My wife and I have camped pretty extensively across the West and a bit around the East (we’re just down from you in NE Ohio). First, I have to say that the Western US is where the natural beauty of North America is at its best, so spend as much time as you can out there!

We started camping around with a really basic and cheap Coleman Redwood tent that definitely did what we needed. We didn’t do trips as long as yours though, and we found some disadvantages for camping in the mountains and on the Great Plains. At first we used an air mattress and two cheap Coleman sleeping bags. We threw all our little stuff in plastic bins you buy at Target or Walmart, which kept rodents out of our food and random sundries like lighters, dish soap, duct tape, cooking fuel, etc. separate from our eating utensils. It makes it way easier to load/unload everything from the car onto a picnic table or wherever to use them. We cooked over our campfires using the grill on the firepit and cast iron skillets my wife found at thrift stores.

We camp mostly the same way now, but we learned a ton from our first Western road trip—most especially that it’s extremely cold to sleep on a bare air mattress, especially at high elevations in the mountains where temperatures approach freezing at night even in July. It’s also cumbersome to set up an air mattress, since you need the blower and batteries to inflate one, which is annoying when you camp in super remote places or you get to camp when everything is already closed. Therefore here is the gear I’d recommend for sleeping:

• Get a small tent—sleeping in a car is not comfortable, especially if it’s full of your gear. Small tents stay warmer at night because you have less air space to heat up with your body, and less surface area for heat to escape. We upgraded from our Coleman 4-person to an REI Half Dome 2 Plus which fits the two of us and maybe a little room for shoes/flashlights/water bottles at your feet and vestibules outside to keep stuff like boots/shoes dry. Get a footprint for it too, so you have easier setup than with a tarp, and so it doesn’t channel rain under your tent.
  
  
• Buy a blow-up camping pad—we got Therm-a-Rest NeoAir sleeping pads that are human inflatable in 1-2 minutes (no batteries needed) and are lined with Mylar, which reflects your infrared back at you to help you stay warmer. You could use an air mattress and lay a space blanket down between you and your sleeping bag, but it’s much more cumbersome. We also found these pads were more comfortable as well as easier and faster to set up. They are also super small and light, and work well for backpacking, which we eventually want to get into. Get something that suits you, but don’t feel like you have to buy it right away. You could upgrade during your trip at an outdoor equipment store after you get a couple weeks of camping experience under your belt. These things were pricey, but they were worth it!
  
  
• Buy a cheap sleeping bag, and ignore the temperature ratings. Read the reviews of each bag and see what people say about the one you’re interested in. You can get more expensive ones that pack smaller and are lighter, but they aren’t necessary for staying warm and comfortable. We haven’t upgraded from our Coleman Green Valleys, which are rated 30-50 degrees but get a tad chilly in the 30s if you’re not wearing extra layers (which you need if you have to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night).
  
  
• Get a set of Mylar-lined base layers—these things are A M A Z I N G ! We stumbled into a Columbia store when we were in Portland and got a set on sale and we never leave home without them now! They are comfortable for hiking or sleeping, and keep you so much warmer than long underwear ever could.
  
  
• Wool hiking socks—but a bunch of these—because you’ll never want to wear any other socks again if you get decent ones. I found a whole bunch on clearance at Dick’s Sporting Goods one September and I wear them summer or winter, because they are über-comfortable and keep my feet dry whether it’s hot or cold. They keep your feet much warmer when you sleep too.
  
  Besides the sleeping gear, we’ve also added a little camp stove we got at Aldi. It’s super small and light, and saves us the trouble of building a fire to cook things up in our cast iron skillet. The only problem is that some places out in California don’t sell the butane cans the thing takes for fuel—so you might want to buy a cheap propane stove instead, since you’ll probably get a lot of use from it. Definitely make sure you learn the wonder of the potato! You can make them in so many ways that are awesome and they’re wonderful for energy.
  
  As far as wild animals go, learn how to camp in bear country—there are tons of vids from the National Park Service about this, and they will increase your confidence. We’ve done tons of trips with plenty of camping in developed campgrounds and have had zero problems with them. Just follow whatever local rangers tell you, and you should be fine. To abbreviate, never bring food into your tent, so the smell of food doesn’t sink in—and keep your food and eating utensils in hard-sided vehicles out of sight or in a bear box (a big cabinet at most campsites). Bears are attracted to scented items—even a stick of gum, a tube of toothpaste, or dish detergent can get them rummaging through your tent.
  
  And whatever you do, don’t rush and try to see everything in one trip! Spend a few days in the best places, and assume you will be back to see more someday. I don’t feel like I need to drill this into your head all that much compared to most people, but don’t expect to see even just the Western US in 2-3 months.
  
