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gingerhaole · 5 years

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Hey-o! Long time follower here. I know you live on O'ahu and I'm going to visit my cousin there for a week. Since you've lived there for a while, in your opinion what's something that I absolutely must do/see/eat while I'm there? I love nature and exploring outside, but I'm open to everything. I want to make the most of my time. Thanks!

Oh, that’s so exciting!! A week is a good time to visit, I think you can get a lot done in a week. Well let me think... If you love the outdoors, there is a LOT to do here! I haven’t done every hike, but I have some favorites. (And AllTrails.com is a GREAT resource, and incredibly thorough.)

Get ready, folks, this is gonna be IN DEPTH! Here’s a guide of Stuff To Do that I made for visiting family;

Near Ewa Beach (where we live):

Ko Olina lagoons: Our favorite beach is here. There are four manmade lagoons that look out over the west, so sunset is especially beautiful. All the major resorts outside of downtown are here, so there’s a very nice little plaza with some restaurants, ice cream, etc. But the beach is the best. You can see some tropical fish, and the waves are always mild.

Ewa Beach rail tour: The historic Railroad Society does a 90-minute tour on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and what remains of the cross-island track. It starts in Ewa and goes all the way down the Waianae coast, which is stunningly beautiful. The track passes through Ko Olina, and on Sundays they stop at the plaza so you can get some ice cream.

On the North Shore:

Dole Plantation: The original pineapple plantation is now a kind of museum. There’s a big main house with gift shop and a cafe (where you can get the famous Dole Whip ice cream, not to be missed). There’s also the world’s largest corn maze, a small botanical garden, and a train ride through the fields and garden.

Hale'iwa Town: The whole town is pretty charming; rainbow storefronts, great local restaurants, art galleries, lots of shrimp trucks, and a very pretty beach where you can regularly find giant sea turtles sleeping on the sand. Hale’iwa is the only “major” town along the road that runs the northern shore. You can stop almost anywhere and see amazing beaches. But mind the surf traffic!

Waimea Bay: The Beach Boys sang about this place! It’s arguably the most spectacular beach on Oahu, surrounded by lush mountains on three sides. We’ve seen turtles, seals, dolphins, even a whale in the distance. There’s a famous jumping rock, and you can find rough surf or lapping waves, depending on which end you go. And it’s convenient because it’s right across the road from…

Waimea Valley Audubon: A nicely paved 1.5 mile walk through a beautiful botanical garden, full of fruit trees, orchids, indigenous plants and flowers, and a nene preserve — that’s the endangered Hawaiian duck. The payoff is a waterfall and a natural freshwater pool that you can swim in! They even have changing rooms and a shave ice shack.

In Manoa:

Lyon Arboretum and Manoa Falls: This is up in the mountains, in the tropical rainforest. One trail leads you to Manoa Falls, but it’s a pretty rough hike. It can be muddy and slippery, and there’s a little bit of climbing over roots and boulders. The other trail is Lyon Arboretum, which I love, and there’s a second waterfall at the top of the trail, but I can’t recall how long the walk is. Mostly it’s a very even path, but some of the trails get steepish, so good walking shoes would be required. But it’s also great the just explore the lower gardens.

Pu’u Ualaka’a Lookout: The highest road accessible by the general public is here, on Round Top Drive. The lookout is a small park, but a million-dollar view, all the way from Diamond Head to Waianae, with Pearl Harbor smack in the middle.

In Kaneohe/Windward shore:

Pali Lookout: A park at the top of the Pali Valley, which is a breathtaking expanse, even bigger than the Pu’u Lookout view. This place is full of history. It’s the site of the the Battle of Nu'uanu, where Kamehameha’s warriors forced 400 of Oahu’s defenders off the cliff and to their deaths. It’s a beautiful, eerie, powerful place to be, full of ghosts.

Valley of the Temples: One of my favorite places is the Byodo-in Temple, a replica of a Buddhist temple in Japan. It’s situated at the foot of the Ko’olau Mountains, and features the largest Buddha statue in Hawaii. It’s a beautiful place, very peaceful, with lots of koi and swans and a lovely garden.

Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden: One of the most beautiful places on the island, if you’re asking me. 400 acres of gardens, a lovely duck-filled lake, and the most breathtaking 360-degree mountain view. NOT to be missed.

Kualoa Beach: Driving to the temple usually takes us on the LONG drive around the windward coast. There are a few very small towns, and the beaches are beautiful. Kualoa is a huge beach park, almost always deserted. The water is calm and shallow, and right off shore is the tiny Chinaman’s Hat island. In back of the park is a mountain range that you may recognize from Jurassic Park! Driving this way takes between two and three hours, and eventually connects to the North Shore. It’s a great way to see this part of the island, and you can stop anywhere along the way for swimming or a bite to eat. Great shrimp trucks, too!

In Honolulu:

Bishop Museum: Our natural and indigenous history museum. It’s pretty incredible, with etymology and ornithology collections, a portrait gallery, a planetarium, three floors of Pacific island history, and a volcano-centric science building!

‘Iolani Palace: The palace of the former Hawaiian monarchy, which offers guided tours. I was really moved when I visited. It’s amazing to see the throne room or the royal jewels, but even more amazing to see the small room where Queen Liliuokalani was held under house arrest, and sewed a commemorative quilt that’s on display.

In Waikiki:

Ala Moana mall: It’s apparently the world’s largest open-air mall. I’m not like a fan of malls, but this place is beautiful to see and wander around. And the FOOD! There’s a whole lower section called Shirokiya Japan Village Walk, which is like a grid of little restaurants and bakeries where you can find any Asian food you’re craving (and the world’s best chocolate cream puffs, too). On Fridays at 8:15 pm, the harbor just across the street sets off a little fireworks show.

Waikiki Beach: A pretty unbeatable place to people watch, have a swim, or lay out in the sun (with a mai tai or a beer, maybe). You can see the historic pink Royal Hawaiian Hotel, the statue of famous surfer Duke Kahanamoku, or sneak into the lobby of the Halekulani and use their fancy Japanese toilets!

King’s Village: A couple blocks of shops and restaurants that looks straight out of Disneyland. I love to just look at everything. On Thursdays and Sundays at 6:30 pm, they perform a tribute to the King’s Guard — on Thursdays it’s fire knife dancing and Polynesian drumming, and on Sundays it’s hula dancing and ukulele. Pretty cool!

Honolulu Zoo: It’s a small zoo, but it’s still pretty awesome! Features a brand new gigantic elephant paddock, a new reptile section, and a very nice keiki petting zoo. Sometimes they give all the animals special snacks -- the elephants get giant popcorn balls!

Honolulu Aquarium: Again, it’s not a huge aquarium, but it’s beautifully laid out, and full of native fishes and monk seals. The zoo and aquarium are both right at the end of Waikiki Beach, so it’s easy enough to do one of these and see more of Waikiki in a day.

Diamond Head: The famous (and famously exhausting) trail to the top of the Diamond Head crater takes about an hour and involves the Hundred Stairs and squeezing yourself through a bunker, but at the top you get a 360 degree view, and it is pretty hard to argue the rewards.

In Hawaii Kai:

Hanauma Bay: This a smallish bay in a state park that’s filled with a coral reef, and chock full of tropical fish — sea turtles, eels, puffers, giant parrotfish, everything. You can even see the state fish, the Humuhumunukunukuapua’a! It’s really like swimming in an aquarium, and if you’ve never been snorkeling, this is a great place to learn because it’s fairly shallow and the waves are usually really mild. It’s closed on Tuesdays (that’s when they paint the fish).

Halona Blowhole: Just up the road from Hanauma Bay is a cliff that goes down to tide pools and the Blowhole. Like Old Reliable, only you get a geyser every time the waves come up through the rock.

Makapu’u Lighthouse trail: This one is a paved 3.2 mile walk, but it gets steep and it’s in direct sun. However, the view at the top is pretty spectacular, and I’ve never gone up and not seen whales below. You can, though, just walk to the first benchmark, which is maybe a quarter mile, and get a pretty fantastic view. This is just about on the opposite side of the island from our house, so we usually stay a while in Hawaii Kai and have dinner at our favorite Greek restaurant, and finish it up with some famous Bubbie’s ice cream and a sunset at the Koko Head Marina.

Bear in mind, this is NOT the most comprehensive list of activities, it’s just what I personally like. I hope it helps!

#gingerhaole answers #hawaii #oahu #sweet-peach-tea

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crazy4tank · 4 years

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Hawaiian Paradise: Kauai

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Hawaiian Paradise: Kauai

Back in May, I went to the Hawaiian island associated with Kauai for the first time. Being so overcome by it’s beauty, We couldn’t resist visiting Kauai again this month. Outcome: a summary of my experiences plus advice for your future visit to the Garden Island below!

Which Hawaiian isle should I visit?

This blog post will cover The island of kauai, one of the 6 Hawaiian island destinations. If you’re not sure which Hawaii island(s) to visit, check this infographic .

Getting there

Pic: New SWITZERLAND B777-300 Business Class through Zurich to Los Angeles Flying through Europe to Hawaii is pretty a trip with 8500 kilometers to be covered and a twelve hour time difference. Economic climate class tickets can easily cost you €1000 or more if you don’t search for a bargain. If you had been lucky, you noticed my tweet or facebook update a few weeks ago when seat tickets were selling as low as €405 for a round trip through Brussels to Honolulu (HNL, Oahu) Lihue (LIH, Kauai) Kahului (OGG, Maui) or Kona (KOA, Large Island). Missed that incredible deal? No worries, here are some tips to attain a good deal:

Read my flight booking advice .

Can’t discover cheap flights to your Hawaiian destination? Look for tickets in order to Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO) or Honolulu (HNL). If you discover a good deal to LAX or even SFO, you can use miles for that connecting flight to your Hawaii destination. If you find a good deal in order to HNL, you can book inexpensive a domestic ticket between your Hawaiian islands.

British Airways charges just 12500 Avios + €5 each way to book LAX or SFO to your Hawaii island on American Air carriers.

Lufthansa Mls & More charges 20000 miles + €12 every way to book LAX or even SFO to your Hawaiian isle on United. Need a lot more Miles & More mls? Sign-up for the Brussels Airlines American Express credit card and get 12, 1000 bonus miles + 2000 miles whenever you pay your cellphone costs with the card.

Where to stay

Pic: Aqua The island of kauai Beach Resort (May 2016) Kauai includes a limited number of chain resorts which are generally not really worth the high rates (and vacation resort fees) they charge. Don’t even think about redeeming your points, keep them to get non-US destinations! My advice is to make use of Airbnb . With regard to my stay in May, I actually managed to get a room at Aqua Kauai Beach Resort for half the cost the hotel charged on the website. A similar offer at Islander around the Beach with regard to my stay in August. The key is to book privately possessed units at the resorts through Airbnb. Hula Today is one of the firms listing these units upon Airbnb. In most cases you can also prevent paying the high resort charge! If you haven’t used Airbnb before, this is the right time for you to sign-up, even if you don’t intentions of make a booking right now. Airbnb currently offers €30 or $30 totally free credits which can be use as price cut on your first Airbnb reservation.

