Oahu, Hawaii

This is my first post about a state within my own country! Hawaii is one of the most beautiful places in the world and is known for the stunning crystal clear water. Oahu is one of the main islands within the chain of Hawaiian islands. Oahu is very diverse because it has the city life with shopping and high rises in Waikiki as well as the relaxing North Shore known for its massive waves. Oahu has activities for everyone including swimming, hiking, kayaking, shopping, and so much more! Here are some of my favorite things to do in Oahu!

1. Go to North Shore and visit Pipeline, Sunset Beach, or Waimea Bay! All three of these beaches are known for big waves. Many surf competitions are held on these beaches. People come to hang out along the beach while watching the surfers ride the massive waves.

2. When in North Shore get some lunch from the famous food trucks! The food is tasty and you can sit along the picnic tables and watch the waves crashing.

3. Go to Turtle Bay Beach also known as Kuilima Cove! This beach is very kid friendly and perfect for snorkeling. The water is bright blue with white sand. If you get hungry you can grab lunch or dinner at Roy's Beach House with a perfect view of the ocean. Also, if you are staying at Turtle Bay Resort you can rent free snorkeling equipment from the beach shack.

4. Visit Lanikai Beach! This is one of the most gorgeous beaches I have ever seen. The beach looks just like out of a postcard. Lanikai is ranked as one of the best beaches in the world. You can swim in the ocean or go kayaking. However, it can be very hard to find parking so I would recommend visiting on a weekday rather than on a weekend.

5. Shop along Waikiki! Waikiki has a huge strip of famous stores offering lots of shopping for everyone. I would recommend eating at Duke's for dinner since it is right along the beach and has a perfect sunset view. The nightlife in Waikiki is so fun so make sure to do some late night shopping! If you happen to be looking for a late night snack, go to Maui Brewing Company for a late night happy hour. Another great find is Paia Fish Market. It is a fun spot to have dinner and enjoy some of the best seafood.

6. If you are looking for a break from the beach and pool, go visit the little surf town, Haleiwa, located at the North Shore! The town offers some shopping as well as delicious shave ice. You could spend an hour or two walking around seeing all of the different stores. Clark Little has a gallery located in this town as well.

7. Walk along the strip of beaches in Waikiki! The morning is the best for walking because it is the least crowded and the sun isn't as strong. You can walk all along the strip of beach among the hotels.

8. Drive all along the island! There are so many beautiful spots to pull over and stop along the beach. There are also many lookouts that have views of almost the entire water.

9. Surf in Waikiki Beach! If you are a beginner and have never surfed before you can try it out here. The beach has small waves but it can be very crowded so I would recommend renting boards early in the morning.

10. Go to Hanauma Bay! This is one of the top snorkeling spots in the world. It can get very crowded so go as early as you can!

I hope this was helpful for you if you are planning a trip to Oahu anytime soon! I will write my next post about Maui, another Hawaiian Island, so you can decide which one is the right vacation spot for you!

Talk soon!

Sam