  As far as destinations, make sure you hit Yosemite (my personal favorite), Yellowstone/Grand Teton, Glacier, and Olympic if you’re going in summer months. If you’re going Sept/Oct or Apr/May, then definitely hit Zion, Arches, Grand Canyon, and anything else in Southern Utah, Southern Nevada, or Northern Arizona. And buy a book, Your Guide to the National Parks, as it makes researching and planning so much easier!

Old Lahaina Luau is awesome and totally worth it.

Leilani's in Whaler's Village for hapyhour is awesome and highly recommended. I would even argue that they have the best Mai Tai. The location is great as just outside the restaurant is the beautiful stretch of Ka'anapali beach looking towards Black Rock. Leilani's would be great for dinner too - not a dive but a great restaurant.

Aloha Mixed Plate in Lahaina is a must for a local food experience. Can't go wrong with anything on the menu. You will not regret it.

Star Noodle also in Lahaina is awesome. Japanese restaurant with a menu full of variety. Get the steamed pork buns to start.

Leoda's Pie Shop and restaurant in Olowalu is another great local spot. Great for lunch. Their burgers are awesome as well as their desserts.

Duke's is a great restaurant with an exceptional view. Not a dive, but a great choice for a nice evening out at sunset. Their breakfast is insanely good too and much cheaper than dinner. I had the Kalua Pork hash skillet...so frickin' good.

The north-west side of the island past Napili and Kapalua is highly underrated. I recommend driving it all the way around the north side and back into Wailuku. Make sure to stop at this spot: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g29220-d672529-Reviews-Nakalele_Blowhole-Maui_Hawaii.html. Was a highlight for my wife and I on our last trip.

Speaking of Napili Bay, definitely go check that out. Beautiful, quiet bay with excellent snorkeling, swimming, and view of Molokai. The sea house restaurant right on the bay is great too, and sitting on their patio can be one of the most relaxing experiences while staring at the beautiful view of the bay.

If you both like snorkeling, a boat excursion to Molikini is well worth it. There are plenty of boats that regularly make trips out there. Also, Black Rock is a great place to snorkel where you have a great chance of encountering Honu (Sea Turtle).

I could go on forever... Enjoy your honeymoon! Maui truly is an incredible place. Also, if you want more details of what (and what not) to do/go, pick up this book https://www.amazon.com/Maui-Revealed-Guidebook-Andrew-Doughty/dp/0996131809/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1473873078&sr=1-1&keywords=maui+revealed+7th+edition.

I am in Kauai RIGHT NOW. Leaving tomorrow. :(

There are a lot of things to do in Kauai, but it's kind of an outdoor activity based place, and pretty much all of those activities are a no-go during pregnancy. (Full disclosure: I'm still TTC and therefore only a lurker in this community.)

But: there are great beaches. I've done a TON of snorkeling, laying around on the beach, etc., which is all perfectly safe during pregnancy.

I would talk to your health care provider, but I feel like kayaking would be okay to do while pregnant? If so, there is this really cool kayak/hike that we did to the sacred falls which I would definitely recommend.

A helicopter tour is really cool too and you get to see the whole island in a hour, including the Napali coast. I'd talk to your doctor about potentially flying in a helicopter to see if that would be okay. The Napali coast is the most beautiful thing I've seen in my life! But when we took a boat tour, the seas were so rough that the tour company flat out would not take anyone pregnant.

However, there are other boat tours that you can do that aren't in such rough seas, like a sunset cruise or something like that.

To be honest, there isn't too much shopping to do in Kauai. It's probably the least developed of the islands (which is pretty cool, IMO). But old Koloa town is really cool to walk around in. (I really liked Kauai Nut Roasters because they give out tons of free samples and we got people back home a lot of presents from there.)

I really liked this guide book: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0981461018/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/190-3792190-5179630

The restaurants tend to be kind of pricy, but there are great hole-in-the-wall type of places to eat that are less pricy. Definitely look into which fish you should avoid when pregnant. Pretty much every restaurant has fresh fish, all of what I had was EXCELLENT. But some fish contains high amounts of mercury, which definitely needs to be avoided while pregnant.

Do you know which part of the island you're staying on?

Also, I'd be happy to answer questions you might have about Kauai! It's so beautiful!

So many! I found our itinerary from 3 years that I'll copy from. We were incredibly lucky in that there wasn't rain for 3 weeks prior to us getting there so none of the trails were muddy but make sure you bring shoes you don't mind walking ankle deep (literally) in mud. We referenced this book to come up with our itinerary because our friends suggested it to us and I highly recommend it.

Hotel

Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay

This is where we stayed and we were super happy with it. It's right next to a beach park and we got to watch the sunrise every morning on the beach listening to the waves. The hotel provided us with a straw beach blanket and a cooler and we used that throughout our trip. Also it's walking distance away from a strip mall that had a lot of good food options. We were able to walk there every evening for dinner which was nice since we didn't have to drive.

