Sunshine, ocean, rainbows, and umbrella drinks are a regular part of my life. Socks and mittens are not. After growing up in the snowy Midwest, I know how fortunate I am. A popular phrase here is “Lucky We Live Hawaii,” implying we don’t just live IN Hawaii, we LIVE the Hawaii way, with Aloha.
So, when Hawaii residents have the opportunity to vacation, where do we go?
1. To Visit Family. Hawaii residents spend a lot of vacation dollars traveling to the U.S. Mainland, Canada, or various Asian countries to visit extended family. So, we don’t often “choose” where we go on vacation, but it’s a reasonable trade. For a change of pace, I coordinated to meet my parents, who live in Florida, in California so we both got to see a new spot.
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, CA
2. North. When it’s hot in Hawaii, going north to a cold climate can be a great change of pace. Alaska, Vancouver, and other snow destinations are popular. I recently re-lived my snowy childhood by warming up the car and scraping the ice off the windshield. Once was enough.
Alaska
3. Vegas, Baby! Hawaii’s infatuation with “the 9th island” runs deep. Vegas is a comparatively cheap and easy getaway spot.
4. Asia. If you’re from the U.S. Mainland or Canada, Hawaii is about halfway to Asia, both geographically and culturally, so continuing west seems easy. My children took Chinese and Japanese language classes in school, and later we visited those countries with an educational tour group for a reasonable rate.
Great Wall of China
5. Down Under. While Australia and New Zealand are still a 10 hour plus plane ride from Hawaii, they’re not nearly as far as from the Eastern U.S., and with a few direct flights available, it’s easier than from the U.S. Mainland.
North Island, New Zealand
6. Other Hawaiian Islands. For a weekend getaway, try another island. You’ll be amazed at the variety of scenery and the differences between each island. The Big Island of Hawaii is lava coated in some areas, rainforest in others, and has high prairies with livestock, too. Kauai has The Grand Canyon of the Pacific at Waimea Canyon, and it looks very similar to the original!
Waimea Canyon, Kauai
When a stay-cation just won’t cut it, we have some fantastic options for traveling. There’s a lot that can’t be beat about this place, though, and we truly are lucky we are living the Hawaii Life!
Want to Know More?
If you have any questions about the Hawaii lifestyle, or are interested in real estate opportunities here on Oahu, please contact me.
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