Alaska Highway and Ferry Travel

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” Helen Keller

Driving to Alaska is high on the list of many adventurers. The trip is legendary for its beauty. Once a bumpy dirt road, the Alaska Highway is now a modern, well maintained highway. Construction occurs seasonally and may cause delays in small sections, but otherwise, it’s smooth driving!  Motels, are abundant along the entire 1,500-mile Alaska Highway.

The Alaska Highway officially begins in Dawson Creek, British Columbia. You can reach “Mile Zero” by heading north up the B.C.’s Cassiar Highway. Or, you can roll through Alberta’s high prairie and head west to Dawson Creek.

Driving to Alaska in a private car or RV offers the opportunity to linger along the way. Some of the world’s wildest and most beautiful national and state parks are along this route. Cultural attractions, adventure tours, incredible scenery and unforgettable experiences make this option popular with independent travelers.

The overall road quality on the Alaska Highway and its feeder routes is good.  The major difference between the Alaska Highway and interstates in the Lower 48 is that services, including gas, lodging and restaurants, are farther apart and in some places requires a little forethought. Travelers are advised to check road reports ahead of time.


But a strictly pavement approach isn’t the only option: Travelers can also board the Alaska ferry system, the Alaska Marine Highway. Ferries offer the flexibility to stop and explore along the way, and to bring your personal vehicle or RV along for side trips. The ferry system travels from the Inside Passage all the way to Skagway or Haines, two northern port communities that offer access up into the Yukon to connect with the Alaska Highway to finish the journey west into Alaska. You can take the ferry all the way to the Aleutian Islands. Travelers can access the Alaska Marine Highway from Bellingham, WA, or Prince Rupert, B.C., or from one of the dozens of Alaska port cities. Ferries have cabins for overnight accommodations. but you can also sleep in public areas on the ferries, including lounges and the outdoor solariums, in small tents or sleeping bags. Food service, onboard naturalists, movies and other entertainment are available on the ferries. Travelers can bring personal vehicles, bicycles and kayaks onboard Alaska’s ferries; pricing is based on the size of the vehicle and distance traveled. It’s important to book ferry travel in advance, especially during summer months or if traveling with a vehicle.

Another option would be to fly to Bellingham, WA and take the ferry without a car. Ferry travelers can experience Alaska’s port towns without bringing a car or RV. Much of Alaska’s Inside Passage is frequented by cruise travelers so many of the local tour operations are set up to accommodate guests without a car. Bicycles are available for rent in most locations, allowing travelers to explore at their own pace while ashore. And because many port communities were established before cars became commonplace, they tend to have compact, pedestrian-friendly downtown areas as well.



So if you've always wanted to see Alaska, but are not a cruise or tour type of person, consider taking the ferry. And if you drive up and then take the ferry, you can then explore Alaska from different stops along the way, by connecting with the Alaska Highway system.

 

 

For more information on specific driving routes, visit  http://www.northtoalaska.com/

To make reservations with Alaska Marine Highway System, viist  http://www.ferryalaska.com/

The Dogs of Greece

“Follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well-worn path" Steve Jobs

I am a dog person. I have 2 schnauzers, and when I travel I miss them terribly. I tend to notice dogs when we travel, and I quite often stop to talk to dog owners and ask if I can pet their dog. My husband always says that I need my “puppy fix.”

Dog in the Plaka, Athens

While traveling in Greece in 2007 I happened to notice that there were dogs roaming the streets in all the places we visited. The dogs were actually well fed and most had collars on, and seemed to be well taken care of. But they roamed free. While in the Plaka area of Athens one night I saw a woman playing ball with a dog, and I asked her if that was her dog. She said “Oh no, the dog doesn't belong to anyone, the dog is free, but all of us who work in the shops along this street take care of him. We feed him, and if he got sick, we would take care of him. But no one owns him.” I found that interesting. I asked in other areas and found that to be quite common. The people even registered the dogs so that they had collars and would not be picked up, but they did not own the dogs.