Food

Lava Lava Beach Club

The happy hour is amazing. The prices are super reasonable (don't go for dinner or lunch, the prices are absurd). You get to have the toes in the sand experience with $3 mai tai's and super yummy appetizers. I can't explain how much we loved this place. We still talk about it to this day.

Hikes

Pihea Trail

This was by far our favorite. It's basically bouldering throughout the entire hike which was awesome. Be prepared to get muddy!

Kalalau Trail

Unfortunately we didn't get to do this since it was closed for trail maintenance but apparently it's a must. We want to go back just to do this trail. Word of advice, check online to make sure it's open before driving all the way out there.

Group Activities

We booked two group activities because we didn't want to rent our own kayaks or stand up paddle boards and we wouldn't have known where to go with them. We had a blast and the guides we had were fun and I highly recommend it:

• Kauai Stand-Up Paddle Board Tours – Downwind River Adventure
  
• Wailua Waterfall Kayak
  
  There's a ton more to do and if you are interested I can share my itinerary with you, I didn't want to make this post too long (too late). There's a lot of great ideas in the guide book. Let me know if you have any questions!

Oh, I know! I've been going there for years, my parents got a timeshare back in the 80s, and my dad, my sister and I (and sometimes others) have been able to keep going most years. I live in California now, but I grew up in Massachusetts. I'll be there in mid-August, and I've done most (all?) of the things you mentioned.

Long Point is great, and I honestly probably have more fun just walking along the breakwater to get there--some people take ferries, but I have a greater sense of accomplishment just walking. Last year, I guess my whole family were showing our age, because we managed to get to Coast Guard late, and went to Nauset Light... where a dead seal washed up from a shark attack, which is the fun new trend.

Honestly, Cape Cod has always meant a lot to me, because it's one of the only connections to my childhood and family traditions. We've taken to exploring it pretty thoroughly, and it's always hard to kind of balance the old with the new and not fall completely into old traditions.

I saw that you were on vacation there now, and I'm not sure how much longer you'll be there, but I'm happy to give you any suggestions if you need any, as someone who's spent vacations there since I was a kid. I'm not sure what you did in Dennis, but Mayflower Beach is an excellent bay side beach where you can walk out extremely far in low tide, and is sort of the opposite of the experience you'll get at say, Coast Guard or Cahoon Hollow/White Crest (I lost a pair of glasses in the surf at Cahoon Hollow once!). There's also a wonderful restaurant that serves fairly traditional Italian nearby called Gina's by the Sea--though it's a huge pain in the ass (long wait, only open Thursday-Sunday or something like that, they straight up don't let you in when it's crowded so it's best to go like an hour before closing). Also, again if you have the opportunity, Chatham (the "elbow" of the Cape) is a fun town, with lots of interesting art galleries and shopping if you're into that, though nowhere really holds a candle to Provincetown. Like I said, I have no idea how long you'll be there, but we've found this book to be very helpful over the years. But like I said, if you need any suggestions for most areas of the Cape, I probably have a few! :)

And if you haven't checked out the Portuguese bakery in Provincetown, do yourself a favor and get over there!

Here are some pictures I've taken over the past few years:

Sunset over Ridgevale Beach in Chatham

Nauset Bay in the afternoon

Some seals. All the seals. In Chatham

Lightning striking Truro, taken from Corn Hill Beach in Wellfleet

Provincetown dunes

A shot of Pilgrim Monument from Commercial St. in Provincetown

View of Truro from Pilgrim Monument

View of Long Point from Pilgrim Monument

View of Provincetown from Pilgrim Monument

I'm not a local but here are some highlights from our last trip.

• Ho'opi'i Falls - Parking in residential area and is limited, probably about 2 miles in to the second set of falls with rope swing. Hike up and over then down steep cliff to get to the bottom, its worth it.
  
• Queen's Bath - Crazy muddy and slippery hike but not far. We just did it barefoot. Not much parking, go early. Amazing little pool to swim in, cliff jumping, swimming with big sea turtles. Highly recommend.
  
• Kalalau Trail to Hanakapiai beach - One of the prettiest hikes in Kauai. Awesome beach at the end. Bring water. Trail can get muddy and slippery when its been raining.
  
• Napali Coast - Sunset cruise. Its pretty amazing.
  
  Also like mentioned by u/nocknockwhosthere, Kauai Revealed is worth the money and has pretty much everything you need.

Can't speak to your Oahu itinerary, but I can provide my two cents on Maui.

Day 6: We did the Old Lahaina Luau and it was great, very highly rated. So if you haven't already booked Lele, I'd compare the two.

