On Nov 24, Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band are all set to bring Summerzcool to Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Summerzcool tour is heading towards a grand finale with the upcoming December release of Buffet Hotel - Jimmy Buffett’s latest album based on a musical experience he had in Timbuktu, Mali.

Summerzcool Tour, Jimmy Buffett

Parrotheads won’t mind shelling out for Jimmy Buffett tickets and checking-in for the Buffet Hotel experience at MSGNYC. But that’s not all a Parrothead does.

A loyal Parrothead, in addition to being a fan and groupie whenever possible, also must experience an authentic Jimmy Buffett-style state of mind on an island vacation. Where better to do this than in Hawaii?  Read More »

USS Arizona Memorial

Pearl Harbor is the #1 most popular tourist attraction on the island of Oahu, but that is not why I visited.  I’m not a history buff, or interested in war trivia, or necessarily drawn to hallowed ground, so that’s not why I went either.  I went because I know and love many men and women who have served in the Armed Forces.  I have dated them, sprung from their loins, even considered becoming one myself.  (That’s for a different website.)  And so when I had some time in my schedule on Oahu, I looked into visiting this national monument.

When I asked locals what I should know about going to visit Pearl Harbor, I was told without variation that I should “go early, to avoid the lines.”  The monument’s website is very clear about the process for your visit – pick up a timed ticket, wait in line, no bags or backpacks or even diaper bags allowed.  I succeeded in packing light, but not at arriving early.  I made it out to the visitor’s center at about 11:00 AM on a Friday in September.  There was no line.  I got a ticket for the tour starting in five minutes, so there was little wait.  And the center wasn’t very crowded, so the whole experience was…pleasant.

It is odd to say that this visit was pleasant because essentially you are visiting an underwater tomb. Read More »

Diamond Head - the peak is the edge of a huge crater

I didn’t do much research before I went to Oahu.  There, I said it.  I was fine just going with the flow, no guidebook to refer to, consulting the internet for information.  So when the airplane was touching down in Honolulu and my seatmate, a local resident, pointed out Diamond Head to me and said that you can hike to the top, I mentally put that on my to-do list.  Other island dwellers suggested I hike early, before it gets too hot, and at sunrise if possible.

No, not possible.  I was on the run from the moment I woke up until the moment I went to sleep every one of the few days I was there, so the best I could do was set my alarm for 6:15 on a Sunday morning, the day I was scheduled to catch a 12:30 PM flight.  My hotel was just a short ride from the Diamond Head Visitor’s Center, and my internet research told me the hike would be short, so I figured I could fit it in before breakfast.

And so I did.  And because I was not up there literally at the crack of dawn, I had a better time of it.  You see, this is one of those bus tour type of attractions, and that morning there were several on site with loads of tourists who had ascended to watch the sun come up.  I had the pleasure of greeting them all on their way down, which left a few stragglers at the top once I arrived, and even pockets of pure, quiet solitude. Read More »

Are you looking for ideas for your next vacation?  Want to go somewhere, but can’t decide exactly where?

Perhaps you should check out one of the Top 10 US Cities to Visit.  Of course, whether or not a city is the best is a subjective opinion – but Conde Nast Traveler has taken a poll of its readers collective subjective opinions and come up with 10 American Cities that you’re most likely to enjoy visiting.  With cities from across the country highlighted, there should be a great vacation destination for everyone.

Top 10 Best Places To Visit In The Us

San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge - Best US City to Visit

1.  San Francisco, California

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of San Francisco, California is The Golden Gate Bridge.  Residents rave about the culture and the year round mild weather that’s never too hot or too cold.  Visitors to San Francisco can stay in some of the country’s most eco-friendly hotels and enjoy organic dining.  UpTake’s own Cat Lincoln shares insider information on San Francisco via podcast.

Read More »

What's your Twitter handle, pal?

Here’s how I learned to never underestimate a tourist attraction.

One advantage of being a social person is that I get to meet lots of different people and I’m not afraid to find out what their stories are.  I’m truly interested in them.  And because of that, interesting things come my way.  And so it happened that during my very short stay in Hawaii, I found myself in a submarine 107 feet below the surface of Waikiki bay.  And it was awesome.
Read More »

Call him 'Lance' and you're in trouble.

Listen, I’m not going to lie to you, okay? I’m in Hawaii on a tour where we’re being treated like rock stars. Meaning, I am anything but slumming as far as hotels go. When I get a spare few hours, I will find some funky cool little places to stay in for less than usual, I promise. And let’s be honest, any quick search of cheap hotels in Honolulu will pull up more info than even I could steal and attempt at passing off as my own.

But, having been traveling for over 11 straight years now, I can offer some little tips on how to have a lot of the same experiences as the happy family on the brochure, without having to pay as much.

Take today, for example, I had a few extra hours before a welcoming party.

I could have easily picked up the guide book and read that the Iolani Palace was just down the street from me.

I could have found out through, well, a number of resources online, that it was an easy walk from my hotel.

I could have walked around outside, sat under the giant banyan trees and taken this monument in.

I could have gone inside, paid the $20, and read the information given by one of the older volunteers at the door.