A dog who stopped for lunch with us on Crete

Another encounter with some dogs on the island of Crete was quite funny. We had just arrived on Crete and were at the airport to pick up our rental car. As we came out of the airport to get the car, there was a long line of parked motorcycles. The last motorcycle in the line had 2 dogs who were using the motorcycle as a pull toy. There was a dog on each side of the cycle and they were playing tug of war with it. They had already destroyed the seat – all that was left of it was bits of foam strewn about. The cords and chains were now being pulled out as the dogs tugged at either side of the cycle. We stood there and watched for a few minutes, and I told the dogs they were being “very bad dogs”, at which point they wagged their tails at me. We were laughing, but I am sure the owner of the cycle didn't laugh when he came out later to go home. He might have been an employee of the airport, and would not be happy at the end of his shift to find his transportation ruined.

Lycabettus Hill as seen from the Parthenon

And then our last day in Greece, we were back in Athens and had gone up to Lycabettus Hill for a view of the city. As we were walking down the hill, I heard a very mournful sound echoing. At first I couldn't tell where it was coming from, but finally I looked up. There was an apartment building, and on about the 4^th floor there was a very large Great Dane sitting on the balcony. There wasn't really room for the dog to do anything but sit, if he stood there wouldn't be room for him to even turn around. His head was up and he was crying, as if to say “I am the only dog in all of Athens who is not free. I am confined to this one small space.” I actually felt quite sorry for him. I don't know if he had to sit there everyday while his owners were at work, or maybe he had just been put out there because they had guests and didn't want him in their way. But he was an awfully sad dog.

Have Dogs, Will Travel

"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old familiar pillow."  Lin Yutang

On a trip to Joshua Tree NP

Much of the travel my husband and I do is by plane. We have two dogs, Baxter and Sadie, and when we travel by plane, they stay home with a house/dog sitter. But now that we are retired and have more free time, we are able to get away more often.  So, while we still take the trips by plane, we have also been doing more car trips.  When we travel by car, our dogs quite often come with us. And they love to go – anywhere. Just say the word "GO" and they are ready.

Baxter & Sadie in the car

We purchased them a car seat. It is a raised bed that is big enough for 2 of them to lay in and they have a harness that fastens them in. It still gives them room to sit up and move around some, but if we stop quick or are in an accident, it will give them some protection, at least they won't go flying. On short trips the one bed works fine, but we found that on longer trips they needed 2 separate beds, so we ended up buying another bed. That is so that we don't get that growl from the backseat which translates to “Mom, she's touching me!' They really are like traveling with kids.

Dogs and Me at Lake Louise, Canada

In today's world, more and more hotels are realizing that pets are part of the family, and there are many hotels that accept pets. From the inexpensive to the expensive. If we are just trying to get somewhere and not stopping there as a destination, we will quite often look for a Motel 6. If it's late and we just want a place to sleep, Motel 6 will ALWAYS take our pets. Most of them are basic but clean. However, there are some I look at and decide to pass up. My next options are Best Western, Comfort Inn, Days Inn or La Quinta, because about 70- 80% of those chains will take pets. If you are in the Pacific Northwest there is a chain called Shilo, and they are pet-friendly. If you are into high-end hotels, then Lowe's Resorts, Residence Inn and I believe some Four Season hotels will take your pet.  Some of the hotels do charge extra for pets, and some require a deposit in case of accidents.

Baxter at the Farmers Market in Banff

If you are going to a National Park, check their pet policy. Most allow them, but they have rules. For example, we took our dogs to Yellowstone. Driving around was no problem, but all of the trails were “no dogs allowed”. If we wanted to go see the geyser on the trail we had to take turns staying with them, while the other person hiked the trail. It took twice as long to see everything, and we couldn't do it together. We had a cabin in the park, but you aren't allowed to leave your dogs alone there, and I wouldn't anyway. And never leave them unatteneded in a car, If it is hot, the heat that can kill them in minutes, but even if it's cold, if you are in a park then there is the possibility of wild animals. A bear can get into a car, and a dog might look tempting.