Day 8: As for Haleakala, you don't need a tour, assuming you have a rental car. Just drive up the mountain and grab a spot. Start early, though. There's usually a line of cars winding their way up in the wee hours of the morning to catch the sunrise. There's a fee to get into the National Park, but that's all. There's also some hiking you could check out up there. EDIT: I've learned from other commenters here that you do need a reservation, my apologies! More information here.

Day 9: We didn't do any whale watching but did take a snorkeling cruise to Lanai with Trilogy. I'd highly recommend the company — very professional, great service and an all-around good time. And they also have whale watching.

Day 10: We didn't use an app for Road to Hana, simply picked out what we wanted to see ahead of time and made adjustments along the way. Again, start early. If tour buses are catching up to you, things will start getting real crowded real quick.

I'd actually encourage some open days to just chill, so your whole trip is not go go go. But you could fill in part of one of your days with snorkeling at Honolua Bay or check out the Maui Ocean Center.

Day 13: Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm is cool, but we found it to be an hour's diversion at best. YMMV, of course. Mama's Fish House is dooope!

And I'd say Maui Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook is worth a purchase.

Get this book: The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed

It is SUPER helpful. That being said our highlights from our trip were the helicopter ride, ATVing, and kayaking. I highly recommend kayaking the Wailua River to Secret Waterfall, we just rented the kayak and did it ourselves rather than do an official tour, super easy and nice to go at our own pace, prepare to get muddy lol. I also highly recommend spending at least a day to drive up Waimea Canyon and hike around, the views are jaw dropping (see my post history for my engagement pictures there). There’s also a great restaurant nearby that’s a little hole in the wall place called Da Booze Shop, great place to refuel in between hikes.

Edit: I forgot to mention if you’re a dog person and have some flexibility in your schedule you can check out a dog at the Kauai Humane Society and take them on a field trip. We did this and took him to the beach, it was a blast.

get this book: http://www.amazon.com/The-Ultimate-Kauai-Guidebook-Revealed/dp/0981461018

I went last March and it was incredibly helpful. there's also an app which was equally useful.

I didn't plan too much and it worked out really well. each day I had maybe 1-3 destinations in mind, but gave myself a lot of time to relax and explore.

my favorite places were Waimea Canyon, Botanical Gardens just north of Spouting Horn and Ke'e Beach. renting a car through Costco was super cheap. also opted to rent as small carriage house just north of Old Koloa Town (central location was great) instead of the condo/hotel thing; waaaay more quiet and comfortable. when I go back, I would stay on the north side of the island if I could afford it (rather ritzy), but I was very much charmed by the west coast of the island. Poipu area seemed more family oriented and the east coast was probably my least favorite (in terms of paradise, mind you...it's all great).

one thing I would've done different is opt for a helicopter tour instead of taking a boat tour. the water was pretty rough and 4 hours on it was more than enough.

Finding camping in the parks will be very, very difficult. Some parks are full months in advance. They may have a first-come, first-serve area but you will ABSOLUTELY need to be there at 8am. If you sleep in the car, you will get a hefty fine. Plan ahead. Even camping outside the park in a private campground will be difficult to find and frequently fully booked. Realize that "outside" the park can be more than two hour's drive easy. Can really put a dent in your in-park time. Get a National Parks of the West book. Super, super helpful. Will outline all the campsites and outside park camping and hotel/hostel options and everything you need to know like hours, etc. I used Fodor's but they're all probably pretty similar.

http://www.amazon.com/Fodors-Complete-National-Full-color-Travel/dp/0307928462

I've been to all the national parks. Yes, all of them. Have fun!

It seems like you have a good grasp on what to expect on your trip which is great. I would suggest going to the hotel and saving the GTNP visit on your way to the airport.

Lamar Valley is a pretty big area and it's best to visit it early in the morning or at dusk as bears and wolves are most active at that time of day. If you see a bunch of people with spotting scopes and large camera lenses standing by the side of the road they are most likely observing one of those big animals.

If you want some books to help you with your trip, Yellowstone Treasures: The Traveler's Companion to the National Park is a very detailed one. For day hikes A Ranger's Guide to Yellowstone Day Hikes book is good and Trail Guides Yellowstone web site is an excellent source for all things Yellowstone.

Newport to the southern most part of the Green Mountains worth driving that far to get to IMO (Stratton Mountain/Pond) is about three hours and 45 minutes, so similar to the White Mountains. However, to get to any of the really good stuff in the Green Mountains further north (Camel's Hump, Mansfield) you're looking at closer to four and a half hours, which is a bit longer than the drive to the White Mountains. I will say that Vermont is a lovely state, so if you can find a time to get up here for a few days, check out Burlington and Montpelier, have some good food, try some beer, and hike Mansfield I would highly recommend it.

