Big Island attractions

attractions on the Big Island — http://tinyurl.com/hzc4sqe

I'll be on the Big Island two weeks from today and am looking forward to experiencing the natural beauty and the cultural uniqueness of Hawai'i — not to mention the tropical sun and the blue waters of the Pacific.

Hawai’i is more than luxury resorts and beaches, and this trip is my chance to visit some of those other attractions so that I tell my clients about them. will be my first visit to Volcano National Park. They say the lava is flowing, and I'm looking forward to witnessing that.

Other attractions that interest us are Akaka State Park (and its nice waterfall), Waipi'o Valley State Park (and its spectacular views), and the little town of Waimea (which lies at the boundary of the rainy side and dry side of the Big Island. Four Seasons Hualalai has published a list of Big Island attractions that you may find useful. Click on the map above for an annotated map of some of those attractions, as well as the locations of some hotels near Volcano Village and beach resorts near Kona.

I'll be live blogging from Hawai'i, so watch this space!

copyright (c) 2017 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Riviera Maya vacation

I'll be leaving in three weeks for a Riviera Maya vacation and site inspection. Located in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, the Riviera Maya is a vacation area that has become very popular with upscale tourists. I will be staying at two properties during my week in this western Caribbean beach destination — four days at Orient Express's Maroma Resort (pictured above), a beachfront property that boasts some of the best snorkeling in the world — and three days at Rosewood Mayakoba, a serene resort near Playa del Carmen. I'll be making site inspections of a total of nine Riviera Maya luxury resorts and posting my reviews right here.

More than just a beach resort, the Riviera Maya boasts a number of outstanding archeological sites including the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza (pictured to the left) and Tulum. Travel provides a priceless opportunity to experience different places and to learn about ancient cultures. It's a chance to learn, expand our horizons, and - for me - to gain invaluable first-hand impressions that helps me serve my clients as a travel consultant.

Riviera Maya vacation (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2010 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
.