The folks at hotels.com have come up with a list of 10 Instagram-worthy spots in the U.S. I also have a look at the new rules for visitors to Hawaii that come into effect Sept. 1.
Top Instagram Places in the U.S.
They skipped over some obvious places such as the Empire State Building and came up with a nice list. I’ll note that four of the 10 places they listed are in my home state of California. Just sayin’.
Here’s the list:
1. Big Sur, California
2. Red Rocks Park and Ampitheater, Colorado
3. Montauk Lighthouse, New York
4. Wynwood Walls (murals), Miami
5. Lake Tahoe, California (and Nevada, don’t forget)
6. Na Pali Coast State Park, Kauai, Hawaii
7. Los Angeles County Museum of Art, California
8. Half Dome, Yosemite (or, as Trump calls it, Yo-Sem-Might), California
9. Badlands National Park, South Dakota
10. Horseshoe Bend, Page, Arizona (part of the Grand Canyon)
Here’s a link to the full story from hotels.com.
I’ll add 10 places that would also make a fine list
Downtown Chicago. JIM BYERS PHOTO
1. The Chicago River
2. The Las Vegas Strip
3. The Grand Tetons in Wyoming
4. Upstate Michigan
5. Key West, Florida
6. The Oregon Coast
7. The Alaska inland passage
8. Vermont villages
9. New Orleans
10. The Chrysler Building, New York City
Hawaii Drops Mandatory Quarantine as of Sept. .1 – But Negative Test Required
Sunsets are magical at the Napili Kai Beach Resort on Maui. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Governor David Ige has issued a statewide order stating that anyone arriving in Hawaii after March 26, 2020, must self-quarantine for 14 days. This order applies to all individuals, both residents and visitors, arriving from out-of-state to the Hawaiian Islands.
Beginning September 1, individuals looking to avoid the 14-day quarantine are required to get a valid COVID-19 test within 72 hours prior to their trip and provide proof of a negative result as part of Hawaii’s Pre-Travel Testing Program. If visitors fail to meet the requirements of the Pre-Travel Testing Program, they will be placed in a mandatory 14- day quarantine until a negative test is received.
The FDA-approved Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) must be from a certified Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA) and will need to be done prior to arrival. No testing will be done upon arrival at the airport.
In layman’s terms, it means that, starting Sept. 1, visitors will NOT automatically have to quarantine. If they have an approved negative test, they can proceed straight to their hotel or rental home and plunge right into the ocean. If a visitor tests positive, they would have to undergo quarantine at their own expense.
It’s a big difference maker for the state and its vital tourism sector.
Governor Ige has also said that the state still believes the pre-travel testing program will help keep Hawaii safe. He announced that progress on the program is being made and additional details will be in place by September 1. This date remains fluid and subject to change. Should the date change we will provide an update as soon as possible.
For further details and ongoing updates, visit https://hawaiitourismauthority.org/news/alerts/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/
