How & Where Celebs Summer

July 29, 2008— -- For celebrities, summer is a time for taking up a hobby, helping others or doing a little work around the house. USA TODAY's Donna Freydkin and William Keck report on how some have been spending their summer.

The actress, who recently starred in the film Diminished Capacity, has taken up a new hobby. "I just learned how to surf in Maui," Madsen says. "I'm surprisingly not bad. It took me just a few times to get up. It's important when you're 35 and older to do things you never thought you could do. But I'm not going to sky-dive. My son Jack's dad (Antonio Sabato Jr.) is a thrill-seeker and sky-dives all the time, so I figure one of us should stay on the ground."

The Desperate Housewives actress just returned from Africa. "I had an amazing experience taking my daughter (Emerson Rose, 10) and parents on a trip to Kenya. We brought supplies and money to orphans through the program AmericaShare sponsored by Micato Safaris, and spent several days at homes for children — from babies to teens — with HIV and AIDS."

The actress, who does a voice in the 3-D movie Fly Me to the Moon (opening Aug. 15), has been doing a little decorating. "I'm remodeling my new English country estate," she says. "I'm doing everything, but I'll involve (beau) Michael (Bolton) in all aspects. I'm the architect, the contractor, the designer and the landscaper."

The actor has been taking classes at New York University. His favorite? "From Plato to NATO. It's about as broad of a scope as you can possibly take," he says. "It's a wonderful lecture course and a great way to spend my summer."

The rocker has beenkeeping busy with his family between tours. "It's the first summer I haven't been on the road in three years, so I'm really spending a lot of time with my kids and wife," he says.

Celebrity couples have been all over the map this summer. Andrea Mandell looks at where some sweethearts have been spotted:

Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer in Punta Mita in June at the home of Joe Francis, founder of Girls Gone Wild. Gossip Girl's Blake Lively and Penn Badgley at the Paraiso de la Bonita luxury resort in the Mayan Riviera in May.

Jake Gyllenhaal, on a break from shooting Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time in London, and Reese Witherspoon in Paris this month. With her kids Ava, 8, and Deacon, 4, they rang in Bastille Day at the Eiffel Tower. Liam Neeson and wife Natasha Richardson took a swim in June at Le Club 55 on Pampelonne Beach in St. Tropez.

Orlando Bloom and Victoria's Secret angel Miranda Kerr in Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands. The model was photographed tanning topless poolside at the Gran Hotel Residencia in June. Jennifer Lopez, husband Marc Anthony and newborn twins Max and Emme on the nearby island of Tenerife in June.

Eva Longoria Parker and husband Tony Parker, who had been spending a lot of time in their new Malibu home, in Portofino in July. Also spotted: Denzel and Paulette Washington, and Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony.