What to know before and during your travels in this vibrant town.

Located on the northeastern side of Hawaiʻi Island, Hilo is a quirky town filled with loveable charm, fascinating history and jaw-dropping natural wonders. While the town itself is often considered quiet and sleepy, Hilo is filled with life. Here, the streets are lined with hole-in-the-wall shops and beautiful hiking trails that are just short drives from the center of town.

In fact, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is just a 45-minute drive south from the Hilo International Airport. The national park is a popular point of interest, attracting travelers from all over the world. However, there’s more to the area than just the national park. Before traveling to the Big Island, research local businesses to visit, plan your hikes and pack for the weather. Here’s 5 tips to get you started.

1. It rains—a lot—so pack accordingly

Hilo is one of the wettest cities in the U.S. with an average rainfall of about 130 inches per year. The rain generates flourishing gardens, tropical rainforests and breathtaking waterfalls. But it also shouldn’t come as a surprise that it will likely rain during a trip to Hilo. So, pack rain boots or footwear that you don’t mind getting muddy or wet, along with a light jacket. The temperature rarely drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, and the climate is typically warm, muggy and partly cloudy.

2. Prepare to walk and hike

One of the best ways to discover an area is on foot and Hilo town is a wonderful place to walk through local shops and discover cozy cafés. In addition to walking through the town, one of the biggest draws to Hilo is the great outdoors. The trails in the region can lead to massive waterfalls, and one even takes hikers through a lava tube. While some of these trails are short, you should still come prepared to climb stairs, walk on slippery trails and hike at various elevations.

3. Kīlauea’s glow isn’t always visible

Travelers from across the world visit Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to see the eruption at Kīlauea. The volcano began erupting again on Sept. 29, 2021, and the new eruption created an 89-foot-deep lava lake in the Halemaʻumaʻu crater. Park rangers at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes national park say nighttime is the most magnificent time to watch the eruption. A reddish-orange glow fills the dark sky above a lava lake and the light illuminates the jagged crater walls. However, there are some nights when clouds and fog roll in, obscuring the view. But don’t be deterred or feel defeated, witnessing a volcanic eruption is still an awe-inspiring experience and the park is still a terrific place to hike during the day.

4. Carve out time to visit museums

The town of Hilo is filled with intriguing history and inspiring stories. At the Lyman Musuem, visitors can dive into the natural history of the island and learn about ancient Hawaiian culture. The Lyman Mission House is also a historic gem as the oldest wood frame building on the Big Island. Located just a 10-minute walk from the Lyman Musuem, the Pacific Tsunami Musuem is where visitors can find information about the devastating tsunami that swept Hilo on April 1, 1946. And the ʻImiloa Astronomy Center is located at the University of Hawaiʻi’s Science and Technology Park. Here, visitors can unravel Hawaiian’s deep connection to astronomy as well as explore a planetarium.

5. Visit the farmer’s market in Downtown Hilo

Open daily, the Hilo Farmers Market is a vibrant market where you can find fresh produce, tropical fruits and sweet treats. At the market, visitors can taste exotic fruits that are nearly impossible to find on the Mainland.

Plan your 2025 wildlife adventure with this curated list of the 10 best countries for spotting animals in their natural habitat—from polar bears in Canada to tigers in India and jaguars in Brazil.

There are places in the world where nature doesn’t simply appear—it arrives. With a sudden call in the treetops, a pawprint in the dust, or the briefest ripple through grassland, the presence of the wild is felt more than seen. If you’re seeking those rare corners of the globe where animals still roam without fences and ecosystems breathe without interruption, 2025 offers a generous itinerary. From the flooded veins of the Pantanal to the wind-brushed ice of Churchill, here are ten countries where wildlife encounters are not entertainment—they’re memory in motion.

1. Kenya – Where Earth Still Moves with Hooves

The Masai Mara remains one of Earth’s most visceral theatres, especially during the Great Migration. One moment, silence; the next, a sudden surge of hooves across golden plains. Further south, in Amboseli, elephant herds trace ancient paths under the watchful eye of Kilimanjaro’s snowy peak.

Watch for: Lion prides at dawn, elephants in silhouette, cheetahs trailing the wind.

2. India – Of Stripes, Shadows and Sacred Forests

India’s wilderness reveals itself slowly—through the rustle of bamboo, a ripple in tall grass, or the unmistakable gleam of a tiger’s eye. From Ranthambore to Kaziranga, this is not a single safari but a collection of ecosystems as varied as the country itself.

Watch for: Bengal tigers, Indian rhinos, snow leopards, sloth bears, and wild elephants.

3. Tanzania – The Cradle of Wild Time

The Serengeti doesn’t cater to spectacle—it is the spectacle. Thousands of animals move across its flatlands in a rhythm older than memory. Nearby, the Ngorongoro Crater acts as a natural amphitheatre, where wildlife converges on grasslands encased by volcanic walls.

