How's Hawaii and California for a vacation?

:)

What are the "best" Hawaiian islands to visit? Maybe I can learn how to surf? :D

I've been to Oahu, Maui and Kauai.

Oahu is of course by far the most populated, and Honolulu is a big city. However, that's not the entire island. If you want to save airfare money by sticking to Oahu, I'm sure you could find some great place to stay on other parts of the island. The north shore is known for its big ass waves.

A lot of people like Maui the best. I'd say stay away from Kaanapali -- it's very slick and built up. Lahaina is a cute town (yes, quite touristy). Paia is a cute town w/ a hippie vibe.

My favorite of the three is Kauai. It is less built up and to me has the feel of a true "South Seas Paradise" island. The Na'pali coast is the most stunning scenery I've ever seen (you really have to see it by boat or helicopter though, although you can get a glimpse from Hanalei beach). If you're interested in Kauai and would like more info., please PM me or message me on FB. :hi:

I've never been to the Big Island but my take is the western Kona side is sunny/golfy and resorty, and the eastern Hilo side is rainier and lush. The volcano is on the Hilo side, but that side of the island seems to have fallen out of favor as a place to stay in recent years (even though, personally, the Hilo side sounds like more my style).

I just got back from Kauai (ok, so I was only there for 27 hours for work) but...wow...breath taking!

It's no wonder they call Hawaii "Paradise".

Depending on what you want, lots of activity (Oahu) or lots of peace and quiet (Kauai / Maui) , you can find it all there. Now is a pretty good time, not too hot.

I want to see "lush". :)

The islands pass over a hot spot in the floor of the Pacific. It's the Big Island's turn now. Kauai and Niihau (a tiny "forbidden" island open only to a couple hundred natives) passed over the spot long ago.

I'll PM you more info. about Kauai :hi:

Especially near the Hanalei Valley.

A boat cruise up the Na'Pali Coast is spectacular, too.

You really can't go wrong with anyplace in Hawaii, but Kauai is my fave.

The Hilo area of the Big Island is pretty damned lush, too.

:evilgrin:

If you like the big city party atmosphere with your tropical vacation, Oahu is the best bet. For something with more room to stretch your legs, a volcano, and more noticeably varied climates, the Big Island is the place.

For pure natural beauty, Kauai is it. Just got back from maui a couple weeks ago. I'd say it's kind of a cross between Oahu and Kauai. Certain areas are VERY jungly and natural, but there's also an active social/nightlife scene in Lahaina.

But, yes, Kauai is my fave.

Tasty waves? :evilgrin:

Also, the Road to Hana, which is more about the drive than the destination.

Lots of sand beaches on Maui, too. Only Oahu matches Maui for that. But snorkeling is better on Kauai.

:)

Things in California you absolutely MUST see:

- Big Sur
- Big Basin
- Highway 1 from Monterey to SoCal
- Muir Woods
- Yosemite
- San Francisco
- Berkeley
- Tilden Park
- Golden Gate Park
- Lake Tahoe
- Avenue of the Giants and Redwood National Park
- Lake Arrowhead
- Mammoth Lakes
- Mission Beach, San Diego
- Claremont (SoCal)
- Joaquin Miller Park
- Coronado Island

Whew! :)

I am not saying we are better than anyone else - but there are so many things to see in California you might as well just come out and live here!

Deetjen's
Rocky Point
Nepenthe
Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
Tickle Pink Inn (room 15 shhh)
Bixby Creek Bridge

No Wal*Mart, McDonald's, Exxon, billboards, smog, bad karma, etc.

Get the breakfast burrito at the rest stop grocery ($4 and big enough to split), and say hello to Teresa in the gift shop.
2008 TripAdvisor called Big Sur the #2 destination in the country for all travelers. (And #1 ain't in California or Hawaii.)

On Monterrey: Skip 17-mile Drive (unless seeing a deer on a golf course trips you out more than an eye-popping coastline)


BOOM

Access is going to be a problem for awhile.

in my view los angeles is a waste of time, you can get ugly sprawl anywhere, taverner's list focuses on places to go where you can see what is special about california

:P

and I never want to go back even though my daughter lives in Hollywood, FL. Go north to the mountains. I live in Georgia now and love going to the Smokies in Tennessee.

:eyes: D_K and I are online friends - butt out.

chat, perhaps PMing would serve your needs? :shrug:

And I can live with it

There is nothing like a hot day and a hot downpour of rain in a jungle

rather than SFO. I think that's the mail flight or something. And there's a shuttle bus to the nearby BART station.