Things to eat

Fastfood chains have found the way to The island of kauai, but hipster go for quality food. Here are some associated with my favorites on the Garden Tropical isle:

Things you can do

Picture: The Na Pali Coastline seen from secret Kalalau Lookout trail Kauai offers excellent beaches and excellent trekking. What makes Kauai unique would be the Waimea Canyon , also know as the Fantastic Canyon of the Pacific, and the Na Pali coast . The Na Pali coastline can be enjoyed in several methods:

Kalalau Lookout at the end of Kokee road in Waimea Canyon

By motorboat or kayak

By helicopter

On foot via the popular Kalalau trail

Kalalau Lookout

Pic: Viewpoint at the end of the key Kalalau lookout trail At the eighteen mile marker on Kokee road you’ll find the Kalalau Lookout, an outstanding opportunity to take pleasure in Kalalau Valley and the Em Pali Coast. Just for even better views, you can walk the secret Kalalau lookout path. Have a closer look at the fence on the remaining side. Descend in the secret trail and enjoy exactly what might be the most magnificent hike of your life! Note: it is really an unofficial unmarked trail which can be dangerous, use at very own risk!

Em Pali Coast Boat Vacation

Picture: Na Pali Coastline seen from boat Another great choice to discover the stunning Na Pali Coast is making the boat or kayak journey. You can spot whales (Dec-Apr) or dolphins plus there are plenty of turtles to snorkel with.

The island of kauai by Helicopter

For the ultimate sights, you’ll need to book the helicopter ride. I had fashioned a very comfortable trip with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters and a lot more adventurous doors-off flight along with Jack Harter Helicopters .

Kalalau Trail

Real adventurers apply for a permit plus hike the famous Kalalau Trail . We hiked the 22 mls roundtrip in two days plus stayed at Kalalau seaside for the night. Don’t be concerned if you don’t have camping equipment, you can get all you need at Lihue Walmar capital t on Kauai!

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Have you went to Kauai before? Or any additional Hawaiian island? Feel free to reveal your experiences and guidelines in the comments! Thanks! 🙂

#Destinations #hawaii #kalalau #kauai #Na Pali Coast #trail

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bikkirii · 5 years

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Snorkeled at Electric Beach 🤿 in the morning and I finally saw my first honu (sea turtle🐢)! But unfortunately I have no pics to prove it. Stopped by Pali Lookout in the pouring rain, Pyramid Rock Beach on base at MCBH Kaneohe Bay and then hiked the Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail. After ascending on the paved path, Ben somehow convinced us to take the off road, steep, rocky, thorny path down 😫. Fortunately we made it down, albeit late to meet the others for dinner and shave ice at the Ala Moana mall. https://www.instagram.com/p/B8FgUa0lL27I8IV6jL5-hIsiMLbcNMnzAd8OTE0/?igshid=19vn81xm6qf24

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noaasanctuaries · 7 years

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Disentangling Giants: In Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, Helping Whales Is All About Teamwork

Despite several coastal states, including California, implementing gear recovery programs in recent years to promote retrieval of derelict nets, tons of debris remains in our sea. Carried on ocean currents, fishing debris can travel across the globe. Wherever it goes, this traveling debris can entangle marine life like humpback whales.

To combat the threat of entanglement, NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and our partners have been working to remove marine debris and disentangle trapped animals. Over the years, "the efforts have gotten more organized and coordinated," says Ed Lyman, resource protection and response coordinator at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Just this spring, community members completed a successful disentanglement off of Maui, Hawai'i with the help of an unexpected partner all the way from the East Coast!

Tons of marine debris enters our ocean every year. This debris poses risks to marine life, including humpback whales. Here, a humpback in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary trails fishing gear. Photo: Ed Lyman/NOAA

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary leads the Hawaiian Islands Entanglement Response Network. The network is overseen by NOAA Fisheries' Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program, and includes partnerships with NOAA Fisheries, the state of Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources, the U.S. Coast Guard, as well as whale researchers, Hawai'i's tour industry, fishermen, and others to coordinate large whale entanglement responses around the Hawaiian Islands.

Lyman notes the utility of such a vast network, stating that "At 45 feet, the average length of a humpback whale, it still ends up being a needle in a haystack. The ocean is a large place! Having the on-the-water community report makes it possible to locate entangled whales and helps us respond safely. Since 2002, the network has a mounted over 155 on-water or in-air responses."

The specially trained team at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary in an on-water response to free a humpback whale from entangling gear. Photo: NOAA

On March 11th, 2017, reports started coming in to the Hawaiian Islands Entanglement Response Network from concerned locals about a possible entanglement. A humpback whale was exhibiting odd behaviors near the Pali Lookout on Maui. That same morning Tasia Blough, research specialist at Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary in Massachusetts (also a popular site for humpback whales), had scheduled to meet with Lyman.

Blough, too, had noticed the whale resting off Pali Lookout on the way to their meeting, but at that time the whale hadn’t been exhibiting any unusual behaviors. With calls coming in, the two researchers set out to observe the whale and confirm the reported entanglement.

"It was an interesting case because at first, there weren't any visible signs of entanglement," Blough says. "Finally I saw a slight bit of yellow at the side of its jaw. I didn't know what it was but we didn’t want to risk it."

Lyman called in an official on-water response with the Hawaiian Islands Entanglement Response Network and, within hours, an authorized response team with support from the U.S. Coast Guard began working to free the whale. They worked right up until dusk, when the team was forced to terminate their efforts for the night.

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How do experts at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale disentangle humpback whales? Very carefully, and without getting in the water.

Bright and early the following day, the team returned on board the R/V Koholā, the sanctuary's research and response vessel designed specially for working around large humpback whales. Vessels like Koholā can be invaluable in disentanglement efforts, enabling responders to minimize response time and carry all the gear they will need to safely respond.

Blough, Lyman, and a number of fellow responders worked tirelessly to sweep hanging gear from the whale's mouth, but traditional tools weren't cutting it. Exemplifying the important support role locals and other members of the public can also play in disentanglement events, the team called in a volunteer to help pick up new supplies from a local hardware store, Eventually, the team freed the whale from nearly 800 feet of ⅝-inch coaxial, communications-type cable — with a brand new pair of bolt cutters.

A responder prepares to attempt to remove entangling fishing gear from the humpback whale. Photo: NOAA, under NOAA MMHSRP permit #18786-1

Although some cable remained in the whale's mouth, the whale eventually swam out to deeper waters exhibiting improved behavior and free swimming. Because of the excellent communication between all parties who played a role in this young whale’s disentanglement, the humpback whale's prospects are good and chances at survival are far improved.

That expert communication — between Blough and Lyman, the U.S. Coast Guard, Maui Ocean Safety, Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission, local tour operators, volunteers, and two national marine sanctuaries — is what makes programs like the Hawaiian Islands Entanglement Response Network a success of humpback proportions.

The network has now freed more than 23 whales from all or significant amounts of entangling gear, and in the process removed more than 10,000 feet of gear from the animals. With the most recent disentanglement at Pali Lookout in mind, the potential of the Hawaiian Islands Entanglement Response Network to strengthen relationships among sanctuaries, and between sanctuaries and their local communities, is evident.

Trained responders successfully removed 750 feet of communications-type cable from an entangled whale in Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary on March 12th, 2017. Photo: NOAA HIHWNMS/MMHSRP, Permit #18786-1

The recent rescue effort off Pali Point "created a connection," Blough says. "It’s a great learning experience to see how other teams do things. Whales in New England face entanglement issues too — and it’s an uphill battle. Getting to see how the Hawai'i team responds, working together and with communities to use the best resources and techniques we have, is the way to go."

Coastal communities across the country face many similar challenges like entanglement and marine debris. Lyman adds that "The goal is not just to free whales, but to gain information to reduce the threat in the future. To that end, we have gone a long way towards identifying the gear, where it came from, how was it set, and more." Answering these questions could help reduce the amount of gear and debris in our oceans, and to help create more whale-safe gear for the future.

In Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, Blough notes that some groups are working with different colored fishing lines to see if whales are better able to avoid gear of a certain color. The fishing community "is very willing to try new things," she states, noting that growing connections not only between sanctuaries but with local fishing communities and others is an essential step in tackling the issue of humpback whale entanglements.

"When you go out on a whale watching boat, you see that most of those whales have entanglement scars on their body. It’s happening to a large portion of the population each year." Blough says. But finding ways to better communicate the issue with the public and share strategies that work among trained groups can help.

If you find an entangled whale, don't try to help it yourself — that can be dangerous for both you and the whale. If you’re in Hawai'i, start the chain of communication by calling the regional NOAA Fisheries Hotline at (888) 256-9840 or reaching out to the US Coast Guard at VHF Channel 16. If you’re outside Hawai'i, you can find contact information for your local stranding network here. Though it may require the coordinated effort of many professionally trained individuals to disentangle humpback whales, reports from the public can be essential in initiating timely responses. By coming together, we can protect humpback whales from derelict gear for generations to come.

#whale #humpback whale #🐋#whales #hawaii #entanglement #ocean #nature #teamwork #Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary #noaa

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foundtheworl · 7 years

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New Post has been published on Found The World

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Top 5 Ways to Get Off the Beaten Path (and Out of Waikiki) in Oahu

By far the number one draw to the island of Oahu is the famous Waikiki Beach. Once a playground for Hawaiian royalty, this vibrant south shore area is full of high rise resorts, name brand shopping, and a whole host of restaurants straight from the mainland. If you want to experience Oahu like every other tourist, this location is perfect for you, and you never have to leave. But, you would be doing yourself a huge disservice if you didn’t. Oahu has so much more to offer than the crowded stretch of beach in the middle of the busy city. Venture outside the city limits, and you will realize that adventure awaits, and your excitement can know no bounds when it comes to the intrigue of the islands. So, Hele Hawaii, and check out these top 5 off the beaten track activities for Oahu.

World Class Waterfalls: There are hundreds of waterfalls scattered across the island, but many will be crowded with day trippers who are bused in from Waikiki. Take the trail less traveled and choose one that does not encourage a lot of commercial activity. Just as beautiful, and a lot less busy, these hikes can range in time, distance, and activity level, but all will treat you to a bit more privacy, and the same famous views of the stunning natural beauty that Hawaii is known for.

