Oahu, Island Car Trips Outside of Waikiki
Oahu, Island Car Trips Outside of Waikiki
by Gene Morgan
Most folk's first trip to Hawaii consist of staying in a high-rise hotel in Waikiki, visiting the beach, enjoying the nightlife, and seeing all the sites in group tours and shuttle buses. This can be quite fun, but without a car you miss a lot.
Most people avoid car rental because traffic is a problem and there is little parking. The island is small, but really crowded. Except for the three freeways that crisscross the island, you can't call them interstates since there are no bridges to the mainland, there are only two lane roads with low speed limits and lots of other folks trying to get places as well. It is also a common belief that there are actually only two available parking places left on the whole island.
OK, so what's the problem? You are on vacation. What's the hurry? And, the goal is to see stuff outside of the tourist bustle of Waikiki. There is always a place to park along the North shore beaches. Hotels usually have underground parking which you often have to pay a little extra for and are tiny and a real adventure trying to squeeze your car into. But, again, it's your vacation. What's a little extra cost and adventure is what you are looking for.
Waikiki is much like an amusement park. It's like Disney World without the rides, but with miles of beach. It is full of sun-screened tourist and half naked young people with sand in their hair dragging surfboards twice their size. There is food and entertainment and lots of shopping. It is so much fun, but also weirdly unreal. Every once in a while you are tempted to rap on one of the walls of one of those finely architectured buildings to make sure there is no fiberglass involved. It's a surreal world.
If you are curious to find out about the rest of the island, hop in your car, take your time, and enjoy what many others never see. Here are few of the possibilities:
--- Drive around the rugged east side of the island. It is a bit of a roller coaster ride along the towering cliffs and rocky shoreline. Stop often and enjoy the natural beauty of wild ocean waves crashing against stony walls producing great geysers of foamy spray.
--- Lay for hours on end on a North shore beach, watching surfers battle the endless waves crashing on the sandy shore. Sure you can see surfers at Waikiki, but the waves are wilder and the surfers seem more daring on the North shore.
--- Grab a shrimp platter lunch from one of the shrimp trucks just outside of Kahuku. It's a tasty meal in a rustic setting. It takes a car to get there. I don't think you can get the tour bus to stop. There is nothing like it in the big city.
--- Enjoy some leisurely hours rambling around Hale'iwa, shopping, eating chocolate, shaved ice, or great hand dipped ice creams from one of the funky little shops in this quaint little village. Don't miss the surfboard painter who plays some cool jazz and blues music with his family in his studio workshop when he is not producing artwork.
--- Spend a half-day wandering in the Waimea Valley Audubon Center. There is lush tropical plants and some wildlife and you can even take a dip in the pool at the base of Waimea Falls. It's kind of like that being stranded in a tropical paradise dream you have every now and again. But it's only the North shore.
--- Hit one of the weekly Aloha Stadium Swap Meets. It's a giant flea market/sidewalk sales where you can get all those Hawaiian shirts, and other souvenirs for about half what you pay for them downtown. Stuff your trunk and ship them home. You can't do that if you are riding the bus.
--- If you get homesick you can even drive through a fast food place or spend the day at Wal-Mart or the mall. There is always someplace to park at the mall.
Oahu is a pretty small island and the public transportation is really quite good. You can see a lot on the bus and there is lots to see. But with a car you are in total control. This little list tells of only a small sampling of the possible things to do if you are in control of your mobility. The key is to be an explorer. Find your own adventures. Get behind the wheel. It's vacation.
California Side Trips -Wineries of Santa Barbara County
by Shari Hearn
If you think Napa Valley is the only wine country to see in California, think again. When it comes to spectacular wine growing regions, California's cup truly runs over.
For wine lovers living or visiting the Los Angeles, Ventura or Santa Barbara areas, a trip to the wine growing areas of Santa Barbara Country will not disappoint, where you'll find spectacular Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, as well as some Rhone and Italian varietals which are gaining popularity. You'll also find yourself exploring the same vineyards and tasting rooms in which the characters in the movie "Sideways" found themselves.
