The Traveling Tacos

Read all about our entire week on The Big Island of Hawai'i on my blog, The Traveling Tacos, at: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/trips/our-hawaiian-christmas-vacation-in-kailua-kona-hawaii **** Kua Bay: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/kua-bay-maniniowali-beach-big-island-hawaii https://youtu.be/q72E2jZL2lk Night Snorkeling With Manta Rays: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/night-snorkeling-with-manta-rays-through-my-kona-adventures https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtrwFnK1DvI&feature=emb_logo Papakolea Green Sand Beach: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/papakolea-green-sand-beach-big-island-hawaii https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYM58ZvZ_NQ&t=3s Pu'uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park / Two Step in Captain Cook: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwT3qLT0T2U Hilo (Waip'io Valley, Rainbow Falls, Boiling Pots, Kaumana Caves, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park): https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/spending-a-day-in-hilo-hawaii-chasing-waterfalls-and-volcanoes https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/hawaii-volcanoes-national-park https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2i7g9Fnv6o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwNaAwISk2g **** Subscribe to my Youtube channel to see more: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzq22Z_jcX6rq0yr6YCWruw **** Follow along on social media: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetravelingtacos/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thetravelingtacos Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/thetravelingtacos/ **** See what it was like to get to the island with new COBVID-19 restrictions (updated 12/26/20): https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/thoughtsblog/how-to-get-to-the-big-island-hawaii-with-current-restrictions-december-2020 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnxWQLQLXQc&t=4s **** Find out where we found the best snorkeling, here: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/the-best-places-to-snorkel-on-the-big-island-hawaii *** Book your stay at the Airbnb we rented, and enjoy their peaceful "Ohana" in the back: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/where-we-stayed-on-the-big-island-kailua-kona-hawaii **** Video shot on GoPro Hero 5 - www.gopro.com Song - Hawaii By - Jarico

Snorkeling was our favorite thing to do in Hawai'i. We snorkeled at so many great spots and I highlighted our favorites, here: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/places-to-snorkel-on-the-big-island-hawaii *** Kua Bay / Manini'owali Beach was the first beach we visited and was one of our all time favorites. Read more about this incredible sandy bay here: Blog post: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/kua-bay-maniniowali-beach-big-island-hawaii Video: https://youtu.be/q72E2jZL2lk Two Step / Honaunau Bay in Captain Cook was the most recommended place for us to visit and it lived up to all of the hype! We saw so many different fish, coral and urchins here, plus the waters were calm, and the "Two Steps" made it so easy to enter the ocean. We just loved it! See more about this incredible spot here: Blog post: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/kua-bay-maniniowali-beach-big-island-hawaii Video: https://youtu.be/q72E2jZL2lk Night Snorkeling with Manta Rays was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and worth every dollar! It was so unbelievable to be so close to those gigantic angels. We recommend this to anyone visiting Hawai'i! Book your own experience with My Kona Adventures here: https://www.mykonaadventures.com Blog post: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/night-snorkeling-with-manta-rays-through-my-kona-adventures Video: https://youtu.be/wtrwFnK1DvI **** Read more from my families entire Hawaiian vacation here: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/trips/our-hawaiian-christmas-vacation-in-kailua-kona-hawaii *** If you would like to see more from all the places we have visited in Hawai'i please check out my Hawaiian Islands blog page: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/islandsofhawaii.html **** Subscribe to my Youtube channel to see more: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzq22Z_jcX6rq0yr6YCWruw *** Follow along on social media: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetravelingtacos/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thetravelingtacos Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/thetravelingtacos/ **** Video shot on GoPro Hero 5 - www.gopro.com Song - Waves By - Ikson

We spent a day road-tripping around Hilo, Hawai'i during our Big Island Christmas Vacation. Read about all the places we went here: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/spending-a-day-in-hilo-hawaii-chasing-waterfalls-and-volcanoes *** Here is where we stopped all around Hilo and the Eastern side of the Big Island of Hawai'i: First stop - Waipi'o Valley #2 - Akaka Falls State Park #3 - Rainbow Falls #4 - Boiling Pots 5 - Kaumana Caves 6 - Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park **** Read more from my families entire Hawaiian vacation here: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/trips/our-hawaiian-christmas-vacation-in-kailua-kona-hawaii *** If you would like to see more from all the places we have visited in Hawai'i please check out my Hawaiian Islands blog page: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/islandsofhawaii.html **** Subscribe to my Youtube channel to see more: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzq22Z_jcX6rq0yr6YCWruw *** Follow along on social media: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetravelingtacos/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thetravelingtacos Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/thetravelingtacos/ **** Video shot on GoPro Hero 5 - www.gopro.com Song - Welcome Sunshine By - Fredji

