Big Island Attractions

It's not cheap, but it's an awesome experience that will become part of family lore. Fly over hidden waterfalls, lush rain forests, beautiful beaches and, of course, the lava rivers that erupt from the famous Kilauea volcano, active since 1983. It's a truly remarkable experience. Kids younger than 2 years and sitting on a parent's lap are free.

Famous for its black beaches, Big Island also boasts glittering white-, green-, gold- and gray-sand beaches with calm bays that provide awesome swimming and snorkeling opportunities. Be aware that, even when waters seem gentle, you should never take your eyes off your children or turn your back on the ocean. And, as the locals say, "when in doubt, stay out."

When it comes to the sun, tropical burns will decimate a vacation -- not to mention a beautiful complexion. Wear SPF 30 sunscreen, and reapply it every two hours. Don hats and SPF-treated bathing suits. It's especially important to wear an SPF top when snorkeling to avoid a fried backside. Ignore this advice at your own peril because Big Island sunburns are big-time painful.

Anaehoomalu Beach in Kona
This beautiful white-sand beach is lined with coconut palms. It provides a beautiful spot for swimming and snorkeling and is renowned for its breathtaking sunsets. The historical King's Trail winds nearby, offering more than two acres of petroglyphs, trails and ancient sites. There are no lifeguards on duty, but resorts and shopping are close by.

Hapuna Beach State Park
Often voted the best beach in the U.S., this white-sand beach is located north of Kona, off Highway 19. Amenities include restrooms, showers, picnic tables, food stands and equipment rentals. Lifeguards are sometimes on duty.

Kahalu'u Beach Park in Kona
This dark-grey-sand beach is an ideal spot for snorkeling. You'll find lifeguards, restrooms, phones, picnic tables, showers and even tide pools. Just off the reef, you might spy tuna, marlins and dolphins jumping.

Kua Bay
One of the most gorgeous beaches on Big Island, this white-sand beach -- paired with calm, turquoise waters -- is located off of the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway (19), north of Kona, between mile markers 88 and 89. Picnic tables, restrooms and showers are available. There's not a sliver of shade in sight, so bring your umbrellas, hats and SPF 30+ sunscreen. This area is not accessible by stroller.

Kauna'oa Beach
This is yet another of Big Island's amazing beaches. Located in front of the beautiful Mauna Kea Resort and off Highway 19, the Kauna'oa Beach provides hours of swimming, snorkeling and boogie-boarding. Amenities include restrooms, showers and a volleyball court, but there are no lifeguards.

Spencer Beach Park
This stunning white-sand beach is located just south of Kawaihae Harbor on Highway 270. Expect to find calm water most of the time, as well as restrooms, showers, picnic tables, lifeguards and grassy areas.

The coolest experience for many on Big Island is dolphin interaction -- swimming and engaging with one of the wisest, most interesting animals on the planet. A variety of programs are offered, including a "Twilight Adventure" for kids, ages 5 to 12, where they'll have the opportunity to take a journey through the Waikoloa village, enjoy a picnic and play with the dolphins. Or, sign up for the "Dolphin Family and Friends," where six people can interact with the dolphins for 30 stunning minutes. You can't take these amazing mammals home, but the memories are yours to keep.

A Big Island treasure, located on nine acres above the University of Hawaii-Hilo, this is an outstanding attraction for parents wanting to infuse interesting education into their children's Hawaiian visit. This wondrous center pairs Hawaiian culture and history with the study of the stars. Interactive exhibits, kid-friendly displays, planetarium shows and lively tours are all available and are not to be missed.

An enormous number of brimming tide pools extend a mile down the beach and 200 yards out into the ocean, and -- get this -- they're volcanically heated. Tropical fish love the warmth and, therefore, swarm to these naturally heated pools. The calm waters are great for snorkeling or just marveling at the wonders in the micro-worlds. Admission is free.

A great time for the train-loving kids in your family, the Laupahoehoe Train Museum celebrates Hawaii's railroad history, which includes providing infrastructure in 1876 for transportation of America's beloved sixth food group: sugar. The museum is housed in the old station agents home and, like Big Island itself, is continually growing as more historical photographs are incorporated into the collection and native Hawaiian plants are added to the garden.

It's open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on weekends. Restrooms are available. Admission is $3 per adult and $2 for students and seniors.

Many people are fascinated with the concept of tsunamis (tidal waves). The east side of Big Island, the site of many a tsunami, has been devastated by two major waves that occurred in 1946 and 1960. The museum and friendly docents are dedicated to teaching visitors about tsunamis through stories of survivors, maps, historical photos, a theater, computers and even a tsunami quilt. It's open Monday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. To 4:00 p.m. Adult admission is $7.00. Seniors and kama'aina (locals) are $6.00 each, and students (ages 6 to 17) are $2.00. Keiki (children) 5 and younger enter for free.

This is a 12-acre, beautifully created zoo that wows visitors with 80 resident species. You'll find a great collection of animals -- including a white Bengal tiger named Namaste (who, frankly, seems a little spoiled), two-toed Sloths, a giant anteater, monkeys, tortoises and brilliant birds -- within a tropical rain forest setting. There's no admission fee, but leaving a donation helps the zoo continue to provide a wondrous home for the animals. Hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily, except December 25 and New Year's, and a petting zoo is available every Saturday from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.