Watch for: Giraffes on the ridge, black rhinos in the crater, and lions without hesitation.

4. Botswana – Where Water Draws the Wild

In Botswana’s Okavango Delta, water writes the script. One month, it’s dust; the next, it’s a mosaic of mirrored channels. The wildlife here adapts in real time—painted dogs leap between reeds, and elephants trace the floodplains like clockwork.

Watch for: Wild dogs on the move, hippos surfacing silently, and leopards at dusk.

5. Brazil – The Wetlands That Whisper

The Pantanal is Brazil’s quieter counterpart to the Amazon—and far more rewarding for wildlife seekers. You don’t chase sightings here; you wait, and they come. Jaguars linger by riverbanks. Capybaras cluster in reed beds. The entire ecosystem feels written in stillness.

Watch for: Jaguars in daylight, giant otters fishing, and hyacinth macaws flashing blue across the sky.

6. Sri Lanka – Leopards in the Brush, Whales at Sea

In Yala, leopards slip through tall grass with the nonchalance of kings. In Wilpattu, ancient lakes serve as mirrors for elephants and storks alike. And along the southern coast, blue whales glide through the Indian Ocean, almost unnoticed. Sri Lanka offers scale in intimacy.

Watch for: Leopards in the shadows, elephants near waterholes, and peacocks mid-dance.

7. Canada – In the Company of Ice and Silence

In Churchill, Manitoba, polar bears roam the tundra as if remembering a different age. During the fall, they gather near Hudson Bay’s edge, waiting for the sea to freeze. Come summer, the bears depart—and beluga whales arrive, tracing estuaries with graceful purpose.

Watch for: Polar bears on the move, Arctic foxes darting between rocks, and northern lights overhead.

8. Ecuador – Evolution in Real Time

Nowhere on Earth offers the unfiltered curiosity of the Galápagos Islands. Here, marine iguanas share rocks with blue-footed boobies, and sea lions swim past as if you weren’t there. The islands do not just show wildlife—they showcase what’s possible when nature writes the rules.

Watch for: Giant tortoises mid-meander, flightless cormorants, and penguins at the equator.

9. Madagascar – A World Apart, Entirely Its Own

Madagascar is less a destination and more an ecosystem on pause. Isolated for millennia, it holds creatures that exist nowhere else. Walk through Andasibe at dusk and you’ll hear the echoing call of the indri. Nothing about Madagascar feels borrowed. Everything is rare.

Watch for: Lemurs of every kind, colour-shifting chameleons, and the elusive fossa.

10. Australia – Wildness Between the Lines

Australia is often simplified into stereotypes, but its wildness is full of nuance. Kangaroo Island offers shelter to endangered marsupials, while the Daintree Rainforest breathes ancient air. Wildlife encounters here feel woven into the fabric of the land rather than placed upon it.

Watch for: Tree kangaroos above, echidnas below, and cassowaries in your periphery.

Wildlife travel isn’t about ticking boxes or chasing trophies—it’s about stepping quietly into places where nature still holds the pen. These ten countries don’t just offer wildlife—they require your stillness, your attention, and your willingness to observe rather than interrupt.

Experts say that travelling frequently can help improve memory retention and lower the risk of cognitive decline.

A trip to the mountains, the beach, or even the jungle is a great way to unwind. Essentially, travelling is a means of rejuvenation, no surprise there. When you take a hike to the waterfall you’ve always dreamed of, you’re not just checking off your bucket list, but packing memories that you might retell for years, vividly. And if travelling helps with boosting our memories, it’s a bonus, no?

You will agree that, of late, many people have reported experiencing increased forgetfulness – be it a missed birthday or misplaced keys. And if you go by what science says, travelling might just be the memory game you have been waiting for: fun, scenic, and secretly boosting your brain’s retention. Yes, travel can help improve your memory. It’s not a drill.

Making memories, boosting neurons

Travelling has the potential to benefit us both emotionally and cognitively. Experts believe that travelling is more like a workout. When you venture into unfamiliar settings, places where you can’t even pronounce the name of the dish that you are eating or the language you are speaking, your brain is forced to work harder.

As a result, when you try to remember things from the outing, you recall the different smells, sounds, conversations, and emotions tied to that moment. Relatable, right?

“This activity of travelling activates the creation of new dendrites, which are branch-like extensions of neurons. These enhance communication between different areas of the brain. As a result, travel supports key cognitive functions such as memory and attention,” says Dr. Avinash Gupta, consultant neurologist at Apollo Hospitals, Bilaspur.

The sensory and emotional stimulation adds to the lasting and vivid retention of memories, thanks to the hippocampus, our brain’s memory centre, which thrives on novelty. Even the hippocampus doesn’t enjoy boring routine tasks. When you’re exposed to something new and interesting, your brain lights up, takes note, and retains it better (hello, school textbooks).

