Breath of fresh air: escape the hustle and bustle with these seven outdoor adventures

if you're like most fit women, you probably have a great routine that allows you to juggle work, friends and family and still get to the gym regularly. Then your annual vacation creeps up; of course, you barely have time to think about your daily schedule, let alone figure out an itinerary for a dream trip. Well, start packing your bags--this year we've taken care of nearly everything. These spectacular getaways will keep your muscles moving and your heart pumping, and you won't have to prepare anything beyond your wardrobe.

1 a different island vacation

Imagine spending a week hiking, biking and kayaking through the San Juan islands located between Vancouver Island and mainland Washington while someone else carries your luggage hither and yon. Backroads, one of the premier adventure-tour companies in the country, has spent more than 20 years perfecting active trips and making the most of the great outdoors. Participants in their six-day tours enjoy an ideal balance of nature, culture and exercise: hiking through fragrant forests of cedar and fir trees, kayaking to remote beaches, boating to Orcas Island for wildlife-watching and then visiting local artists.

Both camping and inn accommodations are available, depending on what kind of multisport trip you sign up for. Keep in mind that camping in the Northwest can be a drizzly affair at times, so inns might be a better way to go. Trips depart from Seattle and are offered from June through October, which is the most beautiful time of year. Backroads tours accommodate all fitness levels, and family versions are available. Six-day multisport trip: $2,298 including all equipment, meals and lodging. Contact: 800-GO ACTIVE or www.backroads.com.

2 surfin' safari

Located in the sleepy beachfront town of Sayulita on the Pacific coast of Mexico, Las Olas women's surf camp offers gentle waves, friendly instructors, accommodations in beautifully crafted bungalows and excellent local cuisine. Of course, you'll surf every day, but the camp offers much more than just lessons. Classes like yoga, Mexican cooking, jewelry-making and Surfing 201, which teaches you what muscles you should train to improve your surfing, round out the adventure. Stroll down golden beaches or hike in the jungle above town in your spare time; spa treatments and massage are also available.

After a long day of enjoying beach life, nothing tastes better than fresh fish caught daily by locals; pineapple, bananas and star fruit picked from nearby groves; and a good margarita. Six-day sessions run year-round; two mother/daughter sessions are offered. Register 60 days in advance for the best deal: $1,795 for the week plus airfare. Contact: 707-746-6435 or www.surflasolas.com.

3 wild, wild west

From the day you arrive in Sedona, Arizona, you'll understand how you can learn to relax and be physically challenged in the same breath. With Global Fitness Adventures, you'll wake up to morning yoga sessions on Sedona's scenic red rocks, eat delicious organic meals that are sugar- and caffeine-free, then head off on a vigorous 5-mile hike to get your blood pumping--all before lunch.

Don't be surprised to find yourself hiking 1,000 feet straight up or taking "quick" 10-mile jaunts into the desert. Afternoons will pass quickly as you work your thighs and abs with rubber-band resistance training next to a babbling brook. Then relax in the late afternoon with an hour-long massage to help loosen tight muscles. End each day with an evening walk or participate in a traditional Native American sweat lodge to really understand the desert experience.

Global Fitness Adventures prides itself on offering a peaceful atmosphere where visitors can connect with their spiritual side while getting a serious workout. You're guaranteed to return from your vacation toned, both mentally and physically. Founder Kristina Hurrell says an essential requirement on this trip is to "feel" the environment instead of just passing through it, so silent hikes are encouraged. "I often find that when people are on a trip, they forget they should be in the moment and not talk about taxes or work. It's important to really hear the sounds of the wilderness, to think about your intentions when you're in a place like this," she says. Seven-day sessions in April and October: $2,500. Contact: 800-488-TRIP or www.globalfitnessadventures.com.

4 shooting the rapids

In today's hustle and bustle, you probably couldn't visualize what a week with no newspaper, cell phone or e-mail would feel like if you tried. It does exist, however, and for those who aren't afraid to break a nail and get their feet wet, the escape is better known as Adrift Adventures. "Rafting trips incorporate the best of what nature has to offer, and give people who wouldn't normally spend much time outside a rare look at archeology, geology, native plants, trees, birds and bees," explains owner Mike Hughes.

After setting off from Moab, Utah, you'll spend four days on the Green River paddling in the summer sun and camping under the stars with well-seasoned guides. And if you choose one of the all-women journeys in June or July, Hughes says the only sign of civilization you'll see on the river will probably be the people on tour with you. "Some say the world actually stops on the river, and in the case of our trips, I believe it."