Yosemite National Park, California

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John Muir, one of America's original naturalists supposedly took President Theodore Roosevelt camping in Yosemite to convince the president that our country needed to have designated National Parks. President “Teddy” Roosevelt was so awe struck by his experience camping in Yosemite that he set up the National Parks Service to preserve vast pieces of our country's wild and beautiful territory. Yosemite has deep valleys and waterfalls that are truly magnificent. Yosemite is one of our nation's most regal parks and over 3 million visitors from all over the world come to reign in her glory.

This is an example of just one waterfall within Yosemite National Park.

Half Dome, Yosemite National Park

Denali National Park, Alaska

Denali National Park is home to Mt. McKinley, the tallest mountain in the United States.

The park itself is about 200 miles south of the Artic Circle. The park wildlife includes Dall (big horn) sheep, grizzly bears, gray wolves and moose. This area is a place where the tectonic plates of the earth continually are in motion and thus earthquakes are a part of the territory. The Alaskan Range actually rises 3 centimeters a year, due to this constant force. In the winter, the temperature in this region can drop to 95 degrees below zero.

 

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

Bryce Canyon National Park is known for its red rock formations and unusual landscape.

These rock formations are called “hoodoos” and they were craved by melting snow. This sculpting of the rocks took thousands and thousands of years. The entire park has been created by the elements of wind and rain, giving it a memorable terrain. Inside the park at 9,000 feet above sea level, there are 1,500 year old pine trees.

Crater Lake National Park, Oregon

 

Crater Lake National Park was created when a volcano literally blew its top over 7,000 years ago. Actually the blast was 42 times the explosion of the Mt. St. Helen's in 1980. . Half-a-million visitors descend on this park every year to see this amazing crater and lake. Crater Lake is surrounded by lush evergreen trees and scenic hills, which make it a very popular travel stop. The lake itself may be surrounded by freezing weather, but it only froze once back in 1949. The area typically receives about 44 feet of snow a year. Crater Lake is the 7th deepest lake in the world with a depth of almost 1,300 feet.

Rocky Mountains, Colorado

 

It's no wonder that John Denver wrote a song called “Rocky Mountain High” about these amazing mountains. Over 2 million people visit this inspirational place every year.

The Rocky Mountains offer the visitor a glimpse of the ancient erosion that formed these peaks. The valleys were created by glaciations back in the Cenozoic Era. Animals that call this area home are elk, deer, big horn sheep, coyote, cougars and black bears. The Rocky Mountains are home to much natural beauty and pristine lakes.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

When we think of Yellowstone National Park we all think of the geothermal geyser “Old Faithful.” “Old Faithful” is one of many geothermal geysers in the area. Yellowstone National Park is literally a “hotbed” of geothermal activity and is the location of a “super volcano.” This “super volcano” is called “Yellowstone Caldera” and is still considered to be an active volcano. The geothermal activity is fueled by the active volcanism in this part of the world. Interestingly enough, “Old Faithful” has a sister geothermal geyser that is located in Napa Valley, California.

One of the largest highly elevated lakes is also in Yellowstone Park. Most of the land of Yellowstone is located in the state of Wyoming. Although a small amount of the park drifts into Idaho and Montana,

As you can imagine this region of the world experiences hundreds of small earthquakes every year.

Haleakala Crater and National Park, Hawaii

 

Haleakala sunrise

Haleakala, Maui, Hawaii in Hawaiian means “House of the Sun.” It is 10,000 feet above sea level on the island of Maui. The mountain is actually a dormant volcano and astronauts practiced their lunar landing in the barren crater. There is sometimes snow at the top of this volcano. So you could ski in the morning and surf in the afternoon, that's Haleakala. The volcano is popular with tourists and well-known for its spectacular views at sunrise. Tourists and natives alike rent bikes and take the downhill ride of their life to the bottom of Haleakala.

 

Downhill on a bike from 10,000 feet above sea level is a rush!

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

 

The Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee has a larger collection of tree species than Northern Europe. The Smoky Mountains represent the culture and ways of the diverse life of South Appalachian of the past. President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated the park way back in 1940 and it was problematic as there were many farmers that lived in the designated park region. It was an emotional loss for many of the people who were forced to relocate, although some were allowed a lease that would extent through their lifetime. The park has a bear population of about 1,500.

 

Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

 

It is hard to imagine but the Shenandoah National Park is only 70 miles away from Washington, D.C., our country's capital. This park is part of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. The area has become a popular tourist destination that allows the urbanites to stay in cozy inns and pastoral settings, although wilderness does account for 40% of the park. Shenandoah National Park is full of woodland forests, wildlife and waterfalls.

 

Glacier National Park, Montana

 

Glacier National Park is called “Shining Mountains” to the Native tribes of the region.

The park is aptly named for the rugged terrain that was craved by glaciers millions of years ago. One winter night in 2005, the park was pounded by 8 feet of snow! Just a few days ago, it was announced that due to the volume of snow, a major new road won't be opened in that part of Montana until at least July 4th. Avalanches are creating havoc in the area and delaying the long awaited highway and it is summer!

 

Arches National Park, Utah

 

Arches National Park is home to over 2,000 sandstones arches that have been craved by the wind and the weather for millions of years. The unusual textures and colors make the park very unique and vibrant in some areas. The summer temperatures are over 100 degrees. The winter temperatures are often around 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

Redwood National Park

 

Just two hours south of Oregon, hugging the rugged California coast is where you will find the Redwood National Park. The Redwood National park is home to ancient trees which reach heights of 367 feet into the sky. The base of the trees can be as wide as 22 feet. You will not find these extraordinary trees anywhere else in the world.

These trees are about 20 million years old and began with a tiny seed. The damp environment and cool, foggy weather along the Pacific Ocean are the perfect living conditions for this rainforest of fascinating trees.

 

Our National Parks keep the wilderness of our country open and free. Long may they protect the beauty of our natural and most precious spaces!

Mahimahi/Dolphin Fish/Dorado

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It is sometimes called the Dolphin fish, or Dorado. The mahimahi is a favorite among seafood lovers world-wide. The mahimahi often gathered in schools and usually found throughout the Pacific, and in warm water of Florida.

This fish has a light pink flesh which turns white once cooked, moist, flaky, and mild flavored.

Ulua/Pompano

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The ulua is also known as pompano, but when it is less than 10 pounds, it is known as Papio. This is the ultimate game fish in Hawaii since it can be caught off shore by rod and reel.

Ono/Wahoo

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Ono is also known as Wahoo, and means good to eat in Hawaiian. This fish has a white, flaky, delicate, sweet, and lean taste. The ono becomes popular in recent years when chefs look for substitution to the mahimahi.

Onaga/Ruby Snapper/Long-Tail Red Snapper

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Onaga is also known as long-tail red snapper or ruby snapper. This is Hawaiian favorite fish. The onaga has a light pink flesh, and second most important bottomfish in total weight and value. It is peak during December, in demand for New Year, and wedding celebrations.
Onaga has a delicate taste and often use to serve raw (sashimi style).

Ahi/Bigeye/Yellowfin Tuna

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Ahi is also known as Bigeye and Yellowfin tuna, and the word ahi means fire. Ahi is in the tuna species, and can be served raw (sashimi style).

Ahi has a deep red color flesh, which turns white once cooked. The fat content is higher in the larger fishes, deeper red color, and higher price.

Well, if you did not catch one of these fishes for dinner, you know a little more about them when you are in the restaurant.

Oheo Gutch is probably one of the best things to go do in Maui. The scenery is breathtaking. You can go swimming but you will need to be aware of weather conditions as well as which pool you decide to swim in. There are many waterfalls and pools that lead into each other. There is one pool in particular that leads into the ocean and you must not swim in that one otherwise you could get badly hurt. The Oheo Gutch is a natural wonder and is also known as the 7 Sacred Pools.

Goofy Foot Surf School teaches amateurs how to surf. The classes are small so that you can get that one on one instruction. A beginner's class can cost around $55 per person. There are intermediate classes available as well and the school offer board rentals.

B&B Scuba Diving Services offers three day courses to long-term dive master courses. There are guided tours as well as boat tours. They also allow people to rent diving gear.

Trilogy Excursions is a sailing adventure. There are six sailing catamarans in this fleet including Ka'anapali and the Lahaina Harbor. This is five hours worth of sunning and sailing with some snorkeling.

Ka'anapali Beach has a landmark called the Black Rock. This is where people will dive off from since it is very high and can potentially be dangerous if you don't know what you are doing. The beach is not as busy as the Waikiki beach so you will have a lot of area to yourself. There are resorts, restaurants, and shops nearby.

