Honeymoon Travel: California and Hawaii

[HeffsRah]

Its still up in the air, but my fiance and I decided that we want to do a mini tour of the west coast and then end with a week in hawaii for our honeymoon...any opinions?

We both really want to see Seattle, Portland, San Fran, LA, and San Diego... do you think this is possible to do in one week - any suggestions from those of you who live in Cali? We're Easterners and believe it or not, in my entire life I've never been to the west coast. He's been to California once when he was very young, but thats it.

Also, who's been to Hawaii? Any suggestions on where to go/what to do? We were thinking of going to Kona because my gparents go there every year for two months and LOVE it - we were thinking the Royal Kona Resort - any one ever stay there?

As this is all a new territory for me, I'd love to hear some advice! Thanks!

[HeffsRah]

I forgot to say: this trip will be happening at the end of April

[AnnaRose]

My bf went to Maui a few years ago and loved it. He said it was so beautiful.If you two golf, you can go to Kan'a'pali. He has also been to Seattle and likes it very much. The west coast seems to be very mountanious (spelling?). My mom went to San Diego on her honeymoon and says it had the perfect weather.

As for covering all these places, its doable in a week if you really plan well. However, you'll probably be pretty tired when your in Hawaii relaxing. If you don't think you'll be able to get back out there, then just do it and take it easy in Hawaii!

[HeffsRah]

Originally Posted by AnnaRose

As for covering all these places, its doable in a week if you really plan well. However, you'll probably be pretty tired when your in Hawaii relaxing. If you don't think you'll be able to get back out there, then just do it and take it easy in Hawaii!

Yeah-- we're both adventurous people and love to sightsee and experience new things -- love outdoor things, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, etc, etc... BUT I also LOVE laying on the beach tanning and relaxing, especially next to my man so you're right, just taking it easy in hawaii sounds very tempting. but then as soon as i get home i'll be bummed i didnt see everything! haha

do you think we need a travel agent? I've never used one -- can anyone tell me how that works? might be a dumb question, but i don't know at all - do you pay them if you just go in and talk to them? or do the hotels/airlines/etc pay them?

[roz]

Personally, I think that's way too much for one week. There is so much to do in all of those places plus you'll be packing for different climates.

If you go to Seattle, nice places to stay are the Salish Lodge (Twin Peaks fame), the Paradise Lodge on Mt. Ranier (part of the US Park Service). The San Juan Islands are lovely. Fort Worden state park is fun--they have a great restaurant, Blackberries.

If you go to San Francisco, no honeymoon would be complete without a visit to wine country. It's very romantic.

San Diego is a fun city. La Jolla is a beautiful area with lots of great dining. You're right over the border and can go to Tijuana if you desire.

I've never been to Portland, but those who have tell me it's a great city!

[juliefouts]

Salish Lodge (Twin Peaks fame),


Wow! That place really exists! My new goal is set, to stay there! I have the show on DVD.

California is beautiful place, but from experience trying to drive down the west coast will be exhausting. Personally I would spend the extra time in Hawaii. Hawaii has many fun outdoor things you guys can do. Also save the west coast trip for maybe your one year anniversary.

[rgphib]

We went to Hawaii for our honeymoon (we went the Feb. after we got married). It was perfect! We went to Kauai and went back 3 more times after that. I have never been to the other islands (DH has) but I really liked Kauai. It has awesome beaches and if you love outdoor stuff, they have tons of trails to the Napali Coast (which is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen). We would love to do them at some point. We only went for a week each time, but I would have loved to spend 2 weeks.

[Hokuspocus]

