The editors of Lonely Planet announced this month that they have chosen Hawai’i, the Big Island, as one of the “Top 10 U. S. Travel Destinations for 2012.” It’s the only Hawaiian island to make the list.
The Big Island is a great place for a honeymoon or a romantic getaway. It offers plenty of space to get lost à deux, along with a diversity of outdoor activities, large-city pleasures, and wallet-friendly prices.
A Few Things To Do on the Big Island:
- Hang out in Hilo: The Big Island's capital, friendly Hilo is characterized by gorgeous water views, turn-of-the-20th-century architecture, and lots of easy-going activity--the excellent Lyman Museum, botanical gardens, the Imiloa Astronomy Center, fine restaurants, excellent shopping, and more.
- Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park: A UNESCO World Heritage Site and an International Biosphere Reserve, 520-square-mile Volcanoes NP is one of the few places on earth where you can safely see fiery lava flowing from two active volcanoes (Kilauea and Mauna Loa).
- Tour the Island's Botanical Parks & Gardens: Named for the last Hawaiian monarch—Queen Lydia Lili'uokalani—Hilo's popular 30-acre Liliuokalani Park & Gardens (photo) is the largest true ornamental Japanese garden outside Japan. Or visit Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden—40 lush acres perched on Onomea Bay; Nani Mau Gardens, with 20 acres of orchids, anthuriums, hibiscus, gingers, palms, tropical fruit orchids, and an occasional botanic oddity; or the Naohulelua Historical Garden, which contains more than 150 species of native Hawaiian plants, including at least 30 on the endangered species list.
- Hike Into the Waipi'o Valley: Located on the northeastern Hamakua Coast and edged by a black sand beach, the lush, fertile valley is nearly uninhabited. The steep trail in and out (25% average grade) is recommended for experienced hikers only; most people settle for the awesome view from the coastal Waipi'o Valley Overlook or opt for guided 4WD or horseback tours.
- Bike or Hike on Mauna Kea: Hike the world’s tallest mountain, Mauna Kea—it's 33,000+ feet from its base below sea level, compared to Everest’s diminutive 29,023 feet. Only an hour from Hilo, this dormant volcano is a great spot for hiking, biking, photography, picnics, and sunsets.
- Go to the Beach: Like all the Hawaiian Islands, the Big Island has many fabulous beaches, including Punalu’u Black Sand Beach, Hapuna Beach, Mauna Kea Beach, Kua Beach, and the oft-discussed Anaehoomalu Bay, where ancient Hawaiian royalty once lived and played.
- Become an Agricultural Tourist: One of the most enjoyable ways to get into ag tourism is to simply visit local farmers' markets; in Hawai'i, you'll see tropical fruits and veggies galore, and have the chance to sample most of them. While you’re at it, tour a coffee plantation, the first grower of vanilla in the US, a chocolate maker who uses island-grown cacao, and much more.
- Spend Time at the Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park: This beautiful and tranquil National Historical Park is a must-see! In ancient times the 182-acre site sheltered both a royal residence and “the place of refuge,” where those who faced death for violating sacred laws could find priestly absolution and obtain a second chance at life.
- Play with Dolphins or Seahorses: Visit the world's largest collection of living sea horses at the Ocean Rider Seahorse Ranch on the Kona Coast, where over 20,000 seahorses of 15 different species are raised in tanks. Or cavort with dolphins at Dolphin Quest, located at the Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Kohala Coast.
- Visit the Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo: The nation's only natural tropical rainforest zoo, 12-acre Pana'ewa holds about 150 animals. Perhaps the most famous resident is Namaste, a 450-pound endangered white Bengal Tiger. An added plus: the grounds constitute a botanical garden, with more than 100 varieties of palm as well as orchids, water lily, and much more. Peacocks stroll the grounds, and you might get to see a Monarch butterfly emerge from its cocoon in the Butterfly House. This is a lovely place to while away an afternoon, one that's not well-known to visitors.
To learn more about visiting Hawai'i, the Big Island, visit www.bigisland.org or call 1-800-GOHAWAII.
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