I just got back from Kauai and would highly recommend it for a relaxing, beautiful vacation (we have been there 6 times). There is plenty to do, including greating hiking in Waimea Canyon National Park. We stayed in the Poipu area, but if you want something even more remote, Hannalei cannot be beat. Check out this months Island magazine for a great review on all of the islands.

You are a cornucopia of awesomeness. Thanks L. Booking flights today. AP

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"How bad could it be?" - SimpleS

We'll fly in Tues, stay in Miami thru til Fri, then hit the Keys from Sat til Tues. Any more info on stuff to see in driving distance, totally appreciated.

AP

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"How bad could it be?" - SimpleS

For Miami, I'd probably recommend staying on South Beach since that's where most of the tourist action is. Beach is beyond nice (and also topless - less tanlines!). Not sure where to recommend staying since i don't know your budget. There are a lot of nice boutique hotels on Ocean Drive. The Delano is my favorite, although it's silly expensive and I've never actually stayed there. I'd book early since it's spring break time and there tend to be a lot of tourists around then.

Activities:
the beach
Lincoln Road - shopping/people watching
Ocean Drive - people watching
clubs.... or not. i'm not into that so much.

Restaurants:
http://www.newscafe.com/ --> News Cafe on Ocean Drive is great for some coffee, brie and people watching
http://www.bigpinkrestaurant.com/about.html --> Big Pink... fun diner on the beach
http://www.joesstonecrab.com/ --> Joe's Stone Crab... long line... landmark
http://www.bartong.com/restaurant/ --> for an experience
http://www.delano-hotel.com/..._hotel_blue_door.asp --> exceptional/expensive brunch and a chance to see 'cool' famous people - also great bar/cabana place to hang
http://www.nikkibeach.com/ --> cool bar/hang out
http://www.tavernaoparestaurant.com/home.php --> a little heavy on the theme but good food and always wild fun. best with a group though. and fun to break some plates. OPA!

Things to do in Coconut Grove:
shopping
running - I can send you some maps
http://miamidade.expertrealty.com/.../bacio-3462-main-hwy --> excellent gelato
http://www.associatedcontent.com/...ut_grove_french.html --> my fav restaurant, very romantic... excellent
http://www.urbanspoon.com/...ants/Zoom-Juice.html --> fresh juices and healthy veggie type stuff
http://www.glaserorganicfarms.com/...s/Market%20Pages.htm --> saturday farmers market - lots of hippies and awesome weird produce
http://travel.yahoo.com/...4240846R-flanigans-i --> nothing fancy but great fresh dolphin

Things to do in Coral Gables:
http://www.biltmorehotel.com/ --> Biltmore Hotel.... awesome brunch. enormous pool.
hang out and shopping

Things to do on Key Biscayne:
http://www.miamidade.gov/...ks/crandon_beach.asp --> super nice beach but often crowded with families. Have a small series of sprint tris here
http://www.brickellkey411.com/jimdos-keybiscayne.htm --> Jimbo's... REAL local flavor. it's a dive. and hard to find. but so different from the rest of miami that it's worth going to
rent bikes... cannot recall the name of the little bike shop but it's past Crandon Park

I competed in Ultraman in November and fell in love with the big island. The Ironman Hawaii course is actually the ugliest part of the island, in my view.
There are so many different eco-systems on the big island. Cycling the ultraman course (perhaps over a longer period of time!) would be an awesome thing to do. There are nice hikes, good surfing. The people are so laid back and friendly. At sunset, every one stops to watch the sun go down.
If you go to the farmers market, you can find super yummy and cheap exotic fruit (5 papayas for a dollar, avacadoes as big as a softball, dragonfruit) and you can load up on that.
I stayed in the cleanest youth hostel in Kailua-Kona and would recommend that place. There is also a hostel in Hilo.
There are free shuttles that can take you up and down the more travelled sections of the island.
I think I would bring or rent a bike, use the hostels as a base, and cycle around the island.
You could bring a small pack, and leave a big suitcase in Kailua Kona at the hostel or whatever.
I'm all for budget trips.
If you go somewhere south and see the green flash at sunset, let me know...
cheers
i

I was there in July for a business conference and had a great time. I stayed near the convention center and walked to the French Quarter for lunch a couple times. (I'm not one for wild parties, so I stayed out of the French Quarter after dark.)

The people were friendly, and the scenery was great. Before I left, I'd heard that crime was a problem, but when I arrived, I had the sense that the police were aware of the threat and had the situation under control.

Based on my visit last July, I'd like to return to New Orleans someday as a tourist.

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"Real winners aren't content with yesterday's victories"