La’ie Falls- Not for the faint of heart, this 7 mile round trip gains 1200 feet of elevation along the way to its 15 ft waterfall and freshwater pool. This boost of cardio is worth it though as your stops along the trail offer panoramic views all the way to the ocean.

Maunawili Falls- This 3 mile out and back trail will wind you through the dense jungle above Kailua (an awesome spot to hit the beach). Follow the river nearly 1500 feet up to see this beautiful waterfall cascading into a great swimming hole.

Likeke Falls- Located near the Pali Lookout, this waterfall trail is often overlooked by tourists. With a variety of terrain, including a highway underpass, this 4 mile roundtrip leads you to a hidden gem. For the particularly observant, you may even catch a glimpse of the upside down waterfall along the way.

Sample Local Eats: Forego the national chains in the Waikiki center, opting instead for something a little more authentic. Don’t be afraid to sample the local flavors of the neighborhood bars, and don’t be alarmed at sushi samplings inside of a gas station in the middle of nowhere. Hawaiians know how to do fresh, and the catch of the day is always the star option on the menus. Check out the famous shrimp trucks at Haleiwa near the North Shore, but branch out just a bit, and your taste buds will be screaming Mahalo.

Hidden Hikes: Get outdoors, and breathe the sweet smelling fresh air, as hiking is a huge part of the lifestyle here. The island has many famous trails that are becoming more and more crowded each year. Venture a little farther, and time it just right, and your sunrise or sunset views cannot be beat.

Koko Head Crater- 1100 steps (read, railway ties) of straight up, vertical incline. Start in the dark, and watch the sun rise over the horizon. On a clear day, you can see all the way to Maui.

Kaena Point- The only way to get here is by hiking, which means you will have the place virtually to yourself. This western most tip of the island is an easy, flat hike along the rocky coastline.

Kuliouou Ridge-This 4.4 mile out and back hike faces a challenging 1800 ft elevation gain before it peaks at the spine of the Ko’olau ridge. There are plenty of places to stop for a photo along the way, but be sure to bring lots of water.

Swim with the Sharks: While this is admittedly more touristy than the rest of our choices, the thrill level is top notch. Take an unforgettable adventure as you learn all about the natural habitat of sharks. As a bonus, many of these tours will implement a lesson on conservation as well. This is by far the safest way to get up close and personal.

Take a Forbidden Tour: If you don’t have a rental car, or you are just not comfortable heading into parts unknown on your own, consider the only guided tour to the Leeward side of the island. The Forbidden Tour, offered by Oahu Circle tours is geared toward the active crowd, who are willing to embrace the wild, west side of the island. Experience thrilling caves, endangered wildlife, and stunning blowholes underneath the Hawaiian sun.

No one likes a crowded paradise. To truly experience the island of Oahu, it’s time to fall in love with the great outdoors, and capture the essence of island magic. You can be one of the millions that flock to its Waikiki shores, or you can venture a little farther, and essentially find a private stretch of sand to soak in the sun. Your Oahu visit can be as unique as you’re willing to make it, and doesn’t have to be just like everyone else’s.

#Hawaii #Waikiki Beach

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lisageiger · 5 years

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Hawaii - Kaua’i

Kaua’i ist die letzte Station auf Hawaii für mich und wird auch die Jurassic Park Insel genannt. Als ich angekommen bin habe ich mein Motelzimmer bezogen und habe mir ein wenig die Umgebung und den Strand angesehen. Zum ersten mal ein privates Zimmer mit eigenem Bad - ab und zu echt mal schön! Im Walmart habe ich mir etwas Verpflegung für die nächsten Tage gekauft und etwas zum Frühstücken. Es gab jeden Früh Buttercroissant mit Peanutbutter und Bananescheiben - ich liebe es! :) Nachdem der Tag noch nicht ganz vorbei war, bin ich zu den Kailua Falls gefahren und an den Lydgate Beach, ein Strand ummantelt mit Becken aus Lavagestein, diese fungieren optimal als Wellenbrecher und man kann ausnahmsweise mal entspannt baden :)

Am nächsten Tag habe ich mich für die Erkundung des Süd-westlichen Teil der Insel entschieden. Erster Stopp auf den Weg Richtung Süden war der PoiPu Beach, dort soll es Schildkröten geben, also habe ich ein Stunde in der gesamten Bucht geschnorchelt, leider keine Wasserschildkröte in Sicht. Auf dem Rückweg am Strand habe ich sie dann entdeckt - kein wunder, dass ich sie im Meer nicht gefunden habe!

Ziel erreicht und weiter am Glass Beach vorbei, ein Strand mit vielen kleinen glitzernden Glasstückchen, die in der Sonne funkeln. Den restlichen Tag habe ich im Waimea Canyon State Park verbracht. Auf dem Weg habe ich einen kurzen Loop Trail durch Ilias Nature gemacht, die Blicke auf den Canyon waren einfach fantastisch! Am Waimea Canyon Logout, dann der perfekte Blick in „The Grand Canyon of the Pacific“ und es sieht wirklich so aus!

Die Ähnlichkeit zum richtigen Grand Canyon ist verblüffend, wenn auch nur viel kleiner und die rote Schlucht ist etwas grüner mit Pflanzen bewachsen. Durch den Na Pali Kona Forest Reserve habe ich mehrmals für Wasserfälle oder weitere Blicke auf den Canyon angehalten. Im Waimea Canyon habe ich nochmals einen 2 Meilen Cliff Trail durch den Dschungel gemacht, um an der Klippe des Canyons zu laufen. Letzter Stopp im Park war der Pu’u Okila Lookout von hier hatte man einen hervorragenden Blick auf die Na Pali Küste mit den Bergen und den darum liegenden Dschungel, das für Jurassic Park gefilmt wurde.

Dieses Gebiet gehört dem Militär und darf man nur mit spezieller Erlaubnis und vorab Anmeldung betreten und auch nur in ausgewählten Bereichen. Dort bin ich nochmal 1,5 Stunden entlang gewandert, um möglichst viele Perspektiven der Landschaft zu erhaschen. Aus dem gesamten park heraus bin ich bis zum westlichsten Punkt der Insel in den Polihale State Park gefahren, dort geht eine 10 Meilen holprige und sandige Schotterpiste mit riesigen Schlaglöchern zum Strand. Einfahrt ohne Jeep auf eigene Gefahr - aber mein kleiner KIA und ich machen das schon! Der Strand ist so schön! So verlassen und romantisch! Hier würde man am liebsten mit dem Zelt übernachten! Auf den Rückweg habe ich im kleinen Dorf Hanapepe halt gemacht, dort ist immer Freitagabend Food & Artnight mit kleinen Ständen und Boutiquen die ihre Kunstwerke präsentieren, Essen verkaufen und Live Musik gibts auch. Wirklich sehr schnuckelig.

Auf den Rückweg habe ich es sogar nochmal am PoiPu Beach zum Sonnenuntergang geschafft! Einfach nur ein Traum, dieser Spot soll der beste für den Sonnenuntergang auf der Insel sein und der Himmel nachdem die Sonnen den Horizont verlassen hat, einfach nur unbeschreiblich schön!

Am nächsten Tag habe ich mir den Norden der Insel vorgenommen, dort habe ich eine 2 Meilen Wanderung am Kalalau Trail an der Küste entlang bis zum Hanakāpī‘ai Beach gemacht. Von dort aus bin ich in den Dschungel abgebogen durch dem Bambuswald über viele Flüsse 4 Meilen entlang an den Hanakāpī‘ai Falls Trail zu dem großen Wasserfall.

Auf dem Rückweg fing es an zu regnen und die ganzen Gerüche und Düfte im Dschungel wurden noch viel intensiver, auch wenn ich den Regen gar nicht mochte, weil der Weg nun noch rutschiger wurde und ich komplett durchnässt war, war es das alles auf jeden Fall wert!

Am nächsten Tag bin ich zu den Queens Bath gewandert, dies sind natürliche Badebecken im Meer! Das Wasser war do erfrischend und glasklar gefüllt von Meereswasser und vielen Fischen, dass ich dort einige Stunden verbracht habe und viel geschnorchelt bin.

Den restlichen Tag habe ich dann nochmal am Lydgate Besch verbracht.

Am darauffolgenden Tag brauchte ich wieder etwas Aktion und habe eine Raftingtour entlang an der Na Pali Coast gebucht. Dort sind viele Höhlen in die wir mit unserem Schlauchboot eingefahren sind! Es war echt cool die Insel von der See aus zu sehen und am Meer waren so viele Schildkröten und Delfinschulen, dass teilweise 30-40 Delfine um unser Boot herum waren.

An meinem letzten Tag dachte ich mir man gönnt sich ja sonst nichts und da ich die Insel nun mit dem Boot, zu Fuß und dem Mietwagen komplett erkundet hatte, warum nicht noch mit dem Helikopter!

Und so flogen wir mit dem Heli über die Insel, an der Küste entlang und begutachteten mit unserem Piloten Kyle ein paar Spots, an denen berühmte Filme wie Jurassic Park oder Avatar gedreht worden sind.

Ein kurzer Stopp inmitten des Dschungels, dort haben wir eine kurze Expedition durch die zu schützenden Pflanzen und den Canyon gemacht! Es war wirklich einfach nur mega cool!

Zusammenfassend kann ich nur sagen, dass diese Insel meine absolute Lieblingsinsel von Hawaii war und ich echt froh bin mich für Kauai entschieden zu haben! Die Natur, und das Hawaiianische Feeling kam hier erst so richtig auf, der wenige Tourismus und die ruhigere Atmosphäre waren einfach nur super! Mahalo Hawaii für die unvergessliche Zeit! 🌺

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gallusrostromegalus · 7 years

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Headcanon about you: Hasn't seen a cryptid irl. Has seen them in dreams. Constantly. Every night.

I have a regularly occurring dream in which my former roommates hid my stuff all over Honolulu. Only it’s not the actual Honolulu and it’s obeying the most BULLSHIT cartoon physics- doors that open into different rooms depending on the order you open and close them in, stairs that only go up or down, hallways then end halfway across town and windows that look into rooms that are definitely not adjacent to wherever I am.