Surf lessons are readily available right at Waikiki Beach.

People usually say to see O'ahu and (at least) one Neighbor Island. On Maui, look into renting a condo, possibly in Kihei. WAY cheaper than a hotel.

Tip: On O'ahu, try to get away from Waikiki to eat, even if it's only to nearby Ala Moana Center, which has a food court with many different styles of ethnic food -- even Hawaiian! In "Wacky Wacky" itself, there seems to be little ground between fast food and fine dining. You could try Royal Hawaiian Center or the International Marketplace (while there, do stop by the Enchanted Tree and see my dear friend wh.o runs it; I am the largest outside investor!)

East O'ahu around Hanauma Bay has some of the best scenery in the archipelago. The Blowhole and Sandy Beach (not for wusses!) are nearby.

In CA, do explore SF and environs (Berkeley, arty Oakland, Marin). Fun AND progressive!

Overly ambitious. :P

But it would be nice to see something tropical, plus I would like to go to Hollywood and see where all my old favourite stars (I'm a Classic movie fan!) lived, etc.

Like a week or so in each place, something like that. As for overly-ambitious, maybe! :D but whenever I set my mind to something.... :)

LA is hard to enjoy if you're not a resident. Have a plan for something to do outside the LA area. :P

We'll see what I do. :)

It's a little no bells or whistles family restaurant with world famous cuisine on Shattuck Ave. Its menu is simple but they grow their own herbs and the food is super fresh. You'll have dreams about it for the rest of your life. Be sure to make a reservation. The place is always packed.

The restaurants in the Waterfront in San Francisco are unique too. The Sourdough French Bread is unique to the Bay Area. A real treat to the palate. And of course our California wines are great and not expensive.

And take a drive down Highway 1 past Carmel where Clint Eastwood used to be Mayor and even the McDonalds arches are quaint wood carvings and trees were left undisturbed when streets were built, so the streets go around the trees. The West Coast is a marvel that will put the love of God into you.

Same with Yosemite. It'll make a believer out of you since seeing it is like having a religious experience. And I'm not religious at all. But some things just make your heart swell in pure joy and wonderment. The Pacific Coast from San Francisco down and Yosemite will do that for you.

I'll recommend it to a friend or two who have their own plans going to San Francisco. :D

I'm noticing responses that focus pretty much on Northern Cal, which does have Southern Cal. beat for scenic beauty. However, there are places to see and things to do in the Southern half of the state as well. What did you have in mind?

:D

SF. ran out of film for my camera.

Disneyland and Universal Studios.....

Getty Center off the 405 and Getty Villa in Malibu. Parking reservations required for Getty Villa only. Pricey to park ($15.00) I think, but there is no admission charge for either venue and the collections at both are phenomenal.

The Grove/Farmer's Market at Fairfax and 3rd. Farmer's Market is an LA tradition. The Grove has shops/restaurants/movies and good people watching.

Beaches - Venice for people-watching, Zuma in Malibu or some of the South Bay beaches (Redondo, Hermosa) for relaxation.

Huntington Library and Gardens in San Marino near Pasadena. An Oasis.

Catalina Island - good day trip.

Hollywood Bowl - concerts just about every night all summer long.

Downtown - Music Center incl. Disney Concert Hall, Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), LA Live near Staples Center

Interesting architecture - Wayfarers Chapel on Palos Verdes Peninsula, Eames House in Pacific Palisades, and Gamble House in Pasadena

Those are for starters off the top of my head. If you do decide to make the trip to LA, feel free to PM me for more suggestions/info.

My SO was never in LA, so with DU's help, I put together a tour for him during our vacation, and included places I never get to when I get out there. Even got to chat with DU Fixture California Peggy, although we never got a chance to actually meet in person.

First off, and most importantly, if you're not a vegetarian, you HAVE to get a double-double at In-N-Out. I raved so much about it that my SO was skeptical, but one bite and then all I heard from him for the rest of the trip was "do you think there's an In-N-Out around here?"

I would second much of LDA's advice, especially the Farmer's Market.
-
If it happens to rain on your trip, after it clears head up to the Hollywood Bowl area and hike around - it's the one time you can get a brilliant view.

We got directions to the dog park directly under the Hollywood sign for some AWESOME pictures (tough to find for yourself).

The Santa Monica Pier and Venice Boardwalk is super-touristy, but so Southern California, and hey, you're a tourist!

A DU person sent us to the tiny, tiny Tiki Ti bar, which was an odd experience, but we're really glad we went.