As for the White Mountains:

The Franconia Ridge loop is commonly regarded as the essential New England hike. It really is a great hike.

I would also suggest getting up on to the Presidential Ridge, whether it's the Jackson-Pierce loop, Caps Ridge trail up Jefferson or going big with the Ammonoosuc Ravine trail up to Monroe and Washington and down the Jewell Trail.

Lonesome Lake is a really pretty spot, and you can do a loop including that and the Kinsmans.

Moosilauke is another great peak.

I would definitely recommend getting yourself a map of the White Mountains, there's this one for $10.

The Baranof on Greenwood is a good dive bar. As is the Kort Haus (known for its exotic meats and proximity to the Zoo)

If you are into dive bars there is a really good book of Seattle dive bars. Came out a few years ago but is probably still a good source.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0097D7GR6

Pretty cheap kindle book, and you don't even really need to buy it: you can just get the list of bars from the Amazon "peek inside" free preview thing. Most of them are still open but some are not...the Buckaroo for instance is closed. Man I am glad I took a few minutes to look through that...it is really an excellent list of Seattle bars.

I've been on vacation to Kauai, Maui, and Oahu many times and Maui is by far the best to be a tourist on if you want to do more than just sit on the same beach for the entire time you are there. Oahu has way too many people on the beaches. Kauai is really beautiful but there are barely any people if you want to do something during the night. If your parents are retired they will love Kauai (As long as they can still move around easily) but I would recommend going to Maui for vacation.
P.S: get a guidebook for Maui and Kauai since there are a ton of small beaches that are truly amazing

The hiking around here isn't awesome, but there's a good book called Hiking in Kansas City that should take care of everything for you.

Of course, Lake of the Ozarks is our getaway place, about two hours drive, and the further southeast in Missouri you go the better the hills get, so there's some good weekend camping options. I also recommend hiking in Prairie State Park about 2hrs straight south of KC - big open fields of nothing but 4 ft tall grass.

Ask the natives / hotel desk guy about the Queens Bath and head there in the afternoon. There is a ton of hiking and other fun free stuff pretty much anywhere you go. If there is a full moon or close enough get yourself to a beach that has a good clear view of it and show up at midnight, it'll be just like dusk on a normal clear night, wicked bright.

Also check out this book, has every fun thing imaginable. I've spent about for weeks there on various trips and every time I find something new.

http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Kauai-Guidebook-Revealed/dp/0971727953

People celebrate 1-week anniversaries with vacations now? :)

It's really going to depend on what type of people your parents are. If they want a resort experience right on a nice beach, they should do that! If they want central base with a kitchen to "save money"^1, they should do that. If they want less structured experience, a BnB is perfect for that.

You've got a few months, so you should probably buy them Maui Revealed for Christmas. Flip through it with them and get a feel for what kind of Hawai'i trip they want.

I've had friends and family of all sorts, and people get really unhappy when they want one thing but get the other. Heck, on this sub, people who like the whitewashed and manicured resorts of Wailea have described Kihei as ghetto!

With what you've said, I'd get a hotel or condo (AirBnb, VRBO, Homeaway) in Kihei so they are central to all the islands opportunities. Lahaina is popular and drier, but requires more driving to get to things like Haleakala, Hana, Makena, etc.

Something to be aware of: The I'ao Valley area is currently closed for an indefinite amount of time. Also, Haleakala is going to start requiring permits to view the sunrise.

Search some through this sub and you'll find some fairly exhaustive eating recommendations.

^1 I'm a firm believer that most people that do this don't actually save money. They end up eating out and eating leftovers mostly and buying too much food from Costco

https://www.amazon.com/White-Mountains-Trail-Map-Hampshire/dp/1890060232 I would check out this map, this is what my friends and use, it also lists all the 4000 footers if your into that. The presidentials are worth checkin out. The Moriah/Carter ridge is also cool IMO and it looks like you could put together a good loop in the Wild River Wilderness. The cool thing with the whits is there are so many trails you can put together an loop to fit any time frame with a little bit of planning. We always do point to point since we always have 2 cars so nothing specifically comes to mind. Good luck!

How long do you have for your trip? Coming from the East, Zion/GC are really spectacular the first time you see them. Crowds will be an issue but still doable. Otherwise any of the other trips people listed below would be great. Since you're driving consider some of the out of the way parks such as Big Bend or Great Basin since those are hard to fly to anyway.

I'd recommend this book as it is very comprehensive: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Guide-National-Parks-Complete/dp/1621280004/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

I went for two weeks in 2006, spending one week on Oahu and one on Maui. I stayed in the Mariott hotel right on Waikiki beach and I highly recommend it. As for restaurants, I don't remember many of them, but the Cheeseburger in Paradise was a pretty cool place. As for things to do I recommend this guidebook. It contains anything you could conceivably do on the island, including reviews of many restaurants.