 

 

Getting to your destination takes a little longer with pets. You will have to stop every couple of hours to let them stretch their legs and pee. I think this is a good thing. Without the pets we tend to just keep going and then we are stiff and sore, the pets give us an excuse to stop. Also, meals are a little more difficult. We stop at fast food places with outdoor eating areas, so that the dogs can get out of the car. Or we pick up sandwiches and find a park or roadside rest area to eat in.

Going up the mountain in a gondola

We recently took our 2 dogs on a 6 week trip. We drove from San Diego to Washington state. That was a 2 day trip. We have a cabin in Washington, and when we got there they were happy, it's there second home and they are familiar with it. They can walk around without leashes. They even get in the inner-tube with me and float in the river. Then we spent a week on the Washington coast, and they loved that. We walked down to the beach every day and they got to run up and down the beach, smelling all the neat smells, and playing in the waves. They do love the beach. From there we headed north into Canada. We spent a week in a pet-friendly condo in Banff National Park, with day trips to Lake Louise and the glaciers. They seemed to enjoy that, they even saw 4 bears – from the safety of their car seat, and quite a few deer, and mountain goats. Baxter's favorite thing was chasing the ground squirrels outside the condo. He even got to ride a gondola to the top of the mountain in Banff – it is a pet-friendly gondola.

Stretching their legs on the trip home

A word about crossing the border into Canada and back to the U.S. I did call ahead of time to confirm what would be needed at the border crossing. We needed our passports, of course, and the dogs needed up-to-date shot records and I was told that they would need to look healthy.

At the end of our 6 week adventure, I will have to say that the dogs looked relieved to be home. The trip home took us 4 days, as we detoured through Glacier National Park. I really think they enjoyed the trip, and they always prefer to be with their people and not left behind, but when they saw that they were home they were beside themselves with joy. For several days when we would ask them if they wanted to go – the answer was obviously NO, as they would run upstairs and sit down and look at us.

So, if you have pets, my advice is – take them with you, but be aware of their needs, keep them restrained in the car, never leave them in the car alone, take all their food and water supplies and some toys. And make sure you check restrictions on where you are going.

Traveling the USA & Canada by car

“Thanks to the Interstate Hwy System, it is now possible to travel across the country, from coast to coast, without seeing anything.” Charles Kuralt

 

 

Driving near Sedona, Arizona

Since I retired from my job as a travel agent, we have had the time to take more road trips. As much as I love seeing other countries, I realize that our country also has a lot to see. And I don't want to miss all the wonderful things there are to see here. Traveling by car does allow you to see things that you miss while on a plane or a train. But it can also be tiring. Long hours of sitting in a car can take a toll on you as much as a long plane trip can. But if you take your time, it can be very rewarding.

Driving near Stowe, Vermont

I remember a group of Japanese tourists that came to see me when I was working at AAA. They asked me to map out a trip for them and to book hotels. They wanted to see some of our national parks and some of our more famous sights. They had 2 weeks, and they planned to go over to the Grand Canyon, then to the Black Hills and Mt. Rushmore, then across to Yellowstone, and then back to California and down through Yosemite and Sequoia. 

A stream in Sequoia NP

I told them that the trip was impossible in that short of a time. They didn't understand how big our country is, and how much distance would be between those locations, they would be in the car all day, every day. They said that they knew, and it wasn't a problem. They just wanted to see those things, and take pictures, they didn't need to spend any time there. I guess, if that is how they wanted to travel, who was I to talk them out of it. But that is not my idea of a good trip.

We all want to cram too much into vacations some times. You think, “when will I ever get back here, I need to see it while I'm here.” But no matter what the urge, we need to plan road trips out so that we have time to see what we are going to see. And as the quote at the beginning points out, that means getting off the interstate and seeing the actual county.

