While we didn't plan really well and didn't have sufficient time, we covered a lot on the Big Island. Some bummers were the inaccessibility of the Green Sand Beach at South Point, the lack of many island ferries on the weekend, and vegetarian food. Overall, we loved the place (she didnt like the heat). Once can experience all types of climate - desert, tropical rainforest, savanna, grasslands. It is a hub of all kinds of activities - hiking, picnics, water sports (snorkeling, kayaking, swimming), sea life watching, sun bathing, flight seeing, paragliding, parasailing, farmers markets, running, cycling, motorbiking etc. Our Alaska Travel book certainly helped us a lot.
What we missed: Mauna Kea Observatory visit (didnt pre-plan), Paragliding, Ka Lea South Point beach (inaccessible by car - needed 4x4), Volcano crater rim hike (Sulphur in air), Kapoho Bay & MacKenzie State Park (no time).
Maybe other islands next time :)
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Aloha!
