Search Results for: blog a hawaiian hanukkah

Cruising the Pacific on a Ribcraft and a Scrapbooker’s Hawaiian Paradise

Never been on a Ribcraft? Never heard of a Ribcraft? Then head to the Big Island of Hawaii and find out what the locals and tourists are raving about. The Ribcraft or Rigid Inflatable Boat is all the rage in the Islands right now. In fact, the Kona Village Resort just hired a company to custom make one of the 27-foot vessels specifically for their guests. The boat includes seating for about 20 and currently provides access to nearly two dozen nearby dive sites, offshore snorkeling excursions, sunset cruises and seasonal humpback whale watching treks. The Ribcraft is equipped with … Continue reading →

A Hawaiian Hanukkah

When I first moved from Hawaii to the “mainland” (the continental United States) to attend college nearly 20 years ago I received a lot of attention from my fellow classmates (mainly because no one could believe I would willingly leave Hawaii for life in Wisconsin). I spent the better part of my first semester fielding questions including, “Do kids surf to school in Hawaii?” and “Does everyone live in grass shacks there?” Oh, and my personal favorite, “How long did it take you to drive from Hawaii?” To set the record straight: no, we don’t surf to school; we live … Continue reading →

Ways to Escape the Holiday Madness

Resorts around the world want you to rethink spending the holidays sleeping on Aunt Lucy’s lumpy sofa bed. As incentive to get you and your family to ditch grandma’s house this season and relax in a spacious hotel room, a number of popular properties are offering amazing money-saving deals on holiday retreats, including: Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado: The family-friendly property is celebrating its 50th anniversary with half-off lifts and deeply discounted lodging. You can save even more by taking advantage of the “Friends and Family Fly Free,” which offers a free ticket for every two you purchase. Azul … Continue reading →

Holiday Escape

How much are you willing to spend NOT to have to attend your family’s annual holiday get-togethers… and deal with the piles of dirty laundry, mountains of filthy dishes and rooms of punctured air mattresses? I know a lot of people who would rather grab their spouse and kids and skip the whole fa-la-la-la extended family gatherings. If you have the guts to breakout on your own this holiday season there are many, many resorts around the world that are more than happy to host you and your immediate family, including: Stratton Mountain Resort: This popular Vermont travel destination allows … Continue reading →

Family-Friendly Holiday Travel Destinations

There’s no time like the holidays to travel with your extended family. However, you don’t have to break the bank jetting off to a tropical island or a high-end ski resort to bond with grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles and cousins. Instead, consider checking out these affordable holiday-themed events and attractions that are ideal for family members of all ages: CANADA The Zoolights event at the Calgary Zoo is a real crowd pleaser. In addition to viewing the animals, you can take in an interactive light show that features more than 1.5 million twinklers. The zoo is also home to an … Continue reading →

Christmas in Florida

After the Blizzard of 2009, I’m sure more people than ever are considering traveling to Florida for Christmas. I prefer Hawaii myself, but I digress. Sunny Florida is a hotspot for snowbirds looking to escape Old Man Winter’s blast. However, some shy away from flying south because they don’t think the sand and surf make for a traditional Christmas backdrop. Little do they know that Florida is filled with festive displays and attractions this time of year, including: ORLANDO The House of Mouse goes all out for the holidays. If you are planning to travel to Orlando this month, don’t … Continue reading →

More Family-Friendly Christmas Displays

Who says you have to spend a ton of money or travel to the far ends of the planet to view fabulous holiday light shows? Christmas displays are a dime a dozen this time of year, and most don’t require draining your wallet to enjoy. Hundreds of communities from coast-to-coast erect awe-inspiring seasonal showcases to inspire Christmas goodness. The following festive displays are among the nation’s most popular: Atlanta: Macy’s Great Tree at Lenox Square Mall is a stunning piece of holiday craftsmanship. The towering tree is festooned with hundreds of lights and serves as the backdrop for many family … Continue reading →

Family-Friendly Christmas Displays

My neighbor’s 8-foot tall inflatable snowman didn’t survive last night’s blizzard. The nearly two feet of snow and 35 mph sustained winds that ripped through our rural Wisconsin neighborhood proved too much for Frosty to take. Such a shame. The snowman is just a small part of an elaborate Christmas display that our neighbor painstakingly erects each year. His holiday light show has all the pizzazz associated with professional displays put on by major cities, only on a slightly smaller scale. If you are looking to take in the sights and sounds of the season this month, consider visiting the … Continue reading →

Family Travel: Festive Christmas Displays

Last weekend my family traveled to Madison, Wisconsin, to take in the city’s spectacular Christmas displays. My kindergartner squealed with delight at the botanical garden’s annual gingerbread mansion and holiday train show. She was equally thrilled when we headed over to the State Capitol building’s rotunda to view the stunning 60-foot Christmas tree decorated with thousands of twinkling lights and handmade ornaments. Finally, her jaw dropped when we got to the city’s popular outdoor Festival of Lights event featuring more than 250,000 colorful Christmas lights strung on elaborate moving displays. It was a great way to get into the Christmas … Continue reading →

Celebrating the Holidays At My Favorite Hotel in Hawaii

It’s a cross between Disneyland and Fantasy Island. A place where you can swim with dolphins in the morning and dine on world-class cuisine at night. A place where you ride to lunch on a gondola, electric tram or boat. And a place where I make a concerted effort to visit each time I travel home to the Big Island of Hawaii. I’m talking about the spectacular and extremely family friendly Hilton Waikoloa Village. I’ve written about the award-winning resort in previous blogs, but I have never covered the magnificent transformation it undergoes during the month of December. Each winter … Continue reading →