Makina State Park is the perfect beach to tan and swim. It has two parts. One beach is called the Big Beach which is for the family and the Little Beach which is not for the whole family. The Little Beach is a nude beach where you can also boogie board and surf.

The Summer months can see temperatures as high as 90 degrees, but the average temperature is 85 degrees. The Summer months are during May through October. The Winter months are from November through April. The temperatures have been as low as 10 degrees but only at night. The average temperature during the day is 78 degrees which is not much different than the Summer months. Yet, during the Winter Hawaii will experience the most rain. Flooding is not uncommon.

There are several little islands that belong to Hawaii. Depending on which side you live on will depend on how much dry or wet weather you will get. Typically, when you live on the windward side which is the northeast side you will get the most rain and the coolest weather. This happens since the winds are coming from the northeast. The driest parts of the island will be the southwest area of the islands. The southwest side is called the leeward side since the winds die down and the rains tend to lighten by the time it gets to the southwest side of the islands.

Hurricanes do not happen as often you may think. The last major hurricane that hit Hawaii was in 1991 which was the most severe hitting Inko, Kauai, and parts of Ohau. For the most part, hurricanes do not hit Hawaii. They may get heavy winds, but nothing too strong to destroy the islands.

If you are looking for a place to go on vacation that has the most reasonable and consistent weather then think about going to Hawaii. If you want to visit the higher elevations of the island then be sure to dress appropriately with pants and a sweater since it can get rather cold up there depending on what time of year you go. It doesn't just have natural beauty but it offers great weather.

We had a lanai, a back porch, and we ate out there almost every night. When the weather was nice we had some company, geckos. Outside of our house we had a play set and down by the water we had stones which we called a wall. Me, my sister, brother, and some friends made a fort by the water near the trees. We also went fishing a lot by the wall and one time I caught a baby ell. Also in the water were these things called sea anemones and when you poked them they closed up, it was even cooler to poke them with your toes and watch them close up. Another thing our family did together was go to a playground that was just down the street. There were swings and sea saws to play on and my dad used to do under dogs on the swings with us. He also used to do spider with us.

Our family did a lot of active things together one of the things was going to the Mini Mart that was half a mile away from our house. We would stop there and my dad would treat us all to ice-cream. Umm! Last thing is that our family loved to go camping, whether or not it was with our church or by ourselves. I think the best camping trips were those when we went with our church. We all had a great time doing a bunching of things. One of those things was swimming over to this little island that was about a quarter of a mile away. We would stay there for a while and swim and hike all around the little island. That was the best part of the whole camping trip.

Enjoy golden-sand beaches, lush rainforests, impressive volcanoes, shimmering waterfalls and more. The options are endless on sunny Maui.

WHY SHOULD I GO?

There's a reason honeymooners flock to Maui in droves each year: It's one of the most blissful places on earth. Flourishing greenery, sun-kissed beaches and blue waters set the stage for romance. Add to that an exotic culture, tropical drinks and the soft strumming of a Hawaiian ukulele and you've got a recipe for couples' paradise. Not planning a romantic gateway? Maui offers loads of activities for families and adventurous travelers alike. All that and you don't even need a passport.

WHERE SHOULD I STAY?

World-class hotels abound throughout the island, but the cream of the crop is the Ritz-Carlton in Kapalua. From the moment you arrive and are given a floral lei and a smile, you receive VIP treatment. Staff members go out of their way to make sure each guest feels welcome. Not only will you be impressed by the hotel's service, you will also be dazzled by its setting. The 548-room hotel is located on the northwest coast of the island and is surrounded by a championship golf course and a scenic pineapple plantation. The resort, which was built next to a Hawaiian burial ground back to the year 850, also overlooks a pristine beach and the Pacific Ocean. The resulting environment is a wonderful mixture of modern luxury, spiritual history and natural beauty. What's more, the Ritz boasts a tri-level pool, six tennis courts, a basketball court, walking trails, a state-of-the-art fitness center with exercise classes, a high-end spa and several outstanding restaurants. If you are on your honeymoon the advantage of the hotel's honeymoon packages, which include amenities like champagne and strawberries in your room, rose petals on your bed and a personal concierge. If you're traveling with your children, sign up for the Ritz kids program, which consists of full - or half-day recreation and education activities. If you are interested in learning more about Hawaii's early Polynesian inhabitants, talk to the Ritz's cultural advisor who conducts historical discussions and tours. There is something for everyone at this premier hotel.

WHAT ARE THE BEST ACTIVITIES?