I strongly recommend this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Your-Guide-National-Parks-Complete/dp/1621280675/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1486072088&sr=8-6

I have the first edition, and it is absolutely wonderful. Great maps, provides itineraries for 1-3 days in each park, and gives a concise "don't miss this" highlight list. I think it would help the scope of your planning with trying to visit 10 parks.

One thing that comes to mind with your plan is the winter season conditions don't clear up until June really (Trail Ridge Road at RMNP and some stuff in Yellowstone come to mind) in some parks. Definitely something to plan for!

No problem! I also forgot to mention, there's an amazing guide book that I had with me on my 5 month road trip Your Guide to the National Parks. Read the reviews, but if you plan to hit parks and want some guidance there's no better resource - it has all the info on fees, campgrounds, best hikes, best places to stay in and around parks, other sites nearby, etc.

We bought this book for our Amazon Kindle App and used as a guide to find all these cool off the beaten track places on Maui. Especially on the Road to Hana.

https://www.amazon.com/Maui-Revealed-Guidebook-Andrew-Doughty/dp/0996131884/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=maui+guidebook&link_code=qs&qid=1565370116&s=gateway&sourceid=Mozilla-search&sr=8-3

If you like to try an insane amount of fruit at once. Set up a tasting and tour at Ono Organic Farms. I fell in love of Maui mangoes here and it ruined all other mangoes for me.http://www.onofarms.com/


If you love poke, you will find some of the best in regular local grocery stores. Just ask the locals and they will point you to the best places to go. It will be cheaper and taste as good if not better than the overpriced versions in the tourist trap restaurants.

Pretty good resources:

http://www.amazon.com/Trails-Sawtooth-White-Cloud-Mountains/dp/0966423380/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

http://www.amazon.com/Trails-Western-Idaho-Expanded-Updated/dp/096642333X/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

It's not just bears you have to worry about. You also don't want little critters chewing through your expensive gear to get at interesting-smelling stuff. It's always a good idea to hang food, toothpaste, etc:
http://www.backpacker.com/skills/how-to-hang-a-bear-bag/

You can find hiking and backpacking groups on Meetup.com

If a gun gives you peace of mind, by all means take it. However, it's definitely not a necessity and I've never seen a backpacker carrying a gun in Idaho.

Good luck!

I go to Moab every year in my stock Toyota FJ. I would recommend getting this book for your journey. It gives tons of info on all of the trails (turn-by-turn directions), and tells you how difficult they are. I would stick to the easy trails in your Bronco, I've found that "intermediate" in Moab is pretty hardcore. There are plenty of easy trails out there that will still get your heart racing and provide ridiculous views. Two of my favorites are Gemini Bridges and Long Canyon. I'll be there next weekend!

I recommend the bike trip down Haleakela. The views are breathtaking.

I also HIGHLY recommend this book. If you do Road to Hana make sure to stop at some of the points of interest in the book!

Absolutely!

Here's the website for the trailhead\campground (no fees for backpackers).

I think the best resource for hiking the area is a book by someone named Margaret Fuller. It provides in-depth info regarding the trails and destinations, as well as some great ideas for the different loops you can do.

I went there for 2 weeks in June. Spent about $800 total, housing included. But the number will vastly depend on your needs. Will be renting a car? Rental rates are very cheap on the island as there is fierce competition. I paid around $250 for a week even as a younger driver. Hitchhiking is also very prominent, and there is a very affordable shuttle bus along the main highway during certain hours (ends around 9pm). Food is plentiful and honestly not insanely expensive if you are able to find the places locals eat. Highly recommend [this] (https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Kauai-Guidebook-Revealed/dp/0996131841?keywords=kauai+revealed&qid=1536774895&sr=8-1&ref=mp_s_a_1_1book) for an extremely thorough look at pricing specifics. Enjoy your trip though! I'm having a nasty craving for chicken in a barrel at the moment.

I've done Los Padres by myself when I first got my Jeep. Fun and mellow, with some cool camp sites.

This book is great, and I've done 3 or 4 of the trails solo.

https://www.amazon.com/Northern-California-Backroads-4-Wheel-Trails/dp/0966497651

You're going to want an America the Beautiful Pass. $80 for unlimited national park admissions for one car for one year. Most parks are around $20. I also recommend getting one of the National Parks of the West guidebooks so you can link them all together and what-not. I've been to all the parks in a previous version of this book http://www.amazon.com/Fodors-Complete-National-Full-color-Travel/dp/0307928462/ref=dp_ob_image_bk

Linking national parks is the classic, American way to road trip. Enjoy yourself. I've been all over the world but my favorite trip was spending a few months living in my pickup in the parks.

