Travel Plan

Archive for August, 2010

Hawaii Whale-Watching

Hawaii whalewatching is truly a memorable experience. In this article we will focus on whalewatching off the island of Maui. Whalewatching season starts as early as November but the largest number of whales travel through Hawaii waters from midDecember to midApril.Each year during this time approximately 1500 to 2000 humpback whales migrate south from their summer feeding grounds in the Arctic. Scientists estimate that this 3000 mile swimming trip takes them from 80 to 100 days.

The whales seem to favor the calmer bays and wide bank areas between the islands of Maui Molokai and Lanai. With their bulky heads and two blowholes they can often be seen cavorting in the warm waters breaching and slapping the surface of the water. Here they mate or bear their “calves” conceived the previous winter.

A mature humpback whale is about 45 feet in lenth and can weigh up to 80000 pounds. Their calves weigh around 3000 pounds at birth and feed off their mother’s highfat milk for six to eight months consuming 100 to 130 gallons per day.

Strangely enough the adult whales do not eat while in Hawaii since they are “seasonal” feeders. However when they return to their Arctic habitat an average humpback whale will consume 4500 to 5000 pounds of plankton krill small shrimplike creatures and fish per day!

On Maui the opportunities for whalewatching from land are extensive. A good vantage point for seeing whales from land is basically anywhere you get a pretty a wide ocean view. McGregor Point at mile marker 9 as you head from Maalaea toward Lahaina is a wellknown whale watching place. Continuing toward Lahaina whales can also be seen off the Olowalu Reefbetween McGregor Point and the town of Olowalu.

When you head south on the Wailea coast the Outrigger Wailea Resort provides another excellent viewing spot with a telescope installed by the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. South from Wailea Puu Olai overlooking Makeena Beach is considered Maui’s best spot for whalewatching.

Whale watching requires patience. Scan the horizon for a cloud of spewing water that rises from 10 to 20 feet above the ocean’s surface. Watch for a good halfhour or so; whales need to breath every 7 to 20 minutes and their spray is simply water vapor that they exhale from their blow hole. So once you locate that telltale spray of water focus your eyes on the area for another one. Here binoculars are especially helpful.

But the best way to see humpback whales is out in their domainand you can book a whalewatching cruise for that. Maui is the home of the Pacific Whale Foundation. A nonprofit whale research organization it supports its research by offering whalewatching tours.

In addition almost every snorkel and diveboat in the area becomes a whalewatching vessel in winter. Maui whalewatching tours leave Lahaina and Maalaea harbors daily during the winter months. In addition to humpbacks sperm whales pilot whales pygmy killer whales beaked whales melonheaded whales and “false” killer whales can often be seen there. You can also view the whales on a rafting expedition. These excursions also leave daily from Lahaina harbor.

The whale may play a little game with you he will poke his head just above the water’s surface to “scope out the scene.” That kind of behavior is actually called a “spy hop” meaning it’s his way of showing off if he feels so inclined. He’ll then leap completely out of the water. If he’s only in the mood to exchange nods he’ll slap his tail or wave his side fins at you that’s the humpback whale’s way of saying “Hi!

Whales communicate underwater through mysterious “songs” forming a perplexing series of sounds. Most whalewatching charters on Maui have a hydrophone on board which will enable you to hear and enjoy the complex sounds of these majestic creatures.

Remember that humpback whales are protected by the Marine Mammals Protection Act and you may come no closer than 100 yards. Even at that distance you will sense the power and beauty of these creatures and you will come away with memories of a lifetime.

About the writer:  Name: Nivedita Balamurugan
Occupation: Traveler
Website: www.thereservationcenter.com
Biography: Nivedita is with The Reservation Center providers of discounted tours to make your vacations and sightseeing trips in various cities across the world as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

Hawaiian Travel Guide: KauaI Preparations

Its four distinct geographical regions are the main reason for the Magic you will experience when vacationing on the Island of Kaua’i's 550 square miles. Kauais western side is the site of what is possibly the most beautiful stretch of coastline in all of Hawaii the Na Pali Coast. Kauais North Shore has all the mesmerizing beaches emerald mountains tumbling waterfalls and rainbowspanned vistas you would expect
to find on Hawaiian vacation brochures.

The island’s South Shore as the sunny weather and unspoiled beaches which attract most of its visitors and is the home of the PoiPu Resort. Finally Kauais East Side is where you find its commercial and residential heart its government offices and its largest city Kapaa.

You will enjoy your visit Kauai much more if you time it to suit your taste in activities. If you are planning to spend your days enjoying its magnificent beaches be aware that the huge surf off its North Shore can make those beaches unswimmable during the winter months while it is South Shore gets big waves during the summer. Your best opportunities for whale watching occurring February although some whale show up as early as December and some remain until April.

The Islands Kalalau Trail may be offlimits following winter rains and you can forget along the Na Pali coast during the winter months. Almost all of Kauais western shore attractions in fact are available only during the dry season. At least busiest seasons are between midJune in early September and from midDecember to early April. You will pay more for your accommodations during those months and you will also pay a price in crowded hotels and congested roads and beaches.