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park was a bucket list item for me and my sister (it's pretty much the main reason we came back to Big Island), and our experience could not have been memorable! See more from this once in a lifetime trip on my blog, The Traveling Tacos, at https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/islandsofhawaii.html *** Our first visit to the park was uneventful, but we returned back almost exact 72-hour later when The Kilauea Volcano erupted! We were so unbelievably lucky to be on The Big Island while an eruption as occurring. so once it was deemed safe we made our way down there! See in more detail how we got to see the lava glow in my blog post, here: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/hawaii-volcanoes-national-park *** During our day in Hilo we also stopped by Waipi'o Valley, Rainbow Falls, the Boiling Pots, and Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Read about more about little day from from Kona here, in my "Things To Do In Hilo" post: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/spending-a-day-in-hilo-hawaii-chasing-waterfalls-and-volcanoes *** If you would like to see more from my families entire Hawaiian vacation please read here: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/trips/our-hawaiian-christmas-vacation-in-kailua-kona-hawaii **** Subscribe to my Youtube channel to see more: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzq22Z_jcX6rq0yr6YCWruw *** Follow along on social media: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetravelingtacos/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thetravelingtacos Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/thetravelingtacos/ **** Video shot on GoPro Hero 5 - www.gopro.com Song - Deep Waters By - Mulle

See more from this up-close and personal experience on my blog, The Traveling Tacos, at https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/islandsofhawaii.html Book your own excursion with My Kona Adventures here: https://www.mykonaadventures.com/ **** Night snorkeling with manta rays was one of the coolest things we did during our entire trip to Kona, Hawai’i. We were not expecting them to get so close and even though we had some fears at first, we all agreed it was the best thing we could have spent money on! Read more from the entire one-hour long snorkeling excursion here: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/night-snorkeling-with-manta-rays-through-my-kona-adventures *** If you would like to see more from all the places we snorkeled on The Big Island of Hawai’i in my blog post here: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/the-best-places-to-snorkel-on-the-big-island-hawaii **** Read more from my families entire Hawaiian vacation here: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/trips/our-hawaiian-christmas-vacation-in-kailua-kona-hawaii **** Subscribe to ny Youtube channel to see more: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzq22Z_jcX6rq0yr6YCWruw *** Follow along on social media: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetravelingtacos/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thetravelingtacos Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/thetravelingtacos/ **** Video shot on GoPro Hero 5 - www.gopro.com Song - Solo Run by - Jack The Lion

Akaka Falls State Park was just part of our day in Hilo, and an even smaller part of our entire Hawaiian vacation. See more from all of our fun adventures on my blog, The Traveling Tacos, at www.thetravelingtacos.com/islandsofhawaii *** During our day in Hilo we also stopped by Waipi'o Valley, Rainbow Falls, the Boiling Pots, and Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Read about more about little day from from Kona here, in my "Things To Do In Hilo" post: *** If you would like to see more from my families entire Hawaiian vacation please read here: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/trips/our-hawaiian-christmas-vacation-in-kailua-kona-hawaii **** Subscribe to my Youtube channel to see more: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzq22Z_jcX6rq0yr6YCWruw *** Follow along on social media: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetravelingtacos/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thetravelingtacos Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/thetravelingtacos/ **** Video shot on GoPro Hero 5 - www.gopro.com Song - No Worries By - Scandinavianz

