Once our memorable stay in Japan concluded, we set off for Bali, Indonesia, embarking on an extended travel day that involved a seven-hour flight from Osaka to Singapore, followed by a two-hour flight to Bali. We chose Singapore Airlines to use United MileagePlus miles since Singapore Airlines is a Star Alliance partner. A special shoutout to the flight attendants on Singapore Airlines, who consistently checked in on us and even went the extra mile by providing coloring books, toys, and other treats for the kids. Despite being in economy class, the service surpassed what we’ve experienced in domestic first-class flights.
After wrapping up our journey in Bali, we took the roughly 2-hour-45-minute flight to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We flew a low-cost carrier, Batik Air, and our experience was awful. Their operations are pretty chaotic; they don’t communicate well during delays, and sadly, their flight attendants are left to answer questions they may not have answers to. I chose this flight because its schedule aligned well with our check-out time. We arrived in Kuala Lumpur about three hours later than our scheduled arrival time, forcing us to cancel some of our plans for the day. While in Kuala Lumpur, we stayed at the beautiful Mandarin Oriental in downtown. We applied my American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts $200 credit toward the booking cost, which allowed us to have a bargain price for this five-star hotel. This hotel is located adjacent to Suria Mall and the Petronas Towers complex. It is also a short walk from Kuala Lumpur City Centre Park, a beautiful 50-acre park with a two-acre children’s playground and splash area. Once we checked in and settled, we grabbed dinner and called it a night.
Acadia National Park had been on the bucket list for quite a while. Acadia National Park encompasses a large area of Mount Desert Island off the coast of Maine. This beautiful setting is known for its stunning vistas, scenic hikes, and ocean views from Cadillac Mountain. This is also the first place in the U.S. where you can see the sunrise between October and early March. If you’re visiting in the peak of summer, you can swim at Sand Beach when the water temperature is more tolerable. We drove from Albany, NY, and it took us about 7 hours to get there. Acadia National Park is about a 4.5-hour drive from Boston and an 8-hour drive from New York City. If you’re not close enough to drive, you can fly into Bangor International Airport, about 50 miles from Bar Harbor. We used Bar Harbor as our base camp and gateway into Acadia National Park.
Cape Cod is one of those timeless destinations with the charm of past decades. Most of the hotels on the Cape are independently owned mom-and-pop operations, and you won’t find many chain hotels. If you ask locals where to find the best lobster roll and seafood on the Cape, each person will likely give you a different answer as loyalties run deep. Whether you’re staying in Sandwich (the first town on the Cape), Provincetown (the last town on the Cape), or any other town in between, a beautiful beach and fantastic seafood are right around the corner.
Our Portugal adventure began with a smooth business class flight on Lufthansa, complete with Polaris lounge access in Chicago and Lufthansa Business Class Lounge access in Frankfurt. After arriving late in Lisbon, we picked up our rental car and headed south to Lagos, where we checked into the stunning Cascade Wellness Resort near dramatic cliffs and ocean views. The town’s vibrant summer energy, artistic tilework, and seaside charm quickly made it one of our favorite European destinations. A kayaking tour along the Algarve coast and visits to Camilo Beach and Ponta da Piedade were unforgettable highlights. We explored historic neighborhoods in Lisbon, sampled famous custard pastries at Pasteis de Belem, and took a day trip to the colorful Palace of Pena in Sintra. Our trip wrapped up just as Portugal’s World Cup run ended.
Kauai was the second island my wife and I visited during our last trip to Hawaii. We started in Maui (you can read that itinerary here) and took a one-way flight from Maui to Kaui on Hawaiian Airlines via JetBlue miles. Kauai is known as the Garden Isle for its lush tropical landscape. Based on my experience, Kauai offers more seclusion than Maui and Oahu and more lush greenery than Big Island. The islands are special in their own way, so I’d recommend experiencing all four. Here’s a rundown of what we did during our four days in Kauai.
Day One: Arrival
My wife and I stayed at Mariott’s Kauai Beach Club Hotel during our stay in Kauai. Great property that wasn’t expensive and located right on the beach, just 10 minutes from the airport. We rented a car in both Maui and Kauai and if you want to make the most of your time there, I’d recommend doing the same. We arrived in the late afternoon from Maui, so we spent the evening at Kalapaki Beach, right in front of our hotel, and took in the live entertainment that was offered by Marriott.
