Hawaii, the Big Island Trailblazer: Where to Hike, Snorkel, Surf, Bike Drive

( 70 )

Overview

A guide for families and outdoor adventurers alike, the new and completely revised 2011 Trailblazer takes you to all of the Big Island's famous attractions, as well as its hidden spots. Nearly twice the size of the rest of Hawaii combined, the Big Island presents a challenge to adventure travelers with limited time. Trailblazer comes to the rescue with its trademark organization and clear directions for . . .
156 hikes and strolls: the peaks of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, the ...
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Hawaii the Big Island Trailblazer: Where to Hike, Snorkel, Surf, Bike, Drive

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More About This Book

Overview

A guide for families and outdoor adventurers alike, the new and completely revised 2011 Trailblazer takes you to all of the Big Island's famous attractions, as well as its hidden spots. Nearly twice the size of the rest of Hawaii combined, the Big Island presents a challenge to adventure travelers with limited time. Trailblazer comes to the rescue with its trademark organization and clear directions for . . .
156 hikes and strolls: the peaks of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, the shores of Waipio Valley and Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, rain forests and tropical gardens, waterfalls, petroglyph fields, and the Kona Coast
75 snorkeling and swimming spots including remote hike-to specials
39 surfing spots: boards, bodyboarding, and body surfing
24 bike trails for adventure cyclists: mountain, coastal, forest, pasture
25 campgrounds and rustic cabin hideaways

Hawaii the Big Island Trailblazer also includes . . .

9 maps and more than 200 photographs
A Trailblazer Kids section for adventuring famiies
A Best Of section that lets you pick the right activity for the right day
Resource Links with hand-picked accommodations and restaurants,recreational outfitters, transportation, and visitor information
Hawaiian culture and history
Museums, attractions and shopping
Driving tours to the Parker Ranch and Kohala Coast, Hilo and the Heritage Coast, and Kona coffee country
Safety tips and trip-planning advice

With its obscure roads and enormous size--nearly twice that of the rest of the Hawaiian Islands combined--the Big Island presents a challenge to adventure travelers who have limited time. The Hawaii The BigIsland Trailblazer for 2011 comes to the rescue with clear driving and trail descriptions to all of nature's all-stars, from the top of Mauna Kea to the shores of Kealakekua Bay. Presenting vivid maps and its easy-to-use format, Trailblazer is a personal tour guide that fits in your knapsack. Hikers, snorkelers, and surfers can zero in on all the island's scenic masterpieces, as well as seek out the quiet wonders the Sprouts are known to discover. Reading Trailblazer gives you the feeling of being there, and then makes you want to get up and go!
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Editorial Reviews

Midwest Book Review
A energetically presented and highly recommended resource guide, Hawaii - The Big Island Trailblazer by Jerry and Janine Sprout is a thoroughly "user friendly" travel guide featuring truly great locales in which to hike, snorkel, surf, bike, or drive anywhere in Hawaii. Specifically for families wanting shared recreational experiences, and ideal for solitary vacationers seeking memorable do-it-yourself adventures, Hawaii The Big Island Trailblazer is enhanced with 9 maps and over 200 black-and-white photographs; a "Kids Only" section; driving tours; safety trips; resource links; information on Hawaiian culture and history, and a great deal more. January 2004
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780967007250
  • Publisher: Diamond Valley Company
  • Publication date: 9/28/2007
  • Series: Trailblazer Travel Books Series , #5
  • Edition number: 2
  • Pages: 256
  • Sales rank: 261,262
  • Product dimensions: 6.08 (w) x 8.98 (h) x 0.60 (d)

Meet the Author

Janine and Jerry Sprout have spent more than 20 years together exploring the trails, beaches, and attractions of the American West. Their guides are handcrafted and trail-tested. Janine is a professional photographer and graphic designer. Jerry is a former newspaper reporter, award-winning athelete and novelist Their skills result in outdoor guides that are beautiful to look at and fun to read.
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 70 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(67)

4 Star

(2)

3 Star

(1)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 70 Customer Reviews

  • Posted December 3, 2011

    Very cool book

    After getting my Nook color I ordered this guide for my trip to Hawaii. I like the way everything is linked and the explosion of color really brings this immense island alive. There was alot of ground to cover in two weeks over there and the Trailblazer nicely condenses all the sites together and links up the information so you can explore a beach or a trail and find other sites in the same geographical location. Cool.

