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Onomea Bay viewed from a lush tropical overlook, with a twisted tree in the foreground, dense green vegetation, rocky cliffs, and gentle ocean waves under a partly cloudy sky at the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden.

Onomea Bay framed by lush rainforest at Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden.


Of all the botanical gardens I have visited in the United States, the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden on the Big Island of Hawaii is my favorite. It spans 40 acres of untouched rainforest and is home to over 2,000 species of tropical plants. However, it is not just a botanical garden but also a breathtaking tropical nature preserve and sanctuary. With its multi-tiered waterfall, numerous streams, and a picturesque oceanfront walk along Onomea Bay, this garden has earned its reputation as one of Hawaii's most magnificent destinations.



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Historic Bowens Mills is a working 1864 grist mill and cider mill in Yankee Springs, Michigan near Gun Lake.

The 1864 Bowens Mills grist and cider mill stands in full autumn color at Yankee Springs, its red façade mirrored in the still pond below.

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Step back more than 160 years in time at the beautiful Historic Bowens Mills. Once a thriving rural community, this landmark served as the heart of local farm life, where families brought their grain to the 1854 grist mill to be ground into flour and meal. Today, the red mill stands as a vivid reminder of Michigan’s early milling history, surrounded by quiet water and brilliant autumn color.


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A magnificent sunset colors the sky above Scotts Bluff National Monument in western Nebraska. Sentinel Rock stands on the left and Eagle Rock on the right, two of the bluff’s five formations that rise more than 800 feet above the plains. Mitchell Pass cuts through the center, the historic route many Oregon Trail emigrants used despite its difficult terrain.

Sunset settles over Scotts Bluff National Monument, where Sentinel Rock and Eagle Rock rise above Mitchell Pass, the same route thousands of Oregon Trail emigrants once followed across the plains.

In western Nebraska, the Western Trails Scenic and Historic Byway follows a 144‑mile stretch of land once crossed by thousands of emigrants heading west. From Ogallala to the Wyoming border, the route unfolds across open prairie and toward the dramatic rock formations that served as landmarks for pioneers nearly 200 years ago. These natural monuments, and the stories they hold, are the focus of this post.

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A small white historic church with a pointed steeple and cross stands at the end of a straight paved walkway, surrounded by lush tropical plants and a low stone wall. Dark, dramatic clouds fill the sky behind the building, and the year “1853” appears above the entrance. This is St. Benedict’s Painted Church in South Kona, Hawaiʻi.

St. Benedict Painted Church stands bright against a storm‑laden Kona sky, its 1853 façade framed by tropical gardens and a quiet stone wall along the hillside of South Kona.


I am always interested in unique and interesting architecture. The Painted Churches on the Big Island of Hawaii certainly fall into that category. ​If you are an architecture or art lover or just like to visit churches, I would consider them must-sees.  Just be aware that these painted churches don't reveal their secrets on the exterior. You must go inside to discover their beauty!


I have a funny story about that! On one of our visits to St. Benedict's, my husband was out in their fantastic garden, mostly trying hard to stay out of my way. He was enjoying the quiet and the birds when a car hurriedly wheeled into the parking lot. This guy jumped out of the car and loudly proclaimed, "I'm not sure why they call this the Painted Church. It's just white!" Before my husband could tell him to go inside, he was back in his car and had sped away.



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Author


Susan Tregoning is a fourth‑generation photographer and Midwest-based visual storyteller dedicated to preserving America’s architectural and roadside heritage. Drawing on her design background and a lifelong connection to photography, she documents historic buildings, small towns, and scenic byways across the region. Her work creates thoughtful visual records that honor the character, craftsmanship, and cultural memory embedded in places that are often overlooked yet define the American experience.