I’ve had this dream many, many times and remember all the ‘rules’ and have found about... half my stuff so far. Right now, I’m after my favorite coffee mug and the dream goes like this:

I wake up in the fifth-floor apartment, realize I’m having this fucking dream again. I put on pants, becuase even in dreams people get mad if you go about in any state of undress. Grab POG juice, lanyard with the bell on it and one of Erin’s kitchen knives (because if she stole my damage deposit, I can borrow her knives, the bitch). Open Front Door.Close Front Door.It’s not the right hallway yet.Open and close door three more times until it opens up into the UH Manoa Student Union.Walk out student union towards the library, catch the bus headed towards Kaneohe. I call it the 22, but it’s probably not really that route.Drink juice on bus.Enjoy the foliage.Get off on that one lookout on the Pali highway, take the trail. Be sure to say hi to the chickens. They won’t approach, but Not Acknowleging Them is a Bad Idea.The trail eventually comes out through the foliage into the Honolulu Zoo on Waikiki Beach. this is BULLSHIT, but it’s the only way I can actually get to Waikiki. I could walk there IRL but this route is the only way to Waikiki in this dream. Walk up a couple blocks to this tiny place that makes excellent pancakes and has a maccaw hanging out at the bar. As with all birds, Say Hi. Do not say hi to any people here. If there are any- it’s usually deserted.Go out the back door to some shady-looking apartments where I found my laundry hamper, most of my clothes and the air mattress once. Pull back the tatami mats to reveal the trapdoor. Go down the stairs.These stairs only go down.For four flights into solid rock.at the bottom there is short, creepy metal hallway with a bunch of chains. Take out knife.There is a small, thin window that looks into a room that cannot be acessed by going through the wall.The room appears to be a combination sex dungeon Abattoir.I have the knife in case whoever owns it shows up.My.Fucking.Coffee Mug.Is on the fucking table.

#meme me #horror #this dream is more annoying than anything else #dottydaydreams

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duncanbarker-blog · 5 years

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Kauai lived up to our Hawaii dreams with its lush mountains, dramatic sea cliffs, plunging waterfalls, and golden beaches.

Our stay on the island combined relaxation and adventure with sailing and helicopter trips to see the stunning Napali coast, hikes in multi-coloured canyons and along coastal trails, sunset cocktails, and frequent sightings of whales, dolphins and turtles (and not forgetting the wild chickens that roam the island).

The island isn’t huge—you can drive from one side to the other in a few hours—but there is plenty to keep you occupied. Here are our picks for the best things to do in Kauai as well as our tips on where to stay, eat, and shop. Although the first two activities on this list are expensive (but worth it), almost everything else is free.

Note that you really need a rental car to make the most of your stay.

Us at Secret Beach

where to stay in Kauai for the differences between each coast, an overview of the types of accommodation on the island, and detailed reviews of our favourite places.

Here is where we stayed:

Kiahuna Plantation Resort in Poipu on the South Shore

The view from our condo at Kiahuna (we were in the back row of units)

Of everywhere we stayed in Hawaii, Check the latest prices of Kiahuna Plantation here.

Hanalei Bay Resort in Princeville on the North Shore

Hanalei Bay Resort pool

Although we stayed in a one-bedroom apartment with kitchen, Princeville Resort next door.

The view from our balcony at Hanalei Bay Resort

The downsides were rather dated decor (but it depends which unit you get) and a disorganised check-in process (our room was ready late). Despite this, I do recommend it for a resort experience but with the convenience of self-catering accommodation.

Things to Do in Kauai Map

Best Things to Do in Kauai: South Shore

The Napali Coast from our helicopter

Our favourite experience on Kauai was taking a helicopter trip over the whole island. The diversity and beauty of the island is remarkable as you fly over waterfalls and beaches, red and green canyons, and weave in and out of the inlets of the Napali Coast.

It’s not a cheap experience (our 60-minute tour with Jack Harter cost $309 per person), but it’s worth saving up for. Read more about our doors off helicopter Kauai trip here.

Waterfalls from above

Technically this should be in the east coast section as most helicopter trips leave from Lihue airport in the southeast, but we visited while staying in Poipu (30 minutes away) so I’m including it here.

2) Sail the Napali Coast (and See Whales)

The massive sea cliffs of the Napali Coast are the highlight of Kauai and you can see them by helicopter, boat, and on foot. Sadly when we visited in January 2019 the Kalalau Trail, which runs along the coast, was closed after serious flooding and landslides in April 2018. It doesn’t seem like it will reopen anytime soon—check the official Kalalau Trail website for updates.

We could still see the cliffs by boat, though, so we signed up with Captain Andy’s for their Star Na Pali Snorkel BBQ Sail trip on a luxury 65-foot catamaran. In the winter all boat trips depart from the south coast (ours left from Port Allen) as the ocean is too rough on the north shore.

The trip usually includes a snorkelling stop but ours was cancelled as the conditions weren’t great (a common occurrence in winter). We didn’t mind as we soon saw a turtle, two large pods of dolphins which swam alongside our boat, and four or five groups of humpback whales. It was our first time seeing whales and it was wonderful to see these giant creatures jumping out of the ocean.

via GIPHY

The Napali coast was as beautiful as we expected, very rugged and colourful. I didn’t envy the people on rafts battling the 7–8 foot waves as they entered the sea caves, but this is an option if you want more adventure.

Our sailing trip was more about relaxing in comfort and enjoying the views than adventure. The catamaran felt crowded at first, but once people spread out we had enough space. There’s comfortable seating with tables inside and outside as well as trampolines at the front for lounging.

The crew were excellent and the food was good with a BBQ for lunch (request a veggie burger in advance) and the most delicious, freshly baked white chocolate, coconut, and macadamia cookies for dessert. Wine and beer are included and is available from just before lunch.

The Captain Andy’s Star catamaran trip costs $185 per person, check-in is at 7.30am and it lasts 5.5 hours. There is also a cheaper Classic Na Pali Snorkel Picnic Sail for $165 on a smaller catamaran with a sandwich rather than BBQ lunch that’s otherwise the same. I recommend taking a sweater or light jacket as well as your swimwear as I was surprisingly cold on a cloudy day.

In winter, rough seas can mean they sometimes can’t sail up the Napali coast. In this case you can reschedule, get a refund, or head out on a different route. I recommend calling the office at 6.30am before you head to Port Allen if going to Napali is a dealbreaker for you (it was for us).

3) Drive the Waimea Canyon for Stunning Views

View from Waimea Canyon Lookout

The Waimea Canyon, in the southwest of the island, is known as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”. The huge canyon is around 14 miles (23 km) long, 1 mile (1.6 km) wide, and up to 3,600 feet (1,100 metres) deep. The brown and orange ridges are a contrast to the green mountains of the rest of the island.

It’s easy to drive up the canyon and stop at various viewpoints along the way or you can take longer hikes. Clouds can often obscure the views, so it’s best to check the weather before you head up—mornings are usually clearer. We left Poipu at 7 am and headed straight up to Kokeʻe State Park beyond the canyon (see below) and then stopped at the following viewpoints on the way back down:

Cliff Trail – A 40 minute, 2 mile return hike from the main road (the turnoff is just before the Kokeʻe State Park sign) to a viewpoint overlooking the canyon. You could also drive most of the way here if you have a 4WD or do the longer Canyon Trail to a waterfall. This was quieter than the more accessible viewpoints.

Pu’u Hinahina Lookout – Another fantastic viewpoint just a short walk from the car park. Toilets available.

Waimea Canyon Lookout – The busiest but best view of the canyon and waterfall. At midday we were able to shoot away from the sun so got better photos than at the other viewpoints. There are toilets and a fruit and drink stand.

Make sure you pack warm clothes, rain jackets (which we didn’t need), and a picnic and be prepared to get muddy if hiking.

On the way back down we drove the Kokee road for a different view of Niihau island.

If you are also visiting Maui, see our post on the best Road to Hana stops—this stunning road trip was one of our favourite activities in Hawaii.

4) Hike in Kokeʻe State Park

Kokeʻe State Park is just beyond Waimea Canyon and is known for its hikes and views of the Napali Coast.

We headed straight up Highway 550 to the furthest point, the Pu’u O Kila Lookout. At 8.30am there were only two other cars there, but when we returned at 10 am it was much busier. An early start helps avoid the crowds and the clouds that can roll in.

From the Pu’u O Kila Lookout you can see some of the Napali Coast, but the views are better if you walk the Pihea Trail which follows the rim of the valley.

View of Napali from Pihea Trail

We walked to the Pihea Vista which was 2.6 miles return and took us 90 minutes. There’s no need to go all the way, as there are excellent views of the Napali cliffs at the 0.5 and 0.75 mile markers and beyond that the trail gets scrambly and muddy. Decent shoes are essential (hiking sandals were fine) and I found a stick that had been left at the beginning useful for some steep sections. It would be very slippery after rain.

You can connect the Pihea Trail to the Swamp Trail for a longer hike or the Awa’awapuhi Trail is another more challenging hike in the park.

Afterwards we stopped at the Kalalau Lookout (toilets available) for a quick and easy view of Napali before continuing down to Waimea Canyon.

5) See Turtles and Seals on Poipu Beach

We were surprised by how easy it was to see turtles and seals in Hawaii. All we had to do was stroll along Poipu Beach where we saw eight huge green sea turtles as well as three monk seals sleeping in the sand. They are protected by law so make sure you don’t touch them or get too close.

6) Beach Hop Along the South Shore

Exploring the beaches is, of course, one of the top Kauai activities. Poipu is the main beach on the south shore and it’s well equipped with life guards, toilets, picnic tables, and children’s play area. There’s a calm section of water that’s ideal for snorkelling and is safe for children. You can also see turtles and seals. It does get busy, though.

Turtles on Poipu Beach

We preferred Kiahuna Beach (aka Sheraton Beach as it’s in front of the resort) which connects to Poipu Beach but is quieter. We stayed right on this beach in a condo at Kiahuna Plantation. This is a good place to learn to surf and lessons and rentals are available at the beach hut at Kiahuna Plantation.

Kiahuna Beach

We also enjoyed a walk on Kekaha Beach after visiting Waimea Canyon. It’s long, wide, uncrowded, and you can watch surfers riding the big waves. It has a wilder, more local feel than Poipu but has no services or shade and isn’t suitable for swimming. It’s easily accessible as you can park right next to the beach.

Kekaha Beach

We considered heading further west to the even wilder and longer beach at Polihale State Park, but you need a 4WD to get down the bumpy access road.

An unusual beach that’s worth a quick visit is Glass Beach in Port Allen. This small cove is in an industrial area and was created from washed up glass that has been smoothed away to make glittery pebbles of green and white and amber. The amount of glass depends on the tides and it wasn’t super obvious when we were there.

Glass Beach

7) Hike the Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail

The Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail is a beautiful and fairly easy coastal trail with gorgeous views of the ocean, red cliffs, green mountains, and even whales.

The hike starts at Shipwreck Beach in Poipu near the Grand Hyatt pool looks fantastic and this is one of the top places to stay on the island.

8) Visit the Spouting Horn Blowhole

Spouting Horn Park is worth a quick stop to see the blowhole of water spouting out from the rocks in the ocean. The sound is otherworldly, like an enraged Hawaiian god. This was my favourite running destination from Kiahuna (9.5km return) following the coast and there are toilets and a water fountain at the blowhole.