    This guide is organized, better than the other competitor guide I had along in paper. I like that the links get you to the page you're looking for fast. The Puna Coast was a real find, a beautiful drive culminating in a swim at a giant hot pool. An island paradise FOUND.

    2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted January 4, 2011

    Two island trip

    We toured Oahu for four days with their Oahu Trailblazer then ventured to the Big Island for a week. These guides are the BEST. No stone left unturned and beaches and trails so easy to find and explore. Volcanoes National Parks is covered so well, an amazing place. Plenty of advise for first timers like us. We left seasoned islanders with the desire to return asap.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted May 19, 2010

    Our destination, our journey

    We relied on the Big Island Trailblazer every day. Fit nicely in the daypack. This series beats all the others when it comes to exact directions and it's loaded with photos so you get inspired to reach the location. We originally started vacationing in Hawaii after reading their No Worrries Hawaii book.

    Page by page the whole island is dissected in an easy to navigate clean layout.
    Trails to wild beaches, hidden waterfalls, and significant places where history was made, they've got it covered. Another beautiful trip thanks to these authors. Extremely happy.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted October 13, 2009

    five stars across the board

    A sensational guidebook that upgraded our vacation. We never expected to see or do so much. We like to hike and this guide provided complete directions to all the trails all over the island. The Trailblazers have personality and their appetite for traveling and discovering the most beautiful and powerful places was contagious. The Big Island came alive within the 256 pages and it will take at least five more trips to get our fill and feel we've seen it all.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted July 22, 2009

    I Also Recommend:

    Kauai Trailblazer: Where to Hike, Snorkel, Bike, Paddle, Surf, 3rd Edition

    Happy Campers

    Definitely clued us for what was in store. Our vacation took us to Kauai and the Big Island. We thank the Trailblazer authors for preparing us for what was in store. All their great recommedations sure kept us busy. The snorkeling on this island was fabulous.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 21, 2008

    I Also Recommend:

    China
    Hawaii, the Big Island Trailblazer: Where to Hike, Snorkel, Surf, Bike Drive

    My Review

    Very good! Tells you the PERFECT places to go if you go to Hawaii.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 22, 2008

    Way to go

    If you're going to Big Island Hawaii, go with this one. This was our idea book, our inspiration to get out and find all the action. We covered Kohala and Kona and the volcano area in ten days. Bright. Fresh. Informative. Best of all the guides on this subject.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 9, 2008

    A reviewer

    Our Trailblazer guide lived up to its promises on the back cover. Maps, graphics, lists and details describing the island's hiking trails and snorkeling beaches are wrapped up in one tight package. Just what we needed.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 15, 2008

    Five Star Review

    We depended on this superbly organized book during our entire stay. It deserves an award for layout. Hiking was outstanding. Lots of choices in many diverse settings. We took their advice and didn't cross country or stray from the marked trail. Their information on lava tube hazards was good to know. Our Big adventure to the Big Island was certainly more exciting having this Trailblazer book as our personal guide.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 25, 2007

    wonderful!

    For the Big Island there is no better guidebook to see everything, lots of extras and tips for saving $$$$. Our boys had a ball.

