Fodor's Expert Review Parker Ranch

Exceeding 130,000 acres and regularly running tens of thousands of head of cattle, Parker Ranch is an impressive and compelling backdrop for the scenic town of Waimea. It was established in 1847 by a sailor from Massachusetts, John Palmer Parker, who was permitted by the Hawaiian ruler King Kamehameha I to cull vast herds of out-of-control cattle; thus, the ranch was born. It later grew into the empire it is today, and the foundation started by Parker's descendants supports community health care and education. In addition to taking self-guided tours of two of the ranch's historic homes—Hale Mana and Puuopelu—free of charge, you can also visit Parker Ranch Center, the town's largest shopping and restaurant complex.