I haven't been to the west coast much but I have been to Hawaii a bunch (and I am currently trying to figure out how to get back!) I've been to Kauai (but only for a day trip so I'm not the best informed on this one). I went to Maui and I know everyone loves it and there are some beautiful places but I didn't like it as much as the Big Island. There are a couple of very pretty places on Maui the road to Hana and seven falls is a must if you go, or going and hiking on Halealaka dh once took an early morning bike ride down the volcano and said it was gorgeous.
I love Kona if I could figure away to move their I would I've been there three times, we went there for our honeymoon last year! Kona is less commercialized than most of Maui (don't get me wrong there's a walmart and a macys and a Kmart ever thing you probably ever want) but the main little town by the water is still quaint. There is some pretty good snorkling even if you don't want to spend the money to take a boat out. There is a smaller public beach near one of the outrigger hotels and you can rent snorkel equipment right there and get in the water we even saw a couple sea turtles. Also take some time to go to Volcanoes national park! Tons of hiking trails and you can walk out on the lava (you could last time we were there at least) to where it falls into the ocean. There is a little winery near volcancoes national park too that has free samples and pretty good wine! There is a road that goes to the southern most point in US. Its really beautiful and windy and the road says no rental cars allowed (we did it anyway) but the road is pretty bad and there are no services down there. There are also a bunch of beatiful hiking trails up by Waimea (waimea falls is one of them). There is a huge ranch where you can go horseback riding.
OK so enough on the big island you could always go to oahu if your buying tickets its usually the cheapest to fly too. Its crowded but there are some fun things to do. Sea life park is pretty interesting. You can hike diamond head crater. They also had a fun little market type place downtown but its been 15 years since I've been so I'm not sure its there anymore.....
I also did a day trip to Molokai but again not the best infomed and I haven't ever been to Lanai
Good Luck if you any questions feel free to ask!!

[Mrs.Alchemist]

Well, there's SO MUCH to see and do in California, you'll really have to pick what you want to do the most...

San Francisco is a pretty cool city, and unlike most of California, it's an actual city. Most of California seems to be suburbs, somehow...

In SoCal, there are tons of theme parks like Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure, Knott's Berry Farm, Universal Studios, Sea World, and let's not forget Legoland. Also, there are more beaches than you could know what to so with... There's beautiful beaches all up and down the coast from San Diego to Santa Barbara and beyond! Some have interesting things to see/do near the beach - like Venice beach. There's beautiful campsites, and swanky hotels. There's everything here! There's mountains, desert, beaches, city... You just have to decide what you're into... You can party like a rockstar in hollywood, sunbathe at Laguna Beach, go whale watching, join a drum circle on Venice, shop at Beverly Hills...

If you tell me a little more what you're interested I might be able to help you narrow down some possibilities... There's just SO MUCH to choose from here!

Also, it's true that Mexico is just a hop, skip & a jump away, but I'd avoid Tijuana. It's dirty, smely, full of tourists, and more dangerous than other near-by cities like Rosarito and Ensenada. They are still close to the US, and to go to Rosarito, you'll still be covered by your American car insurance because it's within so many miles of the US border... (Rental cars may have other reqirements.)


(Oh, and we honeymooned in Hawaii [Maui] and LOVED it! My avatar is from our honeymoon)

[HeffsRah]

Originally Posted by Hokuspocus

I love Kona if I could figure away to move their I would I've been there three times, we went there for our honeymoon last year! Kona is less commercialized than most of Maui (don't get me wrong there's a walmart and a macys and a Kmart ever thing you probably ever want) but the main little town by the water is still quaint. There is some pretty good snorkling even if you don't want to spend the money to take a boat out. There is a smaller public beach near one of the outrigger hotels and you can rent snorkel equipment right there and get in the water we even saw a couple sea turtles. Also take some time to go to Volcanoes national park! Tons of hiking trails and you can walk out on the lava (you could last time we were there at least) to where it falls into the ocean. There is a little winery near volcancoes national park too that has free samples and pretty good wine! There is a road that goes to the southern most point in US. Its really beautiful and windy and the road says no rental cars allowed (we did it anyway) but the road is pretty bad and there are no services down there. There are also a bunch of beatiful hiking trails up by Waimea (waimea falls is one of them). There is a huge ranch where you can go horseback riding.

I'm pretty sure we're decided on going to Kona -- my great Aunt stays there every year, same hotel that my grandparents do as well -- says she can get us the "best room in the hotel" so I guess we're set there. -- Have you non reved there or did you buy tix when you went for your honeymoon? We're thinking of non-reving to seattle (or wherever we decide to start) and then once we get down to san diego, buying tix to hawaii - which airport do you recommend on the big island?

I think my aunt told me a story about that road you're talking about -- she said it was very scary, lots of turns and hills and stuff, we should do it!

how long were you there for honeymoon? where have you stayed in kona?