9) Eat Shave Ice

Waikomo Shave Ice

The best Hawaiian treat is shave ice. It’s vastly superior to a snow cone as it’s made with ice shaved so finely that it’s soft and fluffy.

Our favourite was at Waikomo Shave Ice in Poipu. We got ours with macadamia nut ice cream on the bottom (recommended!), all natural mango and pineapple syrups, and a topping of coconut cream and fresh pineapple. Delicious!

10) Shop and Eat at Warehouse 3540

Warehouse 3540 is a cool warehouse of artisan stalls selling locally made clothes, jewellery and art with some tasty food trucks outside. It’s a little off the beaten track away from the towns, but it’s only a 10 minute drive from Poipu and is well worth a stop when you’re driving along the south coast.

We enjoyed a vegan tofu poke at Kauai Poke Co and excellent coffee at Dark Roost. They also host a farmer’s market on Friday mornings.

11) Buy Local Produce at Farmers’ Markets

Locally grown produce on Kauai is excellent quality and the best way to buy it is at one of the farmers’ markets. Even if you aren’t self-catering, they are worth stopping at for foodie gifts and treats like flavoured macadamia nuts, fruit pies, honey, and jams.

These are the markets we visited:

Hale Halawai Farmers’ Market in Hanalei – A large market on Saturday mornings with beautiful mountain views and a mix of crafts, clothes, fresh produce, and prepared food. We loved the spicy mango salsa.

Kukui’ula Kauai Culinary Market – Outside a shopping centre in Poipu on Wednesday evenings from 3.30–6pm. It was larger than we expected with a range of produce, hot food stalls, foodie gifts, and treats. We loved the mac and cheese from the soup stall and sweet pies from The Right Slice (worth the queue!).

Anaina Hou Community Park – We came across this market on the north shore on a Tuesday afternoon after visiting Secret Beach. It’s much smaller than the Hanalei market but has some of the same stalls including the mango salsa lady and a local goats cheese stall. We cooled off with a delicious frosty made from frozen banana and pineapple fed through a juicer to make a healthy soft serve.

You can find a complete list of farmers’ markets in Kauai here.

12) See Rainbows at Wailua Falls

We didn’t spend a lot of time on the east coast of Kauai, but we did stop at Wailua Falls while driving from the south to our second condo on the north shore. This beautiful double waterfall is easily accessible (just drive up and park) and often features a rainbow.

Other things we’d have liked to have done in East Kauai are kayak the Wailua River and hike the Sleeping Giant trail up Nounou Mountain.

Best Things to Do in Kauai: North Shore

13) Visit Hanalei

Hanalei is a small, laidback surfer town that was our favourite town in Kauai. You can browse cute shops, eat at excellent food trucks (see the where to eat section below), visit the Saturday morning farmers’ market, and relax on the beautiful 1.6 mile beach that’s backed by green mountains.

It’s a better beach for surfing than swimming, but we enjoyed walks and sunrise runs along the long stretch of sand and there’s plenty of space for everyone to spread out.

This would be a fantastic town to stay in, but as part of its charm is that there are no big hotels or resorts, accommodation is limited to pricey Airbnbs and vacation rentals.

14) Beach Hop Along the North Shore

The beaches on Kauai’s north shore are even more beautiful than in the south because they are backed by rugged green mountains. This does mean they are often less easily accessible and can involve a clamber down a trail to reach. The ocean is rougher in the winter on the north shore than in the south, but there are a few swimmable spots.

In early 2019 the road past Hanalei was still closed after serious flooding, so we focused on the beaches in the northeast. Here are the beaches we visited from Hanalei moving east:

Hanalei Bay

A long, popular, and easily accessible surfing beach in a cute town. The surfing here is only suitable for beginners in the summer months.

Pua Poa Beach

A small golden sand beach with mountain views and calm water. It’s in front of the

Hideaways Beach

On the other side of Princeville Resort (follow the narrow path by the tennis courts), this lovely little beach has calm, turquoise water and mountain views.

It’s not a secret but does feel secluded and can only be reached by a short but very steep muddy trail. Some clambering is required but there’s a rope that helps. Hiking sandals are better than flip-flops and it’s best to have your hands free so pack light. Lots of people were snorkelling here so we wished we’d brought some gear. There’s plenty of shade.

Secret Beach

Another not so secret but beautiful beach that’s well worth visiting. Secret Beach (officially known as Kauapea Beach) is much bigger than Hideaways, so there’s plenty of space to find a quiet spot. It’s a 10 minute walk downhill to get here—the trail is steep and uneven but not as difficult as the one to Hideaways. The ocean was rough in winter so we didn’t swim, but locals surf here.

Anini Beach

This is one the best beaches for swimming on the north shore in the winter with very calm water protected by a reef (you can also snorkel). It wasn’t our favourite, though, as in the afternoon the narrow beach was mostly shady and the sunny spots were crowded. There are toilets, showers and picnic tables and you can park close by.

We didn’t visit the popular Queen’s Bath as it can be very dangerous in winter and many people have died here. Even if the tidal pool looks calm, rogue waves can come along suddenly and sweep you out to the ocean, so I don’t recommend visiting.

Once the road past Hanalei has reopened some of the best beaches to visit are Ke’e Beach, Tunnels Beach, and Haena Beach.

15) See Birds and Coastal Views from Kilauea Lighthouse

The Kilauea Lighthouse is located on a rocky peninsula with fantastic views along the coast. It’s a wildlife refuge and you can see many seabirds including the red-footed booby, red-tailed tropicbird, lawson albatross, and great frigatebird.

You can borrow binoculars for free from the information centre and get a close-up view of the birds and even whales in the winter. You can’t go inside the lighthouse—it’s more about enjoying the views and wildlife, although you can read about its history.

We visited at midday and had to wait a while for a parking space, so an earlier visit would be better. The $10 entrance fee felt quite expensive for a quick stop, but it goes towards protecting the birds so it’s a good cause. It’s open from 10 am until 4 pm and is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

It close to Secret Beach so you could combine a visit.

16) Drink a Sunset Cocktail

17) Enjoy the View at Hanalei Valley Lookout

This scenic viewpoint in Princeville is worth a stop on the way to Hanalei for a lovely view of taro fields and the surrounding mountains. The light is better in the morning, but the growing vegetation makes good photos a little difficult.

South Kauai

Little Fish Coffee

This cute wooden cafe is across the road from Kiahuna Plantation in Poipu and is a good place for breakfast on their terrace (although it gets busy). We liked the cinnamon rolls and acai bowls topped with fruit and granola.

Island Taco

We enjoyed the seasoned tofu burritos ($16) and tacos ($10) at this simple place in the Poipu Shipping Village. There’s no free tap water so bring your own.

Da Crack

These humongous burritos are the cheapest meal around—a veggie burrito is under $10 and is enough for two. You can choose your fillings—we had rice, beans, guacamole, salsa, cheese and cabbage—and they can be made vegan. It’s just a hole in the wall with a few benches outside so we took ours back to our condo. It’s next to the Kukuiula Market and Waikomo Shave Ice in Poipu.

Waikomo Shave Ice

Next to Da Crack, this little stand makes our favourite shave ice in Hawaii.

Kauai Poke Co

The Kauai Poke Co food truck is outside Warehouse 3540 (see above) and serves a delicious vegan tofu poke ($15 with extra avocado). Kickshaws and The Fresh Shave food trucks here are also supposed to be good and there’s an excellent coffee stand inside the building. The trucks are a 10-minute drive west of Poipu and are only open at lunch.

This vegan cafe has cute outdoor seating with a floor made from broken glass and chickens roaming around. We both opted for the tofu scramble which you can customise—I had it with tempeh bacon, avocado, and chipotle aioli on a bed of greens and Simon had his in a burrito. It was tasty, although not huge for $15. The cookies were disappointing.

The food trucks in Hanalei are the most affordable and delicious places to eat, although most are only open for lunch.

There are two main clusters. The main food truck park has lots of great options including Fresh Bite which has healthy salads and wraps and Saenz Ohana for breakfasts (they’d run out by 10.30am on a Saturday though!). We opted for the Indian truck Cafe Turmeric and had an absolutely delicious coconut veggie curry which we highly recommend.

A little further down the main road, there are a few more trucks. We tried the taro veggie burger at Hanalei Taro which was good but a little simple—we prefer more interesting toppings that just lettuce, tomato and the optional cheese.

Nearby is Wishing Well Shave Ice where we had a refreshing passion fruit and coconut shave ice on macadamia ice cream topped with papaya and coconut flakes. The flavours were superb but it was a little icier than the Waikomo Shave Ice in Poipu.

See this guide to Hanalei food trucks for more ideas.

Hanalei Bread Company

A good place for breakfast and sandwiches. Simon enjoyed a coffee and cinnamon roll here while I ran on the beach.

Bar Acuda

Cucumber, avocado and chickpea salad at Bar Acuda in Hanalei

Our one splurge meal in Kauai was at this tapas bar in Hanalei that uses fresh, seasonal ingredients. We loved sharing lots of small plates and there are plenty of vegetarian options. Everything was delicious but we especially liked the cucumber and avocado salad, honeycomb with goat cheese, and the white chocolate cheesecake.

You do pay for a quality meal like this in Hawaii though—we spent $150 (including tip) for six tapas and two cocktails.

How to Get Around Kauai

Public transport is very limited on Kauai so you’ll need a rental car to visit all the spots on this list. You could get by booking a few day tours but your experience will be more limited.

As usual, we used Rental Cars to find the best deal and ended up booking with Thrifty. All the rental companies are a short bus trip from the airport, but we didn’t have to wait long for the bus or in the Thrifty queue. We booked the cheapest compact car but were upgraded to a small Nissan SUV which was perfect.

You can manage with any type of car on Kauai, but when we got to Maui we did miss the higher clearance of the SUV on some of the rougher roads and beach parking areas and bumped the bottom a few times.

Getting around is easy—there’s one major road around the island, although there is no road in the northwest so you can’t drive all the way around. We used Google Maps for directions. See the map at the top of this post for all our favourite spots.

Recommended Guidebooks

I read two guidebooks before our trip—Lonely Planet Kauai and The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed by Andrew Doughty. They were both useful but the latter is better for finding hidden spots as it’s written by a local.

I hope you found these tips useful and enjoy exploring the beautiful island of Kauai!

Don’t miss our posts on the best places to stay in Kauai and our amazing doors off helicopter Kauai experience.

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#thingstodoinkauai #hawaii #kauai"

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travelloverr · 7 months

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Honopu Beach Hawaii: Best Beach in Kauai

We're going to talk about a different beach today that is inaccessible by car. It is regarded as one of the most stunning beaches in the world and can only be reached by boat, kayak, or hiking. Indeed! Speaking of Honopu Beach, which is breathtaking.

