Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort and Spa

A Family Vacation to Remember.

by Traveling Staffer

If you seek a genuinely unique Hawaiian experience for your family, The Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa on Hawaii's Big Island is a hotel unlike any other. Nestled atop an ancient lava flow cascading into the soothing waters along the coast, this resort offers everything from an open-air spa facility to an authentic and pretty spectacular luau. With Hawaii Volcanoes National Park within a day's drive and exquisite landscapes all around, the scenery alone is enough to want to travel here. Fortunately, they don't stop there.

Our family favorite is their multi-level fantasy pool, the Manta Ray Super Slide & Pool. Situated right at the heart of the resort, with beautiful gardens and waterfalls all around, this enormous fresh-water pool includes its own sandy-bottomed children's play area, the island's longest waterslide and several whirlpool spas.

Want to scoop on island activities that would enhance your Big Island experience? You can join the Starwood Vacation Ownership poolside at the Manta Ray Bar & Grill on select mornings for their complimentary "Island Activity Briefing." Everything from hiking to horseback riding, fishing to farm tours, snorkeling to shopping, and culture to cuisine, is covered and available to fit your family to a "T". Their highly knowledgeable staff will help you decide and book any needed reservations for you then and there. It is, indeed, "one-stop shopping". Just sit back and enjoy the fun!

For the sports enthusiast, there's golf (you have to check out the golf!), tennis, volleyball and basketball courts, and a fully decked out, ocean view fitness center. For the kids, you'll find a Game & Entertainment Room, a specially designated pool area with interactive children's fountains, and the Keiki Club Keauhou Activity Center, featuring the Keiki Club Keauhou Daily Children's Program. And, for Mom, the Shops at Sheraton Keauhou as well as nearby Keauhou Shopping Center, will keep her very happy, but not quite as happy, relaxed, and content as the multi-tiered, open-air Ho'ola Spa with its wide range of international massage therapies and traditional Hawai'ian treatments.

Remember, this is Hawaii, and if you can tear yourself away from the fun just outside your hotel room, there is the whole Big Island to explore! In addition to the world's most active volcano at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and green, white and black sand beaches, you can choose from SCUBA diving, kayaking, deep sea fishing, helicopter rides, horseback rides, and cultural experiences that will knock your socks off, including a trip to Pu'uhonua O Honaunau, the ancient City of Refuge, where your family can learn about the rich history and culture of Hawaii. The concierge staff of knowledgeable professionals is always ready with a warm smile to assist you and your family with a variety of requests. They set us up with the absolute highlight of our trip, the Kamaha`o Luau Dinner & Show! a state-of-the-art (and delicious!) dinner and show celebrating the traditions here on the island that was the birthplace and home of the great King Kamehameha, who is credited with uniting all the Hawaiian Islands.

With a wide variety of unique and fun activities for the whole family, the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa definitely makes good on their promise that all of their guests "depart Hawaii's Big Island with special memories of a very special place". We can't wait to go back. Hope to see you there! For more info and to book reservations, visit www.sheratonkeauhou.com.