Past 2 days have been comprised of healthy eating and drinking (e.g. no alcohol), excessive working out, excessive amounts of WORK, and, well, going until I drop (which OMG I did last night
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Turtle Bay resort is fantastic, and you're really close to Shark's Cove, which is the best snorkeling/SCUBA on the island. Check it out if the surf isn't too high by then. Turtle Bay's the only hotel on the North Shore unless you end up in Laie near the Polynesian Cultural Center - which is pretty much populated by Mormons and has blue laws!!! Avoid, avoid, avoid. But if you end up in Laie on a circle island drive, I liked wading out to Goat Island, which is a really tiny island where the beaches are usually deserted. It'd make a good picnic.
I didn't take any tours when I lived on Oahu, but there are two swimming waterfalls that are easy to get to: one's at the (former) Audubon Garden, which would be pretty close to Turtle Bay. The problem there is that I don't know who owns it now or what they're doing with the land - but it's easy to find, right across from Waimea Beach Park, which is one of the more popular North Shore beaches (there's a pretty awesome jump rock there). The nicer waterfall (in that you can climb to the top of it and jump off if you're so inclined) is Maunawili, which is pretty much in Kailua. If you pick up the Oahu book I linked, it has detailed directions to the trailhead. Otherwise it is tricky, and I doubt any tours go there. You could take Kamehameha Hwy along the north shore of the island to get there, stop at a shrimp truck and the Macademia nut farm on the way (yum, and they have free samples of nuts and coffee!), hit the Hawaii Kai side on the way home for ice cream at Bubbies and relax at Makapu and drive back up the H1 and H2... it'd be a long day but a good one. Jeff and I usually did breakfast for dinner at Anna Miller's after that, oooh, and chocolate haupia pie. I'm surprised I didn't get fat.
If you have to switch hotels, I'd go for Waikiki so you can check out the eastern side of the island more. There's a lot more to do in general, and it has the cheapest hotel rooms of all the Hawaiian islands. The downside is the traffic, but if you avoid the H1 between the H2 and Waikiki eastbound in the morning and westbound in the late afternoon, you will be a lot less miserable! In fact if you're still jetlagged and want to travel that early, you should check out a sunrise at Waimanalo Bay State Recreation Area. It's easily the most spectacular sunrise on Oahu (and where we got married).
The Polynesian Cultural Center is very touristy and family friendly. I enjoyed it with my parents, and the performances are entertaining - but luaus also include performances oftentimes, so you'd probably do just as well!
Most of the luaus aren't actually on the beach on Oahu, which is crap as far as I am concerned!!! So the best one by default is Paradise Cove. I found the food was pretty similar at all three I went to. We didn't do one on Kauai, so I'm not much help there.
Island hopping isn't a big deal; sometimes the flights are as low as $20 one way on the various local airlines (like Go, Hawaiian, or Aloha). I'd start by checking those websites regularly for specials. A ferry service had just started when we were leaving, but I think it's better to get a small convertible (*loved* the Mini) on Oahu and four-wheel drive on Kauai, so it ends up being cheaper just to fly. Definitely get a Jeep Wrangler; you'll most likely find yourself off roading a bit and they're a ton of fun!!!
I'm over D.C., but Sackler Freer was pretty awesome. I need something a little more low-key and outdoorsy than here; I suppose I'm not much for cities in general. It probably would help if I didn't get sick every time I left the house...
Holy crap -- thank you a million times over! It'll take me about 2 hours to get the booking "just right" but with what I have already (already have those books!) and your info -- I feel a LOT more confident -- I just need to make a schedule/itenerary, and frankly, just do it and stop being so nervous about missing something (times, sheduling, cars, etc).
As far as your area now -- more "out-doors" well -- there's ALWAYS billygoats trail which is a BLAST (virgia side of Great falls, right over the bridge from MD).
There's also a TON of great kayaking places -- River & Trail outfitters out towards the West Virginia border with MD -- GREAT early excursion
Baltimore inner-harbor, hard to go wrong with for a day trip (Science Center, Aquarium, etc) -- followed up by an evening of live misic at Mic O'Sheas (LOVE IT!) -- Irelands Four Provinces though locally would be more convenient.
