San Francisco
Whether or not you will leave your heart in this great city is debatable. However, what is not debatable is that you will enjoy countless wonderful experiences while in San Francisco, you will have a fabulous time, and you will be a better and more cultured person for it. The citizens of this incredible city are about as diverse as anywhere in the world. They have brought along with them their cultures, traditions, and cuisine. San Francisco could not be more open to every nation and heritage. This is exactly what makes San Francisco such an extraordinary place to visit. Everyone is welcome, and walking through the city, you will encounter tolerant and fascinating individuals, eager to help you on your travels.
The city has an old and esteemed history, becoming popular and really ballooning in size back in the Gold Rush days in the mid-19th century. Chinese immigrants flocked to this part of California, and Chinatown in San Francisco is one of the city's amazing cultural centers. The dining in Chinatown is authentic and delicious, as it is everywhere else in the city. Probably the best parts of the city are on the coast, as the glorious Pacific and Golden Gate Bridge paint a beautiful backdrop to this bustling center of commerce. Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39, and Ghirardelli Square are some of the best sites found on the coast. Just off the coast, sitting in the middle of the Pacific Ocean on its own rock, lies Alcatraz, a former penitentiary that can be visited by boat. There are a multitude of museums, activities, and sporting events to keep you busy during your stay. So grab a bowl of the best clam chowder around, and see the sights of this one-of-a-kind city.
Hilo
Hilo is located on the Big Island of Hawaii. This gorgeous archipelago is 1,500 miles long and perfectly exquisite. From glistening waterfalls to bubbling volcanoes, this island is as diverse as it is spectacular. The sands of Hilo range from green to black to a golden yellow depending on where you are. Gallivanting around the coast of Hilo is a much different experience than exploring any of the other portions of the Big Island.
A peculiar yet extraordinary location, the beaches and sights in Hilo are incredible. If the sun is shining brightly, you are in for one of the most beautiful days imaginable. But storms come raging in at a moment's notice, pouring rain down and drenching everything. When it rains in Hilo, it really rains. Yet, this adds to the charm and uniqueness of this lush area. The tropical weather on this side of the island is magnificent, and surfing the great waves while the rain pours and the tourists watch is a one-of-a-kind experience that is truly exhilarating. With a breathtaking green forest and a rainbow-filled sky, Hilo is one of the premier destinations in the entire world. It is also the wettest city in America, with over ten feet of rain annually. If you are visiting this excellent location, be sure and pack an umbrella, and if you neglect to heed this advice, don't say we didn't warn you!
Second to Honolulu, Hilo is the largest metropolis in all of Hawaii. The city is constantly misty, adding to the allure and mystery of the region. It is filled with sparkling dew-laced flowers, and the old Victorian houses are marvelous; sure to capture your heart. Of added interest in Hilo is that even though the precipitation is so high, the rain is always warm, and the temperature in and around the city almost never drops below a perfectly comfortable seventy degrees. This holds true at the coastal beaches, where you can wake up in the early morning and watch surfers without wetsuits carve up the ocean even in the pouring rain.
The facilities and restaurants in Hilo are excellent as well. Hilo is rich in culture and heritage, and the accommodations and activities are surprisingly reasonable. This is also true for eating meals in Hilo, where the prices are described as budget, even though the food is absolutely delicious.
Kona
The picturesque Kona Coast is one of, if not the most popular destination on the Big Island of Hawaii. With beaches ranging from white sand to lava rock, and plenty of fabulous dining facilities and activities to go around, Kona is truly a vacation wonderland. The region is tropical and warm all year long, with much less rain than on the other side of the island. The Big Island of Hawaii, and Kona in particular, is becoming increasingly popular because it is not as touristy as Waikiki, or Honolulu or Oahu. The shopping in Kona is marvelous, and the locals are friendly and helpful.
Anyone who is familiar with Kona knows about their outstanding coffee and terrific fishing. Fishermen take particular note, as Kona offers some of the best fishing in the entire world. The Kona coast is a seventy-mile long stretch of black lava that is breathtakingly beautiful. It is located on the leeward side of the Big Island, and many areas in Kona still remain simple and agricultural in nature. Collections of small fishing and farming communities are scattered throughout the region, and it is not uncommon to see tiny villages that appear to have put a halt to technology and growth a hundred years ago. This is what makes Kona so unique and enjoyable; the fact that along with the tourist attractions, restaurants, and great beaches, there exists a natural, uninterrupted lifestyle that the native Hawaiians are still able to enjoy. The hubbub of city life has not reached many of the people who call Kona home, and this should be applauded, appreciated, and respected by all tourists.
Kona is a terrific place for water sports and for seeing many diverse landscapes. Ranging from black coastal desert to lush, fertile plantations, Kona has a wide variety of geography that is ideal for exploration. Enchanting scents of coffee, exotic fruits, and gorgeous flowers fill the air, making your trip to Kona seem more and more like an exercise in taking in all the beauty the coast has to offer. The actual word Kona means leeward side and you know what that means a bright, sun-filled sky practically every day of the year.
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