Maui - You've got to come to Maui!!!!

Jeffrey and I sat down at a very fine dining establishment and when I looked around there were families all around. Everywhere we went on Maui there are families - very young, teens, grandma and grandpa's - and of course the newlyweds! We started planning a family reunion in a few years - you are going to love it.

February - March is the peak season for the humpback whale to come have their calves and breach, and blow, and show off to everyone who comes to see them! We came at the peak of the peak season. So very fortunate and lucky for me!

Next time I want a zoom lens and to be in front of the boat

It was so spectacular and these photos are lame in comparison

One trip you do not want to miss is the Bike Trip down the mountain! We left the hotel at 2:30 in the morning and rode in a van to their headquarters where we sign lots of paper that said we weren't going to sue if we died and that we for sure weren't pregnant. Then another van ride to the top of the peak - They call it a crater but now it's just the tallest peak - and waited for the sunrise. It is COLD, be sure to bring WARM clothes. You'll need to dress in layers so as you come down from the freezing weather to the balmy 80's you can peel stuff off in stages. I kid you not, you'll want thermals for the top, but just put on layers you can take off on the side of the road. The sunrise was really looking great until 2 minutes before the sun broke through, the fog/mist/light rain covered it all up.  They don't let you ride in the park anymore the wet, twisty, steep turns had too many accidents, so the van drivers let you out on the side of the road then with one guide riding a bike with a radio in front and the van behind -down you go! 28 miles to the beach. It's like being on a very long amusement ride.  I haven't been on a bike in over 10 years but all you do is hang on and brake. You are going to LOVE it! Great views, scary turns, climate that changes every half mile, risk of accident that can leave you dead or badly wounded, and seconds of fantastic scenery. (You are watching the bike in front and trying not to run into them and stay in the bike lane or next to the yellow line)  They stop a few times to let you eat breakfast, change clothes, and catch your breath.  I was able to unclench my hands from the brakes.

The color just before the sunrise

They outfit you with these great wind/rain breakers and a bike with one gear

also a very nice helmet and they tell you to wear sun or prescription glasses
so the wind and rain doesn't cause your eyes to close

There are so many different things for you to do in Maui.  Aquariums, zip-lines, canoeing from the beach, yoga on the beach, art, snorkeling, museums, dancing, all kinds of hikes, parasailing, surfing, etc. You can go on a scenic tour, look at very long falls, do a helicopter ride, eat in fine dining establishments, and watch the free hula shows in the old cannery. Shopping is everywhere and for fun look in the book "Maui Revealed" by Andrew Doughty, and get the lowdown on all the tourist must do's and don'ts. You can pick it up at Costco. It tells about blow holes you can see and which are the best boats. For the tots there is a train ride through the old sugar plantation (and hopefully grandma when you want to go out somewhere).

In these pictures you can't see the whales, blowing and breaching about 200 yards away.  I saw whales every day. Fantastic!

YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE MAUI!!

I'm thinking if we could get you over there in a nice place to stay and pay for one adventure, then you guys could plan ahead and pay for the rest of your adventures and your food. We stopped at the Costco and loaded up and I brought spices, rice, beans, noodles in my suitcase and we ate great.  I'd probably make a better menu next time so we didn't have to eat the same thing twice.  Anyway it turns out, I think you're going to have fun!! We did.