If you want to go to Honopu Beach then it is very important for you to know the complete information about Honopu Beach click here

Why is it called Honopu Beach?

Honopu Beach is located on the Na Pali Coast of Kauai, Hawaii. Honopu Beach is named after the Honopu Arch, a natural rock arch that once stood at the mouth of the valley. The arch collapsed in 1992, but the beach still contains its name. The name Honopu means “conch shell” in Hawaiian, and it is thought to be derived from the sound that the wind makes when it blows through the valley. The valley is also known for its many caves, which were once used as burial grounds for Hawaiian chiefs.

What To Expect at Honopu Beach Hawaii

Honopu Beach Hawaii is a secluded and beautiful beach. It is a popular destination for those who are looking for an adventure.

Here are some things to expect when you visit Honopu Beach:

Hike the Kalalau Trail: The Kalalau Trail is an 11-mile hike that takes you along the Napali Coast to Honopu Beach. The hike is challenging but rewarding, with stunning views of the coast.

Swim to the beach: If you are a strong swimmer, you can swim to Honopu Beach from Kalalau Beach. The swim is about 400 yards long and can be challenging due to strong currents.

Where can I stay at Honopu Beach?

There are no hotels or vacation rentals directly on the beach. However, there are a few options for staying nearby.

Kalalau Lookout State Park: This campground is located about 2 miles from Honopu Beach and offers stunning views of the Na Pali Coast. There are 12 tent sites available, and camping permits are required. Click here

What is the best time to visit Honopu Beach?

The best time to visit Honopu Beach is during the dry season, which runs from May to October. During this time, the weather is generally sunny and warm, with little rain. The ocean is also calmer during this time, making it easier to swim to the beach.

The winter months (December to February) are generally not a good time to visit Honopu Beach, as the weather is cooler and the ocean is rougher. During this time, it is not recommended to swim to the beach, as the currents can be strong and dangerous.

Honopu Beach itinerary

Day 1

Honopu Beach

Morning: Start your day with a visit to Honopu Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches on Kauai. Take a walk along the beach, go for a swim, or just relax and enjoy the scenery.

Lunch: Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy it at the beach. There are also a few restaurants in the area if you prefer to eat out.

Afternoon: In the afternoon, take a hike to Kalalau Valley, one of the most remote and stunning valleys in the world. The hike is challenging, but it is well worth the effort.

Want to know about full itinerary? Click here

How to Reach Honopu Beach?

Honopu Beach is one of the most beautiful and secluded beaches on the Napali Coast of Kauai. It is also one of the most difficult to reach, as there is no road access. The only way to get to Honopu Beach is by swimming or hiking.

Swimming to reach Honopu Beach:

The most common way to reach Honopu Beach is by swimming from Kalalau Beach, which is the next beach to the north. The swim is about 0.4 miles (0.6 km) and can be challenging due to strong currents and waves. However, the rewards are worth it, as Honopu Beach is a truly stunning place.

How to reach honopu beach to know more details. Click here

Honopu Beach is a truly special place, and it is worth the effort to visit. If you are looking for a secluded and beautiful beach, Honopu Beach is the perfect place for you.

#honopubeach #itineraryplans #beach #hawaii #beachlover

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because-cur-non · 7 years

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Pali Puka trail but Tumblr’s being a jerk and not letting me put in most of my other pictures.

The puka! You can lie in it and superman but it’s a wind tunnel and I was afraid I’d drop my phone if I took pictures while doing that. Pano is taken standing on top of it looking up at the peak that I accidentally scaled around the back thinking I hadn’t reached the puka yet.

trail back down to the lookout

bottom half-ish of the ropes up the back of the peak (couldn’t find its name anywhere, it’s the next step up along the ridge)

#pali puka #nuuanu pali #oahu #hawaii #my pictures

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wearsdani · 7 years

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#WEARSDANI: Kauai, HI

7-Day Itinerary

*DISCLAIMER: This is my first blog post in a year and I’m a little rusty - the photos I took were (to me) mediocre (I COULD TOTALLY DO BETTER THAN THIS) and I tried my best to condense a week’s worth of activities into a short-attention-span-worthy-read (if such a thing existed). Alright, let’s do this.

Oh Kauai, you stole my heart from day one. Known as the “adventurous” and “lush” island, Kauai differentiates itself from the neighboring Oahu by staying true to its Hawaiian roots - untouched and slowly developed. If you’re planning a trip out here, I’d recommend staying in Kapaa or the south side of the island. My family and I were in Princeville (which is on the northern part of the island) and found ourselves having to drive far for most of the activities and attractions on our list. TBH there was a lot more to our trip than what I’ve mentioned below, but these are what I found most significant. I hope you find this post helpful and enticing enough to have you visit the island yourself!

MONDAY

Arrive at Lihue Airport

To get from airport to timeshare, we booked our ride with GO! Airport Shuttle - the total was $98.70 for four passengers. Overall, the drive from Lihue to Princeville is about 45 minutes and on our way to the timeshare, our driver gave us a little history about Kauai, recommendations on where to go and fun facts about the island.

Wyndham Bali Hai Villas in Princeville

This was one of my favorite timeshares I’ve stayed at. The villas are beautiful, the pool is relaxing and the staff is so welcoming/helpful. I’d say the only downfall is that there wasn’t any air conditioning #firstworldproblems - we had the fans on full blast and left the windows/doors open to feel a breeze.

Foodland

Luckily the Bali Hai Villas offers a full kitchen including all appliances - this means homemade cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner (Banana Macadamia Pancakes ALL DAY NAMSAYIN?!). Our go-to market is Foodland a.k.a. the Ralph’s or Vons of Hawaii!

TUESDAY

Hanalei

Check out Hanalei for boutique shops and local places to eat like the Village Snack Shop & Bakery at Chung Young Village (Order the chili pepper chicken or combo plate - you won’t regret!) or Jojo’s Shave Ice (Their serving sizes are HUGE and you get a little ice cream treat at the bottom of the cone).

Hanalei Bay

If it weren’t for Google Maps, my family and I would have missed the neighborhood entrance to this beach! We spent the 4th of July here, basking in the liveliness of the area - house music blasting in the background, family and friends chillen beneath the trees and cute grandma’s chattin it up while they tan their leathered skin (lol wait is that mean?)

WEDNESDAY

Poipu Beach

Of all the beaches we visited in Kauai, I’d say that Poipu Beach was the most crowded - but for good reason! This beach is family-friendly and has relatively calm waters. I noticed families snorkeling along the shore and swimming off toward a mini island where you can encounter sunbathing seals.

Lappert’s Ice Cream

I’m a sucker for good ice cream, and Lappert’s satisfied all my creamy needs. I ordered a scoop of Banana Fudge hehe (Ya ya ya, I could have gotten something waaaay more “Hawaiian,” but that’s what my body wanted at the time).

The Shops at Kukui’ula

Various events occur on a weekly basis at the The Shops at Kukui’ula, however we found ourselves in the middle of their culinary market, which happens every Wednesday from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Here, you’ll find live music, fresh produce and product from all over the island! The shopping center itself is a great place for tourists to eat, shop and catch Happy Hour (This is where you can find Lappert’s Ice Cream too!).

THURSDAY

Queen’s Bath

Little did I know there was a small trail behind our timeshare that lead to Queen’s Bath. Queen’s Bath is a series of tide pools located along the coast. To get to the bath itself requires a ten-minute hike past a waterfall. The hike was relatively easy and the path down to the bath isn’t very complicated, however I’d suggest wearing water shoes or a sturdy pair of sandals (I wore pair of Havaianas and the strap popped out lol oops – don’t be me). You’ll notice that there are multiple tide pools that you pass, but in order to get to the *actual* Queen’s Bath, you walk about 5 minutes past the lava rocks (You’ll feel like you’re in the middle of a Jurassic Park scene. It’s. So. Dope.). Click this link to get more information on how to explore this area safely.

Koloa Zipline

My sister and I ziplined through the jungle at sunset with Koloa Zipline. There are a total of eight lines that you can fly across, one of them being half a mile long! This was such a fun experience because we got to fly in different positions (upside-down, backwards, “flying Kawaiian”). However, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND wearing bug spray and pants (yoga pants will suffice) because holy shit I got bit like crazy. Literally 12 bug bites on one leg, no joke. Also, our travel lady recommended the sunset tour because it would be “pretty and not-as-hot,” but the tour took at least 4 hours and by the time we were halfway through the course, it was completely dark and we couldn’t enjoy the view! Other than that, our experience was A1 and I would totally do it again.

FRIDAY

Kayak Wailua River to Secret Falls

Our vacation was jam packed with adventure (Shout out to my family for keeping up!) We booked a kayak tour with Ali’i Kayaks and spent the whole morning exploring and learning about the Wailua River and hiked to the “Secret Falls.” (Rumor has it, we didn’t go to the *real* Secret Falls - I feel gypped… jk). The distance from the dock to the hike was about two miles and the hike to the waterfall was about one mile. It sounds waaay worse than what it actually is, so just dooo ehhht. Also, shout out to Kai for being such an amazing tour guide! The kid knows his stuff!

Dinner at The Bistro in Kilauea

This was probably the fanciest restaurant we ate at during the whole trip, mainly because our trip consisted of Hawaiian BBQ and homemade meals. Our server was so kind and the food and drinks were delicious!

SATURDAY

Na Pali Coast Tour

This was by-far my favorite activity in Kauai. The Na Pali Coast morning tour was so much fun! We booked our tour with Go Blue Adventure and hung out with our tour guide, Madz all morning! This tour is like no other because you are in a completely open pontoon boat, going hella fast across the ocean (If you have any serious medical/physical issues or can’t handle the waves, maaaybe this tour isn’t for you?) We spotted dolphins (There were sooo many. Fun fact: Dolphins are my spirit animal), swam with the turtles, snorkeled with the fishes, explored sea caves, learned about the history of Kauai and even jumped off the boat with the valleys and mountains as our backdrop. If you find yourself in Kauai, I would definitely mark this tour at the top of your list!

Kauai Coffee Company

In a world full of coffee addicts, I find myself on the other side of the spectrum, but that didn’t stop me from stopping by Kauai Coffee Company. They offer tastings, a roasting demonstration and a walking tour of their estate. While my family enjoyed the variety of coffee flavors, I was in line for another ice cream cone lol, but it was coffee flavored ice cream, so that counts for something, right?

SUNDAY

Anini Beach

One reason why Kauai is so great is because there are so many beaches to choose from. We started off our Sunday morning at Anini Beach. Although there is a only small strip of sand to lay out, this beach offers plenty of shade under the trees and calm waters for everyone to swim safely. My family rolled out our mats and rested beneath the trees and watched locals fishing around the shore.

