"the best of" big island info needed
 

is it worth staying at an inn for a night or two near the volcano? what is there to do besides hike at the park? also, i need general info on "the best of" the big island sites and restaurants. thanks in advance.

did u try that little box just above this to the left that says "test search"? If yo utype in Big Island and other variations and words like "BI Volcano" etc you will get enough to keep you reading for a day or 2. Then go buy the book "Big Island Revealed" off Amazon or somewhere -- you will have EVERYTHING you ever need in there

There are several rather current threads on the Big Island...my quick recommendation is the Kilauea Lodge in Volcano Village. The BI has all the variety of the other islands in one island. Waipio Valley is gorgeous, Polulu Valley is pretty as well. A helicopter tour over the volcano is amazing.

Hello lorwarn,
Pick up a copy of "Hawaii-The Big Island Revealed" available at Barnes &Noble, Borders etc. We did not find it that inconvenient to drive back and forth to VNP and did not stay near the volcano.(website:www.wizardpub.com/bigisland/bigisland.html)
Big Island Activities
1. Volcanoes Nat'l Park (red hot lava, hike to at end of chain of craters road, Thurston Lava Tube)
2. Snorkeling Boat Trip to Captain Cook Memorial, on Fairwind II from Keahou
3. Snorkeling at Honaunau, visit ancient Hawaiian Park (Place of Refuge)
4. Diving/snorkeling with the manta rays (have not done, personally)
5. Visit Hilton Waikoloa village, for dinner for example.

Will top a previous thread about Big Island & Kauai Restaurant Suggestions :S-

thanks so much for the list johnd! that's what i was looking for ...and thanks to others as well. -lori

Yes, do stay at least one night at VNP so you can see the lava at night.

Check 101 Things To Do On The Big Island at:

http://www.101things.com/Magazines/B...ctivities/All/

Rusty, what a great web site!

Two favorite restaurants on BI;
Oodles of Noodles and Edwards at Kanaloa - both in Kona.

We used our Big Island Revealed book everywhere we went. The maps and directions were right on. It was funny when we saw another couple with their book open at South Point. We liked the Volcano area and it isn't far to Hilo to see the water falls.