The Big Island, located at the southeastern tip of the Hawaiian Island chain, is filled with geological wonders found in few places in the world. While staying at one of many luxury rentals on the volcanic rock, vacationers have the opportunity to see Mother Nature strut her stuff from the lava flows of Kilauea Crater up to the snow-capped slopes of Mauna Kea.

Volcanoes National Park covers more than 500 square miles of the Big Island and in the evening, visitors can take a short walk over freshly formed black mounds to watch as molten lava flows freely into the Pacific Ocean. The smoke rising from the instantly cooled magma glows deep orange, causing an eerie sunset-like atmosphere to pervade the air.

On the northern side of the island, Mauna Kea sits at 13,796 feet above sea level. Throughout the year, visitors staying in Hawaiian villas can witness the colder side of paradise, due to the mountain's continuous snow coverage. Although skiing conditions are rarely favorable, Mauna Kea's slopes are located above the clouds, allowing for uninterrupted views of the night sky.