Daily life is serene, sophisticated and decidedly uncomplicated. In short, Mustique appeals to upscale travelers who like their adventures in paradise on the quiet and refined side. The six-square-mile island features one superb, understated resort, the Cotton House. This exquisitely designed estate offers superior luxury with Old Caribbean style and manners. Spacious rooms, featuring dressing areas and light, airy French windows, are spread out through the former plantation house and bougainvillea-draped small cottages. The main house’s wooden verandah serves as a wonderful tea terrace, lounge, restaurant and island social center. On the other hand, if villa vacations are your cup of tea, a number of Mustique’s marvelous private homes are available for short-term rental. Call for competitive, money-saving rates. These are words travelers are thrilled to hear. And it was that greeting which kicked off our recent return to one of Jamaica’s finest beach resorts, Couples Negril.

feet down the Humunga Kowabunga. Enjoy tubing, body slides, sandy beach and water fun for the whole family. Golfing: From the minute you arrive at the International Golf Club you are treated like a member of an exclusive country club.

Instead of finding a clearing and pitching a tent, I prefer booking escorted vacations that deliver natural grandeur along with beautiful, deluxe accommodations. Their cruise tours, such as its 14-day excursion to the Last Frontier, offer a wilderness experience that fits our criteria for soft adventure. The vacation’s first week delivers an Alaskan land vacation that sounds like a dream. You’ll linger in a luxurious lodge where whitewater streams and wooded trails promise memorable encounters with wildlife. You’ll be immersed in emerald forests as you travel in a deluxe railway observation car to Alaska’s crown jewel, Denali National Park. And your two days in Denali will include seeing the majestic peaks, glorious bald eagles and midnight sun that make Alaska a special destination. Enjoy breakfast wildlife sightings from the privacy of your cabin’s verandah. Take advantage of spacious decks to see monumental glaciers in an up-close, personal way.