See more about this unique Green Sand Beach on my blog, The Traveling Tacos, at https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/islandsofhawaii.html *I have since learned that commercial driving on the land is not permitted. So, technically the people offering rides are doing so illegally. We did not know this when we accepted a ride, and were not the only ones in the car nor the only car like this going there.* **** Papakōlea was by far the most different beach we went to during our Hawaiian Vacation. This green sand beach is created by an eruption of the Mauna Loa volcano depositing Olivine into the area. It was so interesting to learn about. There's only four places in the world classified as green sand beaches, so this was really a once-in-a-lifetime experience. *** If you would like to see more in detail about our afternoon at Papakōlea check out my blog post: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/papakolea-green-sand-beach-big-island-hawaii **** Read more from my families entire Hawaiian vacation here: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/trips/our-hawaiian-christmas-vacation-in-kailua-kona-hawaii **** Subscribe to my Youtube channel to see more: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzq22Z_jcX6rq0yr6YCWruw *** Follow along on social media: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetravelingtacos/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thetravelingtacos Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/thetravelingtacos/ **** Video shot on GoPro Hero 5 - www.gopro.com

Two Step was our favorite snorkeling spot on The Big Island, see why we loved it so much in our "Favorite Snorkeling Spots on Hawai'i" blog post, here: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/the-best-places-to-snorkel-on-the-big-island-hawaii *** We saw so many different fish, coral and urchins here, plus the waters were calm, and the "Two Steps" made it so easy to enter the ocean. We just loved it! "Two Step" was created by a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago. The lava literally creates two steps, of volcanic rock that lead into the ocean. See more about this incredible spot here: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/the-best-places-to-snorkel-on-the-big-island-hawaii **** Read more from my families entire Hawaiian vacation here: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/trips/our-hawaiian-christmas-vacation-in-kailua-kona-hawaii *** If you would like to see more from all the places we have visited in Hawai'i please check out my Hawaiian Islands blog page: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/islandsofhawaii.html **** Subscribe to my YouTube channel to see more: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzq22Z_jcX6rq0yr6YCWruw *** Follow along on social media: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetravelingtacos/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thetravelingtacos Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/thetravelingtacos/ **** Video shot on GoPro Hero 5 - www.gopro.com Song - Waves By - Ikson

See more from our fun adventures in Kua Bay on my blog, The Traveling Tacos, at www.thetravelingtacos.com/islandsofhawaii Kua Bay / Manini'owali Beach was our favorite beach during our Hawaiian vacation. We went back here again and again for the beautiful white sandy shore and turquoise blue water. We went snorkeling and explored around the tide pools inside the volcanic rocks. It was so easy, fun, and totally free! See more about our trips to Kua Bay here: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/kua-bay-maniniowali-beach-big-island-hawaii *** If you would like to see more from all the places we snorkeled on The Big Island of Hawai’i in my blog post here: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/the-best-places-to-snorkel-on-the-big-island-hawaii **** Read more from my families entire Hawaiian vacation here: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/trips/our-hawaiian-christmas-vacation-in-kailua-kona-hawaii *** Subscribe to our Youtube channel to see more: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzq22Z_jcX6rq0yr6YCWruw Follow along on social media: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetravelingtacos/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thetravelingtacos Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/thetravelingtacos/ **** Video shot on GoPro Hero 5 - www.gopro.com Song - Papaya By - Tubebackr

Visit www.thetravelingtacos.com/thoughtsblog to see a step-by-step guide on how to safely enter Hawai’i during the Corona Virus pandemic. We visited Kīlauea-Kona on the Big Island December 16th - 23rd 2020 and followed all Hawaiian guidelines. We got COVId-19 tested before leaving the mainland and then were tested again at the Kona International Airport. This video shows exactly what we had to do to safely get to the island! ***** Read all about the entire process here: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/thoughtsblog/how-to-get-to-the-big-island-hawaii-with-current-restrictions-december-2020 ***** Step one: Figure out each islands guidelines, and book a stay based off recommendations! Step two: Get the correct COVID-19 test, on the correct day Step three: Uploading negative results and declaring travel Step four: Showing our code at the airport & getting tested again! ***** See more about our entire Hawaiian Christmas Vacation, here: www.thetravelingtacos.com/hawaii.com ***** Video shot on GoPro Hero 5