Dude, I'm gonna hook you up. Kauai (one of the Hawaiian islands) is where you need to go. Its where they filmed Jurassic Park--so you know the kind of scenery to expect. None of the buildings on the island are over 3 stories tall (by law I think). There's tons of nature stuff to experience: hiking, scuba, snorkel, surf, waterfalls to jump off of. My wife and I went on our honeymoon. We had a blast. We rented this place for the week. We used this guide book and didn't spend a dime on activities. Use Kayak to book your flight. You will have to rent a car. I suggest you get a jeep, because there's an awesome beach on the west side of the island that you have to drive off-road to get to.

Rented the place for a week, got groceries, snorkel gear, car rental, etc and you've got a great time for under $2,000 +airfare.

Get the book The Ultimate Kaua'i Guidebook: Kaua'i Revealed. It is just fantastic and has everything you need to know. There is an iphone app too!

Also there are several local car rental companies that sometimes are way cheaper than the big companies. We had a great experience with Gingerbread Car Rentals (http://cars-kauai.com/) but we've also rented from Enterprise. http://kauairentacar.com/ is good too.

We don't need you. We don't want you. We are tired of having to slow progress to a crawl for the "heritage not hate" nutballs. If you aren't one of them, fine. Great, even. You're welcome to come join the sane people in the other parts of the country. But the south can fuck right the fuck off as far as I'm concerned.

The south is full of willfully ignorant buffoons who consistently vote against their own best interests and the best interests of the rest of the nation. And then we're forced to bail you out of the fiscal consequences of your bad decisions.

Pls go, The South.

Better Off Without 'Em

The Old Lahaina Luaua is very good. Kinda pricey, but it's all you can eat/drink, so...

Anyway, this is the guidebook I mentioned:

http://www.amazon.com/Maui-Revealed-Guidebook-Andrew-Doughty/dp/0971727996/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Looks like you can get it extremely cheap. Highly recommended.

To be fair the rest of the country has been trying to get them to modernize for over a century. But they thwarted attempts to improve education, even scorning the dreaded "book learning". They refused to participate in the industrial revolution. Used armed force to prevent modernization.

They are now alien. Separate them from the United States and look at them statistically and they look more like some 3rd world African nation than they do Europe.

Good look at North/South stats. https://www.amazon.com/Better-Off-Without-Manifesto-Secession/dp/145161666X

Plan on going snorkeling, even if you have never gone rent some gear or buy some cheap stuff at the K-Mart and go. Lydgate Park on the east shore has a huge walled in swimming area that is full of fish and is great for a first time snorkeler.


Go to the farmers markets.


Oh, and buy this book and if you hike this one

I got this book and it was been super helpful for planning my trip this upcoming August.

I concur with the others. Save the other island for another trip. Maui is probably better for most honeymooners, but unless you really hate nature you're going to love Kauai for the 6 full days. Get the The Ultimate Kauai Guidebook: Kauai Revealed and choose your activities. I recommend the Smith's Kauai Luau.

I recommend this book: Better off without 'em: A Northern Manifesto for Southern Secession

The author humorly suggests that the South secede, to mutual benefit. Open emigration and citizenship on both sides of the new border for a period of time.

The U.S.A can be free of third world tactics that undermine its worker protection, environmental protection, and public infrastructure.

The C.S.A can be free of the wimpy libruls, turrists, abortionists, gun grabbers, sodomites, the ACLU, and critical thinkers.

I lived on Oahu for 3 1/2 years and this book was my bible. Solid reviews and advice. If you're heading to the outer islands they have Big Island, Maui, and Kauai as well. Enjoy!

http://www.amazon.com/Oahu-Revealed-Ultimate-Honolulu-Revisited/dp/0981461026/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1304031662&sr=8-1

Pretty sure it's just a standard forest service road.

But
These books are great for trails.
Pretty much the bible.
https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Moab-Backroads-4-Wheel-Drive-Trails-ebook/dp/B01HU8ZP5O

There is one for Ca too but it's not as good.

I’ve been to several national parks with my dog and while it is true national parks are often not dog friendly, not all are against hiking with your pup. One off the top of my head is Petrified Forest.

I cannot recommend this book enough. It has a section for ever national park on where you can take your dog, if it’s not entirely limited to paved trails and roads. Your Guide to the National Parks: The Complete Guide to all 59 National Parks (Second edition) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1621280675/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_egiSAbTXMY30A

Good luck!

Seattle's Best Dive Bars: Drinking & Diving in the Emerald City

The Stranger

This is the White Mountain map I use, along with the AMC White Mountain Guide.
There is also this map of just the Presidential Range.
I don't think any "serious" maps will have interesting information besides trail names and distances. If you want to read thorough descriptions of the trails they I seriously recommend the AMC White Mountain Guide.

