Maui Dreams – Travel Blog

Maui and Places Around The World

Posts Tagged traveling

An Amazing Whale Watch on Maui

Mar 2

Posted by Gary in Maui, Travel, activities, things to do on maui | 1 Comment

Whale season on Maui is a wonderful time. We have been on a number of Whale Watching Charters over the years, but our most recent expedition (February 2010) was spectacular. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words: here is a short slide show of our wonderful trip, taken just off the coast of Maui. The slide show is approximately 2 minutes.

Humpback Whale Resources

There are some great Whale Watching Videos on the web, here are a few more that we think all you “whale watching fans” will really enjoy:

  • Watch as National Geographic photographer and Whale Trust co-founder Flip Nicklin reveals the mysteries of Hawaii’s humpback whales. Then go on an amazing whale watching tour in the channel – Watch Here
  • A good amateur video of a whale watching tour – Watch Here
  • National Geographic has some great information beside the video above. Here are some facts and an audio clip of the Humpback Whale song.

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Beyond The Shore Of Maui. More Than A Vacation.

Oct 14

Posted by Gary in Maui, Travel, activities, things to do on maui | 4 Comments

Traveling takes us away from who we have become, allowing us to remember who we want to be.  ~Gary A Reichel

Find Yourself Again

Find Yourself Again

While on this journey of life, the curiosity to learn seems to wane. I don’t think it is a situation of not wanting to learn, or that we get tired of learning …I think we just get tired. Work is seldom 9 to 5, and the pressures that go along with most jobs are NOT easily left at the office. With all the stress and responsibility the weekends are usually spent trying to catch-up on sleep and household projects.

There is little that can be done about the limitations on our time, but at what cost are we just “surviving”? At what point does a job start to encroach upon life? When is enough, enough? The answer is not simple, but let me try, “You know work has become too great a part of your life when there is nothing else to talk about. Everything you do is work related. If you are not talking about work, you have nothing to say. Your conversation at the dinner table is, about work. Work. Work, work.” Read the rest of this entry »

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From Maui to Paris, Tips To Finding The Best Museums and Galleries.

Sep 30

Posted by Gary in Maui, Travel, activities, tips | 3 Comments

Are you an art enthusiast? Do you like to travel? How about a combination of the two -a little art and traveling? From the The Louvre in Paris to the Kula Gallery in Maui, I have pulled together some online resources that will help the “artful traveler” find the best art in town.

Artist on Maui

Art enthusiast who enjoy visiting small local galleries will enjoy a website called, Maui Info Source. The site offers links to over 60 Hawaiian artist from, Anna Gold to Wyland. Furthermore, Maui-Info-Source provides a small thumbnail of the artist work providing a clue to the style and technique of the artist. There is also a link to the artist’s website where the visitor can view a portfolio; all in all, this is a great place to start searching for that perfect work of art.

Maui Info Source

Maui Info Source

The Maui Arts And Cultural Center is another great web site that offers information on Maui events. That being said, if you decide to visit Maui, to either attend an event (or just visit the island), Gail’s Maui Condo is a beautiful studio on Kaanapali Beach, located at The Whaler. The unit is on the seventh floor facing the courtyard with an ocean view. It’s paradise. For more info visit – Maui Vacation Condo

Maui Vacation Condo

Maui Vacation Condo

Art In Southern California

For travelers looking to visit Southern California, ArtSceneCal has links and information about regional art galleries and museums, Read the rest of this entry »

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Debordieu Beach -The Softer Side Of South Carolina.

Sep 19

Posted by Gary in Beaches, Travel, tips | 6 Comments

Debordieu Beach, South Carolina

Debordieu Beach, South Carolina

South Carolina, a state with a checkered past stretching back to early America. A rebel state that holds the distinction of, “…starting the American Civil War in 1861″. But South Carolina is not all about American history. There are are dozens of other attractions that draw thousands of visitors to the state year round. Specifically, during the warmer months visitors flock to the shore enjoying warm water and wide open beaches; Aka -what I call, the “softer side” of South Carolina.