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 22, 2013

    This guide is all about exploring the Big Island all on your own

    This guide is all about exploring the Big Island all on your own - with their directions of course. It sure gave us confidence.  The information is pertinent and sufficiently detailed. The photos of lava fields, lava tubes, Akaka Falls and Mauna Kea got us pretty excited before we left. Trailblazer is a pleasure to read and own.  
    If you intend to snorkel, you will most definitely need it to find the easiest places to jump in and swim with turtles. No need to go on a tour, all the research has been done for you.

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  • Posted January 28, 2013

    Read from beginning to end before you go, that's my advice.  You

    Read from beginning to end before you go, that's my advice.  You will get a complete look at the vast space of the Big Island.  We referred to it constantly.  It never left our packs or the dashboard.  It excels when it comes to to driving directions  because distance is everything on this island.  We soaked in the historical lore, met the locals, sampled their restaurants, snorkeled, great trip.  We already bought their Kauai guide for more Hawaii in July.

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  • Posted October 16, 2012

    Hawaii on my mind

    I've used their guidebook for Maui and it was a five star experience. Now I'm heading for the Big Island and want to be prepared. This book follows their same format and tantalizingly is full of many adventures ahead. I especially like the way they present exact directions to a place. Water sports, hiking, all the beach parks.....I can hardly wait.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 30, 2012

    What really impressed us was the thoroughness of their coverage.

    What really impressed us was the thoroughness of their coverage. I could tell by the table of contents this was a carefully researched book designed for outdoor enthusiasts so I nabbed two copies since we were traveling with another family.

    We scoured the island and weren't deterred at all by all the lava lining the highway. The book has spot on directions for driving and hiking. The blue lagoon near Kona Village where we stayed and natural pools just outside of Hilo were real finds we would never have discovered. Kalopa State Park and Volcanoes National Park pages enticed us to make stops. History is within the trail descriptions too, the kids ate it up. I highly recommend this unique guidebook if you're going to Hawaii.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted August 22, 2012

    Crystals room

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 12, 2012

    AZ hiker

    Two years ago, I bought this as a gift for active friends who visit the Big Island annually. All of their favorite places/activities are beautifully described. This is a treasure! THE BEST travel guide to the Big Island!

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  • Posted July 28, 2011

    I like this series

    Before I had my Nook I went to Kauai with their printed book. They've had the greatest directions to places that weren't listed in other guides. For Hawaii the Big Island they follow the same format and I find it makes such good sense to know all there is to do in whatever area you happen to be in.

    Our condo was in Keahou near Kona. They described where the coolest beaches were in the area and I knew how long it would take to drive there because they include mile markers in their directions. They then narrow it down to how long the trail is and where it's best and safe to snorkel and swim. Plenty of "watch outs" dot the text but we liked knowing where it was dangerous. And they have photos as well as maps. The Nook was light and fit in the daypack perfectly.

    Way to go on a vacation.

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  • Posted July 7, 2011

    Everything we wanted to know

    This guide is the only one that focuses on activities. The hiking and snorkeling we did rounded out our days and made our vacation so worthwhile. A great resource with excellent maps and precise directions. We also used their Maui guide which is arranged the same way with highway mile markers indicated so you know exactly where to turn and make a stop. We highly recommend reading this book before you go so you can maximize your vacation days!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 8, 2010

    First choice

    This is the guide we always turned to first. It covers the entire island and we returned home feeling like we got our money's worth. You will definitely need the Trailblazer to find the beaches since the best ones were hidden and signage on this island is poor.

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  • Posted September 30, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    The derivation of the flora of Hawaii

    Doubled our fun

    The Trailblazer guide for the Big Island is multi-faceted. There are large expanses of lava with pockets of treasures. We found many of them with this guide. There's no other way to discover them unless you have the directions that they write. The beaches especially were amazing to walk to....hardly anyone there. Like finding our own private paradise. The maps were very useful. Beautiful color spread that inspired us to go and see the volcano area. Don't miss the Hilo Farmer's market or the waterfalls just outside of town. They made it an incredibly fun way to explore the island. Make sure you book enough vacation time to see this spectacular place.

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