Favorite Travel Destination: Oahu

Warm vacation destinations is where my heart lies. It probably has something to do with the six months of winter that Minnesota is known for. And the other six months consists of a quick hint of spring, a few months of a scorching summer, followed by a few weeks of fall. Also consider that most people have a 9-5 job, Monday through Friday. It leaves very little time to let that sun bathe over you. You can start to see why I want have a need to be where beaches exist. 

However, I must admit that I haven't traveled as much as I'd like to think. Sure, I've covered a lot of my home country, and dabbled in Canada and Mexico, but outside of that it's been the few months I've spent in Europe. Just a blip on the radar really. So to say where my favorite place to go comes with a little bit of ignorance of all the other beach vacations that exist. But for now, the top travel destination in my book is Oahu, Hawaii. 

Why Oahu? 

I've been to this beautiful destination twice. Once for my J-term in college and another last summer with my husband. Both experiences blew my mind and I'm left with the feeling that I need to go back. There's something very special about this island to make you want to go a third, fourth or even fifth time. And that's not to say that the other islands aren't worth your time, it's just to say that Oahu is a great first island to visit. 

My first visit had us living for three weeks in the heart of Honolulu. Not Waikiki where all the other tourists are, but in a YWCA. It wasn't glamorous but it provided us a real-life experience. We took the buses to get around, we went to the local grocery store when we needed something, we shopped at the mall where locals (and yes, probably tourists) shopped. Of course we hit the tourist destinations, but finding a rhythm of a day-to-day life in Honolulu was comforting and exciting. 

The second visit was closer to Waikiki, mostly because we wanted to be in a central location so we could do an outfit change or take a break from the sun. Because the hubby had never been, I wanted to show him things that I had done, and he also wanted to take me on hikes that I definitely didn't do my first go-around. There were also a few days on the trip that we rented a car so we could see the entire island, and that was probably the best thing we could have done! 

Both trips were special in their own way and I couldn't possibly pick one over the other. And since i've found myself on the island for over a month in total, I thought I share some of my favorite things to do! 

What to Do on Oahu

1. Explore Waikiki 

I know. You might be thinking that this is a tourist trap and that there is a Buffalo Wild Wings, McDonalds and a few other restaurants that you've been to more than you'd like to admit. But you have to look deeper into Waikiki than that. 

For instance, some of our favorite places to chow down were right on the strip! The first being Surf N' Turf Tacos, a small taco joint that had shrimp, poke, cod and other delightful proteins to pack into your taco, quesadilla or burrito. Plus they had chips and salsa that I could not get enough of. It's small but I think that just adds to the charm.  

Another great find was Marukame Udon, which I didn't even know how much I loved udon noodles until this place. The line gets crazy long so make sure to hit them up at earlier in the day or later at night! You won't be disappointed. 

Besides food, Waikiki has a beach that gives you beautiful views of Diamond Head Crater and the Royal Hawaiian, that bright pink hotel right on the beach that you've seen on dozens of postcards. Take a swim in the warm water or catch all those sun rays while listening to some music. The sand is also smooth and soft, not full of bits of shells like some beaches. If you walk down a ways, you'll run into the Honolulu Zoo! 

Finally, there are great shops, both national and local, that you need to check out to get out of the sun for a while. All you have to do is wander down Kalakaua Ave (pretty much the main drag). There are several mall areas where you can find swimsuits, look at Teslas and eat fro-yo. But you will also stumble upon great pop-up shops where you can haggle with the vendors to fulfill all your souvenir needs.  

2. Hike 

If you are not a hiker, than skip this section. But if you love getting outside and catching some breathtaking views, continue reading. 

We went on a lot of different hikes with a lot of different levels of difficulty. While my husband was dying to Haiku Stairs, we 1) chickened out but also 2) it's dangerous and illegal. It offers stunning views from which we've seen on YouTube from others that risked it, but I promise you can catch equally stunning views on very legal hikes. 

Diamond Head Crater is a classic hike. I did it both times I was in Hawaii, and loved it every time. It's not too strenuous and it doesn't take all day, but when you get to the top you catch a beautiful view of the coastline in Waikiki. It's even better at sunrise! This hike will be more touristy, so the earlier you go, the better. 

