Going to Arizona & Hawaii in March

[Lazmeister]

Hi Y'all,

I'm travelling to Arizona (staying with friends at Marana - south of Tucson) shortly. I'll be there for 2 weeks. We'll be doing some side trips while based in Arizona (ie. Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Rocky Point - Mexico). Then I'm off to Maui for 10 days and the Big Island for 5 days.

Any suggestions for some really special photo opportunities? My interests are landscape as well as sports photography.

Ideas & personal experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

[newfly5]

Take the hikes in Hawaii thats where you find the goods.

[Geoff_Shawcross]

Well, in the case of Maui, there are just to many ideas to list them all. But, I'll gladly list a few. :)

Iao Valley is a must. When you drive into this valley and head over to the park area, your jaw will drop! The valley is located in the West Maui Mountains. I also recommend driving up to the summit of Mount Haleakala for a beautiful sunrise. Just so you know, the summit is at 10,000 feet above sea level, so bring a jacket that's warm and that can repel water. Sunsets are amazing on Maui.....just look to the west towards the island of Lanai for day after day of breathtaking landscapes.

Oh, ya......I highly recommend you look at this website (http://www.wizardpub.com/) and get one of the guide books for Maui. This book is chalk full of great information on places to go and see. I took it everywhere I went in Maui.

One day I plan on going back to Maui myself......Once you go there, you have to go back. Maui is like an addiction (hehehe), the sights, the smells, everything assualts you sences (in a good way) to the extreme!

Hope you enjoy you're trip! :)

[SYS]

I used to live in Tucson. Be sure to take picture like these:

http://www.desertusa.com/july96/du_saguaro.html

[Lazmeister]

Many thanks for the responses so far.
Other ideas are still very welcome.

[JmprSteve]

From Tucson to the Grand Canyon, there's Picacho (spelling?) Peak . Going thru Phoenix, North Mountain reserves, Piestawa Peak (formerly Squaw Peak) a little east of the freeway (google Piestawa Peak), then of course the Sedona area. On the way from Flagstaff to the Grand Canyon (I took the west route) there's a great view of the San Francisco Peaks and a wildlife trail. That should keep you busy for awhile.
Have fun!

[CliffInDallas]

Monument Valley.

[JuSlaughter]

On the Big Island, I recommend going to South Point, the most southerly point of the United States, fantastic scenery, crashing waves, lava formations. Then I was say go the see the Kiluaea caldera and Chain of Craters road. Akaka falls on the east of the island, north of Hilo is special. "The Refuge" on the west of the island, south of Kona, is worth a visit too. If you've got the cash, I would highly recommend a helicopter ride with Blue Hawaiian over the island. We did a 2 hour flight over the volcano and valleys, didn't have a decent camera then so need to do it again at some point.

Enjoy your trip, I'm very jealous.

[KCMO Al]

Arizona...Monument Valley (as mentioned) , Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon, Jerome, Saguaro NM East and West, etc., etc.

[CH3NO2]

Depending how many days your are in Vegas there are many day trips you can make, some of which are not far outside town. You have Red Rock Canyon, Valley of Fire, Death Valley (day trip in itself), and Hoover Dam to name a few. Sounds like you have a great vacation planned.

[calicokat]

The Road To Hana in Maui is a must see, but you cannot drive all the way around as of now, the October Earthquake knocked out a bridge outside Kaupo

[HighPlainsPhotographer]

For Arizona, check out this book, it has some great photo ideas in it http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780916189136&itm=2

Maui; The Road To Hana, Kaanapali beach area is nice, but kind of "touristy".
Big Island (my favorite) Waipio Valley, Akaka Falls, Punaluu Beach, Volcanoes NP.

Shaun

[blueM]

The Road To Hana in Maui is a must see, but you cannot drive all the way around as of now, the October Earthquake knocked out a bridge outside Kaupo

This is good advice, especially if it's still rainy season in the higher elevations. We drove in June, which is the dry season and many of the waterfalls were just a trickle or nothing at all.

If you do, plan enough time to park & hike. Some of the best falls cannot be seen from the road.