Who hasn't dreamed of a trip to the country's most enviable vacation destination: Hawaii? If you're planning on taking a dream trip anytime in the near future, you'll likely have the islands at the top of your list.
Traveling in Hawaii can be an amazing experience, but it can be somewhat overwhelming as well. There's so much to see and do it can be hard to whittle things down to what you can manage within the span of a few days.
Where are the must-see places you need to stop by when you get to the islands? What will you kick yourself later about if you miss? Read on and we'll walk you through a few essential Hawaiian locations.
Hawaii Volcano National Park
If you're visiting Hawaii, there's a good chance you'll be spending at least a small chunk of your time at Big Island, the largest of Hawaii's several landmasses. While you're there, you'd be remiss not to stop through what might be one of the best attractions the state has to offer: the Volcano National Park.
The park doesn't have its name for no reason, of course. It happens to be home to not one but two active volcanos, known as Kilauea and Mauna Loa. If you've yet to see a volcano up close and personal like this, you need to make a visit to the state park one of your top priorities. There's really nothing like it.
Within the park itself, there are a lot of different things to see and routes to take. You'll want to visit the summit of Kilauea to get a bird's eye view of the surrounding area. That can be accessed easily through Crater Rim Drive.
After that, you might want to pass through the Chain of Craters Road which will take you all along the more coastal area of the park. There's much gorgeous scenery to take in there as well.
If you're ready to hop out of your car and explore on foot, there are also many hiking trails worth exploring around the miles of land that make up the park. Make sure to bring a map, water, and portable charger! There's a lot of ground to cover and you don't want to end up getting lost.
Visit Hanauma Bay
Most people visit Hawaii to take in the beautiful scenery. The stunning green and blue hues of island life can be soothing and beautiful to look at. If you're hoping for the perfect view, you're going to want to go ahead and head down to Hanauma Bay on the island of Oahu.
There are few more beautiful places in Hawaii (and in the world) than Hanauma Bay. The bay is a large, curved section of beach that is the result of a crater sinking into the ocean. In addition to its interesting natural history, the bay also is home to a wide plethora of fascinating marine life.
This expanse of life makes it one of the most interesting and popular spots in the country to go snorkeling or scuba diving. You never know what beautiful creatures you might end up face to face with when you take a trip under the waves at Hanauma Bay.
The shape of the Bay also helps to keep waves and rougher waters away, meaning it's always calm as can be in the bay itself. It can get crowded here, so it's best to come early or late if you want to get the sights in without a crowd of other tourists around you.
If you're a real early riser, the bay also provides a wonderful place to watch the sunrise.
It's also a good idea to book your snorkeling excursions ahead of time. If you need a place to stay nearby, looking into the disney aulani hawaii might provide you with a solid option.
Enjoy the Grand Canyon of the Pacific
You may have already made it to the Grand Canyon at some point in your travels. However, you likely haven't visited a sister site that holds just as much beauty and significance to many: the Waimea Canyon.
The Canyon, located within the aptly titled Waimea Canyon State Park, is a massive ten-mile long natural canyon that stretches across the middle of the island. At its deepest, the canyon is over 3,000 feet deep.
It's one of the most popular hiking destinations in the world, with a huge number of trails running through it. Insider tip: the best views can be found along the east rim, just off of Canyon Trail.
You can head this way down to gorgeous Walpoo Falls and make a circle back to the beginning if you want a reasonably short but still worthwhile hike. All in all, heading down this route will only take you between two and three hours depending on your speed.
There's a lot more to see of the canyon, but sticking to this route should give you a glimpse of all the highlights.
Must-See Destinations When Traveling in Hawaii
There are few locales more worth a visit to in the world, but it is always worth it when traveling in Hawaii. There are so many amazing sights to see and activities to partake in within the state that it can feel impossible to narrow it down to just a few key choices.
However, the above options really are can't-miss opportunities, and any new traveler to Hawaii should make sure to stop by them before heading back home.
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