Adams Morgan (and Red Sea etheopian food! MMM!) -- then maybe even drinks at Madams Organ is always a trip for something a bit more festive.
Lets not forget too that Kings Dominion is right downt he road, and Bush Gardens/Williamsburg really isn't that far away either!
SugarLoaf mountain is really pleasant hiking, and totally laid back day trip, and Frederick old-town is really "quaint" in a lot of ways.
What do you like to do -- and I can direct you!
And holy smokes -- additional thanks for the Mormon/Blue law alert -- ACK!
I didn't take any tours when I lived on Oahu, but there are two swimming waterfalls that are easy to get to: one's at the (former) Audubon Garden, which would be pretty close to Turtle Bay. The problem there is that I don't know who owns it now or what they're doing with the land - but it's easy to find, right across from Waimea Beach Park, which is one of the more popular North Shore beaches (there's a pretty awesome jump rock there). The nicer waterfall (in that you can climb to the top of it and jump off if you're so inclined) is Maunawili, which is pretty much in Kailua. If you pick up the Oahu book I linked, it has detailed directions to the trailhead. Otherwise it is tricky, and I doubt any tours go there. You could take Kamehameha Hwy along the north shore of the island to get there, stop at a shrimp truck and the Macademia nut farm on the way (yum, and they have free samples of nuts and coffee!), hit the Hawaii Kai side on the way home for ice cream at Bubbies and relax at Makapu and drive back up the H1 and H2... it'd be a long day but a good one. Jeff and I usually did breakfast for dinner at Anna Miller's after that, oooh, and chocolate haupia pie. I'm surprised I didn't get fat.
If you have to switch hotels, I'd go for Waikiki so you can check out the eastern side of the island more. There's a lot more to do in general, and it has the cheapest hotel rooms of all the Hawaiian islands. The downside is the traffic, but if you avoid the H1 between the H2 and Waikiki eastbound in the morning and westbound in the late afternoon, you will be a lot less miserable! In fact if you're still jetlagged and want to travel that early, you should check out a sunrise at Waimanalo Bay State Recreation Area. It's easily the most spectacular sunrise on Oahu (and where we got married).
The Polynesian Cultural Center is very touristy and family friendly. I enjoyed it with my parents, and the performances are entertaining - but luaus also include performances oftentimes, so you'd probably do just as well!
Most of the luaus aren't actually on the beach on Oahu, which is crap as far as I am concerned!!! So the best one by default is Paradise Cove. I found the food was pretty similar at all three I went to. We didn't do one on Kauai, so I'm not much help there.
Island hopping isn't a big deal; sometimes the flights are as low as $20 one way on the various local airlines (like Go, Hawaiian, or Aloha). I'd start by checking those websites regularly for specials. A ferry service had just started when we were leaving, but I think it's better to get a small convertible (*loved* the Mini) on Oahu and four-wheel drive on Kauai, so it ends up being cheaper just to fly. Definitely get a Jeep Wrangler; you'll most likely find yourself off roading a bit and they're a ton of fun!!!
I'm over D.C., but Sackler Freer was pretty awesome. I need something a little more low-key and outdoorsy than here; I suppose I'm not much for cities in general. It probably would help if I didn't get sick every time I left the house...
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As far as your area now -- more "out-doors"
well -- there's ALWAYS billygoats trail which is a BLAST (virgia side of Great falls, right over the bridge from MD).
There's also a TON of great kayaking places -- River & Trail outfitters out towards the West Virginia border with MD -- GREAT early excursion
Baltimore inner-harbor, hard to go wrong with for a day trip (Science Center, Aquarium, etc) -- followed up by an evening of live misic at Mic O'Sheas (LOVE IT!) -- Irelands Four Provinces though locally would be more convenient.
Adams Morgan (and Red Sea etheopian food! MMM!) -- then maybe even drinks at Madams Organ is always a trip for something a bit more festive.
Lets not forget too that Kings Dominion is right downt he road, and Bush Gardens/Williamsburg really isn't that far away either!
SugarLoaf mountain is really pleasant hiking, and totally laid back day trip, and Frederick old-town is really "quaint" in a lot of ways.
What do you like to do -- and I can direct you!
And holy smokes -- additional thanks for the Mormon/Blue law alert -- ACK!
Reply
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