For those of you who like the beach, South Carolina can be hard to beat. With miles of coast line, vacationers are treated to a wide variety of beaches. Some beaches are crowed, located near surf shops, bars and hotels. On the other hand, some beaches are private and remote, with little activity and small crowds. Read the rest of this entry »

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Five Beaches You Must Visit

Sep 4

Posted by Gary in Kaanapali Beach, Travel, tips | 1 Comment

Red Sand Beach

Red Sand Beach, Maui, Hawaii

Fun In The Sun? Solitude? Get Away From It All? It seems like everyone has their own definition of, “the perfect beach”.  So when deciding on a list of “Five Beaches You Must Visit”, I wanted to cover the gantlet. From the white sand, to the pink sand. The tropical to the …not tropical. So with these guidelines I sat down to discover five beaches that offer something for everyone. Read the rest of this entry »

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Lahaina – Under The Banyan Tree I Discovered Maui

Aug 26

Posted by Gary in Lahaina, Maui | No Comments

Banyan Tree Lahaina

Banyan Tree Lahaina

In Lahaina under the Banyan Tree a Hawaiian man sat with a ukulele positioned across his lap. His Hawaiian shirt covered a broad back and big belly. He absently smiled at the passing tourist as they passed by. Unnoticed, I watched from a bench I found just moments before. I had not heard the man play, or sing. My expectations were not high, but it was a beautiful Maui morning and I had nothing to do but enjoy my role as tourist.

Banyan Tree Lahaina Maui

I watched as his big fingers gave a tweak to the low string. He was tuning the ukulele while adjusting his posture getting ready to  play. Within a couple strums the familiar sound of the ukulele came to life.  “Not bad I thought,” as he ran through a cord progression without any problem; actually it was quiet good. But the real surprise came as the giant man sung in an ancient tone. It was raw in a grass roots kind-of way, transporting me back in time, when I imagined there were no tourist, restaurants, or shops. Just a simple island life. Read the rest of this entry »

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The Whaler On Maui – A Great Place To Stay.

Aug 16

Posted by Gary in Kaanapali Beach, Maui, The Whaler | 3 Comments

The Lava Rock Fountain

The Lava Rock Fountain

Kaanapali Beach was developed in the 1960s by Amfac. The project focused on developing a mile long stretch of beach along Maui’s west coast. During the 1970′s a luxury condominium resort was built, it is called The Whaler. Recently, The Whaler completed a three year project to improve the property.  Today construction is done and the shovels have been put away, so now I pose the question, “was the project worth it?” In my point of view the answer is, “YES”.

The Whaler On Kaanapali Beach

Out of all the properties along Kaanapali Beach,  I have always felt The Whaler had an “inviting” quality that made it special.  Not that the other properties on Kaanapali Beach are “not welcoming”, they are. However, The Whaler has always encouraged groups by the pool, a cold drink at the barbecue, or a pot luck at the picnic benches. So when setting out to redo the landscaping I was concerned. I did agreed the property was in need of renovation, but in the pit of my stomach I was afraid they would destroy the ohana feeling. I worried the renovations would create a new look that included a “new feel”. That was three years ago, today I’m reveled to report The Whaler was not changed, but …renovated. Read the rest of this entry »

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Traveling To Get Away From It All.

Jul 31

Posted by Gary in Travel, tips | 2 Comments

hammockWe travel to get away from it all. To explore those places we have read about, talked about …dreamed about. It requires time, money and effort that it is not usually cheap; or easy. From trains to airplanes we don backpacks, purses, cameras and fanny packs. Parents juggle kids and everyone is spending money. And why? Because at some point between loading the car and reaching the destination we change. Both in attitude and appearance. We change our briefcases for a suitcases. Our shoes for sandals. Cell phones for cameras. But we also change inside. By the time our plane lands, or the train pulls out of the station, we begin seeing the world from a new perspective as we prepare to discover something new. Read the rest of this entry »

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