Visitors to Hawaii soon find that the island state has more to offer than its beautiful beaches and tropical breezes. Hawaii has been a historic Pacific crossroads for centuries, and the top five historical sites in Hawaii tell the stories of these encounters.

1. Kalaupapa National Historical Park – Moloka’i

Kalaupapa National Historical Park - Moloka'i

Among the tragedies of Hawaiian history, two events stand out: episodes in 1865 and 1895 when indigenous Hawaiians were removed from their own lands, and the ongoing forced isolation of people suffering from Hansen’s disease, known then as leprosy. Kalaupapa was established in 1980 as a setting to tell these two heartbreaking stories of Hawaiian history. Forced removal broke Hawaiians’ 900-year-old ties with their land, a connection that figures prominently in Hawaiian religion and culture. The enforced isolation of lepers on Molokai broke apart families and condemned sufferers to pain and loneliness until the arrival of Father Damien (Joseph De Veuster). Father Damien is now revered as a saint who saw the sufferers of Hansen’s disease as people who deserve to be treated with dignity and caring.

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Are you interested in taking a trip? Whether you want to your trip to be alone, with your friends, with your family, or even just with your romantic partner, you will need to find a place to visit, as well as activities to participate in. If you have yet to decide what you would like to do for your next trip, have you ever though about going camping and hiking? When alone, camping and hiking are both fun filled activities, but when combined, they are, literally, the perfect combination.

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Do you want to get out of the usual vacation rut? Then try out some unusual vacation concepts and think and plan accordingly. Speaking about tranquil vacations, various monasteries and spiritual centers all over the country rent out rooms to the public. While some such places require one to participate in their activities and events, some need help with their daily chores. And, some others necessitate nothing from the visitors’ part. Most of them come cheap; only a few are expensive and may ask for an amount as donation. One does not need to share their religious beliefs to have a sojourn at these places. These spiritual centers are usually set in quiet and beautiful surroundings. Let it be a monastery or a meditation center of Hindus, one can get details online from their web sites.

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There’s much more to the Canary Island of Lanzarote than just sun and beaches alone. As this small speck of Spain is home to a whole host of visitor attractions and things to see. Encompassing natural wonders, picturesque towns and villages and the incredible creations of a famous local artist called Cesar Manrique.

Best of all Lanzarote is very manageable when it comes touring and exploring. As the island is tiny and can be covered from end to end in under an hour. Car hire in Lanzarote is cheap too – unlike some other Spanish sunspots. With rental rates starting from as little as €13 per day.

So what are the top five must see attractions the island?

Timanfaya National Park
Visiting Lanzarote without viewing the volcanic region would be like going to Paris and ignoring the Eiffel Tower. The weird and wonderful scenery here covers about a quarter of the island and was created by eruptions centuries ago. Leaving this whole area carpeted in solid lava and peppered with burnt out volcanic peaks.

This is such a photogenic location that numerous film makers have used it as a location. Most recently the makers of next year’s big Hollywood smash Clash of the titans which is scheduled for release some time during 2010.

The Green Lagoon
No less a surreal sight is the Green Lagoon at El Golfo. Created by a chance interaction between sea water and algae this emerald coloured lake is locked in a black sand beach right on the coastline. Creating a striking sight which has also been used by various filmmakers over the years. Most recently Pedro Almodovar who shot Broken Embraces on the island.

Cesar Manrique Foundation
This has to be the strangest property in Lanzarote. The former home of Cesar Manrique was created over five chambers in the lava flow. And houses all of the artist’s most important paintings and sculptures.

The Jamoes del Agua
The Jameos perfectly demonstrated how Manrique worked to unite the islands terrain with his own creativity. This collapsed lava tube was converted by Manrique into a stunning underground auditorium, tropical gardens and nightclub in the late 1960´s. And really put Lanzarote on the map as a unique tourist destination for the first time.

Valley of 1000 Palms
Perfect proof that Lanzarote isn’t all about volcanoes and rock formations. The north of the island is in fact surprisingly green. Nowhere more so than in the Valley of 1000 Palms. Where an amazing oasis comprised of the crowns of countless Canarian palms swaying gently in the breeze.

There are a lot of places to visit in Puerto Rico on your trip. Most people concentrate on the main attractions on the metropolitan area of the island, here we feature 5 exotic places to visit out of the way, they are worth the driving and the experience, enjoy.

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