Top Beaches 2007

Forbes lists 10 US getaways from Maui to Maine

(NEWSER) - Americans need a vacation—badly—with fewer than two-thirds of workers using their allotted time last year, reports Forbes. But not everyone's idea of fun is vegging out . Here are top-notch US getaways for those who like active travel:

• Kapalua Resort, Maui, Hawaii: Golf, bird-watching and a marine-life preserves.
• Golden Door Resort, Escondido, California: Feel revived at the nation's top stand-alone spa.
• Walden Country Inn and Stables, Aurora, Ohio: Ride horseback on 32 acres of trails.

Hawaii's Hanalei Bay comes out on top in 'Dr. Beach's' annual list

(NEWSER) - The magnificent setting of Hawaii's Hanalei Bay helps make its beach this year's best in the US, according to Florida-based expert Steven "Dr. Beach" Leatherman. The runners-up, judged on 50 criteria including water quality and facilities:

• Siesta Beach in Sarasota, Fla.
• Coopers Beach in Southampton, NY
• Coronado Beach in San Diego

Where you can shell out $53K a night (breakfast not included)

(NEWSER) - When New York's Four Seasons opened a new penthouse suite costing a cool $30,000 a night, they boasted that it was the world's most expensive hotel room. Think again. The Times of London lists the world's most astronomically priced hotel rooms.

1. Royal Penthouse Suite, Hotel President Wilson, Geneva ($53,000)
2. Hugh Hefner Sky Villa, Palms Resort, Las Vegas ($43,500)

Ninth Circuit conference would include full-service spa

(NEWSER) - US senators are scrutinizing a planned Maui getaway for circuit court judges that could cost more than $1 million in taxpayer dollars, Fox News reports. Scheduled for August, the Ninth Circuit Judicial Conference would allow judges, attorneys, staff, and "special guests" to stay at a Hyatt Regency resort spa with a per diem baseline of $289. Activities such as golf, paddle-board lessons, and a floral design workshop would be available but not on the taxpayers' tab. More»

Where to avoid the people and the noise and find serenity

(NEWSER) - Even for die-hard swimmers, surfers, and sunbathers, sometimes a day at the beach is anything but, thanks to way, way too many people. The good news is that there are still undiscovered beaches out there. Travel + Leisure went scouting for such secret beaches. Here are its best finds:

• Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, Mexico: This artist colony is way cooler in both temperature and temperament than the Margaritaville of Cabo San Lucas, an hour to the south. Pacific breezes stir up rough and tumbling waves that have made this kicked-back community a surfer’s haven.