2004 Life Style Collection

It's hot out. You're clearing a trail somewhere in the heart of Costa Rica. Sweat pours. Your muscles ache. And guess what: You're on vacation.

For most people, "work" and "vacation" are incompatible. However, volunteer vacationing is more popular than ever. "I taught English, chopped wood and hung out with Buddhist monks," recounts David Patrick, a 36-year-old actor who recently volunteer-vacationed in Thailand. "It was an amazing experience."

Wherever you take your volunteer vacation, you'll surely see more than you would as a tourist. According to David Patrick and others, you'll be glad you went.