One thing remains the same year round on the island of Kauai is its temperature at an average of a delightful 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Kauai is coolest in the early morning and late evening and swimmers can expect water temperatures of between 74 and 80. Vacationing on Kauai during the rainy season between December and March can be disappointing unless you restrict your travels to its southern and western areas. The biggest advantage of enjoying Kauai during the rainy season is that you will experience its plant life and waterfalls at their most spectacular.

Packing for your trip to Kauai will require some care. Make sure to include a sunscreen or sunblock which is both waterproof and has an SPF rating of at least 25 to protect you from the strong beach sun. Also include UV protective sunglasses and a camera with either lots of memory or plenty of rolls of film. Light clothing is fine all year long but make sure you have protection from the rain if you are traveling during the winter.

Get a map which guides you not only to the islands important tourist areas but one that will help you find it offthemaindrag attractions. If you plan to hike in its outlying areas bring plenty of water because you cannot rely on the safety of its streams. You will need sturdy hiking boots insect repellent and whatever water sports equipment will let you take advantage of all the beachrelated activities on this marvelous island escape!

About the writer:  myroadtotravel was created in late 2007 as way for my wife and I to do what we love most…Travel. We love to share our experiences with others and have recently created our first blog http://www.myroadtotravelblog.com to help us do just that. Through this blog we offer travel tips our own personal experiences/adventures and photos from our vacations. Please stop by and give us your feedback and remember for all your travel booking needs please visit us at http://www.myroadtotravel.com

Have Fun With A Snowmobile Vacations In Michigan

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan has been a long time favorite destination for snowmobilers and vacationers who love the frigid cold of the winter season. With the guaranteed cold weather and large amount of annual snowfall winter vacationers are sure to find the ideal conditions for their winter activity of choice. Snowmobiling happens to be one of the most popular winter sports in the Upper Peninsula along with many other regions of North America. Planning your next snowmobile trip in the U.P. will most assuredly provide you with an exciting time of snowmobiling followed by a soothing and relaxing time in one of the many winter lodges.

In Marquette Michigan snowmobilers will delight in the facilities provided for them. The Nordic Bay Lodge is a premier snowmobiling vacation spot where guests can enjoy the amazing views of Lake Superior from any window in the lodge. With the lodge’s contemporary European style it is sure to satisfy even the most discerning vacationer. Some of the amenities include an indoor sauna in each room wireless internet capabilities private balconies with astounding views and a fully equipped kitchen. Courtesy of the lodge there is also a shuttle service to and from the many skiing and snowmobile facilities in the area making the Nordic Bay Lodge one of the most hasslefree winter vacation facilities in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

In Newberry Michigan vacationers who are on a budget will enjoy the more moderately priced Comfort Inn for their stay. This hotel also rents out snowmobiles to give their guests an added measure of convenience. Curtis Michigan contains the Fish and Hunt Shop of Curtis Michigan where guests and residents can pick up supplies for winter activities such as ice fishing and safety gear for snowmobiling. The Munising Snowmobile Rentals and the Superior Motel Snowmobile rental offer their visitors inexpensive packages for snowmobilers. For less than 200 a day guests can take advantage of overnight accommodations along with snowmobile and equipment rental. Helmets and suits are also available with a trailer to haul the rented snowmobiles to the trails.

Along with ideal snowmobiling conditions Michigan’s Upper Peninsula provides other activities that winter vacationers will be sure to enjoy. Every February there is the Michigan Ice Festival a carnivallike event featuring amazing ice sculptures and other attractions that winter guests will enjoy. There is also an annual dog sled race in the Upper Peninsula which is a favorite local event that attracts visitors from all around. These and other activities make for enjoyable evenings after a long day of snowmobiling across the winter landscape.

The cities in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula strive to attract snowmobilers from around the region. They encourage the enjoyment of their landscape by winter lovers from all around. Several winterrelated organizations provide websites for snowmobilers and winter vacationers of all sorts. The websites are dedicated to providing the latest weather conditions and information about the snowmobile trails along with equipment rental information and a full calendar of winter events. Website visitors can contribute to the site through forums stories and photos of their past snowmobile experiences. These sites also offer live webcams that view selected winter trails and interviews with other winter activity lovers to encourage others in their adventures. Each city also has some type of accommodations for snowmobilers whether it is resorts cabins or motels the facilities constantly strive to meet the specific needs of snowmobilers and winter activity enthusiasts.

With an average of over 200 inches of annual snowfall for a winter season the Upper Peninsula of Michigan makes snowmobiling and other winter activities easy to enjoy. There is never a worry about if there will be enough fresh snow or cold weather because this region of the country is almost guaranteed to have ideal winter conditions every year. Nestled in the serenity of undisturbed nature Michigan’s Upper Peninsula also has a relaxing atmosphere making it an ideal place for honeymoons anniversary trips or just a getaway from the chaos of everyday life.

About the writer:  Information on California facts can be found at the US States Facts site.