Kalalau Trail

There are multiple stops on this trail, but my family and I hiked up to the Kalalau Lookout - it took just about 12 minutes to get there. Again, I hiked this trail in my Havaiana’s #rebel, but I recommend closed toe shoes. Just picture a never ending staircase, and that’s exactly what this trail is. The view is totally worth it!

Ke’e Beach

Ahh, I wish my family and I spent more time at this beach. Found at the end of the road, Ke’e Beach is the perfect spot for snorkeling (I realize that all of the beaches I mentioned were great for snorkeling, but this is the “perfect” spot, so go here). On the way to the beach we passed by a massive cave and the trailhead to the Kalalau Lookout! I’d have to say this beach was picturesque and the definition of a tropical oasis.

Kilauea Lighthouse

The Kilauea Lighthouse is also a wildlife refuge that is open from Tuesday to Saturday and requires a $5 entry fee. Unfortunately, we did not know this prior to driving out to the landmark, so we were only able to admire from afar *sigh* but you can view the Lighthouse from afar in my photo diary below :)

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crazy4tank · 4 years

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Hawaiian Paradise: Kauai

New Post has been published on https://fashiondesigne.com/hawaiian-paradise-kauai/

Hawaiian Paradise: Kauai

Which Hawaiian isle should I visit?

This blog post will cover The island of kauai, one of the 6 Hawaiian island destinations. If you’re not sure which Hawaii island(s) to visit, check this infographic .

Getting there

Read my flight booking advice .

British Airways charges just 12500 Avios + €5 each way to book LAX or SFO to your Hawaii island on American Air carriers.

Where to stay

Things to eat

Fastfood chains have found the way to The island of kauai, but hipster go for quality food. Here are some associated with my favorites on the Garden Tropical isle:

Things you can do

Kalalau Lookout at the end of Kokee road in Waimea Canyon

By motorboat or kayak

By helicopter

On foot via the popular Kalalau trail

Kalalau Lookout

Em Pali Coast Boat Vacation

The island of kauai by Helicopter

Kalalau Trail

youtube

Have you went to Kauai before? Or any additional Hawaiian island? Feel free to reveal your experiences and guidelines in the comments! Thanks! 🙂

#Destinations #hawaii #kalalau #kauai #Na Pali Coast #trail

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marymperezga · 5 years

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35 Most Beautiful Places To Travel In America (What To See & How To See It)

It’s said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Maybe for you, beauty is the bright lights of a cityscape at night or a stunning sunset over the Pacific Ocean. Maybe it’s a meadow of wildflowers, a roaring waterfall, or an historic neighborhood in a famous city. For many, it’s a natural wonder like the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone’s Old Faithful geyser, or Hawaii’s Mauna Key volcano. Beauty can be found anywhere, in anything, so we’ve gathered this list of some of America’s most beautiful places to travel.

But we aren’t stopping there. It’s one thing to tell you about America’s most beautiful places, and another to help you plan the perfect itinerary to see them. In our list below, you’ll gain 35 adventures to add to your bucket list and specific ways to experience them, from guided hiking tours, helicopter rides, and sailing expeditions, to recommended hotels and alternative lodging options in each spot.

The best part? When you’re visiting these places, you can book an affordable, comfortable accommodation on FlipKey! We offer hundreds of thousands of great rental properties—from cozy mountainside cabins to breezy beach homes to downtown apartments and lofts.

Without further ado, here are some of the most beautiful places, landmarks, and attractions to visit in the USA.

Island of Kauai, Hawaii: Na Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon, and Poipu’s Beaches

There’s a reason big-budget films like Tropic Thunder and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides feature this lush location as a backdrop. This tropical paradise is home to some of the most gorgeous scenery on the planet, from the spectacular Mt. Waialeale crater, which gets more rainfall than anywhere else on earth, to the stunning Mana Waiapuna falls featured in Jurassic Park, the towering spires of the Nā Pali Coast, and the resorts of Princeville. A great way to see it all is via this helicopter tour taking you over the island of Kauai, as well as the Nā Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon, and Poipu’s gorgeous beaches. Pro tip: Make time to check out the snorkeling, rafting, and kayaking experiences around the Nā Pali Coast and its famous sea caves, too.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals in Kauai!

Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

It’s not hard to see why this six-hour excursion in Kenai Fjords National Park is one of Alaska’s most popular wildlife and glacier cruises. Glide past alpine and tidewater glaciers, spot abundant marine wildlife, and visit seabird rookeries at the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. Drifting past the jagged icy cliffs along the Kenai Peninsula, you might catch breath-taking glimpses of humpback, minke, and orca whales, among other creatures that flock to the plankton-rich waters. No matter your adventure style, there are plenty of tours available for exploring Kenai Fjords National Park.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals near Kenai!

Grand Canyon, Arizona

There are so many ways to take in the majesty of the Grand Canyon. Bus trip, helicopter tour from nearby Las Vegas, or travel the way visitors did in the early 20th century: by train! This iconic American destination is celebrated for its Colorado River views and awe-inspiring red rock formations stretching as far as the eye can see. Also worth exploring are Antelope Canyon and Horseshoe Bend, both of which are about two hours away from the popular South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals near the Grand Canyon!

Colorado’s Blue Lakes

The Blue Lakes Hiking Trail near Telluride, situated above the tree line at about 12,400 feet, offers a gorgeous hike past alpine lakes and the peaks of Yankee Boy Basin. Hikers often tackle it as a day-long excursion, taking in the sight of colorful wildflowers and everything from marmots to mountain goats or sheep. If you’re staying in Denver and want to try something similar, you can take this private day tour of Mount Evans, which includes spectacular views from the top of the famous ‘14er’, as well sightings of wildlife like bighorn sheep, elk, and bison.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals in Colorado!

The Brooklyn Bridge, New York City

New York City is truly an incredible metropolis, worthy of many superlatives. While Central Park or the Statue of Liberty could certainly be considered beautiful, our pick here is the Brooklyn Bridge thanks to its stunning architecture (one reviewer claims it’s an “iconic engineering marvel“) and unique skyline views. Opened in 1883 and spanning nearly 6,000 feet, the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the world’s most recognizable suspension bridges and a classic New York sight. Travelers rave about waking across the bridge at sunrise or sunset, or alternatively taking the view in at nighttime on a boat cruise—which also includes views of One World Trade Center, the Statue of Liberty, and the Chrysler Building.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals in New York!

Fall Foliage in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire

Anyone planning a getaway who loves history, New England, mountains, and dazzling fall colors, should put Bretton Woods in autumn on their travel wish list. It’s actually a point within the town of Carroll, New Hampshire. In fall, this place is simply spectacular. Hike up West Mountain for amazing views or ride The Cog, a cog railway carrying tourists up Mount Washington.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals in Bretton Woods!

Forsyth Park: Savannah, Georgia

The thirty-acre site of Forsyth Park, dating from the 1840s, is one of the most iconic spots in the city of Savannah. The park’s fountain is probably its most recognizable landmark, and the benches and Spanish moss-covered oaks that surround it have helped make it a romantic focal point for photography. Outside the park, TripAdvisor reviewers particularly love Savannah’s historic churches and cathedrals, this museum dedicated to the history of Prohibition, and sites like Bonaventure Cemetery, nestled on the bluff of the Wilmington River and famous for its old tree-lined roadways and historic architecture.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals in Savannah!

Maui’s Honokohau Falls and the Sea Cliffs of Molokai from the air

Taking a flight across Hawaii’s most dramatic landscapes will really make you sit up and appreciate the world around you. On this helicopter tour over Molokai and Maui you’ll see a panorama of cliffs, jungle, ocean, and volcanoes, perhaps interrupted by a majestic whale or two. Take in those massive sea cliffs and that serene North Shore bathed in sunlight—you simply won’t want to leave.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals in Maui!

Driftwood Beach: Jekyll Island, Georgia

Amateur shutterbugs flock to Driftwood Beach, a distinctive spot on the north end of Georgia’s Jekyll Island that looks, quite simply, like a graveyard for trees. Trust us, it’s a lot more beautiful than it sounds. It often shows up on lists rounding up the most romantic beaches in the country, due to its landscape of sun-scarred driftwood that makes you feel like you’re in another world. Catch it early in the morning or at sunset for a view that will take your breath away.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals on Jekyll Island!

Views from Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee

The views at Lookout Mountain are nothing less than breathtaking, looking over the city of Chattanooga, as well as parts of neighboring states. There’s a powerful sense of history here, as several TripAdvisor reviewers note, as you stand on ground where Civil War soldiers fought and died. Also seek out Ruby Falls (which includes a cave and waterfall underneath the mountain), the rock formations and gardens in Rock City, and Point Park, memorializing the 1863 Civil War Battle Above the Clouds. Visit in the fall for the added bonus of colorful foliage!

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals in Chattanooga!

Views from the Stratosphere Observation Tower in Las Vegas

When people talk about the Stratosphere in Vegas, they could be referring to the hotel or the casino, but there’s a better chance that they really mean the roughly 1,150-foot-tall freestanding observation tower. This distinctive Sin City landmark includes two observation decks, the revolving Top of the World restaurant, and several bookable rides and attractions, such as this open-air leap from the tower via the SkyJump experience. This unlimited ride pass also lets you experience the thrills of rides like the Big Shot.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals in Las Vegas!

Pfeiffer Beach: Big Sur, California

As the Beach Boys crooned, Big Sur is a place of crimson sunsets and golden dawns. Pfeiffer Beach is an especially picturesque stretch where the waves roar as they hit the white sand of the beach. One TripAdvisor reviewer was particularly taken with the sight of the rocks perforated with holes, allowing water to splash through making for some spectacular camera shots. McWay Falls and Bixby Bridge get tons of deserved Big Sur hype, but Pfeiffer Beach is more of a hidden gem—check out its purple sand and amazing rock formations.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals near Big Sur!

Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis: Missouri

This St. Louis cathedral, the mother church of the St. Louis archdiocese, is home to one of the largest collections of mosaics in the Western hemisphere. This beautiful structure turned 100 years old in 2014 and is perhaps best known for its interior mosaics, which took almost 80 years to complete, using more than 41 million pieces of glass tesserae. The interiors are stunning, for sure, but its incredible exterior architecture also gives it a nod on our list of beautiful sights in America.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals in St. Louis!

Views from the Willis Tower Skydeck in Chicago

If it’s a dizzying height with an epic Chicago view you want, head straight to the Ledge at Skydeck Chicago, housed in the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. A quintessentially Chicagoan and perfectly Instagrammable moment can be captured 103 floors up the Willis Tower, where you step out onto the glass balconies of the ledge, extending more than four feet outside the building. Enjoy those 360-degree views then turn your gaze down to your feet to see the slightly stomach-churning sight of everything 1,353 feet below you. Skydeck admission is listed at $22, and you can also enjoy dinner on the 103rd floor.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals in Illinois!

