Hilton Hawaiian Village is one of my favorite properties in the world. When I was trying to decide my ultimate vacation spot for Thanksgiving, it topped the list. There are so many things about it that make it one of my favorite destinations including the endless array of activities, the amenities, the dining, and the views, but the sunsets are so truly magical that they make the flight worth it themselves. Continue reading
I’ve been talking about scuba diving for the entirety of Bucket List Publications. It was on my first bucket list when I created the site and it remained on the list year after year. The fear consumed me and took over. Failure after failure, I thought I’d never actually accomplish that one check mark. I tried and had a panic attack. I tried again and still couldn’t get over it. Well, hell yes! I finally went scuba diving and it was in one of the most beautiful places in the world – Hawaii. Thanks to Aqua Zone Scuba Diving and Snorkeling Center, I can finally say I crossed scuba diving off my list for the first time and I can guarantee it won’t be the last. Continue reading
Thirty-eight stories high and overlooking the emerald waters of Waikiki Beach, Trump Hotel Waikiki is a spectacular sight to behold. Surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, Diamond Head, the Honolulu skyline, and the magnificent Ko`olau Mountains, Trump is 5 shades of awesome. Rather than trying to explain the views, I captured my favorites in photos. From sunrise to well beyond sunset, here are the views from Trump Waikiki. Continue reading
Oahu is filled with endless beauty around every turn and beneath every grain of sand. The perfect temperatures and friendly locals add to the attraction of this picturesque land. During my 11 day Oahu vacation, I explored the depths of the ocean floor with Reef Pirates, surfed the rolling waves that draw surfers from all over the world with Ty Gurney Surf School, and swam with the mysterious sharks that fill the deep waters with North Shore Shark Adventures. It’s this blend between serenity and aquatic adventure that truly captures my heart. Continue reading
We spend the better part of our lives making our bucket list dreams come true. Darren and I think about our wildest dreams and make them a reality. We try to include Athena in the process as well. I consider what would make her the happiest and include her in the bucket list planning process. Resorts like Windjammer Landing in St. Lucia, Atlantis in the Bahamas, and Kinderhotel in Germany were all part of incorporating the best family-friendly destinations on this year’s list. Similarly, activities like visiting Disneyland, Europa Park, and the San Diego Zoo were all Athena focused, although they, unquestionably, brought us great joy as well. There was one item on this year’s list that was entirely, 100% Athena’s idea. I didn’t come up with it and think she’d like it; nope, she decided it would be the greatest thing in the world all on her own. She wanted to hang out with Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy. Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii made it possible this weekend. She danced, sang, hugged and laughed with the most famous characters in her world at the Disney Character Breakfast. This is what dreams are made of. Continue reading
Regardless of having a child or not, Darren and I are just two big kids. We often choose our accommodations based on the pool, the water slide, water sports or other fun activities and the proximity to the beach. We are out enjoying the grounds and barely see the room unless it’s time for sleep. Unique adventures are the icing on the cake and we pack in as many as humanly possible. With 5 pools, a lagoon filled with water activities and local tours offered from the hotel grounds, Hilton Hawaiian Village is the ideal resort for our fun-loving family. Continue reading
We’ve arrived. After a short flight from LA, we landed in Oahu and spent the first day at Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki Beach. Exploring the grounds, we discovered two pools, a lagoon, the beach, and Bali Steak & Seafood. Today was just a taste of some of the amazing amenities here at Hilton, but stay tuned for a more in-depth look at what they have to offer. For now, I’ll show you some of the highlights. Continue reading
Most family vacations in Oahu include Pearl Harbor, Honolulu Zoo, Waikiki Aquarium, building sand castles on the beach, and splashing in the kid’s pool. Even with a toddler, that’s not how we do vacation. We’ve lined up three spectacular family-friendly resorts, tons of unique adventures, delectable dining with a twist, and fun cultural experiences. We’re doing Oahu bucket list style.
10 countries and countless cities made it on my 2013 Bucket List. France, Dominican Republic, Bermuda, Jordan, Aruba, Curacao, Canada, USA, Mexico, and Fiji were all part of my whirlwind of adventures and new experiences. I never envisioned such an amazing year of opportunity; my life continues to be a dream come true. I am blessed. Some people create a bucket list because they are dying; I created one because I want to live.
Here are my top ten favorite travel photos from 2013.
Number 3 – The Big Island, Hawaii
Hawaii Island isn’t just big, it’s still growing. The Big Island is the youngest island in the Hawaiian chain and is also by far the biggest, providing a vast canvas of environments to discover a variety of unrivaled natural wonders. This is the home of one of the world’s most active volcanoes (Kilauea), the tallest sea mountain in the world at more than 33,000 feet (Maunakea), the most massive mountain in the world (Maunaloa) and the largest park in the state (Hawaii Volcanoes National Park). All but two of the world’s climate zones generate everything from lush rain forests to volcanic deserts, snow-capped mountaintops to beautiful black sand beaches.
Have you been to Hawaii? Is it on your list?
There’s never a shortage of things to do on the Big Island of Hawaii. You can swim with manta rays, hike through a lush rainforest and swim in a waterfall, watch molten lava flow as you soar above the island in a helicopter, zip through the tree tops, speed over the ocean in search of whales, dolphins, and other marine life before snorkeling and discovering the life below, or go a little deeper while scuba diving. While the options are endless, here are my top five Big Island adventures: Continue reading
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