Beach time

The big island is known for it's lava rock but the best beach on the big island was this one. The water was crystal clear and so blue! The sand was white and soft and it wasn't overly crowded. We loved this beach and would have spent more time on it if we weren't so busy sightseeing the island.

If you get to the big island you've got to spend time on this beach!

Akaka Falls



Akaka Falls on the big island was one of my favorite things to see. They have several different trails you can take but all of them lead to the falls. We took the shortest trail as they can go for miles and miles. The one that we took was paved in spots so it made for an easy hike to the falls.

 

The landscape was so lush and vibrant it made for great sightseeing as we walked through the jungle to get to the falls.

 



Volcano National Park

Hawaii is known for it's beautiful beaches but the Big Island of Hawaii is known for it's constant lava flow at the Volcano National Park.

The Volcanos in Hawaii are still active and produce lava flow into the pacific ocean. The big island has a large amount of lava rock that outnumbers the sand.

While you can't see the lava from the national park, you can explore the lava tubes where the lava once came out of. You can also see the vegetation starting to grow back from where the hot lava destroyed it years before.

Historic Filoli

Filoli nestled just outside San Francisco is a historical home that became famous world wide as being the home featured in the opening scenes of the television show Dynasty.

 

The home in the television show was meant to look like this National Landmark. The home is extensive with equally impressive grounds. It features a full Olympic length pool, a Lilly pond (used in the famous Dynasty catfight), green house and gardens. The gardens feature fruit trees, multiple different variations in roses and many other flowers. While the entire home is not open to the public, the downstairs is open.

 

The tour is self guided and you are free to walk through the home at your own speed. I loved the grounds of Filoli, it was just beautiful! The grand staircase was impressive, along with the library and all of it's furnishings. If you ever get the chance to tour this historic landmark then don't pass it up!