Volcano

When you visit the Big Island, you may want to see the volcano.

Volcanoes National Park is to Hawaii what Yosemite is to California. It is a huge, spectacular park. Not the sort of place you drive up to, click the camera, and drive on.

When you enter the park, you can park and go to the visitors center, and get an idea of what sorts of adventures you can have there. Like hiking to flowing lava, and seeing the newest land on Earth. Walking through a lava tube, through a fern grotto. Walking a trail over lava that has flowed in your life time, scorching the earth, and yet where trees are already growing back. Walking through an ancient rainforest, perhaps seeing the rare nene.

There is the gallery, with installations of the finest art on the island. Much of it is done in the style of the ancient Hawaiians, and to stroll through this museum/gallery is to connect with the culture of the island.

Volcano House holds a restaurant, cafe, gift shops, and hotel. In homage to the goddess Pele, a fire is kept constantly going in the grand entry room. Here, you can actually watch the sun set over the rim of the caldera.

It is nice to stay at Volcano, whether at Volcano House, the Inn in town, or one of the many guest houses available to travelers. Lodging is less expensive than in Kona, and the island is so large that you can easily divide a week into segments, spending part of your time in the rainforest of Volcano.