You might be interested in one of the local meetups:

1. Hiking - http://www.meetup.com/hiking-198/
   
2. Adventure club - http://www.meetup.com/Kansas-City-Adventure-Club/
   
   At the very least, check out their events; that'll give you some ideas for hikes! You might also get this book - http://www.amazon.com/Hiking-Kansas-City-William-Eddy/dp/1891708325 It details hikes all around the metro area and even in surrounding areas that are a little farther away (like Weston).

Get this guide book. It's the best. It gives you a mile by mile break down of all the sites in the park.

https://www.amazon.com/Yellowstone-Treasures-Travelers-Companion-National/dp/0970687389

Hiking Kansas City is a great resource.

Check this book out- I used it regularly when I lived in SF- still a pretty far haul up north from the city if I recall, but worth it!

http://www.amazon.com/Northern-California-Backroads-4-Wheel-Trails/dp/0966497651

I bought this map, and it seems to be quite good (and on waterproof paper too!)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1890060232/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This one doesn't necessarily have THE most detailed maps, but I've used it dozens of times per year for a number of years now, and I can't recommend it enough. It's like my Bible while I'm on the road:

https://www.amazon.com/Your-Guide-National-Parks-Complete/dp/1621280675/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

May interest you.

It's a good read...

https://www.amazon.com/Better-Off-Without-Manifesto-Secession/dp/145161666X

Better Off Without 'Em: A Northern Manifesto for Southern Secession

ha ha but unironically (the opening paragraphs of this book are a chilling and all-too-credible prophecy)

No problem. I love helping people who travel to Hawaii, I've only been twice. Will be (late) honeymooning there this April too actually but will be in Kauai first.

This was the book I was referring to -
https://www.amazon.com/Maui-Revealed-Guidebook-Andrew-Doughty/dp/0996131884/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

Forgot to mention but all my experience is from 2016 so not too old (info) but I don't really think it changed all that much.

https://www.amazon.com/Maui-Revealed-Guidebook-Andrew-Doughty/dp/0996131884/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1523071261&sr=8-1&keywords=maui+revealed

Too many things to list, check out: https://www.amazon.com/Maui-Revealed-Guidebook-Andrew-Doughty/dp/0996131809/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468352288&sr=8-1&keywords=maui+guidebook

https://www.amazon.com/American-Fascists-Christian-Right-America/dp/0743284461

https://www.amazon.com/Republican-Brain-Science-Science-Reality/dp/1118094514

https://www.amazon.com/Insane-Clown-President-Dispatches-Circus/dp/0399592466

https://www.amazon.com/Idiot-America-Stupidity-Became-Virtue/dp/0767926153

https://www.amazon.com/Republican-War-Science-Chris-Mooney/dp/0465046762

https://www.amazon.com/Anti-Intellectualism-American-Life-Richard-Hofstadter/dp/0394703170

https://www.amazon.com/Better-Off-Without-Manifesto-Secession/dp/145161666X/

https://www.amazon.com/How-Fight-Conservative-Daniel-Kurtzman/dp/140226576X

It took me less than 2 minutes to find all of these

Better Off Without 'Em

Get this book - https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Kauai-Guidebook-revealed/dp/0983888760

​

It will answer 90% of your questions

Can confirm

https://www.amazon.com/Better-Off-Without-Manifesto-Secession/dp/145161666X

Not really. Just take the leap and invest money on a guide book. Much of the information online about Hawaii is just advertising material in disguise . . . you might have good luck finding something, but I've never had good luck.

Maybe the travel wiki for Hawaii?

Pacific Northwest irony bros are way ahead of you.

Shit like this is why I never had the time of day for Chapo Traphouse.

Better Off Without 'Em

great book, excellent idea, i am all for the south just splitting off and having its own regressive theocratic shitpile of a society and not sucking up our taxpayer money anymore

let them turn it all into toxic waste dumping grounds for big business. idgaf anymore, they are a blight and they really just need to gtfo forever

http://www.amazon.com/The-Ultimate-Kauai-Guidebook-Revealed/dp/0981461018

• mahalepu road area, very few people, rugged, beautiful
  
• polihale beach, park your car before the sand starts, or you'll get stuck
  
• waimea canyon, kalalau lookout.
  
• secret beach, has queen's bath type tidepools. has small waterfall u can stand under
  
• ke'e beach
  
• tunnels beach (snorkeling)
  
• na pali boat tour - shop around and take dramamine a few hours before
  
  ideally you want to stay in poipu a few days and then princeville. the distances aren't great but the speed limits are very slow and traffic can be bad around lihue because the speed and very few lanes.