There are not many places you can go on this planet that offer the chance of skiing down a snowy mountainside and only moments later shredding beautiful blue waves in gorgeous warm weather. The big island of Hawaii is one of these few places. There are 14 recognized climates and Hawaiians on the big island boast the ability to experience 11 of them all in a single day.
The island of Hawaii provides the opportunity to see the earth in two stages of wonderment. Areas of the big island are in danger of falling into the Pacific due to landslides that occur while the island expands due to active volcanoes. Viewing active volcanoes provides the opportunity to see the earth during moments of creation that most people never witness in person. When vacationing on the big island, it is important to choose your city wisely. Tourism on Hawaii began in Hilo. Hilo, while gorgeous, endures an incredible amount of rain, making it the wettest city in the United States and also one of the wettest on the planet. As a result, the majority of visitors stay in Kona. Kona is very warm and humid. However, it does not rain as often or as much as in Hilo.
Experiencing the island can be an exhausting adventure. Bus tours can last well over eight hours. These tours provide an opportunity to see nearly the entire island during that span, as well as some of the most popular tourist stops. The tours pick up tourists at their hotels and travel to such places as a Kona coffee factory, the Mauna Kea Observatory, black sand beaches, rainforests, Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Helicopter tours can provide a bit more excitement along with an aerial view of the island. The helicopter tours also give the opportunity to see the parts of the island that are otherwise inaccessible or impossible to see. These tours are considerably shorter and more expensive.
The water in the Pacific surrounding Hawaii is a treasure for those who wish to swim, snorkel or go scuba diving. As a result, underwater photography will provide wonderful mementoes to bring home. The high salt content of the Pacific waters make it easier on snorkelers to enjoy their trips in the water, as they will float easier. However, those who scuba will have to adjust the weight they use to dive.
Hawaii provides vacationers with the opportunity to take a wide array of stunning photography to bring home. Black sand beaches as well as the traditional yellow sand beaches provide great getaways from the Lake Michigan beaches here in Chicago. Hawaii is a great place to go for either a fun and educational vacation or one to just relax and enjoy some time away from the daily grind. Just make sure you take a camera.