Visit www.thetravelingtacos.com/thoughtsblog to see a step-by-step guide on how to safely enter Hawai’i. We visited Kīlauea-Kona on the Big Island December 16th - 23rd and followed all Hawaiian guidelines. We got COVID-19 tested before leaving the mainland and then were tested again at the Kona International Airport. This video shows almost step by step what it was like from our flights arrival, through the airport, to their testing site, then eventually out into the island! ***** Read all about the entire process here: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/thoughtsblog/how-to-get-to-the-big-island-hawaii-with-current-restrictions-december-2020 ***** Step one: Figure out each islands guidelines, and book a stay based off recommendations! Step two: Get the correct COVID-19 test, on the correct day before flying. Step three: Uploading negative results and declaring travel. Step four: Showing our code at the airport & getting tested again! ***** See more about our entire Hawaiian Christmas Vacation, here: www.thetravelingtacos.com/hawaii ***** Video shot on GoPro Hero 5

https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/snowshoeing-the-white-river-national-forest-and-holy-cross-wilderness-minturn-colorado The last weekend of November 2020, we set out on our first snowshoeing trip of the winter. We intended to backpack to Missouri Lakes in the White River National Forest and Holy Cross Wilderness, but like many of our trips before, we were forced to change our plans. The White River National Forest is located outside of Minturn, Colorado, just south of Vail. It is about two-and-a-half hours from Denver. We left home early Saturday morning and arrived around 9 a.m. and discovered a few surprises. We knew it would be cold, but the temperature was all of nine degrees Fahrenheit according to my Jeep - which was much colder than we anticipated. We also discovered that the road we were supposed to take was closed 8 miles from the trailhead. We parked the car and began reviewing the posted maps. The maps showed that there were trails off Homestead Road and campgrounds along the way, so we decided to hike the road and find a scenic place to camp for the night. We put on our packs and snowshoes and started walking. We didn’t know, at all, what to expect, and we didn’t know how beautiful our surroundings would be! Read more from the entire snowy, frozen, winter weekend getaway, on our blog, The Traveling Tacos at https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/snowshoeing-the-white-river-national-forest-and-holy-cross-wilderness-minturn-colorado _______________ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more adventure videos - including more adventures from around Colorado! ______________ Follow along on Instagram and Facebook @TheTravelingTacos _______________ Read more about our other adventures around Colorado: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/colorado.html ______________ Video shot on GoPro Hero 5

In November, 2020 John and I traveled down to Puerto Rico to unwind and unplug for a nice, relaxing long weekend. We booked stays in San Juan and Lago Caonillas in Utuado and had the most unbelievable time exploring through the rainforest jungles on our way up the mountains. READ ABOUT OUR ENTIRE TRIP HERE: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/trips/puerto-rico-road-trip-from-san-juan-to-utuado We spent the weekend eating the most incredible food (including LOTS of Mofongo!), touring coffee farms, and learning all about the land and the native Puerto Ricans, The Tainos. It was a vacation from heaven, that was until we got a flat tire!!! We made the most of what we could, but it definitely changed our trip and kept us from exploring more, but we still loved what we saw and can't wait to come back! See what all we did during our Puerto Rican vacation on our blog: The Traveling Tacos https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/puertorico.html _______________ See where we stayed in our blog post HERE: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/where-we-stayed-in-puerto-rico-san-juan-and-utuado FIRST TIME AIRBNB USERS SAVE UP TO $60 USING OUR PROMO CODE: https://www.airbnb.com/c/taylorc1809 _______________ Read about the INCREDIBLE meals we had all over the island, here in our food review: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/where-we-found-the-best-food-across-puerto-rico _______________ Do you wonder if it is safe to travel to Puerto Rico in 2020? Or what conditions the roads are in after the hurricanes? Watch our "Driving Across Puerto Rico" video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JoBNEjz74c&feature=youtu.be _______________ Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more adventure videos - including more from our entire vacation in Puerto Rico! ______________ Follow along on Instagram and Facebook @TheTravelingTacos ______________ Video shot on GoPro Hero 5

Cafe Gran Batey was the most wonderful stop during our time in Puerto Rico! We loved this adorable coffee plantation so much and had such a wonderful experience touring their farm and learning all about the coffee roasting process. LEARN MORE ABOUT CAFE GRAN BATEY HERE: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/touring-cafe-gran-batey-coffee-farm-utuado-puerto-rico The lovely family who owns the entire 17-acre farm, gave us the tour directly and showed us so much we didn't know about. Thankfully we timed our tour perfectly, and another family with us who could translate her Spanish for us! Their farm is ecological and used composting and other natural ways to nourish its plants. It is very unique and special in its processes, and it was fascinating to see! Read more about Cafe Gran Batey and their DELICIOUS coffee on our blog: The Traveling Tacos at https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/touring-cafe-gran-batey-coffee-farm-utuado-puerto-rico ____________ Our next stop on our road trip was right next to Cafe Gran Batey, and we toured the Caguana Ceremonial Indigenous Heritage Center! We learned all about the native Taino People and the land we were standing on. See what else we did in Utuado here: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/utuado-puerto-rico-what-to-do-where-to-stay-and-where-to-eat-in-a-weekend _______________ Read more about our entire trip to Puerto Rico on The Traveling Tacos https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/trips/puerto-rico-road-trip-from-san-juan-to-utuado _______________ Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more adventure videos - including more from our entire vacation in Puerto Rico! Follow along on Instagram and Facebook @TheTravelingTacos ______________ Video shot on GoPro Hero 5

