sweet corn soufflé, quail with garlic sausage, and raspberry ice cream pavlova at the legendary Chez Panisse, birthplace of California cuisine. And of course we'll make time for a midday pit stop at one of the weekly Farmers' Markets for locally grown fruits, organic baked goods, and farm-fresh cheeses. Though the town is by no means the counterculture hub it was in the '60s, you can still find the beatnik vibe on Telegraph Avenue. Whole Earth Access is long gone, but you're free to browse the manifestos at Moe's and flip through some vinyl at Amoeba Records to bring you back to the days of free love.

Your chariot: It's just a 25-minute trip on BART from Powell Street to downtown Berkeley.

Check into: The Claremont Resort & Spa, whose 279 rooms have views of San Francisco Bay and offer an elegant balance to Berkeley's collegiate, liberal scene

La Note
Tel: 510 843 1535

Chez Panisse
Tel: 510 548 5525

Moe's Books
Tel: 510 849 2087

Amoeba Records
Tel: 510 549 1125

Claremont Resort & Spa
Tel: 510 843 3000
Doubles from $249 per night

Sailing the San Juans

Leave from: Seattle

The jaunt: Seattle's harbor is jam-packed with boats begging to be taken out onto the Pacific. The key is to pick one that really stands out. The 65-foot schooner Mallory Todd has three bearded captains, gleaming teak woodwork, brass fittings, and bright bunting that will have you tossing out silly yachting terms before you've even left Seattle's South Lake Union port. Sit back with a cocktail and watch drawbridges open for your sky-high masts as the ship makes its way out of city through the Montlake Cut. The sails then snap to attention for the leisurely cruise up to the San Juan Islands, where up to 90 orca whales swim from May through September. The archipelago's 450 islands studded with evergreen forests can be sailed over a long weekend, but are best seen over a week. (You've saved enough sick days, right?)

Your chariot: The Mallory Todd has three double cabins. There are also three outdoor decks and an open-air dining room for meals prepared by your personal chef.

Check into: One of three cabins below deck, trimmed with Honduras mahogany and warmed by faux fireplaces with built-in heaters on chilly evenings

Mallory Todd
Tel: 206 381 6919
Weekend voyages to the San Juan islands for up to 6 guests, price upon request. Half-day charters through the Seattle lakes for up to 36 guests, from $1,250.

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