I could have found out that it had electricity 4 years before The White House, or, perhaps, that this was the official residence of the monarch until the King was overthrown in 1893.

In fact, I could have easily cut-and-pasted all sorts of wonderful information about this downtown jewel right here and, thanks to this handy thesaurus that pops up with a click, might have even convinced you it was my own.

Or, I could have taken up a friend-of-a-friend’s offer to show me around.

Which I did.

See, Hawaiian’s are some of the most accommodating people in the world, they’re also some of the most laid-back; these are things you probably know. But in this day and age of social networking, everyone is one degree away from anyone else in the world.

And people like living here, they like talking about living here – so take them up on it.

I guarantee that with one ‘friend invite’, or one ‘tweet‘, you can find someone anywhere who has an hour.

That’s what I did, and now anytime I come back to Honolulu, I’ll have a new friend-guide, known to most as ‘Lancey-Poo’.

And that’s something everyone should have.

Aric Q. is traveling to Hawaii and he’s trying to do it on the cheap.  We will be following his adventures here on UpTake and we will be wishing him well, but we will NOT be wiring him money.

From guest blogger, Stefania Pomponi Butler, of City Mama

My family and I spend just about every Christmas in Honolulu, Hawai’i because I was born there and it’s where my mom lives. For us, Christmas means fresh ahi poke, wearing “formal” flip-flops to parties (you know, the beaded ones), and spending Christmas in our swim suits. Christmas trees are shipped in from the Pacific Northwest and are dried out by the time they hit Hawaiian waters, and there isn’t any snow, but who cares when it’s 80º outside and the heady fragrance of plumeria flowers perfumes the air.

Honolulu is much-maligned for being touristy and crowded, but if you love the energy of big cities combined with a tropical locale, this is the place for you. Even if you aren’t on Maui or Kaua’i, you can still have a relaxing, Hawaiian holiday.

All Honolulu hotels will have listings of holiday events and the concierge can help you secure tickets to events so if you haven’t made any holiday plans, don’t panic, you’ll be well taken care of. But, if you’d like some ideas of where to go and what to do, read on!

If you land in Honolulu with holiday shopping to do, chances are you will end up at Ala Moana Center, Honolulu’s biggest mall and the home of flagship stores for Chanel, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Versace, Prada, Christian Dior and more. Honolulu is the glittering gateway to Asia, and the stores at Ala Moana cater to O’ahu’s cosmopolitan tourists and discriminating locals. You can drop a lot of cash at Ala Moana or you can simply walk around and enjoy the festivities. Kids can ride the Santa Train or enjoy snow in Hawaii every evening. Check the the site or ask the helpful personnel about special performances on the main stage. Children of all ages will enjoy the nightly pageantry of the Christmas Gift of Aloha show and parade. We spend lots of time at the mall, but we try to time our visit to coincide with one of the fabulous holiday events.

Once it gets dark, you can pile into your rental car or hire a taxi and do the Honolulu City Lights tour. This is a longstanding local tradition. Think about that street in your town that gets really done up for the holidays and you’ll have a taste of what to expect. Times 100. Honolulu’s downtown district—near the state capital building—gets decked out for the holidays with lights, your favorite holiday scenes, and a giant, barefoot, lei-adorned Santa and Mrs. Claus. Touring the area is free, but once you are downtown, be sure to stop by the Christmas carnival where there are rides and delights for kids.

Around the holidays, Honolulu boasts many different concerts and performances. My favorite is the A Cazimero Christmas featuring local musicians The Brothers Cazimero. It has everything a Hawaiian Christmas needs: beautiful music, amazing singing by the Brothers Caz and their guest artists, and plenty of hula. Get your tickets well in advance and enjoy the recently remodeled Hawai’i Theater.

If it’s a big city experience you are after, and you’re in the mood to get dressed up after all those days on the beach, check the schedule for the Honolulu Symphony. From a Motown Christmas to a visit by Burt Bacharach, from classical to pops, there’s something for everyone.

On Christmas Eve, Kawaiaha’o Church, Honolulu’s oldest church, holds two candlelight services. Erected in 1842 by Christian missionaries, Kawaiaha’o Church was built from 1,000 pound coral blocks hewn by Hawaiian chisel-wielding divers. Experience what Christmas is all about in an intimate setting at the “Westminster Abbey of Honolulu.”

For a New Year’s Eve you’ll never forget do what we do and watch the fireworks from the beach. Our favorite viewing spot is right in front of the Kahala Hotel and Resort. All beaches in Hawai’i are public, even the groomed ones in front of the fanciest hotels. If you are lucky enough to stay at the Kahala ask for a beach front room. If you aren’t, bring your champagne out to the beach (look for the public access paths) and watch the fireworks literally burst right over your head. I can’t think of a more magical way to start the new year.

If you don’t want to do anything at all for Christmas but park yourself on the beach, you can do that, too. And remember, locals don’t pack up their towels when it rains, they head into the ocean and wait for the drizzle to pass. They call it “liquid sunshine,” and if you ask me, it’s better than any Christmas tree lights.

Mele Kalikimaka, Haouli Makahiki Hou!