Hoping to visit Greece in early September with my husband. First time visiting.
Love small charming towns and gorgeous views. We are not big hikers or adventure seekers,
Will spend a couple days in Athens at the end so okay with not seeing museums and Ruins
on the other part of the trip. We will have two to two and a half weeks.
Would so appreciate any guidance on the best order of the places below.
Also, which of the places between Crete, Hydra and Paros are recommended?
Also, do you recommend flying or taking ferries between islands?
We love boats but do not want to spend too long getting from place to place and do not want to get seasick.
Los Angeles to Athens
Santorini
Mykonos
Crete or Hydra or Paros
Athens for two days

Thank you so much!

There are no flights between islands unless you go back through Athens.

Santorini and Mykonos are in the Cyclades island group, so for “small charming towns” you should try Paros and Antiparos (two islands only one mile apart) or Naxos. Santorini has the views you are looking for. Mykonos has a beautiful chora (main town) and the archaeological site at Delos. Both Santorini and Mykonos are very touristy, while Paros and Naxos are more traditional, especially the interior of Naxos with its small mountain villages.

Crete is so large it would take a week to do it justice. Hydra, in the Saronic Gulf, would be a good combination with a mainland tour. Have you thought about the Peloponnese, especially the area around:
http://www.visitnafplio.com/

JBeth,
My husband and I did a trip for 16 nights in 2011 and visited Crete (6 nights); Santorini (3 nights) and Naxos (4 nights).

In Crete, we started in Chamila 4 nights), which was a wonderful location. We took several day trips from there. Then we made 2 more stops, the last one in Iraklion, where we took a ferry to Santorini. We took another ferry to Naxos, and flew back to Athens from there for the last few nights.

I’m posting my TR - it might help you figure out a strategy.
My Greek Diary - September/October 2011

Paros should replace either Santorini or Mykonos, visit Napflion on the Peloponnesean Peninsula and Chania,Crete. Chania and Napflion are considered Greece’s two most beautiful small cities.

Paros is often overlooked on the forums, yet Travel+Leisure readers have voted It best island in Europe.
https://www.travelandleisure.com/wor...ands-in-europe

I don’t argue with that rating, but when I go to Paros prefer to stay on Antiparos, a little island across a narrow strait only seven minutes away by ferry. Go now before Paros Airport is expanded to take international flights.

I think that this summer Myconos and Santorini will not yet be overcrowded by American and Asian tourists. So, you may be deceived.
2 days for Athens is a lot, if you are not interested in History (museums and "ruins").