Melody and Kevin knew that when you visit Belize, you can’t leave without seeing at least one Mayan temple.

She says, “We loved Lamanai, which has some of the highest and most fascinating structures.”

These honeymooners offered some great advice to other visitors, “If you go, brave the steep steps and climb all the way to the top of High Temple. It is terrifying, but you won’t regret it.”

While in the Finger Lakes region of NY, Mark and Christi wanted to do more than just drink wine. The hiking in this area is remarkable. Watkins Glen State Park displays the natural power of water. The stream running through the has carved out 200-foot cliffs and spills over 19 waterfalls along its 400-foot course.

The newlyweds loved the natural beauty of this spot, as well as it’s welcoming attitude to their dashund/terriers Rusty and Trouble who tagged along for the honeymoon.

The topography in Watkins Glen, much like Ithaca, is – as they say – gorges.

The park’s three main trails – Indian Trail, South Rim Trail and the Gorge Trail – wind through the rock and are easy to manage with several man-made bridges and staircases. Honeymooners of course have to check out Lover’s Lane (top photo) along the Gorge Trail. Late spring, summer and early fall are the best times to visit. Otherwise, expect snow!

Lots of steps make this a good workout. Pack a picnic lunch, pay the $7 to park your car and enjoy a cheap day for two. (or 4!)

The Teplitzes hit the height of adventure in Kauai when they ventured out on a guided tour with Outfitters Kauai. That’s Michelle above dangling from a rope, and Ari below, zipping through the trees. Both had an awesome time, and he says, “hiking, kayaking, ziplining, and cliff jumping – so cool!!!”

Outfitters Kauai offers numerous adventures and outings. Their site is jam-packed with descriptions and images of the tours. They’ve also got helpful info like pricing, what to pack, what to wear, and physical restrictions of the trips. (Be warned though, dear readers… the flashing photos are headache-inducing.)

Another spectacular outting was Ari and Michelle’s sunrise bike ride at Haleakala National Park.

Ari says, “It was so unique. We left our hotel at 2 am, were driven to the summit of Mt. Haleakala, which is above the clouds, saw the sunrise over the Island, and then biked down. That is something we just couldn’t do at home. It was early, but it was worth it.”

There are numerous tour companies that offer these bike trips. Check out Bike Maui, Tom’s Barefoot Tours or Adventure Maui to get an idea of what’s offered.

The sunrise bike tour really is a honeymoon must-do for adventurous romantics.

Sigh. It makes sitting at your desk-job on a Wednesday morning seem so boring, huh?

Continuing with their adventures on Kauai, Brian and Leigh decided to give their tired muscles a rest. He says, “Doing a helicopter tour is an absolute must. We used Blue Hawaiian Helicopters and had a great experience.”

Hiking may get you up close and personal with nature, but a flight over these lush mountains gives you a completely different perspective.

Once they had their feet firmly back on the ground, these two were gearing up for more trekking in one of Hawaii’s most famous natural spots, Waimea Canyon.

Brian and Leigh knew a requirement of their busy honeymoon was exploring this vast, ancient “Grand Canyon” of Hawaii. Carved out by a river thousands of years ago and continually worn away by rainfall today, the gorge is 10-mile long, 1-mile wide, 3500 feet deep.

Because of the natural geography, the canyon tends to be very wet, with lots of green vegetation. It’s equally impressive when sunny or overcast.

Most honeymooners visiting Kauai will come Waimea Canyon’s scenic overlooks. Some will take a stroll along the top edges. But we love that Brian and Leigh were all about getting down into the heart of the Canyon and making a full day of their experience.

Stay tuned for the final post from Brian and Leigh’s trip this afternoon — a review of their hotel stays.

You know you’re getting to see something special when it’s only accessible by foot or boat. Brian and Leigh did the two-mile hike to Hanakāpīʻai Beach.

Located along the Nā Pali Coast, this beach is still rather touristy, but you’ll feel like you earned it when you arrive on foot. Cool off in the blue water, but be careful of the notoriously strong rip current.

These two didn’t waste a minute of their honeymoon… they packed in as many walks and sights as they could. If you’re an adventurous couple, check out trails.com for ideas on some of the best spots to discover Kauai.

Don’t be afraid to go with the experts either. Brian says, “We did a zipline tour with Princeville Ranch Adventures on Kauai and found the guides to be very good, funny and down to earth.”

For thousands of visitors each year, Volcanoes National Park is the absolute highlight of the Big Island. It’s the very reason many of us travel to these amazing islands.

Brian says, “There is just nothing else like it. We found the hike we did that takes you through lush jungle and then down to the floor of the crater from the 1959 eruption to be amazing…”

“… Walking along the crater floor is like nothing else we’ve ever experienced: the landscape is otherworldly,” he adds.

When planning your own trip, be sure to check out the latest scoop on the current volcanic activity. Some of the best memories from my own trip to Hawaii are watching red, molten lava steam as it met the sea. It’s like being up close and personal with a Discovery Channel special.

And, Hawaii is kind to its visitors. What’s a better reward at the end of a long hike then some spectacular natural beauty?

For more breathtaking natural beauty on the Big Island, Brian and Leigh did the easy hike through Akaka Falls State Park. Located on the northeastern Hamakua Coast, this park offers a relaxing half-mile stroll past two beautiful falls.

Brian talks about an Oahu must, “You sort of have to see the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, which is very moving but — as you would imagine — a very somber experience.”

Also on Oahu, in Honolulu, is the world-famous Waikiki Beach, known for sunning, surfing and even burials at sea — seriouly. With tons of shopping and dining, there’s plenty to do. The Alapachs were less than impressed. Brian says, “It’s a tremendous tourist trap and kind of gross.”

But this area is worth the trip for the 30-60 minute hike up to the top of Diamond Head. Brian and Leigh made the trek up this extinct volcanic crater to check out the awesome views in every direction. Most guidebooks rightly tell you to go early in the day to avoid the sweltering heat. For those interested in taking this Honeymooner’s Hike, check out this site that offers a seriously extensively detailed breakdown of the experience.

On their first full day at Ek’ Tun, Melody and Dave took a short hike through the resort’s beautiful grounds and discovered a mineral pool. Says Melody, “Wow!! We had never seen a more beautiful creation. It fit in so well with its surroundings.” What could be more romantic than an early-morning skinny dip, so the couple jumped in and enjoyed the refreshing water and climbed up the waterfalls.

Later they hiked back to Ek’ Tun’s main area where owner Phyllis had breakfast waiting: tropical eggs (pineapple, pepper and cheese), bacon, fresh fruit, and fresh pineapple juice. What a way to start the day!

After fueling up on French toast, fresh fruit, and sausage Dave and Melody headed out to the Easy Rider Ranch, for a horseback ride with tour guide Charlie. She re-taught the couple some skills about riding, especially for the distance they planned to ride that day.

During their four-hour ride with Charlie, they toured the countryside, went into a Mayan cave, passed Cahal Pech, learned about jungle remedies, and had a blast.

Melody recalls, “Charlie was so informative and we really enjoyed ourselves.” They ended their day with another swim at Ek’ Tun and a great dinner of salad, pork loin, corn on the cob and garlic mashed potatoes. Key lime pie was the sublime finish to a full day.