Travel Fun and Adventure

On this episode of the Travel Fun and Adventure Podcast, we give you our list of the best attractions and things to do on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Punaluu Black Sand Beach

Volcanoes National Park

Akaka Falls State Park

Pu'uhonua O Honaunan Ntational Historic Park

Pacific Tsunami Museum

Kona Salt Farm Tour

Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory

Kilauea Caverns Of Fire

Hulihee Palace

Old Kona Airport Park

Boat Tours

Zip Lines 

Lua's 

Let's talk about this episode on our Facebook page.

We also have a Twitter page where we post airfare specials we see or articles important to those looking to travel now or in the future.

Our website can be found at Travel Fun and Adventure.

Travel Fun and Adventure
PO Box 842
Hudson, IA 50643
[email protected]

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On this episode of the Travel Fun and Adventure Podcast, we tell you our picks for the best places to eat on the Big Island.

One thing to know when you are traveling in Hawaii, especially away from Waikiki, is that most restaurants close between 7pm and 8pm so if you are usually a late eater, that is something you will want to keep in mind or else on the Big Island your choices may end up being either Denny's or Jack in the Box (yes even McDonalds closes at 8pm), so be sure to check those closing times.

So here are our favorites on the Big Island (the list starts on the south side of Kona and works its way to the north side, then down to the Hilo area). 

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue
(Multiple Locations on all the islands).

Sam Choy's Kai Lanai
78-6831 Alii Drive, Suite 1000, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740

Los Habaneros
78-6831 Alii Drive #405, Kailua Kona, HI 96740

On the Rocks
75-5824 Kahakai Road, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

Big Island Grill
75-5702 Kuakini Hwy, Kailua-Kona, HI

Cipriano's Kitchen
61-3642 Kawaihae Rd, Kamuela, HI 96743

Our Founding Fathers (Ice Cream)
55-3409 Akoni Pule Hwy Hawi, HI 96719

Kings View Cafe
54-3897 Akoni Pule Hwy, Kapaau, Hi 96755

Village Burger
67-1185 Hawaii Belt Rd. Waimea, HI 96743

Don's Chinese Kitchen
67-1185 Hawaiʻi Belt Rd (same shopping center as Village Burger)

Tex Drive-In
45-690 Pakalana St, Honokaa, HI 96727

Kens House of Pancakes
1730 Kamehameha Ave, Hilo, HI 96720 USA

Big Island Hot Dogs
811 Laukapu St Ste 6, Hilo, HI

Luquin's Mexican Restaurants
15-1448 Kahakai Blvd, Pāhoa

Be sure to check out one or more of these restaurants when you are on the Big Island, and be sure to tell them that the Travel Fun and Adventure podcast sent you. 

Disclaimer: No restaurant on this list paid to be included. 

Let's talk about this episode on our Facebook page.

We also have a Twitter page where we post airfare specials we see or articles important to those looking to travel now or in the future.

Our website can be found at Travel Fun and Adventure.

Travel Fun and Adventure
PO Box 842
Hudson, IA 50643
[email protected]

Music provided by:

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/reakt-music/deep-stone
License code: JSMBIKZBIADTYR

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
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License code: 6BME73BXSUHQOKIO

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Planning a trip to Oahu but don't know what attractions to visit (besides the glorious beaches, of course!!) Well, in this episode of the Travel Fun and Adventure Podcast, we give you the list of our favorite attractions on Oahu, some of which are free and others that can run a great deal of money.

One Hawaii experience you must have is attending a Luau. There are many available, some good and some not so good, and they can get really pricey; however, there are many out there, so find one that fits your needs.

Here are links to our favorite attractions (they are not in any particular order, and no attraction has paid sponsorship to be on this list. 

Sea Life Park

Polynesian Cultural Center

The Dole Plantation

Diamond Head

Manoa Falls

Pearl Harbor

USS Missouri

Hawaiian Railway Society

Kualoa Ranch

Hawaii Glass Bottom Boats

Hawaii WOW Tours (Gondola Tours)

And here is one that did not make it into the podcast, so its a bonus for those who check the show notes:

Waimea Valley

This place has a little of everything, from a great beach, a historic site, a botanical garden, and a waterfall. 

From this list you have a great start to your Oahu adventure. 

Let's talk about this episode on our Facebook page.

We also have a Twitter page where we post airfare specials we see or articles important to those looking to travel now or in the future.

Our website can be found at Travel Fun and Adventure.

Travel Fun and Adventure
PO Box 842
Hudson, IA 50643
[email protected]

Music provided by:

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/reakt-music/deep-stone
License code: JSMBIKZBIADTYR

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Here are our picks for the best restaurants on the island of Oahu. Before traveling to Hawaii, I went to ChatGPT to see what it would come up with for restaurants in addition to my experience, and it came up with two that were permanently closed during the pandemic and a couple of others that were already ones we would pick.

