Hawaii and...where?
 

Looking ahead to 2018 vacation ideas for family of four with two teenage boys (15 and 14) who love seeing and doing non-stop.

We have 14 days. Budget isn't a huge issue (travel is what I work for lol). We are from the East Coast and our last trips have focused on the southeast and northwest (Yellowstone area). I am strongly considered a week in Hawaii. But I'd like to involve another destination as well. What makes sense? Southern CA? More time in Hawaii? At most I would want to do 10 days in HI and a few days elsewhere. I'm looking to break up the flight on the way home and take advantage of the amount of time we have.

Looking for thoughts and suggestions...this is very preliminary...TIA!

I'd opt for two different islands in Hawaii. Stopping in CA to "break up the trip" only makes it take longer to adjust to the time change. Don't waste your time doing that - go and enjoy Hawaii.

My first choice would be two weeks in Hawaii, 2, or even 3, islands, they are easy to go between. If you are determined to only spend 10 days there, then sure, a few days in LA would work.

Aloha!
I would go to 2 islands and have San Diego be your go to point, since Alaska Air flies direct, to all the islands with great departures.
Alaska Air credit card has a 2 for 1 companion fare of $100+ and with 2 adults getting the card, this is a smoking deal..virgin Atlantic is now owned by AA...every year, anywhere in the world, they fly too.

Go to Maui and Kauai..
Grand Hyatt Kauai and either Honua Kai or Hyatt residence club Kaanapali in Maui.

5 nights each with 1 day in SD..
Stay in Gaslamp..Omni SD or Hilton Bayfront..minutes to SD airport.

Hawaii is lovely and you and your family will love it!

Meant to add SD for one night,each way, coming and going from the islands...to break it up since it is 5+ hours direct to islands from SD.
Too much jet lag all at once, each way and who doesn't love to hang in gorgeous SD!!

From the east coast IMO the olny thing that makes sense is two islands one week each

If you're coming from the Boston area you might consider one of two options:

1. Boston to Seattle to Hawaii. Alaska Airlines allows free stopovers in Seattle in either direction, so fly to Hawaii with a plane change, the stop in Seattle for a few days on the way back. Don't know if your previous trip to Yellowstone included the Pacific Northwest, but with four or five days you could visit, for example, Olympic National Park with its alpine meadows, fantastic rocky shoreline, temperate rainforests... Lots of hikes and sightseeing, and you could even take a day trip to Victoria BC from Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula.

2. Hawaii/Alaska triangle. This would be tougher if you want to spend 10 days in Hawaii and only three or four elsewhere, but there are flights from Anchorage to Hawaii that are quite popular. With four or five days in Alaska before/after a Hawaii stay, you could visit Denali National Park, or perhaps cruise the Kenai Fjords (whales, glaciers) before returning to the lower 48 and home.

I'll just say this, however. Are you sure about Hawaii? Of course you know your family better than we do, but my sense is that go-go teens might be less taken with it. Much would depend on where you go and where you stay; my own preference would be the Big Island of Hawaii, as it offers tremendous variety - beaches, Hawaiian culture, an active volcano, waterfalls, hikes and the marvelous uplands at the Parker Ranch.

But it's also hot and humid in the summer in Hawaii, so if that's a consideration, maybe worth thinking about.

I agree with many above here -- 2 islands with a stop on the way in either SD or Seattle. I'd probably choose Maui and Kauai, but that's a matter of personal preference.

Honestly, I would look to stay in CA for a day of two and stay the rest of the time in Hawaii. You should be able to do a lot in those two days and wont want to stay too long knowing you're heading to Hawaii. I highly recommend staying on the big Island. It is the least touristy and has a ton of fun things to do. If you want a real Hawaiian feel its the best spot to stay. The rest of the islands are great and I recommend checking them out but there is just something special about the big island. P.S. If you go, try to see the green flash http://bigislandvacation.com/Green_Flash.html! It was amazing when i visited.

Sorry, This is the link for the green flash..... http://bigislandvacation.com/Green_Flash.html

Be sure you do a lot of research (mostly look at pictures) before you decide which islands to visit. We've been to all the "tourist" islands other than Lanai. Our favorite for just adults would be Kauai. With teens, I'd do Maui and Oahu (Kauai if you love beach-hopping and hiking). Some people love the Big Island -- we don't love the landscape around Waikoloa, but others do (we prefer palm trees to lava rocks LOL).

I'd also do two weeks in Hawaii,, my pick would be Big Island and Kauai but everyone has their favorites. The teens might like the volcano, have them do a little bit of reading themselves and see what appeals to them.

Well it sounds like there's a two island consensus lol! I like the info in particular about using SD as a jump off point!

Although now Gardyloo has me thinking...while I would love to see Hawaii I do need to really understand what we will be doing and ensuring that there is enough activity for my crazy family. We are definitely not sit on the beach people so I will start planning what we would be doing based on two islands (I keep hearing Big Island so that's a must) and go from there...

Thank you all!!!

On our maiden voyage we stayed a week on Maui including a couple of nights in Hana, and a week exploring Kauai. We finished with a stop In San Fran on the way back to Boston. Although we enjoyed our time, seeing a ball game, exploring parks, Lombard etc, I didn't like putting a major city between paradise and home. We've been back over a dozen times and go directly as possible. There is plenty to see and do on the four major islands if your adventurous. Non guilty admission - Although I have read a lot of history of the islands, we have yet to stay in Oahu which is chock fulll of history, and we re well into over a dozen trips. Someday.

Hope to get to Hawaii in a couple years. Very preliminary planning suggests spending a total of two weeks — 2 days on Maui, 3-4 days on the Big Island, and the rest of the time on Oahu and mostly in Honolulu.

Have your kids been snorkeling before? If they get hooked, you’ll have trouble getting them out of the water. San Diego might work, but the issue I see with two destinations is that you’ll likely have to pack much differently for each. Well, unless you spent a week in Hawaii and the next in French Polynesia.