During our recent trip to Hawaii we had a few hours to fill before our tour was set to start at the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. So, we decided to take a trip north to check out the home of the pineapple (or at least pineapple as we know it in America)-- the Dole Plantation.

From downtown Honolulu the drive took us about 45 minutes in the remnants of rush hour traffic. As with most of the drives through Hawaii the scenery was absolutely beautiful. The trip will take you past Wheeler Army Airfield and Schofield Barracks. While my husband gave me a great history lesson on the "Tropic Lightning" of the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield, I also learned about the significance of Wheeler during the afternoon trip to Pearl Harbor.

Once past the military bases you will begin to see the pineapple field and the beautiful Dole Plantation will appear on your right as you drive north on Route 99.

Hi friends! I am finally home and settling in after an amazing 10-day cruise on board the Disney Wonder. While I will have LOTS of new stuff to post in the coming days and weeks about Disney Cruise Line and Hawaii, I wanted to give you a quick synopsis of our trip to 'wet the appetite'. 

The Itinerary

The sailing we took with the Disney Wonder is actually one the do only every few years. Leaving from Vancouver the ship sails five days across the Pacific and then spends five days sailing around the Hawaiian Islands. In total you visit four of the islands with an overnight stay in Honolulu. What really drew us to this sailing was the opportunity to really experience the ship and relax while also getting a sample of the uniqueness of each of the islands we visited.

With so many amazing options, clients often ask me where the should visit when the take their family vacation to Hawaii. Most people do not realize that Hawaii offers several very diverse options with some of the more popular options being the islands of Maui and Oahu. But if you want to get a real sense of the more natural beauty of the state I always suggest you head over to the 'Big Island', or the island of Hawaii itself.

The largest and youngest island in the Hawaiian chain, the Hawaii Island is still growing. Home to the world's most active volcano (Kilauea) and the tallest sea mountain (Maunakea), this unique island offers all but two of the world's climate zones. From pristine beaches to lush rain forests, active volcanoes to snow capped mountain tops, there is certainly something for everyone on this beautiful island. So check out below for the amazing places to visit during your vacation to the 'Big Island'.