The Caguana Ceremonial Indigenous Heritage Center was an unplanned stop during our time in Puerto Rico. After discovering who the Taino people were, we wanted to learn more and found out we were near this archelogical site in Utuado! SEE WHAT ELSE WE DID IN UTUADO HERE: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/utuado-puerto-rico-what-to-do-where-to-stay-and-where-to-eat-in-a-weekend We quickly changed around our itinerary and spend part of the afternoon exploring around. We learned all about the site and its archeological importance to the understanding of the Taino's. We also learned about their religion, society, and their people as a whole. It was such an educational experience and we were so happy to have taken the time to learn more about the native Puerto Rican culture. _______________ Read more about the entire trip to Puerto Rico on: The Traveling Tacos https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/trips/puerto-rico-road-trip-from-san-juan-to-utuado _______________ Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more adventure videos - including more from our entire vacation in Puerto Rico! Including our stop right before the cultural center at Cafe Gran Batey, where we got a FREE tour of a coffee plantation and bough a YEARS supply of coffee, check it out: Follow along on Instagram and Facebook @TheTravelingTacos ______________ Video shot on GoPro Hero 5

Canon Blanco was a highly recommended stop for us during our Puerto Rico road trip, and it lived up to all of the hype! This area had incredible scenery - lush rainforests covered all of the surrounding nearby mountains in contrast to the bright white canyon, that was being cut by rushing water below. It was beautiful. READ MORE HERE: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/exploring-canon-blanco-looking-for-petroglyphs-in-utuado-puerto-rico The area is said to have petroglyphs too, from the native Taino people, but sadly, we never found them after hours of looking. We will just have to come back another time to find them! After this stop though, our trip took a MAJOR turn and we had to re-route our trip - watch about what happened when we left Canon Blaco in our YouTube video here! https://youtu.be/7JoBNEjz74c _______________ Read more about the entire trip on: The Traveling Tacos https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/trips/puerto-rico-road-trip-from-san-juan-to-utuado _______________ Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more adventure videos - including more from our entire vacation in Puerto Rico! Follow along on Instagram and Facebook @TheTravelingTacos ______________ Video shot on GoPro Hero 5

Driving around Puerto Rico was an adventure all in itself! We rented a car in San Juan from Enterprise Rental Cars, and drove west to the municipality of Utuado. As we got away from the city the roads got narrower and windier - and that's when the driving got rougher! READ MORE HERE: www.thetravelingtacos.com/puertorico ______________ Everything was wonderful, driving through the thick rainforests and up the mountains, until on our last day, when we got a flat tire! We had been warned that all the roads weren't fully repaired after Hurricane Maria, but we got a little too confident after being on highways for so long and trusted our navigation system a bit too much, and all of a sudden - the roads ended and we were in the middle of NO WHERE! We tried to turn around but noticed we had popped a tire, so we changed it as quickly as we could and got the heck out of there!! We luckily had insurance on the rental and got it all taken care of through Enterprise's system. Even though it didn't go as planned, we loved every minute of it! Read our "What Its Like To Drive In Puerto Rico" blog post, here: https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/reviews/what-it-is-like-to-drive-around-puerto-rico _______________ Read more about the entire trip on: The Traveling Tacos https://www.thetravelingtacos.com/trips/puerto-rico-road-trip-from-san-juan-to-utuado _______________ Subscribe for more adventure videos - including more from our entire vacation in Puerto Rico! Follow along on Instagram and Facebook @TheTravelingTacos ______________ Video shot on GoPro Hero 5 Song "Merry Bay" by Ghostrifter