Hawaii 15-nights
Crystal Symphony

San Diego characterises a typical Southern Californian beach city: with year-round sunshine and surf, a superb coastline with miles of sandy-white beaches, easygoing inhabitants, and a wide variety of world-class family attractions, tourists can’t help but be drawn to ‘America’s finest city’.

Although California’s third biggest city with an ever-increasing population of more than a million, San Diego prides itself on its small-town ambience, with very little of the pollution, highway congestion and raciness of Los Angeles. In 1769 a Spanish missionary by the name of Father Junipero Serra established a Catholic mission and fortified settlement in what was later to become San Diego; it was the first permanent European settlement on the West Coast of the United States.

The city is a vibrant collection of colourful neighbourhoods and communities. It has award-winning restaurants, trendy shopping districts, attractions such as the world-renowned San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld, and a dynamic downtown district that includes the city’s historic Gaslamp Quarter. There are numerous indications of its Mexican and Spanish heritage in the traditional architecture, typical Mexican cuisine, and strong links with the town of Tijuana just across the Mexican border.

San Diego is also rich in art and culture, and the city boasts the largest urban cultural park in the US, with beautiful gardens and Spanish architecture featuring 17 museums, art galleries and theatres to be found in Balboa Park. More than 70 miles (113km) of beaches around the city offer superb surfing and beach activities and provide the perfect introduction to this accessible and laid-back city. 

It means “the gathering place,” and whoever named Oahu knew what he was talking about. For millions gather here every year to enjoy “the jewel city” of Honolulu, from Diamond Head and the world-famous beaches of Waikiki to the inspiring memorials of Pearl Harbor, to the only royal palace ever constructed on U.S. soil. And if you’re a board-bug, don’t
miss the legendary surfing beaches of the North Shore.

The main city on the Island is Honolulu, with Waikiki being the primarybeach and resort hotel area. Among the many popular things to do on Oahu, the Polynesian Cultural Center and Sea Life Park, on the opposite side of the Island from Honolulu, are very popular.

The wettest spot on earth is said to be Kauai’s Mount Waialeale with an average rainfall of 485 inches per year – this has resulted in the Alakai Swamp, the highest swamp in the world, and the Waimea River, the longest river in the Hawaiian Islands. It also causes an abundance of rainbows and lush vegetation that has earned it the title of ‘the Garden Island’.

Kauai was the first of the Hawaiian Islands to be discovered by English explorer Captain James Cook in 1778 when he landed at Waimea on Kauai’s southwest coast. There is evidence, however, that he was not the first European in Hawaii; some Spanish sailors may have paid a visit about a century earlier.

Today Kauai is popular with visitors, but tourism development is concentrated in just a few prime locations such as the Princeville resort on the north coast. The main attractions on Kauai are its natural beauty and the unassuming lifestyle of the people.

Holidaymakers who opt for Kauai’s raw wilderness are rewarded with some of the most secluded, pristine beaches in the Hawaiian Islands and marvellous natural wonders like Waimea Canyon, covering 14 miles (23km) on the west side. There are also some restored historic sites to explore, like the Alekoko Fishpond near Nawiliwili Harbour on the southeast coast, regarded as an engineering wonder of ancient times.

Kaanapali’s next-door neighbor is the remarkable town of Lahaina, once the capital of all Hawaii and a major port for the free-wheeling mercenaries of the Pacific whaling trade. Once a peaceful plantation village, now a bustling visitors mecca, Lahaina is a must-see for visitors of all ages. Lahaina today reflects its colorful past. Approximately 55 acres of the town have been set aside as historic districts containing several sites designated as National Historical Landmarks. Front Street is the center of Lahaina activity, where grog shops and ship’s outfitters of old now house a multitude of art galleries, boutiques, craft shops and restaurants.

Lahaina also hosts a roster of innovative restaurants specializing in Hawaii Regional Cuisine, a masterful blend of classic Asian and Continental techniques with the unique taste of paradise. More than 40 art galleries offer the works of both acclaimed local artists and masters such as Dali, Chagall and Miro. In fact, art shopping in Lahaina has become so popular that it is celebrated in a weekly event called “Friday Night is Art Night in Lahaina Town.” Art lovers stroll from gallery to gallery viewing finished works, meeting the artists and watching them work amidst an outdoor party atmosphere.

Lahaina is easily accessible from the Kaanapali Resort, just a short three-mile trip via car, or relax and take the complimentary shuttle bus that services Lahaina from several sites within the resort. Many adventurous “commuters” choose to board the Sugar Cane Train from Kaanapali and take the scenic route to Lahaina through the West Maui sugar cane fields.

The youngest and largest of the Hawaiian Islands, the island of Hawaii (known as Big Island to avoid confusion) is one of the few places on earth where visitors can go from snowboarding to snorkelling in a single day! Local legend has it that the volcano goddess Pele and the demi-god Kamapua’a, who could control the weather, battled for the island and eventually decided to divide it: Pele took the hot, dry western half and Kamapua’a ended up with the wet, tropical east.

Big Island, however, actually has twelve distinct climatic zones ranging from tropical rain forests in the east to the frozen tundra atop Mauna Kea and the arid desert of Ka’u in the south. This diversity makes Hawaii’s Big Island an unrivalled pleasure ground for active holidaymakers, the island’s resorts offering every type of outdoor activity imaginable. To add to the thrill there is the attraction of two active volcanoes on this island – the Kilauea Caldera is the longest continuously erupting volcano in the world, its present eruptive phase dating back to 1983; Mauna Loa last erupted in 1984. Of the three other volcanoes on the island two, Mauna Kea and Kohala, are extinct, while Hualalai is considered to be dormant. All this volcanic action has meant that holidaymakers can decide on their preferred beach sand tones ranging from white to red, black and even green.

Together with the diverse ecosystems of Big Island is the rich Polynesian Hawaiian culture, a culture that has absorbed some interesting elements from both Asia and Europe, creating a colourful mix. On the coast you can dance the hula at an authentic luau feast, while upcountry you will find a blend of Portuguese and Mexican culture combined with Hawaiian tradition among the ‘Paniolos’ (cowboys) on the giant cattle ranches. 

 

 Just south of the border, on the Baja Peninsula, lies the flourishing, friendly port and holiday destination of Ensenada, a 90-minute drive south of San Diego and joined to Tijuana by the spectacular Trans-Peninsula Highway, with its breathtaking ocean views. The first visitor to this beautiful bay was Spanish explorer Sebastian Vizcaino, who set ashore in 1602 and named the spot Ensenada de Todos los Santos,which means ‘inlet of all the saints’. The saints have indeed been kind to Ensenada, which today has progressed from a Spanish mission station through fishing village status to become Mexico’s second-most visited port of call for cruise liners and yachts, an extremely popular holiday destination for land-based tourists, and a leading convention centre. The secret of Ensenada’s success as a tourist magnet is simple: the resort town basically has it all. The weather is bright and sunny throughout the year, and the Pacific beaches are magnificent. These basic ingredients have been enhanced by some wonderful natural and man-made attractions, great restaurants serving up fresh seafood and local wines, and amiable local tour operators providing a huge array of outdoor recreational activities and excursions. Even the town’s industry, which consists mainly of fishing, winemaking and canning, has become a lure for visitors, who can visit factories and wineries and liberally sample the delicious wares.