Yosemite National Park

TIP: If going to see several National Parks, consider purchasing the Annual pass at the entrance to the first park. The cost of the annual pass is $80 and will give you and the passengers of your car, entrance to any National Park in the USA, for one year. Since most National Parks charge an entrance fee of $20 per car to enter, if you are traveling to several parks on one trip, it would pay for itself at the 4^th park, and you would still have the pass for the rest of the year, to use for future adventures.

The Senior Pass is an even better bargain. Once you turn 62 you can purchase a Senior Pass for $10. This will get you and any passengers in your car into all the National Parks, and the pass is for the lifetime of the person who purchases it. You must be a citizen of the USA to purchase this pass.

Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Consider becoming a member of AAA. They will plan your trip out for you on a TripTix. You tell them where you want to go, what stops you would like to make, and they will map it out for you, and give you books on the areas where you are going. I know that with todays GPS systems and the internet, you may not feel this is necessary, but for a long trip, the TripTix is a great tool. And if you have children traveling with you, it gives them something to follow along on. They can flip the pages as you go, and they can see how close they are getting to their destination.

Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada

Here are some other travel tips that we have come up with during our years of traveling by car:

• Don't wait until your gas gauge says empty, especially when traveling in rural areas. Fill up when you see a gas station available, you may get into an area where there are no open stations.
• Take snacks with you from home, or stop at grocery stores for snacks. Gas stations and convenience stores are more expensive, and have less healthy choices.
• Know the driving laws for the states you are going through. Laws vary from state to state. For example - not every state allows for a free right hand turn.

• 

  New Hampshire

  Do not drive while talking on a cell phone. It is against the law in most states, unless using a hands-free device.
• Consider joining AAA, they will provide towing and emergency road service in all 50 states and Canada.
• Keep your suitcases and camera equipment, and any valuables locked in the trunk and out of sight when you are parked. 
• Take your own music with you for entertainment. You will not have to keep finding new radio stations every few miles. We travel with our IPOD and CD's.
• If you have kids or dogs traveling with you, make sure you stop often for potty breaks and to stretch their legs.
• Take turns driving if there are several drivers on the trip.
• Make sure you have a good co-pilot to follow a map and get you to your destination, but don't be afraid to wander off the path and see something that wasn't in your schedule.

Near Sedona, Arizona

And the most important rule is to enjoy the scenery, stop and smell the roses, see the sights, and have fun!

Does anyone remember the old Burma Shave signs along the highway?  They used to be everywhere, for those of you old enough to remember.   They were amusing, and gave us something to look for while traveling.  Recently, while driving in Arizona, we came across a couple.  They brought back some nostalgia.  Here are the 2 we saw:

You can drive    A mile a minute      But there is no     Future in it        Burma Shave

Big mistake      Many make            Rely on horn        Instead of brake    Burma Shave

Destination - Palm Springs

 Now more than ever do I realize that I shall never be content with a sedentary life,
and that I shall always be haunted by thoughts of a sun-drenched elsewhere.
~ Isabelle Eberhardt ~

Downtown Palm Springs

The last week of January we went to Palm Springs for a week, just to get away.  For us, Palm Springs is only a little over 2 hours away.  We took the dogs and we stayed in a timeshare, The Plaza Resort and Spa, which was quite nice.  This was just a mini-vacation, a chance to get away and do something different. 

There is a lot to do in Palm Springs and the surrounding towns of Palm Desert, Indio. La Quinta and Cathedral City.  If you have never been there it is worth a trip.  It's in the desert, so in the summer it is very hot, and even in the winter the weather can be warm.  A chance to go swimming and work on a tan in the middle of the winter, or go golfing if that is your thing.  And there are always lots of things to do and great restaurants to eat at.