There are enough outdoor activities in Maui to occupy you for several vacations, so you won't want for things to do. You could go on a rainforest hike complete with a waterfall swim with Latatudes "N Adatudes/Maui Eco-Adventures. This tour company offers hikes, kayak trips, bike tours and helicopter rides with knowledgeable guides and picnic lunches. One of their most popular excursions is a hike into the crater of Haleakala, the world"s largest dormant volcano crater.

For those who care to brave the waves, take a surf lesson at the Island Style Surf School in Ka'anapali. The instructors coach you on everything from paddling out to the waves to getting - and staying - up on your board. If you prefer snorkeling, go on a catamaran cruise along Maui's coastline with Kapalua Kai, which stops at prime snorkeling spots (scuba diving is also available). If you go on an excursion between December and April, you may see humpback whales.

Interested in sightseeing on your own? Drive along the world-famous Hana coast and take in the gorgeous state parks, waterfalls and beaches. Then, when you want to relax, head to the Boutique Spa at the Ritz for some pampering. Indulge in one of many treatments, such as a green-tea body wrap, a papaya-pineapple scrub or an aromatherapy massage - which is available outdoors in a cozy hut that is enclosed enough to afford privacy yet open enough to let in the gentle breeze.

WHERE I SHOULD EAT?

No trip to Hawaii would be complete without a true Hawaiian lu'au. Try out the Old Lahaina Lu'au, known as Maui's best and most authentic. The evening begins with a feast of traditional Hawaiian fare, which includes fish, roasted pork and taro (a root plant that is a staple of the Hawaiian diet). Then, as you sip Mai Tais and watch the sun set, enjoy an unforgettable musical hula performance.

For a fabulous meal overlooking the water, head to The Banyan Tree at the Ritz. All creations are elegantly presented and delicious. The Ritz also has a top sushi bar, Kai, which serves only ocean's freshest catches. Mama's Fish House is another popular spot. This converted beach house with Polynesian décor is located in a coconut grove on a secluded white-sand beach. The menu includes fish, crab cakes, lamb chops, Polynesian lobster soup and organic vegetables.

HOW DO I GET THERE?

Most major airlines, including Delta, United and American, fly nonstop out of Los Angeles. There are also several flights from New York with one stopover.

The problem is the Onigiri's ingredients wasnt found in hawaii so the japanese immigrants improvised. They used spam to make Onigiri, seeing that the spam is rectangularly shaped, they molded the rice to he spam's shape. Hawaii became a state in those days so people called it Spam Musubi. Other people that lived in hawaii back then altered the recipe.

They added terriyaki sauce, they also put tamagoyaki(japanese omellette) which was wrapped with the spam with nori(dried seaweed) and they also put furikake(a japanese seasoning composed off small shredded pieces of nori, sesame seeds, sugar, salt and monosodium glutamate).

Ingredients

• 3 cups uncooked short- or medium-grain rice
• 4 cups water
• 5 sheets of sushi nori (seaweed in big squares):

• 1 (12-ounce) can Spam luncheon meat

• (optional)1/4 cup soy sauce
• (optional)1/4 cup sugar
• (optional)1/4 cup rice wine (mirin)

• Water

(This recipe is meant to make multiple spam musubis not only one)

Procedure

Rice

First, wash and clean rice. Then let rice soak in water for 30 minutes so it will be soft. Cook rice in any way you can including boiling it or using a rice cooker, but make sure the rice is moist, but not too moist or it will become saggy.

Nori(dried seaweed)

There are two ways to wrap a spam musubi with nori: partial wrap or full wrap. I mostly prefer full wrap so you can taste the seaweed in all of your bites, but people also use partial wrap.

Partial wrap:

Full wrap:

Spam

Cut Spam into 8 rectangular slices approximately 1/4-inch thick. In a large ungreased frying pan over medium heat, fry slices until brown and slightly crispy. Remove from heat, drain on paper towels, and set aside.

Optional Spam Marination

In a small saucepan over high heat, add soy sauce, sugar, and rice wine; bring just to a boil, then remove from heat. Add fried Spam slices to soy sauce mixture, turning them to coat with the sauce; let spam slices sit in marinade until ready to use.

Water

Put water in a small bowl to use as a seal for the edges of nori for wrapping later on. Then set aside.