View of the beach from our balcony
Day Two: Poipu Beach
We spent almost the entire day at Poipu Beach on the second day. Of all the beaches I’ve been to in Oahu, Maui, and Kauai (I’ve been to many), this was my favorite in Hawaii. Plenty of space, clean, an abundance of marine wildlife, and a perfect place to snorkel. If you’re in Kauai, this beach is a must-see. You also get spectacular sunsets if you stick around until the late evening.
I was very fortunate to swim alongside a green sea turtle. If you snorkel in Hawaiian waters, get a GoPro or underwater camera. You’ll see some cool wildlife, and it’s worth getting on video.
Day Three: Waimea Canyon State Park
Waimea Canyon State Park is another must-see place in Kauai. From our hotel near the airport, it was about 32 miles to the entrance and took about 45 minutes. You can also take a 3.4-mile hike to the bottom of the canyon, which will take about 3 hours round-trip. The cool thing about Waimea Canyon is that the surrounding area looks like Sedona, Arizona. You’ll find red clay, orangish water, and a landscape that almost seems out of place for Hawaii.
The landscape on the periphery of Waimea Canyon
The main lookout at Waimea Canyon
Once you’re at the main lookout point at Waimea Canyon, you’ll find local farmers selling delicious local produce such as mangos, star-fruits, and papayas. If you purchase the fruits, you’ll support locals.
Day Four: Napali Coast State Park
No trip to Kauai is complete without seeing Napali Coast State Park. This was one of the settings for Jurassic Park; the minute you get to the entrance, it will look familiar. My wife and I were dead set on doing the hike, and we did about 3/4 of it until park rangers told us we couldn’t go any further due to flooding from heavy rainfall the previous night. The hike is challenging, particularly the first quarter mile, where there is a lot of steep uphill climbing. Bring some solid hiking shoes, plenty of water, and a couple of granola bars if you do the hike. I saw a few people with flip-flops, and they were getting killed by mud and wet rocks. Please don’t do this hike with flip-flops or sneakers. You don’t need expensive hiking shoes; a $60 pair would do the job. I’d also bring a light raincoat since this part of Kauai gets a lot of rain, and the weather can change from hour to hour. Other options for seeing the cliffs are by boat or helicopter. I have heard the helicopter takes four people and that if you’re one of the two sitting in the rear, you’re kind of blocked off from the views compared to those sitting in the front. Just something to be aware of.
Overcast skies on our way to Napali Coast.
The weather on this part of the island changes from hour to hour. If you open any weather app on your smartphone and see rain for the entire day, take that with a grain of salt. On our drive there, we had mostly overcast skies with drizzle here and there. When we started the hike, the clouds cleared up and gave way to sunshine. Don’t be disappointed if you see overcast skies while driving there. Just wait it out, and hopefully, the sun will appear.
A view from the hiking trail. The skies cleared up about 40 minutes after we started hiking.The majestic cliffs and a rainbow from a distance
So this was Kauai in a nutshell. A special place and a beautiful island home to my favorite trail among the ones I have hiked in Hawaii. I wish we had an extra day here, and I know I’d be saying the same thing even if we did. If you visit Hawaii, try including Kauai in your itinerary. But only if you can do the three must-see places above. If you want to read about our most recent trip to Hawaii (Big Island), you can do that here. As always, thanks for reading.
During the summer of 2021, my wife and I decided to take the kids (ages 34 months and 17 months when we traveled) on an adventurous trip to Alaska. Many of you know our affinity for wildlife, nature, and the natural beauty in every corner of our planet. With restrictions or logistical challenges for international travel still in place, we decided that visiting a destination such as Alaska was the best option to experience a pristine environment without worrying about testing positive for COVID-19 and quarantining on the way there or back. I simply could not afford to be in a place beyond my allotted vacation time for work purposes. Having been there in 2015, I fell in love with Alaska and longed to return. Fast forward to 2021, and I had the opportunity to visit again. Rather than opt for the 6.5-hour non-stop flight from Chicago to Anchorage, we decided to stop in Seattle for 2 nights (a fantastic city in and of itself) and explore a little before continuing. The kids tend to hit a wall on flights over 5 hours (the non-stop flight back was rough), and the 3-hour flight from Seattle to Anchorage was perfect for keeping them fresh on our arrival in Anchorage.
Big Island was the fourth Hawaiian Island my wife and I visited. This trip was also our first long-distance trip with our 5-month-old son, so there was a bit of uncertainty on how he would handle being in a plane for 8+ hours. Fortunately, he was well-behaved, which gave us a ton of confidence in making future trips with him. During this trip to Hawaii, we encountered a day of heavy rain and another day when the eastern half of the island had rain, so we could not see specific points of interest. This forced us to cancel several sights we planned to visit. However, there was a positive trade-off of being “stuck” at the resort, and you will see why as you keep reading.
