[ISLAND HOPPING]
Soft side of ranch
Most people are familiar with Parker Ranch's paniolo, or cowboy, past. But have you smelled the flowers lately?Gardens surround the historic homes Puuopelu and Mana Hale, each with their own character and each blooming at various times of the year.
The lavender garden features several examples of young and mature lavender plants. Lavender is appreciated worldwide for its aroma, medicinal, culinary and beauty-enhancing qualities.
The gardenia garden blooms in early summer, with hundreds of blossoms scenting the air.
Former ranch owner Richard Smart also delighted in growing roses and four of his rose gardens grace the landscape. The rose gardens boast several types of hybrid roses as well as some local varieties, such as Lokelani. Waimea's cool evening temperatures provide the perfect growing conditions for roses.
Visits through the gardens are included with admission to the Historic Homes, open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays. The cost is $8.50 for adults, $7.50 for seniors 60 and older, $6 for children 4 to 11 and free for children younger than 4.
For information on Parker Ranch's Historic Homes and Gardens visit www.ParkerRanch.com or call (808) 885-5433.
Pleasant 'Escapes'
Pleasant Holidays is touting discounted room rates as part of Starwood Hawaii's "Escape" promotion, which was recently extended to include travel through Dec. 25, 2002.The reduced rates are available in select room categories at the Sheraton Waikiki, The Royal Hawaiian, Sheraton Moana Surfrider and Sheraton Princess Kaiulani (all in Waikiki); at the Sheraton Kauai and Princeville resorts on the Garden Isle; the Sheraton Maui and Kapalua Bay Hotel on Maui; and at The Orchid at Mauna Lani on the Big Island.
Five-night, land-only holidays start at $678 per person, double occupancy, reflecting a savings of $362 per room. Included in Pleasant's travel package are accommodations, daily Dollar Rent A Car (roundtrip airport/ hotel transfers in Waikiki), fresh flower lei greeting, accommodations, and more.
For information and reservations, call Pleasant at (800) 242-9244 or visit Pleasant's Web site at www.2Hawaii.com.
Head to coffee country
Accessing the many coffee farms in Kona just got easier. The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival has updated its popular Kona Coffee Country Driving Tour brochure highlighting agricultural tourism.The brochure features a map of the area between Honanau and Kailua-Kona that indicates where visitors can stop to see coffee farms, mills, retail outlets offering locally made Kona coffee products and coffee farm-related bed and breakfasts.
The brochure also provides a history of Kona coffee on the Big Island, plus information about harvesting, processing and roasting coffee.
The brochure is free, available by calling the Big Island Visitors Bureau at 1(800) 638-2441. The information also can be accessed online at www.konacoffeefest.com, under "Drive Tour."