Everest is shrinking—in status, at least. In the past few years, companies like Nepal Helicopter have been ferrying passengers to Base Camp, allowing well-heeled "climbers" to skip the slog up to 17,600 feet. Cheating? Perhaps. But there are times when a shortcut is worth a little shame.

Consider these La-Z-Boy adventures.

Paddle the Gulf of Alaska in just eight days.

The Cheat: The Home Shore, a 60-foot renovated fishing boat that ferries sea kayakers southeast from Sitka, cherry-picking prime paddling spots from more than 250 miles of rugged coastline.

The Payoff: Open-water paddling without the risk factor; line-caught king salmon for dinner; stop-offs on islands for dips in hot springs, in case you get chilly.