Day One: Arrival
We arrived at Kona International Airport on the Big Island around 3pm. We rented a car from Turo (you can read my review on Turo and our experience here), collected our luggage, and walked to the airport parking lot, where our car was already waiting for us with the keys inside. The distance to Hilton Waikoloa Village from the airport was about 20 miles and a 30-minute drive. On the way to the resort, we stopped at a lookout point to take in the scenery. If you see a lookout point anywhere, just stop your car and enjoy the views.
Vegetation growth on volcanic rock at a lookout point. The Big Island is home to multiple volcanoes, some of which are still active.
Since sunset was around 6:15 p.m., and by the time we got situated, it was already close to 5 p.m., we spent the rest of the time at the resort enjoying the sunset views.
I’ll have a separate review on the Hilton Waikoloa Village, but this was a wonderful, kid-friendly property.
Day Two: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Stops Along the Way
On the second day, I drove from Waikoloa to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park while making a few stops in between. I downloaded the Gypsy App specifically for the Big Island, and it guided me on where to make stops between Waikoloa and Volcanoes National Park. It costs $9.99, and you do not need to have data to work with it. The most appealing aspect of this app is that the narrator gives you historical context concerning culture and geology at various stopping points and why it might be worth stopping or skipping. The app is a knowledgeable tour guide, and I highly recommend using it for Big Island.
The Gypsy App is available for each Hawaiian Island. I highly recommend it.
Places of Interest En Route To Volcanoes National Park
A lava field lookout point on the way to Volcanoes National Park.This viewpoint is right off the side of the road.This is one of the places you should stop by on the way to Volcanoes National Park.Punalu’u Black Sand BeachSea turtles basking in the sun at Punalu’u Black Sand Beach.
Punalu’u Black Sand Beach Park was the last place I stopped before entering Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. After this one, there are a few other points of interest, such as South Point (the southernmost point out of all the 50 states) and Papakolea Beach, a green sand beach. Getting to the beach does require over two hours of hiking, and I did not want to run out of daylight where I’d be hurrying at Volcanoes National Park. I skipped these two, but if you leave Kona before sunrise or stay in Hilo, you’ll have plenty of time to see both places.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
I’ve been asked if I brought my 5-month-old to this park, and the answer is no. Since the steam vents emit sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide gas, I did not want to expose my son to potential lung irritants. If you’re pregnant, have heart problems, asthma, or COPD, it’s probably best to avoid the steam vents at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
One of the many steam vents that are found in the park.The Kilauea Caldera. You can either park at the visitors center and take a half-mile hike to get here or park on the road and walk a few hundred feet. I chose to do the hike so I could see most of the steam vents along the path.
Some parts of the park were still closed due to the eruptions from 2018, and the lava tubes were also not accessible during this time. As you continue your drive through the park, I highly recommend taking Chain of Craters Road down to the coast. It’s about 20 miles from the caldera, and the drive is among the best in any of the 50 states. Pictures don’t do it justice, so I took a short video to give you a better idea.
You will also find plenty of fantastic photo opportunities and other points of interest.
One of the scenic viewpoints on Chain of Craters Road.Pu’u Loa Petroglyphs Field
You will find a sign for the Pu’u Loa Petroglyphs Field closer to the shore. This area is considered sacred to the people of Hawaii, and you will find many symbols and images carved into the hardened lava. It’s a 1.4-mile round-trip hike, and I highly recommend it. Further down the road, you will see cliffs made from lava. This is the newest land on the Big Island, and it’s made when lava hits the water and solidifies into rock.
Chain of Craters Road on the way back also has stunning views.
Day Three: Pololu Valley and Stops Along the Way
On this day, there was rain in the forecast after 2 p.m., so I made it a point to get this hike done as early as possible. The mornings also have cooler temperatures, making a much more comfortable hike. Pololu Valley is about a 45-minute drive from Waikoloa and about 1 hour and 15 minutes from Kona. You can just park your car on the road and enjoy the views from the lookout, but if you want to get the splendid views of the valley, you should go on a hike. The hike down isn’t challenging, but it can be slippery due to the frequent rainfall in the area. Returning up the hike is moderately difficult, and you will need plenty of water and some granola bars.
Pololu Lookout. You can still enjoy these views even if you decide not to hike.Pololu Valley from the parking areaThe Black Sand Beach once you hike your way to the bottom.
