7. Half Moon Bay, California

Everyone's first visit to Half Moon Bay feels as close to a "eureka!" discovery moment as there is. Your car navigates that vertiginous road over the coastal hills from sprawling Silicon Valley, and then you descend upon this little gem nestled against the Pacific. The place is simply overwhelmed by the abundance of organic produce grown there. (Go in fall and you'll see a sea of the town's famed pumpkins.) That's the magic of this fertile township of more than 12,000 residents that was first discovered and cultivated by 18th-century Spanish settlers, and proudly maintains its agricultural heritage into the iPad era.

Where to Stay: Oceano Hotel & Spa offers suites with fireplaces and organic bamboo linens. Rates start at $199; 888/623-2661 or oceanohalfmoonbay.com.