The next hike is one I can't recommend to everyone (or anyone...) except for the simple fact that you can say you completed a hike that is 1,000 steps upward! Koko Crater Railway Trail is across the road from Hanauma Bay, and we hit it up after spending a few hours snorkeling. Note to self: Maybe hike THEN snorkel and relax on the beach... Anyway, the trail starts easy enough, but soon you find yourself going pretty much straight upwards to the top. If it wasn't my husband's birthday, I wouldn't have put that strain on myself. I was hostile until we got down. Looking back, I think i'm happy I did it. Maybe. 

A quick hike that we did in flipflops (maybe don't do it in flipflops, just saying) is the Lanikai Pillbox Hike. When you get to the top, you get a very enjoyable view of Lanikai Beach, as well as the Chinaman's Hat (a little island that you can wade over to in low tide). 

Crouching Lion hike is one that has lots of different spots for you to check out the view and either turn around or keep going. I'ts a hike to feel satisfied wherever you decide to call it quits. You can take the trail to the summit, or hit the top of the ridge in about 40 minutes. The views of Kahana Bay are worth the first part of the dusty hike, where you need to grab on to vines and ropes left from other hikers. Once you hit the top of the ridge, you'll get a nice breeze that'll cool you down instantly. I think some of my favorite photos came from this one. 

3. Go Snorkeling 

Yes. Hanauma Bay is touristy as all get out. But that's because once you get through the bus ride (or car ride), the lines, the video you must watch and so on, you find yourself on a beach in a nice bay with coral and fish galore. They let you rent all the snorkel gear you need, or you can bring your own. Snorkeling is such a cool way to see all the crazy fish (and sometimes turtles!) and getting close up to the coral in the area. 

While this is the only part of the island I spent time snorkeling, there are plenty of other sites to check out. I would suggest researching them online to find the right type of adventure. 

4. Beach Hop 

Not all beaches are the same my friend. I've already gloated over Waikiki Beach and Hanauma Bay, but I promise there are other stunning beaches you need to hit up. Ala Moana Beach Park is a nice play to go after you've traipsed around the mall for a few hours. It has a beautiful peninsula called "Magic Island" and it's a great place to go at sunset. I've seen plenty of wedding photos taken in this area. The beach itself is rather large and not as populated like Waikiki. 

Waimea Bay Beach is the biggest beach we went to. The white sand goes on for what feels like miles and there is a sweet little rock formation that you can jump off into that beautiful blue ocean water. I chickened out, but my husband had a good time. The beach is kind of on it's own, so make sure to bring a snack or arrive full. 

5. Go to a Luau 

I've only been to one luau on the island, but it was so good, I went back to the same one. They are on the pricier side but there are some you can find that are cheap or even free. 

The Polynesian Cultural Center is my favorite because it's more than a luau. You also get access to their "theme park" if you will, which is events and activities from the different cultures that Hawaii is made up of. Plus you are wined and dined during the luau, and you can end the night with their fire dancing show. 

In the Hilton Hawaiian Village back in Waikiki, you can hit up their luau at sunset. It's till a tad on the pricier side, but the backdrop couldn't be more stunning. Again, there are plenty of luaus to check out, you just need to do a little digging. 

Of course these aren't the only things you can do on the island, but they were what we focused on this time around. If museums are your thing, I highly suggest Pearl Harbor. They do a great job setting the scene for such a tragic event in American history. Or if you like to fish, look into deep sea fishing. While we didn't catch anything (the husband's line broke just as he was about to get the fish in the net!), it's still a great time on the ocean at sunset. My final suggestion is hitting up the Kualoa Ranch if you want to go off-roading and check out some famous areas from some famous movies (Lost, Jurassic Park to name a few...). We decided to spend our money elsewhere, but you better believe this is a must on our next adventure. 

Here's a final picture of the ocean near a lighthouse we quickly hiked to. I mean seriously, every bit of this island is to die for. 

I hope you all find this helpful, and that you now think it's a must to spend some time in this lovely state. Aloha and Mahalo friends! 

Always, 
A