It's the simple things - Sometimes the best vacation involves doing as little as possible

THE CHIMES of my iPhone alarm reached a crescendo, signaling that it was 5:30 a.m. I longed to hit snooze but instead rolled from my bed and shuffled heavy-eyed to the coffee machine. A jolt of caffeine helped get me out the door just in time to make my 6 a.m. Pilates class. The early morning hustle would have felt routine if it weren't for the humid, plumeria-scented air, the sound of crashing waves, and the elevator-length commute to the gym.

- JEN MURPHY

I was in Kauai for a much-needed vacation. When I'd booked the weeklong trip three months earlier, I was feeling burned out and sought a respite from days that were intensely structured around meetings and deadlines. Kauai seemed like the perfect tonic-I'd visited the island many times before, so on this latest trip I wouldn't feel the tug of attractions like the Näpali Coast or Waipo'o Falls in Waimea Canyon. I envisioned lazy, sun-soaked afternoons on the beach and mellow sunset surf sessions. My only agenda would be recuperation.

But my plan was foiled when the hotel emailed me its activities schedule one week prior to my departure. In hindsight, I should have ignored it. Instead, I proudly pored over five pages enticing programming ranging from hot Pilates and astrology readings to an opportunity to meet a local surf legend. Then there was the spa menu, promising restoration via flotation-tank sessions and herbal massages. Reservations were strongly advised for everything, and before I knew it my vacation itinerary was even more packed than my normal schedule.