Here are our picks for some of the best restaurants on Oahu; many of them feature a version of Hawaiian food, some with Hawaiian and Asian influences, plus some with mainland American food influences.

Rock Island Cafe
1911 Kalakaua Avenue

Rainbow Drive-In
3 Locations on Oahu

Zippy's Restaurant
16 Locations on the Hawaiian Islands

Cinnamon's Restaurant
2 Locations

Island Vintage Shaved Ice
Royal Hawaiian Center

Scoop of Paradise
66-145 Kamehameha Hwy 510

Haleiwa Joe's
2 Locations

Highway Inn
3 Locations

Helena's Hawaiian Food
1240 North School Street

Maple Garden Restaurant
909 Isenberg Street

Haleiwa Beach House
62-540 Kamehameha Hwy - North Shore

Egghead Cafe
1210 Dillingham Blvd #8

Our last recommendation is to try some street food. Whether it be a food truck or highway stand (there are many of them heading up the north shore), you will find some great food and some great local flavors. 

Most of these restaurants are very affordable, and in fact, you will probably spend less per person than if you went to McDonald's, at least the Mcdonald's across the street from the Hilton Hawaiian Village. 

Let's talk about this episode on our Facebook page.

We also have a Twitter page where we post airfare specials we see or articles important to those looking to travel now or in the future.

Our website can be found at Travel Fun and Adventure.

Travel Fun and Adventure
PO Box 842
Hudson, IA 50643
[email protected]

Music provided by:

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/reakt-music/deep-stone
License code: JSMBIKZBIADTYR

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/albert-behar/dixieland-strut
License code: 6BME73BXSUHQOKIO

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In this week's episode of the Travel Fun and Adventure Podcast, we give you our honest reviews of two Hawaiian reports, one in Waikiki and the other on the Big Island in Kona.

First, the employees at both resorts were awesome, friendly, helpful, and efficient.

The two resorts are a contrast; the Hilton Hawaiian Village is in the heart of the action in Waikiki and is extremely business even in the off-peak times, while the Houlua Resort is quieter and more laid back, and there are a lot fewer people.

The major downside to both resorts is that neither one is pet-friendly.

Hilton Hawaiian Village

The Hilton Hawaiian Village is in the heart of the action In Waikiki.

The rooms are clean, the grounds are nice, there are many shops within the complex, is extremely walkable, has fantastic transit access, and is family-friendly.

The major downsides are that the complex can be extremely crowded, parking is expensive, and they charge a resort fee of $50.00 per night.

Rooms can range anywhere from $200 to $750 dollars a night.

Shell Vacations Club Holua Resort at the Mauna Loa Village

The Holua Resort at the Mauna Loa Village has great parking, the grounds are nice, and is also family-friendly. 

The major downside of the resort is that the living room furniture was stained and showing its age, the kitchen cabinets were from another century, and there is very little you can walk to. 

Condos at the complex can run anywhere from $200 to $500 a night. 

Both of the hotels earned a B+ score, and I would not hesitate to stay there again. 

Let's talk about this episode on our Facebook page.

We also have a Twitter page where we post airfare specials we see or articles important to those looking to travel now or in the future.

Our website can be found at Travel Fun and Adventure.

Travel Fun and Adventure
PO Box 842
Hudson, IA 50643
[email protected]

Music provided by:

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/reakt-music/deep-stone
License code: JSMBIKZBIADTYR

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
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What are some of the surprises you may find on a trip to Hawaii? On this episode of the Travel Fun and Adventure Podcast, we take a look at some things that might surprise you when making a journey to paradise on the islands. 

1. Unlike most places, off-airport car rentals, especially those in Waikiki, are more expensive than the airport locations. 

2. You will find the most friendly service people. 

3. Traffic is bad, bad, bad, unless you in some very rural places on the islands other than Oahu. 

4. Drivers will drive either 20 miles per hour over the speed limit or 10 miles under the speed limit, which may not be a surprise depending on where you are from. 

5. The speed limits are low except for some rare exceptions. 

6. The islands have many micro-climates so just because the weather is nice on one part of the island, it could be bad just a few miles away. 

7.  Don't expect to get a Lei when you arrive, although you can get one on the first floor of the parking garage near Terminal 1, or you can pay too much for one at one of the shops in the airport. 

8. Tiping information will be in your face at almost every restaurant you go to. 

9. Prices are going to be high, for example, except to pay double for McDonalds over what you would pay at home. Remember, almost everything has to be shipped to the islands. 

10. Despite seeing a lot of unhoused (homeless) there is not a lot of panhandling. 

11. There is lots of street food to be found so be sure to seek it out and enjoy it. 

Let's talk about this episode on our Facebook page.

