If you can’t decide between a tropical getaway and playing in the snow, we have you covered. This weekend, history buffs can revel in the USS Missouri‘s return to Pearl Harbor and catch a few waves at nearby Waikki Beach, or chill out at the High On Ice Festival with professional ice carvers and take to Whistler’s slopes just before the Olympic crowd shreds the snow.
By Diane Kahng
USS Missouri, January 15, 2010
Pearl Harbor, HI
This weekend, be the first to see the USS Missouri‘s $18 million facelift when she re-opens her doors in Pearl Harbor after three months of restoration. Guided tours of the 887-foot battleship, nicknamed the “Mighty Mo,” will take you through the ship’s history, from the bombing raiders of Tokyo to the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. The ship’s own deck, now named the Battleship Missouri Memorial, is where the Japanese and Allied officials famously signed the surrender documents in 1945. The USS Missouri was also the last U.S. battleship to be launched and decommissioned.
If military history isn’t enough to convince you to embark on a well-deserved Aloha vacation, consider that Pearl Harbor is just a short drive away from the legendary Waikki Beach. As the former stomping grounds for Hawaiian royalty, this is also where Duke Kahanamoku, the father of modern surfing, caught his waves, and you can, too.
Travel and Accommodation
Fly into Pearl Harbor’s closest airport, the Honolulu International, grab a drink at the local bar, then call up your Waikiki hotel for a pick-up at a nominal fee. Check out a list of hotels in the area.
High On Ice Festival, January 15-17, 2010
Fort St. John, B.C.
Embrace the winter cold snap and try your hand at ice carving at the High On Ice Festival in BC this weekend. Hosted by the Arts Council in partnership with the City of Fort St. John, the festival accommodates all skill levels to accommodate everyone’s budding inner-artist.
People come from as far away as Russia and Japan to compete for the $15,000 worth of prizes in two categories — Abstract and Realistic. All creations must qualify for the Festival’s “Spirit Within” theme. The festival also includes a community celebration with toboggan races, activities for kids, sledding, ice fishing, Comedy Night, and more.
If you prefer powder to ice, Whistler Blackcomb is within your reach. The mountain is gearing up for the Olympics, so catch the fresh powder and beat the crowds while you can. Plus, they’re offering special packages for the next few weeks: three nights, two days, from $115.
Travel and Accommodation
Fly into Vancouver International Airport, then check into one of these hotels in the Fort St. John area. Just make sure you pack some thick wool socks, enough for ice carving and hitting the slopes before heading home.
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January 14th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
Is it just me or is there a complete decline in journalistic standards in America?
Honalulu? What no spell check? No colored line rippling under Honalulu?
Doesn’t anyone who has a clue proof read this stuff?
Understandable in another profession, but in writing? Journalism?
The educational system of the U.S. has let everyone down.
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January 14th, 2010 at 10:47 pm
P.S. It’s Honolulu. Capitol of our 50th State. Hawaii.
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Terry Reply:
January 16th, 2010 at 10:33 am
Hey LTC: I think you mean “capital,” not “capitol.” Zing!
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driver_dan Reply:
January 17th, 2010 at 1:24 pm
heh…
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