Posted by Jason Hussong on Monday, December 26, 2011,
I had a fantastic year of travel. It was probably one of the best ever for me. And with it came recognition as one of the best travel blogs of 2011 by Washington Flyer. To sum up my annual adventures in a single story is like writing about your own year,  everything that has happened to you - all of the ups and downs and round and rounds - in just a couple of pages. It isn't easy. But for that opportunity, looking back on my year, I am most certainly thankful. Continue reading ...
Posted by Jason Hussong on Thursday, September 29, 2011,
The sun dipped below the horizon through the clouds in pale colors of yellow and orange. I stood alone amongst the crowd, watching the marvel that I had seen so many times before. The commonness of the sunset made the experience no less special, though, since I was standing atop the largest mountain in the world, witnessing the spectacle spread across the giant panorama before me like an artist's canvas.
Hawaii's Mauna Kea rises over 33,000 feet from the sea floor, m... Continue reading ...
Posted by Jason Hussong on Wednesday, September 14, 2011,
It is no secret that I love the national parks of the United States. I make it a point to go to as many as I can each year, driving to most thanks to my parallel love of road trips. And after seeing so many impressive places through the years, I figured it was high time I put together a list of the locations in the western United States which touched me the most. The impressive natural beauty, peaceful nature, and uniqueness of these spots ... Continue reading ...
Posted by Jason Hussong on Tuesday, September 6, 2011,
 I stood on the rocky shore of the Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park with a dozen other tourists, cameras musically clicking away. The ocean scenery was stunning and the historic park interesting, but everyone's eyes were directed toward the shallow water in the small bay. A group of endangered green sea turtles were diving f  or food, likely seagrasses.
Because the sea turtles - Honu in Hawaiian - travel such great distances for food, many tropical and subtropical isl... Continue reading ...
Posted by Jason Hussong on Monday, August 22, 2011,
I left Hawaii Volcanoes National Park by taking a left out of the entrance, heading southwest on the highway. I felt disappointment. No, it wasn't because the lava wasn't flowing during my time in the park - instead, cooled into a black blob of swirls. I was saddened by how little time I had available to explore such a fantastic destination. I had anticipated that the better part of two days would be enough, but I was sorely mistaken. And I came to th... Continue reading ...
Posted by Jason Hussong on Thursday, August 18, 2011,
I left Hilo feeling a little sad. It was the first Hawaiian city I had visited off the island of Oahu, and I wasn't quite sure I  wanted to leave; I liked the sleepy hippie-surfer town on the Big Island. It had a much slower pace than anywhere else I had traveled in Hawaii and it was a groove I found appealing, especially with so much to do in the area. After picking up my rental car, I drove through Hilo and right out the other side to the Rainbow Falls (right) and the Boiling Pots (below)...
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Posted by Jason Hussong on Monday, August 8, 2011,
The water glowed with more than 3,000 floating lanterns. I stood knee-deep in the bay watching them go out to sea from Honolulu's Ala Moana Beach Park, wondering which one amongst the luminaries was mine. There was no way to know, I could only watch and smile - thinking of everyone who joined me at the 13th Annual Lantern Floating Hawaii ceremony. I lost my mother to a long battle with cancer nearly eleven years ago. Even after so many years, it is still difficult ...
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Posted by Jason Hussong on Monday, August 1, 2011,
Everyone warned me, but I wouldn't listen. I mean, it's a climb of less than 600 feet straight up the side of an extinct volcano, what could go wrong? I'm from Colorado after all, I know how to hike; and 560 feet really isn't that big of a deal, when it comes to elevation gain. Sure, I thought, I'll bring a little water, but I don't need everything else people have told me to take. But, the helicopter rescue I witnessed at the start of my hike made me think twice.
As part o...
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Posted by Jason Hussong on Thursday, July 28, 2011,
The sand squished between my toes as I walked out on Waikiki Beach. It was late in the morning on another beautifully sunny Honolulu day and I was intent on enjoying  it by playing in the ocean. I have seen the Pacific Ocean a number of times, but never have I actually jumped out into the water or let the waves sweep me off my feet. But, as fun as frolicking in the ocean was, it wasn't an experience I could long endure. Even though it was still morning, the sun was...