Spam Musubi (with mold):

Using a Spam Musubi press, place a piece of nori on a plate. Position press on top of the nori so the length of the press is in the middle of the nori (widthwise). The press and the width of the nori should fit exactly the length of a slice of Spam. (Note: If you don't have a musubi maker, you can use the empty Spam can by opening both sides, creating a musubi mold.)

Spread approximately 1/4 cup cooked rice across the bottom of the musubi maker, on top of the nori; press rice down with flat part of the press to compact the rice until it is 1/4-inch thick (add more rice if necessary). Place a slice of Spam on top of the rice (it should cover most of the length of the musubi maker).

Cover with an additional 1/4 cup cooked rice; press until 1/4-inch thick. remove the musubi from the press by pushing the whole stack down (with the flat part of the press) while lifting off the press. Fold one end of nori over the musubi and press lightly onto the rice.

Wet the remaining end slightly with water, then wrap over musubi and other piece of nori; press down on the other end. Cut log into 4 pieces. Repeat with the other 7 Spam slices, making sure to rinse off musubi maker after each use to prevent if from getting too sticky.

Spam Musubi (without spam musubi mold)

Use your hands to mold a block of rice the two times the length of the spam musubi (but same shape as spam). Put the spam on top of the block of rice. Then mold another block of rice the size and shape of the spam and put it on top of the spam. After that wrap the block of spam and rice with nori and seal the edges with water(rub water on edges not soak it).

Here is the Final Product (partially and fully wrapped)

You should try making this. Spam musubi is a popular snack for children and good for field trips. It's popular in Hawaii, but I'm not sure if it is in North America. Either way it is still a good snack due to it's taste and portability.

This is a leftover product of quaternary glacier which has a record of 3 million years. It is found in Chongqing, China.

This is a rare and extraordinary view of a rainbow after rain.

This is Qiaogeli Peak, situated in the northern part of Pakistan. It is regarded as the world's second highest peak. The Western climbers refer it as K2 Peak while Chinese authorities officially refer it as Qogir or Qiaogeli Feng.

This is a rare scene of a water tornado occuring in the city of Kunshan in a province of Jiangsu, China.

This is a rare sandstorm that swept through the sky of a city in Jiayuguan in Gansu Province, China.

This "strange hoop of barley field" was discovered in the southern region of Russia. It is regarded as a new discovery by the local people there.|

The photo shows a volcanic eruption that took place in the Eastern part of Java Province in Indonesia. This Buluomo Volcano spews high temperature ashes, dust, and smoke as high as 3,000m.

This is Kilauea Volcano, the world's most active volcano, situated in the island of Hawaii, which lies against the southeast flank of much larger Mauna Lao Volcano in the United States. Its eruption is always accompanied with extremely hot steam plume and lava. The hot lava flows in the lava tube and may flow to cover a local road.

This is a splendid look at a meteor and its aurora. The meteor is a meteoroid that falls to the Earth in a fiery tail which is a bright glow observed over the night sky.

This is a combination scene of comets and aurora over the sky of Alaska. The comet is a mixture of dust and frozen gases that is usually dark and in a solid body that sweeps across the space. The comets appear star-like and they look like tiny balls to our naked eyes in this picture.

This is a faint, but sporadic, atmospheric phenomenon seen in the night sky from locations at high latitudes. This aurora may develop into steady greenish arcs, swirling curtains of yellow green light.

This is an incredible lenticular cloud formation on the top of this mountain. It has the shape of a mushroom.

This is a near-death star which is surrounded by a nebulae resembling a ladder.

This is the world's tallest waterfall called Angel Falls. It is also known as Qiulumeilu Falls. It is located in the Gran Sabana region of Bolivia State, Venezuela in the Canaima National Park. Its total height is at 979m (3,212 ft) with a height of the longest drop of 807m (2,648 ft).

This is Iguazu Falls which is one of the top attractions to visit in South America. It is located on the border of Argentina and in Brazil that is 23km upstream of the converging point of Iguazu River and Parana River respectively. Iguazu Falls has the shape of a horseshoe and is 82m in height, and 4m in width. Its width is four times wider than the Niagara Falls in North America, and is slightly wider than Africa's Victoria Falls.

This is the Aconcagua volcano which is situated in Argentina. It is an extinct and inactive volcano and also the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere with its elevation of 6.959m.

This is a rare look at double rainbows that appeared over the sky of Lhasa, a traditional capital of Tibet, China.

These are a series of spectacular lightning occurrences!

