Now that you have unpacked, it is time to throw on your trunks and head out to the lagoon directly in front of the Seaside Zen Cottage. This lagoon was used by ancient Hawaiian chiefs for rest and relaxation. It is a great place to cool off after a long travel to the Big Island of Hawaii. Today, up to five turtles call the lagoon home.

Before you go, you probably want to bring along some reef shoes or booties. Mainlander feet usually can't handle sharp the lava that surrounds the lagoon. There is a selection of booties left over from past tenants. (we like to keep a selection on hand) You can also purchase these booties from one of the many ABC stores in town. (they are along Alii Drive) Alternatively, you can pick up some from Wal-Mart.

Unless the surf is really up, there should be very few waves in the lagoon. Both Ian and Dylan learned to swim here, and the lagoon is a great place for kids to play in the ocean. Often, the turles will hang around the calm lagoon and swim right up next to you. If you see one lounging on the beach, just know they aren't sick, they are resting after a long swim. As tempting as it may seem, please do not feed the turtles, as their stomachs are not equipped to handle human food. Also, it is illegal to touch a sea turtle. The reason is that their shells contain a layer of film that helps protect them from disease. If you handle a sea turtle, you can remove this protective barrier, thereby putting their health at risk.

The sand extends to about waist deep water, then it gives way to lava. Though it can be shallow in spots, people have snorkeled around the lagoon at high tide. Please be careful to avoid travelling all the way out to the breakwater. There are no fish out there, and waves break in that area.

If swimming isn't your thing, you can also walk around the tidepools, and see the small fish, sea urchins, and crabs that make their home in the tidepools. Please note that the lava can get quite slippery when wet.

There is also a selection of bamboo fishing poles for kids who want to try their hand at catching some of the small fish that make the lagoon their home. We strongly believe in catch and release. Even though the fish that live in the lagoon are pretty, they don't taste great.