Experience Romance On Hawaii's Oahu Island
by Megan Stansfield
Have you recently made the decision to schedule a honeymoon or a romantic getaway in Oahu? If so, you will be pleased to know that Oahu is one of the best places, in the entire world, to get the romance that you are looking for. With Oahu's breathtaking beaches and active nightlight, you are sure to enjoy activities all day long that will help to keep the romance pumping through your body.
As previously mentioned, Oahu is most well-known for its beautiful beaches. If you are taking a romantic Oahu vacation, you are advised to see those beaches for yourself. In fact, you won't just want to see them, but feel them. Whether you and your romantic partner choose to relax by the shoreline, enjoy a guided boat tour, learn how to surf, or go scuba diving, you are sure to see, firsthand, just what the beautiful Oahu waters does for romance. In fact, you may want to take the time to enjoy all of the previously mentioned, adventurous, yet romantic, beach activities.
In addition to beach activities, there are a number of land activities that can be just as adventurous and romantic. This is due in part to the beauty of Hawaii, namely Oahu. Hiking is a popular activity among those on romantic Oahu vacations. You can easily enjoy a hike on foot, on a bicycle, ATV, or on horseback. Whichever method of hiking you choose, every romantic bone in your body will come alive when you get to see the beautiful waterfalls and overall tropical landscape that Oahu holds. For the ultimate views of Oahu, you are advised to participate in a guided tour.
Although it is great to experience Oahu from the water, as well as the land, you will also want to experience it from the air. You can do this with a helicopter tour of Oahu. Over the past few years, Oahu helicopter tours have increased in popularity. That increase in popularity is due in part to the realization that you can't experience all that Oahu has to offer from the ground; some things you just have to see from the air. A helicopter tour of Oahu is romantic all on its own, but for added romance you may want to schedule a private helicopter tour. A private helicopter tour will ensure that you are not paired up with other Oahu vacationers; thus making for a private, romantic experience.
As it was stated above, Oahu is also well-known for its nightlife. If you are planning on taking a romantic Oahu vacation, you will likely find the Oahu nightlife to be just what you need to end your day. If you are looking to have a romantic dinner, you can do so at one of the many fine dinning restaurants that can be found on the Oahu Island. In addition to fine dining, you may enjoy catching a movie, a concert, or a theaters play; it is all possible when on an Oahu vacation. If casual is more your style, you and your partner can also enjoy yourselves at one of they many Oahu bars, taverns, or nightclubs.
After enjoying Oahu's fun filled nightlife, you can easily retreat back to where you are staying. In fact, do you know where you are staying yet? Of course, you can always book a stay at a traditional hotel or vacation resort, but if you are really looking to keep the romance alive, you will want to stay at an Oahu vacation home. Oahu vacation homes are ideal for romantic getaways because they not only have the comforts of home, but they are also private. For the ultimate romantic experience, you are advised to try and rent an Oahu vacation home that is located along the beach. These vacation homes are often referred to as beachfront vacation homes or beachfront rentals.
Oahu, Island Car Trips Outside of Waikiki
Oahu, Island Car Trips Outside of Waikiki
by Gene Morgan
Most folk's first trip to Hawaii consist of staying in a high-rise hotel in Waikiki, visiting the beach, enjoying the nightlife, and seeing all the sites in group tours and shuttle buses. This can be quite fun, but without a car you miss a lot.
Most people avoid car rental because traffic is a problem and there is little parking. The island is small, but really crowded. Except for the three freeways that crisscross the island, you can't call them interstates since there are no bridges to the mainland, there are only two lane roads with low speed limits and lots of other folks trying to get places as well. It is also a common belief that there are actually only two available parking places left on the whole island.
OK, so what's the problem? You are on vacation. What's the hurry? And, the goal is to see stuff outside of the tourist bustle of Waikiki. There is always a place to park along the North shore beaches. Hotels usually have underground parking which you often have to pay a little extra for and are tiny and a real adventure trying to squeeze your car into. But, again, it's your vacation. What's a little extra cost and adventure is what you are looking for.
Waikiki is much like an amusement park. It's like Disney World without the rides, but with miles of beach. It is full of sun-screened tourist and half naked young people with sand in their hair dragging surfboards twice their size. There is food and entertainment and lots of shopping. It is so much fun, but also weirdly unreal. Every once in a while you are tempted to rap on one of the walls of one of those finely architectured buildings to make sure there is no fiberglass involved. It's a surreal world.
If you are curious to find out about the rest of the island, hop in your car, take your time, and enjoy what many others never see. Here are few of the possibilities:
--- Drive around the rugged east side of the island. It is a bit of a roller coaster ride along the towering cliffs and rocky shoreline. Stop often and enjoy the natural beauty of wild ocean waves crashing against stony walls producing great geysers of foamy spray.
--- Lay for hours on end on a North shore beach, watching surfers battle the endless waves crashing on the sandy shore. Sure you can see surfers at Waikiki, but the waves are wilder and the surfers seem more daring on the North shore.
--- Grab a shrimp platter lunch from one of the shrimp trucks just outside of Kahuku. It's a tasty meal in a rustic setting. It takes a car to get there. I don't think you can get the tour bus to stop. There is nothing like it in the big city.
--- Enjoy some leisurely hours rambling around Hale'iwa, shopping, eating chocolate, shaved ice, or great hand dipped ice creams from one of the funky little shops in this quaint little village. Don't miss the surfboard painter who plays some cool jazz and blues music with his family in his studio workshop when he is not producing artwork.
--- Spend a half-day wandering in the Waimea Valley Audubon Center. There is lush tropical plants and some wildlife and you can even take a dip in the pool at the base of Waimea Falls. It's kind of like that being stranded in a tropical paradise dream you have every now and again. But it's only the North shore.
--- Hit one of the weekly Aloha Stadium Swap Meets. It's a giant flea market/sidewalk sales where you can get all those Hawaiian shirts, and other souvenirs for about half what you pay for them downtown. Stuff your trunk and ship them home. You can't do that if you are riding the bus.
--- If you get homesick you can even drive through a fast food place or spend the day at Wal-Mart or the mall. There is always someplace to park at the mall.
Oahu is a pretty small island and the public transportation is really quite good. You can see a lot on the bus and there is lots to see. But with a car you are in total control. This little list tells of only a small sampling of the possible things to do if you are in control of your mobility. The key is to be an explorer. Find your own adventures. Get behind the wheel. It's vacation.