This is the view you hike down for.
Waimea Valley is nearby and also offers spectacular views. However, hiking there requires entering private property, which would be considered trespassing. You can also drive down there but need an AWD or 4WD vehicle with some clearance.
Day Four: Whale Watching From Hilton Waikoloa Village (due to rain)
On this day, the plan was to go to Akaka Falls. If you are on the Big Island, visit Akaka Falls because it is beautiful from the many pictures and videos I have seen. Unfortunately, a lot of rain moved in and spanned the entire island. But there was a silver lining. As I’ve mentioned before, winter is humpback whale season in Hawaii. Mothers and calves are near the coasts of every Hawaiian island, and this is when mothers teach their young how to be whales. Since our resort was right on the shore, I took my camera and started filming when someone pointed out the whales in the distance. Then they started coming closer and closer.
Out of nowhere, the mother whale breached the water, and I was lucky enough to have my camera recording. I’m sorry for the grainy quality.
Two humpback whales right off the shore of Hilton Waikoloa Village
Whales were seen four out of the five days we stayed at Hilton Waikoloa Village, and it really made it fun and exciting for the kids who were also whale watching.
Day Five: Snorkeling in the Hilton Waikoloa Village Lagoon and visit to Kona
Day five was supposed to visit either Akaka Falls or the green sand beach. Both places had rain in the forecast, while our side of the island was bright and sunny. I used this time to go snorkeling.
This property does not have an oceanfront beach due to the powerful waves and riptide currents common along the Big Island. However, it has a sand lagoon that functions as a beach, which is excellent for swimming and snorkeling. I saw plenty of colorful fish and several sea turtles, one of which I could follow for almost two minutes.
Kona
The owner of the vehicle we rented from Turo recommended Umekes Fishmarket Bar and Grill in Kona for dinner. We ordered Tempura-Battered Fish and chips and Cajun-Style Ahi Fish Tacos, both of which were perfect.
This concluded our trip to the Big Island in Hawaii. A popular question I get asked is, among the four islands I have visited, which is my favorite? I really can’t say I have one. Each island has its own unique charm and offers something different for everyone. The Big Island has a volcanic landscape that’s so vast it can’t be seen anywhere else in Hawaii. It also has stunning valleys, excellent beaches, and a green sand beach that can’t be found on any other Hawaiian island. Since it is not as heavily trafficked by tourists, you get a better flavor of Hawaiian culture throughout the island. Big Island is also known for its coffee and macadamia nuts. If you have the time, you should visit a coffee or a macadamia nut farm. But just like the other Hawaiian islands my wife and I have been fortunate to see, the locals are wonderful. They are some of the nicest and friendliest people in the world. The physical beauty of the islands is undoubtedly attractive and makes for great pictures, but the Hawaiian people and their hospitality keep us coming back. We look forward to coming back. As always, thanks for reading.
Costa Rica is a beautiful, affordable destination with a relatively short flight time for most Americans. It has such a diverse landscape that you can be on the beach, taking in the sun one day, while trekking the trails near Arenal Volcano the next day. There is something for everyone in this beautiful country; you’ll see wildlife, landscapes, and other sites you might have never seen before. My wife and I took a flight from Albany, NY, to Liberia, Costa Rica, and rented a small SUV to get around. We started on the northwest side of Costa Rica and made our way southeast. We returned the car to San Jose International Airport. It’s not really far in terms of distance, but there are roads where you will have to drive slowly, either due to the speed limit or the poor conditions of the streets. If you are going to rent a car, I highly recommend an SUV. It doesn’t have to be huge; anything with decent ground clearance will suffice. You can see the distance between the two airports below.
Update February 2025: The National Park Service has required timed-entry reservations to drive the scenic Going-to-the-Sun road in Glacier National Park over the last four years due to increased visitor traffic. This is still in effect as of 2025 if you want to enter the park between 9am and 3pm. Tickets become available four months in advance on a rolling basis, and the reservation costs two dollars. This is in addition to the National Park fee. Vehicle reservations will become available on February 13th, 2025, at 8pm MST. Next-day vehicle reservations will be available at 7 pm MST for next-day entry starting on June 12, 2025, on a daily rolling basis. Visit this page for updated information on Glacier National Park, including reservation information.
I’ve been asked if I brought my 5-month-old to this park, and the answer is no. Since the steam vents emit sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide gas, I did not want to expose my son to potential lung irritants. If you’re pregnant, have heart problems, asthma, or COPD, it’s probably best to avoid the steam vents at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Miles for places 