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Yosemite Valley Floor
The Yosemite Valley floor is like nature’s grand cathedral with walls of granite. When you on the valley floor you have towering cliffs all around you. The photos cannot capture the grandeur of this place. It must be experienced firsthand. From the floor you see El Capitan, Half Dome, Sentinel Dome, Glacier Point, Yosemite Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and many other places. Take time on the Valley Floor and enjoy the huge granite formations surrounding you. Ask rangers at the Visitor Centers for trail suggestions. Park by some of the ponds and streams and just enjoy the views. Pack a lunch and find a meadow or sit under the trees…
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Yosemite Tunnel View
The Tunnel View is often your first view of Yosemite Valley. Before getting to the view point you drive through the Wawona Tunnel on Hwy-41. The tunnel was completed in 1933 and goes through solid granite for 4,233 feet (1,290m) or almost one mile. This is the longest highway tunnel in California. You finally start to see light at the end of the tunnel (literally). As the light grows you begin to see a bit of scenery. The colors and shapes grow as you near the end of the tunnel. Before exiting the tunnel you get an amazing view of the Yosemite Valley. You emerge from the tunnel to a…
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Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor on the Island of Oahu is a must-see destination. You have read about Pearl Harbor in history books and seen the movies and documentaries. For me touring Pearl Harbor was like visiting The Wall or Gettysburg. It is not just a tourist stop, it is hallowed ground. I most wanted to see the Arizona Memorial and the USS Missouri. On the way to the Arizona Memorial ferry we passed the Circle of Remembrance. I could not find any good articles on the Circle. I believe that each plaque lists the names of those killed on each ship. The simplicity of the memorial and the incredible view of the…
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Waimea Canyon, Kauai
The Waimea Canyon on the garden island of Kauai is often called the Grand Canyon of Hawaii. The deep canyons and brightly colored rock formations are best seen from the air. If you take a helicopter tour of the canyon you will see many waterfalls, towering cliffs, deep canyons, and spectacular shoreline. The canyons are so severe that I had some trouble in the helicopter due to number of up/down drafts.
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Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island is a must-see place. This is a vast area of volcanic activity and devastation. Be sure to explore the lava tubes and walk the trails. Volcanoes National Park is located about 30 miles southwest of Hilo. It is home to one of the most active volcanoes on the planet, namely, Kilauea volcano. These are exceptionally long lava tubes. After this main tube there was another tube but I did not venture in because I did not have a flashlight. I most certainly would have ventured in if I had appropriate illumination with me. On our second trip to the Big Island we took an…
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Big Island Ranger Encounter
On our first trip to the Big Island of Hawaii we stopped at the Visitors Center at the Pu’ukohola Heiau. This is the place where King Kamehameha killed his last rival and consolidated his reign over the Hawaiian Islands. We arrived about 15 minutes before closing time and were told that we would not have enough time to see the Heiau before they locked the gate to the parking lot. A young ranger named Brandon offered to show us around if we could wait until closing. He was living in a tent in the Spencer Beach campground just below the Visitor’s Center. We hung around until his shift was over…
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Pololu Valley
The Pololu Valley on the Big Island is one of those stunning places that you must see in person. This is a beautiful valley on the Kohala Coast has an abundance of plant and animal life, a black sand beach, and one of the most impressive overlooks on the Island. The incoming waves look particularly impressive as they create ever changing white foam patterns. The trail from the overlook to the beach takes is about 0.75 miles with a 350′ elevation gain (or drop) and takes about 20 minutes. The trail is not difficult but I would recommend wearing some decent shoes. Along the way you will be treated to…
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Waipeo Valley
Waipeo Valley on the Big Island is one of the most gorgeous spots that I have seen. The view from above is just staggering. The road down is VERY steep and you should not even attempt the drive without a four wheeler and a lot of courage. The ultra sharp turns are too tight for most vehicles so you have to start the turn, backup, turn again, and repeat the process to continue. On the way down you can see the very tall and slender Hiilawe Falls. This is one of the tallest waterfalls in North America. When you see this waterfall you have almost reached the valley floor. As…
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Diamond Head
The summit of Diamond Head gives you some remarkable views of Oahu. The climb to the summit is a moderate 0.8 mile ascent mostly up a series of stairs that gains 560′ of elevation. The trail was built in 1908 as part of the coastal defense system. The view from the summit is awesome. Looking down will give you an impressive view of the clear ocean waters and the Diamond Head Lighthouse. At the summit be sure to hold on to your hat, literally. The winds at the top can be swift and you will see many, many hats dotting the cliffs below the viewing area. This is a very…
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Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden
Just outside the city of Hilo on the Big Island is the amazing Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden. This is NOT a highly manicured English-style garden with perfect lawns and topiary plants. This garden consists of paths through natural settings showcasing diverse, unusual, and colorful island plants. Many island plants are extremely colorful and unusual. There are a myriad of plants of all shapes and sizes including ferns, palms, heliconia, orchids, and MANY others. The sheer size of some of these plants is amazing. The warm, humid climate is the perfect environment for these plants. The Orchid section contains approximately 100 different orchid varieties. Needless to say, this was one of…