ocean Archives - Floradise

06/19/2018

Add Boating to Your Summer Plans

** This post is sponsored by Discover Boating but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

I have shared quite frequently that I love being on or near water. Turns out I am not alone in that: 142 million Americans go boating each year, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association. And summer is the best time to spend on a boat! There’s just something so relaxing about being on the water. It feels like you’re on vacation, even when you’re not. You get to experience a familiar or new place in another fun way! That’s why Graham and I try to make boating a part of our travels wherever we go.

Examples of how to incorporate boating in your travels:

In Hawaii, you can charter a boat and hire a guide to spend the day whale watching and swimming with dolphins. There’s so much to do on a boat in the state!

In San Francisco you can take in a different view of the city, especially the Golden Gate bridge, while on a sailboat. You don’t need to stay on land to explore a new place.

In Chicago you can take your boat (or boat rental) down the river or spend a day in the “play pen,” where you can interact with other Chicagoans on the water. Or you can cruise in a yacht and soak in the sunset and skyline views. That is one of our favorite things to do in the summer.

You can find ways to spend time on a boat, whether at home in your city or many miles away, by checking out Discover Boating’s Go Boating Today tool that generates local options for boat rentals, classes, charters and more, by simply entering a city or ZIP code. I searched for boating opportunities in Chicago and found many options. Examples in Chicago include renting an island party boat on Lake Michigan! How fun does that sound?!

You don’t need to own a boat to experience what it’s like to have a vacation on the water, but if you’re ready to explore buying your own, Discover Boating’s Boat Selector tool lets you find what type of boat fits your lifestyle and budget. Discover Boating also has information on youth boating programs, classes and lots more!

Do you have any plans to go boating? Let me know in the comments!

5 Boating Activities in Chicago

Chicago Summer Goal: Get On The Water

Connect with Discover Boating:

Discover Boating Website

04/23/2018

Our Stay at the Hilton Waikoloa Village Resort in Hawaii

Hilton Waikoloa Resort, Big Island, Hawaii

We’re typically low-key travelers who prefer affordable places to stay that are easy to get to and conveniently located near the activities we enjoy. However, the booking of our Hawaii trip was a bit last minute because we had to cancel our Puerto Rico plans. That meant that almost all the Big Island hotels in the Kailua-Kona area were near capacity and we had to book whatever was left. We decided to venture a bit farther north to the Waikoloa area because we had skipped that part of the island on our honeymoon trip in 2014. We had heard there were some beautiful beaches nearby that we wanted to check out. With the help of Ebates and Priceline I was able to find a deal on a stay at the Hilton Waikola Village Resort, so we went for it despite the slightly higher price tag than we are used to paying. (Use my referral link to get started on Ebates; you’ll get $10.) Today I want to share the pros and cons of staying at the Hilton Waikola Village Resort.

Hilton Waikoloa Village Resort in Hawaii

Waikoloa Village was like a small village. (Actually someone we met in town called it their Disney World.) We had to take a tram to our hotel room tower and walking to the lobby from the room could take up to 20 minutes (if you’re preggo like me). Overall, though, we enjoyed our stay at the resort. This was where we waited in the basement during the false ballistic missile alert in Hawaii, too.

Hilton Waikoloa Resort, Hawaii

Hilton Waikoloa Resort, Big Island, Hawaii

Pros

Activities are plentiful.
Nice views from the rooms.
The lagoon was convenient and perfect for V to swim in. There are plenty of lounge chairs to use and you can rent kayaks, paddleboards and other equipment. You can also snorkel and see fish and turtles!
Just about everything you need is available.
Close to Hapuna Beach.
Spacious, comfortable rooms.
The walkway to lobby was also a museum with incredible artwork.
You can take a tram or boat to your tower.
The resort is gorgeous.
Nice shops.

Hilton Waikoloa Resort, Big Island, Hawaii

Cons

Not convenient to leave the resort.
Parking was $20-something per day for self-parking. Also, parking is far from your room.
Dining prices were higher as to be expected.
Resort fee was $20-something per day.
Construction near our tower was an eyesore.
Waikoloa is a bit of a drive (30 minutes or so) from Kailua-Kona and seems a bit isolated. We didn’t like having to drive so far for more food and activity options.

What kind of accommodations do you prefer when you travel?