Street Fair in Palm Dessert

On Saturdays and Sundays there is a street fair on the grounds of the College of the Desert in Palm Dessert, with fresh produce, lots of vendors selling just about everything, and food stalls with all kinds of foods. It is open from 7AM to 2PM.  Admission and parking are free.  And on Thursday evening from 6-10 PM there is the Villagefest in downtown Palm Springs.  There are vendors and booths with art, handcrafted items, food, entertainment and more.  There are also several farmers markets around the area on various days.
http://www.codstreetfair.com/ College of the Desert Street Fair
http://www.palmspringsvillagefest.com/  Palm Springs Village Fest

Another fun thing to do is to take the aerial tramway to the top of the mountain.  Visitors travel aboard the world's largest rotating tram cars from the floor of the desert to an alpine forest at the top of the San Jacinto mountains.  You travel to an elevation of 8,516 feet.  There are restaurants, gift shops and hiking trails at the top.   If you are a AAA member be sure to ask about the discount.  http://www.pstramway.com/

Downtown Palm Springs

Good restaurants abound all over the Palm Springs and Palm Desert area, with just about any kind of food you are in the mood for.  Our first night we had dinner at Lulu's, which is right in the downtown area of Palm Springs.  Good food, and a very popular place.  I had their 3 course special for $19.99 which included a salad, main course and desert.  For my main course I chose the tilapia with a mango salsa and for dessert the flourless chocolate cake. 

Fisherman Market Palm Springs

Another night we ate at the Fisherman's Market & Grill on Indian Canyon Dr. in downtown Palm Springs.  We had eatten there on a previous visit, and it was worth going back for.  Very informal dining.  You stand in line to order your meal and then it is brought to your table.  The fish and chips are very good.  Rachel Ray featured this restaurant on her $40 a day show and she raved over the fish tacos, which is always one of my favorite things.  On this visit I ordered their Manila clam appetizer, and I will say that I was disappointed in them.  They were tasteless and very chewy, and a very small serving (which was fine since I didn't care for them, but had they been good I would have been disappointed in the serving size).

We also tried the restaurant Picanha - a Brazilian grill and bar.  At this restaurant you help yourself to a variety of salads, as well as some of the main courses, and then they come to your table with all different kinds of grilled meat on a sword, which they slice onto your plate.  We had several different steaks, chicken, pork and even sausage.  Most of the meat was quite tasty, and the food was all good.  I felt it was a little pricey though considering that you basically served yourself.  But a different food experience.  Other good restaurants include The Rock Garden Cafe and Maracos (Mexican food).  There are many other excellent restaurants that we didn't try, the area is known for their places to eat.

Indio is famous for its dates and even has a date festival held every year in mid February.  You can see the camel races if you attend the date festival.  But no matter what time of year you are there, you can purchase fresh dates and anything made with dates.  We loved the date milkshakes at Shields on Palm Canyon Dr. in Indio.

Holocaust Memorial - Palm Dessert

In Palm Desert there is an area called El Paseo which is a shopping avenue with over 300 shops and galleries.  And the Gardens of El Paseo has more shops.  It is very upscale shopping.   We also stopped at Civic Center Park and it was a pleasant park with an off-leash dog park.  What I really liked about the park was its Holocaust Memorial area.  Quite moving and worth a stop. The Living Desert Zoo and Botanical Gardens are also in Palm Desert. It is a park that is devoted to the deserts of the world.  http://www.livingdesert.org/

Pioner Town

A good day trip to take from Palm Springs is a drive to Joshua Tree National Park.  It is about an hour drive, and well worth the trip.  We made a short detour on our way and stopped at Pioneer Town, which is a town that was created to look like an old west town.  It was used for filming cowboy westerns in the 50's, in particular the Roy Rogers show.  It was fun to look around, and some of the old buildings are now being used as shops.  The pottery shop had some very nice pottery for sale.

Joshua Tree National Park

Then we drove on to Joshua Tree.  There is an entrance fee, but if you are over 62 and have the lifetime senior pass, then there is no fee.  The main attraction in the park is all the neat rock formations and the Joshua trees - also known as Yucca trees.  The trees look like something right out of a Dr. Seuss book.  They are all over the place, and all different shapes and sizes.  I was fascinated with all the rock mountains and the rock formations, quite nice.  A must stop is the Key lookout, from there you can see clear across the desert to Palm Springs, and the San Andreas fault is within viewing sight as well.  There are paths you can decide to hike at different pullouts.  We mostly saw rock climbers out doing their thing.  Pets are allowed in the park, but can not go onto any of the hiking trails, so we were limited, as we had Baxter and Sadie with us.