This is an amazing scene that shows a thousand birds flying over the sky of the National Parks of Costa Rica during the evening hours. The sun gradually sinks beneath the earth.

This photo shows how a black hole devouring a star in the universe.

This is an icy scene near the mouth of Huang He River, China.

Konaweana like most schools here in Hawaii has an elementary, middle, and high school all on the same grounds. Of course the different levels of education are split up by street. But unlike most schools, Konaweana once stood as a Covent. Oh the Convent is still around, as a matter of fact so is the graveyard.

On your way to the district of Ka'u, you will pass by many homes and commercial structures. You will also pass by many graveyards. The school itself now sits on the site where the first missionaries to Hawaii built their church and set up the graveyard. The church and graves were moved closer to the main road. When turning at the light to go up the hill, it seems like you would be driving into a tree line, but then just around the bend the school is seen. The Convent moved to the right of the campus, and has a huge stone wall to keep people out. A banyan tree grows tall behind the chain linked fence. And although it all seems like an old urban ledge, mark my words, the place is haunted.

After school some say even the ghosts have paper work to do. The secretary often finds the fax machine running with out anything to fax. Or the flag being raised, but the flag is sitting on her desk. There is also the case of the black dog.

Any big home game this mysterious black mutt of a dog finds its way into the gym. The coach has had many episodes where he had locked the dog inside the gym, when he starts to unlock the door the dog bolts into the basketball court, or locker room. When the coach leaves the dog in the gym, it's said that The Wild Cats win games.

But don't ask the little girl in the bathroom at the bottom of the stairs that lead to the high school what she thinks. She never speaks. You can see her as clear as day, looking into the mirror, but when she turns around to look at you, she's gone.

Or you might be the brave soul to spend some time at Hapuna. Although it does have police that patrol the road, even they have seen some things not natural surfacing in the lapping waves of this crystal prestine beach. Maybe a ghostly encounter while shore line fishing. My husband went to the cliffs by Hapuna one night. He came back shortly after he had left. (About 2 hours) When he came home he told me of the people splashing in the water. They swam over to where he had thrown his line. He told me how they jerked at his line until it came out of his hands. When he went down the cliff to find his rod, it was broken into three pieces, and there was no sign of anyone being down there.

Spend the night at the Outrigger Hotel in Kona and hear the howls of a fallen British Captain's dogs. The beach was once the scene of a great battle between the Hawaiian people and the English soildgers. The Hawaiians captured and killed 153 British men including the Captian. The dogs were his loyal companions went every where with him, except the grave. They died from starvation. Many guest's complain about the shore side rooms. The wind you may think, but not to those who know the bloody history.

Although some may say that ghosts don't exist, but I say they do. And if you have the guts to find out, I have a couch with your name on it. But don't ask me to go.

During the winter months it is not uncommon to watch a 40 ton whale breach offshore or for turtles to come on shore and bask in the sun. However tempting it may be to just reach out and touch the forbidden animals please don't.

Most commercial operators abide by federal law intended to protect Hawaii's marine mammals and turtles from harassment, injury and death. Many fishermen slow down and even stop the boat when whales are near by as to not hit them.

It is not against the law for an animal to approach you, but it is against the law to approach, chase, surround, touch or even swim with marine mammals, that's including dolphins.

I am talking about wild untamed animals of the deep. The Hilton at Waikoloa has dolphins that are trained and bread in captivity and they abide by all laws and regulations as to the well being of the animals.

Most important do not feed the wild marine mammals. It interferes with their natural instincts. If they learn to be feed, it is quite possible for the animal to become aggressive when food is not given which may cause injury and death.

Most snorkel cruises once allowed guests to feed the fish in order to get up close and personal with the animals. However they became dependant on the feedings and soon died from starvation. The dead fish lured unwanted visitors such as the tiger shark into areas populated with people. Beaches closed and feeding became a thing of the past.

There are scores of businesses that cater to dolphin and whale watching, as well as snorkel cruises. Look around for the best price. You won't be disappointed. But remember to stay at least 100 feet away from the whales. After all a 15 foot pectoral fin means a 40 ton mammal is attached and if the whale jumps it just might capsize a small vessel. It is wise to stay at least 50 yards from dolphins. Although they are fascinating to see and watch, dolphins are unpredictable and may bite or ram if they are searching for a mate.

Protection of marine wildlife is of the utmost importance. Laws are enforced, illegal actives are prosecuted and fines are administered.