Watch our videos:

EXPLORING HILO, HAWAII

PU’UHONUA O HONAUNAU NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK IN HAWAII

Unforgettable Beach Day: False Ballistic Missile Alert

03/16/2018

Family-Friendly Snorkeling at Kahaluu Beach Park

When we decided to visit the Big Island again, I wondered if the beaches would be suitable for a toddler. Many of the beaches we had visited during our Hawaii honeymoon in 2014 were rocky and the waves were sometimes rough. We were pleasantly surprised by how family-friendly Kahaluu Beach Park, a popular snorkeling beach in Hawaii, turned out to be.

The park doesn’t have a huge chunk of sand, but it has food trucks, picnic tables, a snack shop and restrooms. We spent our last full day on the Big Island at this beach. I relaxed and snacked on nachos (about $6) while G and V swam with the fish and turtles. Tip: Bring water shoes! (You can also rent snorkel gear and get reef-safe sunscreen, though on the day we visited rentals were halted due to the water conditions.) V had a wonderful time in the water and then making sand castles with me. Tip: We purchased a sand castle toy set for about $9 at an ABC Store in Kailua-Kona and we brought it back home with us. A life jacket was also super helpful for us. You can save money by bringing your own beverages and snacks vs. buying from a food truck.

One part of the beach is for surfing and the other is for snorkeling, so be aware of where you are swimming. (Lifeguards were on duty when we were there.)

The Kahaluu Beach Park parking lot filled up quickly, but we found that if you drove around someone was always leaving.

Have you visited Kahaluu Beach Park or the Big Island? What was your favorite snorkeling spot?

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Big Island Fun: Rainbow Falls in Hilo, Hawaii

EXPLORING HILO, HAWAII

PU’UHONUA O HONAUNAU NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK IN HAWAII

02/14/2018

Toddler-Friendly Visit to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

There’s plenty for families to do at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island. You can still take in the sites and explore with a toddler. We recently spent a day visiting the park for our second time. (Our first trip to the island of Hawaii was in 2014 on our honeymoon.) You could spend days here, or you can squeeze in quite a bit of adventure in just part of one day.

What we did at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park with a toddler:

Thurston Lava Tube. Though the walk is somewhat dark, it was easy for V to walk through it. It isn’t long at all. (You can find other lava tubes to visit, but they might not be suitable for toddlers.) Hold your toddler’s hand in any wet areas. Rain boots wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Admire the craters/views from the viewpoints. Bring snacks and water!
Drive to sea arch and grab ice pops from the stand next to the ranger station. Along the drive you can stop and see the craters and lava rocks. At the end of the drive you park and walk toward the sea arch. It isn’t a long walk. You have to keep an eye on your children here because the barrier wall does not extend all the way. Then grab some popsicles for $6 each (It’s worth it on a hot day.) for the drive back. There are restrooms here as well.
Lunch at Volcano House. We admired a view of the volcano from our table. Our toddler loved looking out the window at the smoke.

Have you been to the Big Island or Hawaii Volcanoes National Park?

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10/14/2014

South Point, Hawaii

The drop from Ka Lae (South Point) in Hawaii is 40 feet, or so I’ve read. We were driving around the Big Island on our honeymoon when we made a stop at South Point.

I daydreamed about cliff-jumping in Hawaii for months, but I didn’t take the leap. It all sounded swell until I remembered the time I cliff-jumped in Sedona and injured myself. It felt as though I had broken my sternum and I was sore for almost a week.

Maybe someday I’ll summon the courage, but on the day Graham and I visited I was content to just stare off toward Antarctica. (South Point is in fact the southernmost point in the United States.) I watched waves crash onto the rock walls in the distance as Graham contemplated a jump. A day earlier, our kayak tour guide had offered these sage words: “If the local boys aren’t jumping, don’t do it.” We didn’t see anyone swimming or jumping that day, so of course we heeded the warning. Although, the wind seemed almost strong enough to push me over the edge.

Several fisherman were set up around the cliffs.

To get there, take South Point Road for 12 miles off Mamalohoa Highway. It’s a narrow road that takes you past windmills and ranch lands. In the same trip you can drive, get a ride or hike to Papakōlea Green Sand Beach.

Our kayak tour guide also mentioned the blow hole he had jumped into. I can’t imagine anyone doing this!

Have you been to South Point? Would you jump off?!