Outside the Follies Theatre

For a fun evening out, you can't beat the Palm Springs Follies.  They are a typical Las Vegas style follies show, with great costumes, dance numbers, comedy skits and songs.  But the cast are all seniors with the youngest member being 55 years old and some cast members in their 80's.  But you certainly wouldn't know it by watching them perform.  They have all been performing their whole lives so they are in great shape.  I know that I couldn't do those high kicks or the splits and I'm in my 60's. It's a fun show, wth comedy acts and they always have a famous headliner, this season it is Maureen McGovern.  http://www.psfollies.com/

The car my husband wanted to buy

If you like old cars, Palm Springs is a great place to see lots of those.  There are plenty of car dealers selling old cars, some probably belonged to stars who used to live here.  And there are also plenty of thrift shops and consignment shops selling vintage clothing and other items.  You can find just about anything you are interested in - from casinos, spas, art, lots of shopping and activities from balloon trips to dessert tours.  The city is very pet-friendly with off-leash dog parks and plenty of restaurants with outdoor dining where your 4 legged friend is welcome.

It's a great place to just get away for a vacation for a few days, or for quite a few "snowbirds" it is a great place to spend the winters to get away from their weather back home.

The Schnauzers enjoyed their trip to Palm Springs

Destination - The Islands of Lanai and Molokai

" We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure.  There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we see them with our eyes open."  Jawaharial Nehru

Dolphins in Hulopoe Bay, Lanai

Until recently Lanai was a private pineapple plantation and not a tourist destination. Now there are 2 resorts on the island and a golf course. The resorts are high end and expensive. There is one town, Lanai City, which is a small plantation town with some small shops. The few sights to see are a good distance from town off of dirt roads. There is some hiking and some archaeological sites. Instead of staying on the island, you can take the ferry over from Maui and spend the day. There is good snorkeling at Hulopoe Bay. If you are a golfer, there is a golf course.

Mules going to Kalaupapa colony

Molokai is sparsely populated with a few small towns. There are no high rises, no large resorts. If you are looking for action, this is not the place. If you want to get away from it all, then this is the island for you. There is hiking, swimming, snorkeling, and surfing. You can kayak around the world's highest sea cliff. You can tour a macademia nut farm.

You can ride a mule down the trail to historic Kalaupapa which has been a leprosy settlement since 1865. Once you arrive at the settlement there is a bus tour which will give you the history of the place.

Destination - The Big Island of Hawaii

"There is no more beautiful hideaway than this spectacular chain of tropical islands."  Ray Riegert

The big island of Hawaii

The island of Hawaii is known as the Big Island. It is nearly twice the size of all the other islands combined and it is still growing. Kilauea is the most active volcano on earth and is still adding acreage to the island. If you sail around the island at night you can see the red lava flowing into the sea. It is the youngest of the islands, and has a range of climates and landscapes. There are some lush tropical areas, and there are lots of open desert areas, and there is a rain forest. There is even snow on the island and a mountain where people snow ski, not something you would associate with Hawaii.

There are two main areas, Kona on the sunny west coast is where most of the big resorts are. There is excellent snorkeling there, and it is sunny almost all the time. There is good shopping, good restaurants, and some very nice resorts and condos. On the other side of the island is Hilo, and it is known for its rain, which means waterfalls and lush gardens. The town is small, and is known as Old Hilo town, which is fitting for it. The hotels on this side of the island are older also, and a little run-down. There is a nice Bed & Breakfast there - The Orchid Tree.