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Posted by Jason Hussong on Thursday, July 7, 2011,
We dipped below the surface of the ocean and everything instantly turned a shade of neon blue through the submarine's windows. We were only a few hundred meters from shore, not far out at all, but, for all it was worth, we could have been skimming along the greatest depths in Captain Nemo's Nautilus. It was a totally different world here - even just a few dozen feet below the surface - that made me wonder what lurked in the great beyond.
I had a short-lived childho...
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Posted by Jason Hussong on Sunday, June 26, 2011,
Tom. Mad. Fence.
I couldn't believe that it was happening again; ghosts were talking with me through the Ghost Radar application on a phone. Well, not only to me, but to me and another man I was walking with around the exterior of Hawaii's Iolani Palace. We were both reaching out to the spirits of old on a walking tour of downtown Honolulu with Oahu Ghost Tours. And while we waited for the tour to begin, we decided to go off on our own and see what we could find. The words c...
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Posted by Jason Hussong on Monday, June 20, 2011,
I wrapped up my stay in Hawaii much as it began - by learning about the fantastic and unique history of the islands as a part of the United States. Pulling out from the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park in my rental car and turning right, heading toward Kona, I thought of how much I had left to learn about Hawaii's fantastic history. Despite all of the places I visited,  there was still so much for me left to learn; and the day of my return to do so cannot come soon enough. My histo...
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Posted by Jason Hussong on Thursday, June 16, 2011,
I'm a pretty easy guy when it comes to food. I don't need anything fancy or trendy, just give me a good plate of hot wings, a beer, and a smile in a nice, casual environment. That is why I haven't written much about food in my travels in the past. Yet, despite that, food is an essential part of the traveling experience and I wanted to talk a little about what I enjoyed during my visit to Hawaii.
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Posted by Jason Hussong on Monday, June 6, 2011,
I fin' language to be a funny t'ing, ya know, particularly when it comes to accen's, dialec's, and uder various mannerisms. I should know, I'm from Minnesoota after all, dont'cha know. Oh sure, I know what you're t'inkin', I sound like I'm from dat der movie, Fargo. But really, I'm not differen' from anyone else. Well, excep' dhem Hawaiians, dont'cha know. I should know, I was just der on vacation.
Now, dey speak English jus' fine an' all, but dey sure do got some funny words an' st...
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Posted by Jason Hussong on Thursday, May 12, 2011,
I sit drinking a Kona Brewing Company Longboard Island Lager trying to think of how to describe the gnawing desire I have to return to the Hawaiian Islands. The thought won't stop spinning in my brain as fast as an atom smasher. I see billboards and television commercials daily, almost feeling like they're stalking me, to travel to Hawaii and that's all I want to do - return to the islands. Thankfully my trip is only weeks away. 
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Posted by Jason Hussong on Thursday, December 16, 2010,
I've been going through some sort of nesting phase that I  can't quite explain; cleaning has taken on a new meaning as dirt and dust have started to cower before my mighty spray bottle. Just a couple of days ago I ventured into the closet in my guest bedroom, which is actually more of a personal office or library, and emptied it out in an attempt to rid myself of a stack of unwanted possessions. Well, in the middle of my assault on clutter I came across a box of photographs that contained all ...
Posted by Jason Hussong on Monday, February 8, 2010,
A couple of weeks ago I received my nephews school project in the mail. Yes, I too remember the day when I did my own homework, but now it's not like that thanks to Flat Stanley. It's a whole new ball game as kids send projects away to friends and family to learn about their lives and what it's like where  they live. I have happily received Flat Carter, and have some big plans for the little guy.
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Posted by Jason Hussong on Tuesday, August 18, 2009,
I really now do understand why there are huge guidebooks that are printed just for travel to Hawaii. We saw so much on O'ahu that I can honestly say it'd be easy to take a week or more for each of the islands. There's just so much to do and see it's really quite insane.
The first day Stephen and I arrived in Hawaii we decided to skip all of that though, instead opting to hit the grocery store and have a major cook out feast at our friend Dan's place in Kaneohe (overlook pic of the city i...
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