We did a side trip up to Paso Robles and the Hearst Castle and the nearby Seal Beach. We stopped in Santa Barbara on the way up, and wish we had time to stay for more than a drink and a snack on the pier.

Another great day trip much closer by (a little girly, but still) is shopping in Redondo Beach, on South Catalina/Palos Verdes Blvd area. Lots of little shops and restaurants. I know Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills is popular, but Redondo has boutiques and restaurants that actually affordable. .

I don't know know if I'm going to try both Hawaii/California (okay, LA), California, or just Hawaii. Have to see about money, tour packages, air fares, etc.

I wouldn't be going until September, so have a few months to think/save up more! :)

I'd be more than willing to help out. Most of the recommendations you've received already for the LA area are indeed excellent ones.

L.A. area is fun, if you are into sightseeing, check out hollywood and take a tour of hollywood/stars homes, if you are into this. Santa Monica is cool, if you want to be near that area and want to stay in a pretty good area, Marina Del Rey is a good area to stay in, it's right by Venice and Santa Monica. Venice is like a crazy circus atmosphere, I have enjoyed hanging out there.

Surfing is o.k. in Manhattan Beach or Malibu.

I live in Ventura County, so I have lots of recommendations I can make.

:D

In LA proper, there are a wide range of options. What's your budget look like?

If you go north toward Santa Barbara, you can stay cheaper in Carpinteria or Goleta, and still be close to SB.

I'd also recommend San Diego and environs if you get any kind of chance and/or time.

1.Go to San Francisco China Town and order Sea Cucumber in a clay pot and some Crispy Duck!
2. Go to Huntington Beach on Saturday Morning and go Body Surfing
3. Spend a Day at the San Diego Zoo

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/

4. Eat lunch at Nena's Resteraunt on Valley Blvd in El Monte
5. Spend a Day at Disneyland
6. Go drinking at any Dive Bar in Hollywood on Santa Monica Blvd
7. Go to the San Gaberial Mission

http://sangabrielmission.org/

9. Take a cruise up Azusa Canyons and take a hike in the Angeles Crest National Forest

http://www.ci.azusa.ca.us/index.aspx?NID=383

9. Go to Santa Anita Racetrack

http://www.santaanita.com/

10. Go to the Arboritum near Santa Anita

http://www.arboretum.org/

11. Spend a day at Knott's Berry Farm
12. Go to the Whiskey A-Go-Go on Friday Night in Hollywood
13. Check out the House of Blues
14. Go to Redondo Beach and check out the Pier

http://www.redondopier.com/

15. Go and spend the day at the Museums at the La Brea Tar Pits

http://www.tarpits.org/

16. Walk up and down Olvera Street

http://www.olvera-street.com/

17. Take a tour of the Winchester House in San Jose
18. Eat at Bob's Big Boy in Burbank on Riverside Drive

http://www.bobs.net/

19. Check out just how Squalid Beverly Hills Really is!
20. Go See a Movie at the chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

:D

These are just some of the things I loved to do while I lived there. For the social scene and American Culture...there is no other! (maybe New York)...

Oahu has the nightlife and touristy stuff, but real nature, thick forests, and solitude can be hard to come by.

Kauai has the nature and solitude, but they practically roll up the sidewalks after dark. There isn't much to do other than ogle the beauty of nature.

Maui has a good blend of the two...lots of nature, gorgeous scenery, and great beaches if that's what you want. Nightlife and the pleasures of modern living, if that's what you want. And even kitchy touristy spots, if that's your thing.

And snorkling? I've swam with wild sea turtles at Black Rock at the north end of Kaanapali Beach, the waters at Molokini are some of the clearest in the Pacific, and I was so surrounded by fish at Honolua Bay that I couldn't see the seafloor below me. Snorkeling in Maui is incredible.

:D

Unless you want to find out what it's like to be a sack of potatoes and be thrown on the beach.

That's my advice.

can't speak to surfing because i don't but there appears to be lots of opportunities in both states for those activities

if you have a budget, i'd price it out first but otherwise there is a lot to do in both states

The Big Island

Overlooked, especially by Maui fans (agree Kaua'i is nice, too--the Na Pali Coast is hard to describe in words).

The Big Island has it all, an active volcano you can walk right up to, snorkel with manta rays, watch lava flow past
your feet, an awesome botanical garden over on the Hilo Side, Kailua Kona is one cool little town, and little hidden
beaches like MauMae as well as wide awesome ones like Hapuna. Kawai'i Hae is a nice little niche place up the Kohala
coast, and, if you have a 4 wheel drive, Waipio (if you can handle the black sand).