The Lighthouses of Coastal Maine

It doesn’t get much more storybook perfect than this: a two-hour excursion into Casco Bay aboard a vintage lobster boat, offering sublime views of the Maine coastline dotted with lighthouses. Each charter includes a captain and deckhand to guide you, regale you with local color, and tend to your needs, but it’s the lighthouses that are the stars of this show. You’ll see four in total, including the Ram Island Light, the Spring Point Ledge Light, Bug Light, and the iconic Portland Head Light, which was commissioned in 1791 by none other than George Washington himself.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals in Portland, Maine!

Mauna Key Summit, Hawaii’s Big Island—from the air

Once-in-a-lifetime moments don’t get much more epic than watching the sun rise from the top of a volcano. In this case, it’s the Mauna Kea volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island, which is what this sunrise excursion is built around. Watching the purple, blue, orange, and red rays of the sun peek out over the horizon is the culmination of this six-hour trip to the volcano’s peak. For a perfect bookend to this experience, take this small-group sunset and stargazing tour of Mauna Kea, during which you’ll use powerful telescopes to observe constellations from the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Station.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals on the Big Island!

Boston’s Historic Neighborhoods

William F. Buckley once quipped he’d be happy to entrust the entirety of the United States government to the first 400 people listed in the Boston telephone book. It was a rumination on the one-of-a-kind nature of the people here in Beantown, a truly iconic American city. Here, history and modernity coexist beautifully, and you feel it everywhere you go. In neighborhoods from Southie to Beacon Hill, with its cobblestone streets; in the foodie paradise of the North End; from the tree-lined streets of Back Bay to the pubs, taverns, and institutions such as Boston and Harvard universities; in beautiful public spaces like Boston Common and historic landmarks like Faneuil Hall and the Old State House.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals in Boston!

Saint Augustine, Florida

Saint Augustine is a city that stands alone. Sure, it’s got all the trappings the average vacationer would want: charming hotels, intimate restaurants, pristine beaches. But it’s the history that gives this city its unique feel—it’s the oldest European settlement in the US. If you’re so inclined, you could pull a Ponce de Leon and taste the waters in the Fountain of Youth Archeological Park (let us know if it makes you feel any younger). Beyond that, there are tons of ways to explore the city, from ghost and trolley tours to sunset cruises and craft beer tastings.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals in Saint Augustine!

Chapel of the Holy Cross: Sedona, Arizona

The Chapel of the Holy Cross is a distinctive, almost otherworldly-looking edifice built into the red rock formations of Sedona. It’s been featured in architecture magazines, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, and it’s just one of many memorable spots in this desert oasis, where you’ll also find resorts, spas, and canyons. The beauty of the desert scenery is only surpassed by the grandeur of the night sky. Once the sun dips, you’ll see it in all its glory, free of the illumination of city lights. If you want to explore the area, there are tons of experiences to choose from, like this small-group tour of Sedona and a tour of the chapel itself.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals in Sedona!

Cathedral of St. Helena, Montana

An awe-inspiring collection of artwork can be found in the German-made stained glass windows of the Cathedral of St. Helena, a Gothic-inspired structure with distinctive twin spires and a pipe organ. This must-see landmark gathers high praise from TripAdvisor reviewers for the beauty of the church and the sense of serenity within. Elsewhere in the city, there’s a museum of art, Reader’s Alley (a restored miners’ village complete with restaurant and shops), and the Gates of the Mountains wilderness area.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals in Helena!

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

The Midway Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park, while not home to the famous Old Faithful Geyser, is still arguably Yellowstone’s best area to explore, particularly for photographers. One reviewer states: “This is a must-see location within the park. The area is simply beautiful and very unique. The colors are truly magnificent.” Due to those stunning colors, the Midway Geyser Basin is one of the most photographed walks in Yellowstone. It includes the Grand Prismatic Spring, the Excelsior Geyser, plus the Turquoise Pool and the Opal Pool. This tour of Yellowstone lower loop is a good way to experience all these sites and more—led by an expert guide, you’ll be able to see several impressive geysers, along with the natural beauty of canyons, cascades and more.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals near Yellowstone!

Niagara Falls, New York & Ontario

One guaranteed way to feel the awesome power of nature is to visit the inimitable Niagara Falls. There are three magnificent falls here, two American and one Canadian. On this tour of the American side of the falls you’ll get aerial views from the observation deck at Skylon Tower, get up close to Horseshoe Falls on the Maid of the Mist boat ride, and also reach the closest accessible point of the falls at Cave of the Winds.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals in Niagara Falls!

Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina Mountains

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a 469-mile scenic drive offering world-famous, breath-taking views. The road links the Shenandoah and Great Smoky Mountains National Park and you can explore the scenery here a number of different ways. There’s this photo tour and hike led by a local guide along the parkway, or you could try an alternative guided hike that also passes by three lovely waterfalls.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals in the North Carolina Mountains!

Wild Horses Grazing On the Beaches of Corolla, North Carolina

Now here’s a sight that’s unique to North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Ancestors of the wild Spanish Mustangs who wander free here were brought over in the 1500s on Spanish vessels. The horses you see today make up the last remaining wild herd. This two-hour tour of the Outer Banks transports you through the sand dunes in open-air four-wheel drive vehicles to see the wild horses in all their splendor. You’ll also visit a maritime forest and a historic Coast Guard station.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals in Corolla!

Multnomah Falls: Bridal Veil, Oregon

There’s an old Native American story that says Multnomah Falls was created for a young princess who wanted a secret place to bathe. This is certainly a place of beauty, with a roaring cascade of over 600 feet, making it one of the tallest waterfalls in the US. If you’re feeling particularly gutsy, walk up the trail to Benson Bridge, which spans the falls and gives you an unobstructed view up to the top—and a stomach-churning view down the roughly 70-foot drop. Tours like this show you around Multnomah Falls and the Columbia River Gorge as part of a half-day excursion from Portland.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals near Bridal Veil!

The Mansions of Newport, Rhode Island

New England oozes an irresistible storybook charm, and there’s no better place to experience it than in Newport, Rhode Island, with its yacht-lined harbor and Gilded Age mansions. You can take a guided trolley tour or simply admire these castles of wealth from the water on a harbor sightseeing cruise. Most tours include a stop at The Breakers, a mansion that housed the Vanderbilts and is among the most impressive of the city’s historic abodes. Alternatively, walk along the famous Cliff Walk and see the mansions from a unique, picturesque perspective.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals in Newport!

Charleston’s Historic District: South Carolina

Charleston’s history dates back more than three centuries, so there are plenty of opportunities to explore the fascinating past of this handsome port city. Wander among its antebellum mansions, old churches, and graceful homes, and try a tour of the historic district by horse-drawn carriage. It’s a delightfully old-school experience—you’ll be pulled along by the same kind of horse that worked American farms in the 1800s, while learning about the founding of the city.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals in Charleston!

Utah’s National Parks: Arches, Zion, Bryce and More

The Beehive State is home to so many beautiful parks and other stunning natural wonders that it can be a little tricky to narrow down your itinerary. One way to check off several points on your list in one go is this epic seven-day tour of some of the top protected wilderness areas in the country. Along the way, you’ll see Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Capitol Reef National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and Zion National Park, as part of a thrilling week of hiking and exploring the rock pillars, rivers, and cliffs this area has to offer.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals in Utah!

Ruby Beach: Olympic National Park, Washington

Ruby Beach is one of the most visited beaches along the coastline of Olympic National Park in Washington, and is well-known for its reddish sand and little islands of rock, known as ‘sea stacks’. The rugged shoreline, peppered with rocks and driftwood, makes for a memorable afternoon of beachcombing accompanied by gorgeous views.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals near Olympic National Park!

Snoqualmie Falls, Washington

One of the most visited attractions in Washington state is Snoqualmie Falls, attracting more than 1.5 million people a year. The site includes a two-acre park, an observation deck, the Salish Lodge, and, of course, the beautiful 270-foot waterfall. A few tours in the area include visits to the falls, such as this falls and wineries tour and this excursion that also includes Seattle city center.

Where To Stay: Browse all FlipKey rentals near Snoqualmie!

The Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

One of the most iconic, easily recognizable landmarks in the US is the Golden Gate Bridge, stretching 4,200 feet and towering as high as a 65-story building. It’s an imposing monument and a marvel of engineering skill, as well as a gateway into San Francisco, but you don’t have to just admire it from afar. You could try this cruise departing from Fisherman’s Wharf and gliding close to the bridge, or a guided bike tour from San Fran to Sausalito, taking you right across the bridge itself.

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Kiva Beach: South Lake Tahoe, California

Kiva Beach is a little bit of a hidden gem, and it’s totally worth the trip. Here you’ll get great views of the mountains around it, including Mount Tallac, and it’s also one of the few truly pet-friendly beaches in the area, making it a great place to enjoy the sun, surf, and sand with a furry four-legged companion.

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Views From the Griffith Observatory: Los Angeles, California

This public observatory is set on Mount Hollywood within Griffith Park, housing a planetarium, exhibits, public telescopes, and a bookstore. Walk around the back to get sweeping, unobstructed views of the Los Angeles skyline—especially breathtaking at night, when you can see the bright lights of the city sparkling in the distance. There’s a bust of actor James Dean on one side that’s positioned so you can capture it and the famous Hollywood sign in the same shot. The observatory is packaged in multiple tours that take in a variety of Los Angeles landmarks.

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Yosemite National Park, California

Tucked into the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, Yosemite National Park is known for the natural beauty of its granite cliffs, waterfalls, and ancient sequoia trees. Half Dome and El Capitan are two of the granite cliffs made famous by photographer Ansel Adams. Especially worth a visit are the 317-foot Vernal Fall, beautiful Mirror Lake, and Yosemite Falls, the fifth tallest waterfall in the world. The shops and restaurants of Yosemite Village are also popular.

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Bluebonnet Blooms: Spicewood, Texas (Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area)

Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area has plenty of active fun in store for visitors, including a 6.5-mile mountain bike trail. But if you’re after a beautiful display of nature at its best, come in the spring to see the ground blanketed in gorgeous bluebonnet wildflowers. There’s nothing quite like it to make you appreciate the dazzling colors of nature.

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This post was originally published on the TripAdvisor blog. FlipKey is a TripAdvisor company.

The post 35 Most Beautiful Places To Travel In America (What To See & How To See It) appeared first on The FlipKey Blog.

from Tips For Traveling https://www.flipkey.com/blog/2019/08/21/35-most-beautiful-places-to-travel-in-america-what-to-see-how-to-see-it/

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