There was no more perfect way to spend one of the first 60-degree days we’ve had in Phoenix in a while than a day at Desert Botanical Garden. An added, and delicious, bonus was the treats at the Chiles and Chocolate Festival for us to sample and purchase: chili, sopes, chocolates, cookies, burritos, chocolate martinis, Cave Creek Chili Beer and more. There was even a GroupOn deal available Saturday for two-for-one admission to the garden -- it’s ... Read the Post...
Royal Lahaina luau, Maui
The most enjoyable night of my Maui trip was the night we attended the Royal Lahaina luau. It began with purchasing our $70 tickets, a discounted rate, we were told. We decided to upgrade our tickets to VIP when we arrived for $15 a person, an excellent decision. Why? We were seated in the center table closest to the stage much ahead of everyone else, giving us time to take in the view of the ocean and venue, get our drinks and check out the ... Read the Post...
Camping at Wai’anapanapa State Park, Maui, Hawaii
** This post contains affiliate links. Two of our nights on Maui were spent camping at Wai'anapanapa State Park.. Months before our trip, we reserved our spot online, which cost about $38. The form we printed out as confirmation says that one must check in by 4 p.m., but when we arrived the office was closed. A sign posted outside said to attach the form to our tent. (I'd guess that it probably is not imperative that one arrives by that ... Read the Post...
Sunrise at Haleakala National Park, Maui
It was an incredible feeling, being above the clouds. We woke up around 3 a.m. to drive the windy, dark way from Hana to the summit at Haleakala National Park at sunrise. And while we were a few minutes late, the views were worth it. It takes some time for the drive because it is so windy and you have to slow down. It was also still dark as we drove, so we were cautious. The summit can be popular at sunrise, so arrive early. We still found ... Read the Post...
