Also called “The Big Island”, this is one of the few places in the world where you can see an active volcano. Hawaii is larger than all the other islands combined. Most of the resorts are located on the west side of the island (leeward or dry side), typically referred to as the Kona Coast, which has two principle resort areas: Kailua-Kona and the Kohala Coast. Kailua-Kona is a quaint village of restaurants and shops. There are only a few beaches here and they usually disappear in winter. Approximately 25 miles north from Kailua-Kona, the Kohala Coast offers golf, white sand beaches and the island's premiere resorts. The city of Hilo lies on the east side of Hawaii and is the second largest city in the state, with a population exceeding 50,000. With cooler, wetter climate, it is ideal for orchid and anthurium cultivation, and many botanical gardens are available for those interested. Hilo has few beaches, but is highly recommended as a starting point when visiting Volcanoes National Park.