If visiting from the Los Angeles area, it's advisable to stay the night. Your choices for lodging range from the upscale Bacara Resort and Spa in Santa Barbara, with rooms starting at $475 per night, to the affordable Best Western Big America Hotel and Suites in Santa Maria, where you can get a room beginning at just under $100. Or, if you'd like to stay in the motel where Miles and Jack from "Sideways" stayed, you might like the Days Inn Buellton-Solvang, which begins at $110 per night on the weekends and around $60 during the week. The Days-Inn Buellton-Solvang is located two miles from Solvang, which is billed as the "Danish Capital of the USA," and a half mile from the Hitching Post II restaurant, also featured in the movie "Sideways" and home to some of the best steaks you'll ever eat.
There is, of course, no way you can visit all the wineries in Santa Barbara County in one weekend, there are just way too many. You might want to choose one of the wine producing areas or appellations in Santa Barbara County and visit as many wineries as you can in those areas. These areas and appellations include Santa Maria Valley, Los Alamos Valley, Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Rita Hills. Some of the major wineries in Santa Barbara County include Andrew Murray, Byron and Fess Parker.
One thing to remember is that just because you don't recognize a label does not mean you shouldn't visit the winery. Many of the wineries in Santa Barbara County (or even Napa Valley, for that matter) don't distribute their wines to the major supermarkets or wine shops. You may only find them at the winery, a handful of wine stores or select restaurants. Of course, if you find a wine you like (and you will), many of the wineries have websites where you can order the wine to be shipped to you. A couple wineries you may not have heard about, but definitely should visit are Cottonwood Canyon and Kenneth Volk, up near Santa Maria. Both have friendly tasting rooms and outstanding Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. Cottonwood Canyon does charge a tasting fee, while Kenneth Volk gives 5 tastes for free.
You might also wish to visit the wineries which were featured in "Sideways." These wineries include Fess Parker, Firestone, Kalyra, Foxen and Sanford.
If you find yourself with limited time, you can also visit one of the many shops in the area where you can sample wines from many different wineries from one tasting room. Often times these shops include wines from wineries without tasting rooms of their own. Grand Avenue in Los Olivos has several of these tasting rooms, so if you can't make it to the wineries themselves you'll still be able to taste the best Santa Barbara County has to offer.
Whenever taking wine tasting tours in California it's always wise to appoint a designated drive, and remember to eat and drinking plenty of water during the day.
Places to Stay in Canada on Fishing Trips
by Rick Chapo
Canada fishing is some of the best in the world with a wide variety of challenges. If you decide to have a go, you need to know about the best places to stay.
Places to Stay in Canada on Fishing Trips
There are many different ways to plan your next fishing trip to Canada. You could plan to stay at a campground (in a tent or RV), in a rustic cabin or even in a small motel. Some people choose to have accommodations in a town or city nearest to their fishing area, so that they can have the amenities of an upscale hotel. For many fishermen, however, a stay in one of the Canada fishing rentals located right on the lakes and rivers where they'll be fishing is the way to go. No matter which province you choose for your fishing vacation, Canada fishing accommodations will be there to provide you with a comfortable and authentic outdoor experience.
One of the most luxurious and well-known fishing accommodations in Canada is in the province of Ontario. The Kesagami Wilderness Lodge, located on Kesagami Lake in the northern part of Ontario, is a four star fly-in fishing accommodation. Being a fly-in location means that the only way to reach this place is by airplane, making it a truly secluded and wilderness filled area. Kesagami Lake is perfect for trophy Northern Pike fishing, because it's relatively shallow and contains a number of weed filled bays. Fish here have been known to reach as big as 50 inches long and 30 pounds in weight, making this a truly world class destination for Northern Pike. With American Plan-style accommodations (three meals a day included in your stay) as well as recreation rooms and other amenities, a stay here at the Kesagami Wilderness is a great choice.
Another great place to stay at in Ontario is the Lake Obabika Lodge. Canada's only four diamond fishing accommodation (rated by the American Automobile Association/Canadian Automobile Association), this beautiful setting offers not only great fishing, but many other activities as well. From wine tastings to wilderness hikes and even a feng shui class, this lodge is a perfect destination for families that might have different vacation tastes. Fishing in the area includes Northern Pike, trout and bass.
There are many places to choose from for your Canada trip, and picking a location that will suit all of your needs (such as fishing guides, a great lake to fish on and even included meals) can make your trip very memorable. Fishing in Canada is a great way to return to nature.