We also have a Twitter page where we post airfare specials we see or articles important to those looking to travel now or in the future.

Our website can be found at Travel Fun and Adventure.

Travel Fun and Adventure
PO Box 842
Hudson, IA 50643
[email protected]

Music provided by:

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/reakt-music/deep-stone
License code: JSMBIKZBIADTYR

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/albert-behar/dixieland-strut
License code: 6BME73BXSUHQOKIO

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In this episode of the Travel Fun and Adventure Podcast, we give the low down on our trip to Hawaii. As regular listeners to the podcast will know, this was supposed to be a trip in June to the Canary Islands, but when my wife's and daughter's passports were delayed and took seven months to arrive, we had to change our plans. 

Let's talk about this episode on our Facebook page.

We also have a Twitter page where we post airfare specials we see or articles important to those looking to travel now or in the future.

Our website can be found at Travel Fun and Adventure.

Travel Fun and Adventure
PO Box 842
Hudson, IA 50643
[email protected]

Music provided by:

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/reakt-music/deep-stone
License code: JSMBIKZBIADTYR

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
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Courtyard by Marriott or Hilton Garden Inn. Both are premium hotels that are tailored for business travelers, but could they be the right choice for you? In this episode of the Travel Fun and Adventure Podcast we compare a Courtyard and a Garden Inn to see which one is best.

The best features of the Garden Inn: An update room with the best desk setup I have encountered, clean, recently renovated room, and furniture that fits the class of hotel, and a friendly check out.

The best features of the Courtyard by Marriott: Friendly check in, excellent public areas, room maintained well, furniture that fits the class of hotel, close to the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport and the Mall of America, and friendly check out.

What Garden Inn needs to work on: Not a friendly check in, grounds area is primarily a sea of parking for the connected casino, no walkability, expensive breakfast, very few restaurants in the area (almost nothing in the casino).

What Courtyard by Marriott needs to work on: Their grounds are better than the Garden Inn but not by much, and expensive breakfast.

Overall hotels are pretty good however in this case the Courtyard by Marriott came out ahead with a grade of B- while the Garden Inn rated a C+. While I would probably not stay at either one of these particular locations again due their locations, for the most part they do have clean, comfortable rooms that are well maintained.

Garden Inn
2702 Mid America Drive
Council Bluffs, Iowa, 51501

Courtyard by Marriott
7800 Bloomington Avenue S
Bloomington, MN 55425

Let's talk about this episode on our Facebook page.

We also have a Twitter page where we post airfare specials we see or articles important to those looking to travel now or in the future.

Our website can be found at Travel Fun and Adventure.

Travel Fun and Adventure
PO Box 842
Hudson, IA 50643
[email protected]

Music provided by:

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/reakt-music/deep-stone
License code: JSMBIKZBIADTYR

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/albert-behar/dixieland-strut
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Here is a list of some charities that are taking donations for those affected by the wildfires in Maui. If you have the financial means and feel it is the right thing to do please consider a donation.

American Red Cross 

Maui Strong Fund (Hawaii Community Foundation)

Aloha United Way

The Maui Food Bank

Maui Humane Society

Salvation Army

Regenerative Education Center

Ama OluKai Foundation

Third Wave Volunteers (Facebook Page)

Maui Nui Strong

Please note that we are not endorsing any of the above-mentioned charities but are providing them for those that want to help the people of Maui. 

Let's talk about this episode on our Facebook page.

We also have a Twitter page where we post airfare specials we see or articles important to those looking to travel now or in the future.

Our website can be found at Travel Fun and Adventure.

Travel Fun and Adventure
PO Box 842
Hudson, IA 50643
[email protected]

Music provided by:

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/reakt-music/deep-stone
License code: JSMBIKZBIADTYR

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
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On this episode of the Travel Fun and Adventure Podcast, we list the most common pet peeves when it comes to visiting major tourist attractions. 

1.     Fees

2.     Photography Policies

3.     Long Lines

4.     Rude and Loud People 

5.     Line Jumpers 

6.     Slow People 

7.     Herds of people blocking the pathways 

8.     People trying to get that perfect Instagram shot 

9.     People with selfie sticks

10.  People who push in front of children.  

Let's talk about this episode on our Facebook page.

We also have a Twitter page where we post airfare specials we see or articles important to those looking to travel now or in the future.

Our website can be found at Travel Fun and Adventure.

Travel Fun and Adventure
PO Box 842
Hudson, IA 50643
[email protected]

Music provided by:

Music from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/reakt-music/deep-stone
License code: JSMBIKZBIADTYR

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/albert-behar/dixieland-strut
License code: 6BME73BXSUHQOKIO

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
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License code: EAXHQTLXUZ0AMC5Y