Katie and Mommy do the Hilton (while Car and Daddy zip-line)

July 1 - Don and Carleigh woke and left by 7:30a.m. to travel to the jungle for Big Island Eco Adventures 4 hour zip line adventure.  Car had to weigh 80 pounds and we had been weighing her for the past two weeks and she has eaten better than she ever has before just to make sure.  On the home scale she weighed 82 pounds, on the Mountain View scale she weigheed about 81 - we even considered putting her on the baggage scale at the airport just to see where she was at that point.  While we were at Barb and Edgar's house, they even offered to give us 1 or 2 pound dive weights for her to put in her pocket.  But all turned out well, and she just inched by with exactly 80 on their scale.

They had a great time.  When they arrived back, Don appeared a little traumatized and said, "he did things that human beings shouldn't be allowed to do."  Carleigh on the other hand, just jumped right in the pool and started playing with Katie after telling me, "it was awesome!"

Don's pictures are top secret until after we get back to Purcellville, so you'll have to wait for the pics and video of their day. :(

Katie and I on the other hand, had a very relaxing day.

We started off with coffee and pastries at the coffee shop downstairs from our room.

Then we walked around the hotel taking pictures of the beautiful artwork and sculptures that they have lining the many, many long hallways and walking areas.

One of the views from the main lobby, down the grand staircase to the lagoon

The resort is 62 acres and has 4 separate buildings, so to get around you either walk and enjoy the museum-like hallways or take the tram or boat.  I had read that it was very "Disney World" like and that part was true.

The tram and the boat approaching at the same time.

 
After a bit, we took the shuttle bus to the Queen's Marketplace and wandered around the shops for a little while and then back for lunch and the pool.

Lunch for Katie consisted of one of her strange favorite foods: sushi

Then to the pool.  We stayed in the Lagoon Tower and that is where the biggest pool area was.  The other towers (Palace Tower, Ocean Tower) had smaller pool areas and were more geared to adults or older kids.

Here's the view from the Kona Pool at the Lagoon Tower:

Katie loved playing in the pool.  Through the big waterfall, on theother side is a huge water slide that she and Car also loved going down!

And more artwork and sculptures around the pool area.

Finally around 2:30, Don and Carleigh showed up and we hung out at the pool for another hour or so.  More slides and fun.  Then back to the room, but first everyone had to take a ride on the shiny, (hot) rhino.

Don't know if we were supposed to do that or not, but it was there....so.....

When we got back to our room, there was a friendly security guard walking around....he asked if anyone had taken a picture of our family on our Lanai (balcony/porch) yet?  He offered to come into our room and do that for us.  I of course said yes, and after the fact...Don couldn't believe we let this man into our room with his gun, etc.  He appeared very nice and really was.  Thank goodness!

Dinner that night was at Merriman's Bar and Grill at the King's shops (right next to the Queen's Marketplace ;)

It was good, but very expensive - as I am finding out everything in Hawaii is.  Oh welll, trip of a lifetime...we'll pay it off later.  Then back to the room for bed and getting ready for our big road trip tomorrow.