That’s why you might not remember what you ate last weekend, but you do remember what you did on that trip to Ladakh.

One thing’s clear: travelogues help you recall every magical sunset moment. But here’s the fun twist, it can actually improve your everyday memory too!

Travel can aid in the retention of daily experiences. According to Dr. Gupta, a happy brain has a greater capacity to retain information. “Each trip can increase the brain’s retention capacity by 2–3 per cent, which is a substantial amount of additional information that we often don’t realise we’re capable of storing.”

Travelling creates “rich memory experiences” which are good for an ageing brain. Ms. Mehezabin Dordi, a clinical psychologist at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, Mumbai, agrees. She further explains how exploring new sights, learning about new cultures, eating new foods, or just navigating local transportation uses several regions of the brain, further lowering the risk of cognitive decline. “Such stimulation has the ability to create cognitive reserve, which is a shield against age-related decline. I have noticed in most of my senior clients that frequent travel makes them quicker, more intellectually agile, and even more psychologically stable.”

How much should you travel?

As much as you want! Till it suits your wallet and interests, of course.

According to experts, short holidays or weekend trips every three or four months can work just as long as the experience is novel and stimulating.

In fact, different types of travel affect the brain differently. Take nature-based travel like hiking, forest retreats, or beach vacations can help reduce stress and support mental clarity. On the other hand, cultural travel, which involves exploring new traditions, languages, or cuisines, can stimulate the brain and enhance creativity. Ultimately, the most beneficial journey is the one that resonates with your personal interests and needs.

Psst...time to pack and plan your next getaway because you now have expert-backed science to send to your boss!

Vacations are synonymous with sunshine, tan lines, and cerulean skies. But your favourite destinations unveil a whole new personality during monsoon season, coming alive with mist, clouds, thunder and tranquil rains. If summer vacations are the blockbuster hits everyone’s buzzing about, monsoon getaways are the indie films, intimate and atmospheric.

Monsoon vacations may not be mainstream, but they are full of quiet twists and calming moments. They offer what formulaic, high-octane summer blockbusters miss: a soulful depth.

Hari Ganapathy, Co-founder of Pickyourtrail, shared 5 international monsoon destinations, along with what you can see, do and eat there:

1. Bali, Indonesia

• Explore temples like Tanah Lot, enveloped in mist, or take a spiritual detour through a traditional Balinese purification ritual at Tirta Empul.
• Food here is monsoon comfort in a bowl, try babi guling (spiced roasted pig) or nasi campur, paired with warm jamur soup.
• Expect intermittent tropical showers that usually pass swiftly, leaving the air fragrant and the skies beautiful.

2. Chiang Mai, Thailand

• Known for its temples and tranquil charm, Chiang Mai becomes a green paradise during the monsoon months (June to October).
• Explore Doi Inthanon National Park at its greenest, where cloud forests and waterfalls like Wachirathan feel cinematic.
• Visit the striking Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple in the rain; it’s an atmospheric experience.
• Adventure seekers can take on white water rafting in Mae Taeng or zip line through rain-soaked canopies.
• Indulge in khao soi, a rich curry noodle soup, or enjoy a sticky rice mango platter while taking shelter in a local market.

3. Hoi An, Vietnam

• UNESCO-listed old town, Hoi An, during its rainy season (typically September to January) turns beautiful.
• Try Cao Lau noodles or Banh Mi with a distinctly Hoi An twist.
• Try Vietnamese drip coffee.
• Stroll under umbrellas through lantern-lit streets, browse local tailor shops, and enjoy a boat ride on the Thu Bon River.

4. Highlands, Sri Lanka

• Sri Lanka’s central highlands, particularly Nuwara Eliya, Ella, and Kandy, look pretty during the monsoon months. The tea plantations, waterfalls, and lakes look more beautiful.
• The scenic train journey from Kandy to Ella is stunning, going through cloud forests and emerald slopes.
• Hike Little Adam’s Peak post-shower for panoramic views, or cosy up in a colonial-era bungalow with a fresh cup of Ceylon tea.
• Try a traditional Sri Lankan curry meal- kottu roti, hoppers with egg, or a rich crab curry.

5. Kyoto, Japan

• Kyoto’s monsoon season (June to mid-July) makes the scenery look calming.
• With fewer tourists, one can explore the bamboo groves of Arashiyama or take a quiet stroll through Gion’s narrow alleys without distraction.
• Visit the temples Sanzen-in and Mimuroto-ji, which have hydrangeas blooming in several shades across the temple grounds.
• Try warm bowls of udon, seasonal tempura, and matcha desserts, which are best enjoyed in a traditional ryokan.
• Join a tea ceremony in Kyoto.