Kilauea Volcano erupting

The main attraction on the island is the volcano. If you are staying in Kona it is an all day trip to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. If you are in Hilo, it will be much closer. Some people like to spend a night or two on that side of the island just to make it easier to see the park. The park has lots of hiking trails and we did a walk through a lava tube, which was quite interesting. There is an 11 mile loop of road that skirts the rim of Kilauea Caldera which has marked stops at steam vents and crater lookouts. You can actually hike out to the lava flow. It is a strenuous hike and potentially dangerous. I have not done the hike, but I know people who have. 

Sea Turtle we saw while snorkeling

As for other activities on the island, you can of course book the same tours as you can on most of the islands. There are snorkeling tours, luaus, dinner cruises, and you can do an escorted tour to the volcano park. We snorkeled on our own at the bay in front of our hotel – we stayed at the Fairmont – and it was some of the best snorkeling anywhere. There were sea turtles that came up fairly close to us, and a variety of beautiful fish.

Destination - The Island of Maui

Iao Needle, Maui

"I love Maui so much. I would rather live one day in Maui than one month in New York." ~ Charles Lindbergh

Maui is probably my favorite of the islands. I have heard that it is considered the most “Hawaiian” of the islands. It is certainly less commercial then Oahu and has more things to do and see then either Kauai or the Big Island. It is very tropical and it even has a rain forest and a volcano. As a snorkeler I found the snorkeling better there than any of the other islands. You will definitely need a rental car to get around.

The main town on the island is Lahaina. It has lots of cute shops and good restaurants. North of Lahaina is the Kaanapali area where many of the resorts are located. The beaches here are great for snorkeling. The other main resort area is Wailea, which also has some good beaches for swimming or snorkeling.

The volcano is Haleakala, and it is dormant. You can actually book a trip to ride a bicycle down the inside of the crater. There is a road to the summit, and a very popular thing to do is to drive up there to watch the sunrise. You should plan to get there a half hour before sunrise, and be careful on the winding road in the dark. Cattle sometimes are on the road. Also, dress warmly, it's chilly up there. There are also hiking trails into the crater.

Falls at Pha Kaa Kaa park, Hana

One of the days you are there you should drive the “road to Hana.” Hana is a small town on the far side of the island. You should plan on being gone all day, as there are many stops, and you cannot drive fast on the road, it is very curvy and in some spots you have to stop to wait for traffic coming the other way, as there is only room for one car. I suggest you pick up sandwiches and drinks before you go, because there are not a lot of places to stop for lunch along the way. If you pick up the CD “The Road to Hana” at the local ABC store before you go, it will help you with where to stop and what to see. Just pop it into the CD player of the car and it will be your guide for the day. There are many places where you can pull over and with a short hike into the rain forest you will find a waterfall and pond to stop and swim in. When we were there in September we were eating ripe guava's right off the trees. Then, sticky with juice, we took a swim in the pond. The town is small, with not a lot to see. The Hasegawa General Store is worth a stop, and the Hana Cultural Center displays quilts and Hawaiian artifacts. There is a black sand beach at  Hana, but currents can be strong there, so beware.  There are also seven pools, some say they are sacred pools, although I thought they were a bit over-rated.  I liked some of the other waterfalls and pools better, they were less crowded.

Beach at Hana

If you have rented a car, the rental company will tell you that you cannot continue on around the island, but that you have to drive back the way you came, because there are roads ahead that are not paved. Ask the locals how the roads are. We had a rental car but we continued around the island, and the roads were fine, and much less curvy and faster because of less traffic. But be aware that if you break down, the rental company will hold you responible. 

Molikini Crater off coast of Maui

Maui is an island that has a little bit of everything. There are cattle ranches and cowboys on horseback. There are great restaurants, with just about any kind of food you are looking for, and lots of sightseeing, and activities that you can book. They also do the mountain-tubing on Maui, and you can book a catamaran/snorkeling trip that will take you over to the island of Lanai, or you can do the Molikini trip. Molokini is a few miles off the coast and is one of the most popular snorkeling sites.  It is a submerged volcano whose crater walls partially appear above water in the shape of a crescent moon. The fish are tame and you will see a large variety of marine life. Usually a tour here will also take you to a second location which is known for its sea turtles.