LOTUS GARDEN COTTAGES, VOLCANO VILLAGE, HAWAII

Tucked away in Volcano Village just 2 miles from Volcano National Park entrance, this unassuming bed and breakfast provides a quiet private getaway.    From the exquisite landscaping complete with buddha statues and fountains to the cedar wood paneling that lines every inch of the Rising Moon Suite, owner John, has thought of every detail.   He installed the cedar paneling by hand and told me that room alone took two years to complete.

All amenities are taken care of including plush robes, in room hot tub, Keurig coffee machine, a medium size fridge, microwave and even an electric hair trimmers. There were plenty of towels and the bed was super comfortable; I could've slept all day if we hadn't already arranged a time for breakfast.

John was a very generous host, delivering breakfast promptly each morning at 8am, including an array of tropical fruit, hard boiled eggs and gluten free waffles.  I enjoyed it leisurely on my private garden patio listening to the tropical birds sing. Everything was delicious and I was so relaxed I could've stayed there all day, but the wild land was calling.

When you are ready to venture to nearby Kilauea Volcano, be sure to swing by the the office to review the map and get and overview of Volcano National Park. Once you get inside the park stop at the visitor center to find out if the lava is flowing and the recommended places to visit that day. I saw lava flow from Jagger Museum and hiked around the steam vents.  This is a National Park truly unlike anything I've ever seen.  The energy was raw, the mana was flowing and down below the shorelines were blue and full of wildlife.

Until next time, this place will be missed.

Mahalo!