I am planning to take a vacation on November (with my whole family , wife and 2 kids; 5 year old and 7 months old) and was wondering if you guys can guide me in a right directions what to visit and what a must see things there? I don't care as much for beach time since I live in FL and have plenty time to visit beach. Thank you so much for all responses.
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2006 Toyota Sequoia Limited 4x4 w/ lxr package, 7008 navi, rear entartaiment system, 20" x-sp enkei.
2001 Toyota Tundra SR5 4x4 - TRD 9+Psi Supercharged, JBA Ceramic Headers, Walboro 255LPH Fuel Pump, 1UZ Rods, 20" x-sp enkei wheels, 7009 navi w/custom JBL wire harness + OEM XM/Sirus radio, drive by wire, and many other mods.
MUST VISIT: The USS Arizona Memorial and USS Missouri tours at Pearl Harbor. Arizona is free but you gotta go early because the line gets long with all the tour groups (unless you're in a group too) and it's first come, first served. Your children might be a little young to know what's going on but it's good to see the visitor center before they rennovate...whenever that is. You have to pay for Might Mo but at least you can make reservations. There's also the USS Bowfin.
MUST EAT: Be sure to enjoy some of the local foods ("grindz") while you're here. Not sure what your taste/budget/transportation situation is but there's something for everyone and it's not all in Waikiki. Try at least one plate lunch and a luau .
MUST SEE: Also, like CPT Ahi said, hopefully you get to see a Polynesian show. The Polynesian Cultural Center has a tour/luau/show. There's also a couple more luau/shows (no tour) like Germaine's or Paradise Cove. They all have shuttles that will take you from Waikiki and back. Not to mention the luau/shows in Waikiki itself...really convenient if you're staying there but where's the adventure in that? Only drawback is they can get kinda pricey.
DEPENDS: Not sure if you folks are into shopping but there's a few popular malls like Ala Moana and Waikele, among others. Then there's the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet for relatively cheap 'Hawaiian' souveniers. Looks same as the stuff in Waikiki but costs less...so they say.
If you're going to drive and want to see something nice, head over to the windward side using the H3 freeway...nice view when you come out the other side of the mountain. Stay on H3 and there's decent lookout over Kane'ohe Bay. Pali Lookout is also nice when it's not too windy for the kids. As you can imagine, things here are relatively close together. Also, drive out to the North Shore...NICE.
Lots of safe places to go snorkeling and kayaking but difficult with little ones. Hiking is nice but would probably be better when the kids get older.
I wouldn't recommend Sea Life Park, especially since you already have Seaworld (better IMO). There's also a zoo, an aquarium, and a water park but you have those too (on a larger scale?). If you like to be educated there's the Bishop Museum and 'Iolani Palace. Lots of island history there. I recently went back to the museum but haven't been to the palace since grade school. Fort DeRussy in Waikiki has an Army Museum.
I know that's not much but it's all I can think of right now. Will let you know if something else comes to mind. Ever thought about visiting any of the other islands while you're all the way out here? Hopefully someone else will chime in. Check out the Hawai'i Tourism website as well (Hawaii's Official Tourism Site -- Travel Info On Oahu) .
If you tell us which island(s) you're planning to visit, you'll probably get more responses as each island is unique in it's own way.
Since you'll be here in November, although you say you don't need to see beaches, you've probably have never seen 12-25' Hawaiian waves before. Check out the North Shore for some big wave action and amazing surfing. Also hit Matsumoto's Shave Ice and have some Giovanni's Shrimp (I think that's what it's called).
Than you so much for a lot of different places. I am planning to fly to Honolulu. I am willing to spend few $$. Also where is active volcano is located? I am making a list of places to visit so I can plan accordingly (time wise and $$).
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2006 Toyota Sequoia Limited 4x4 w/ lxr package, 7008 navi, rear entartaiment system, 20" x-sp enkei.
2001 Toyota Tundra SR5 4x4 - TRD 9+Psi Supercharged, JBA Ceramic Headers, Walboro 255LPH Fuel Pump, 1UZ Rods, 20" x-sp enkei wheels, 7009 navi w/custom JBL wire harness + OEM XM/Sirus radio, drive by wire, and many other mods.
More than 10 years ago... we bought a tour packages. They took us to all the tourist places and 3 different islands to see the events. We did not have to rent the car, because we went with the tour group.
to be candid, maybe get grandparents to take the kids and go enjoy yourself. I don't think your kids will know or appreciate the money you spent on them to go there. In 5 years, it will be worth it.
I don't mind spending money for this trip, and I will take my kids with me.
As far as vacation with my wife, I will be special (most likely New Zeland)
May be I should look into tour package that way it will cover most of the things
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2006 Toyota Sequoia Limited 4x4 w/ lxr package, 7008 navi, rear entartaiment system, 20" x-sp enkei.
2001 Toyota Tundra SR5 4x4 - TRD 9+Psi Supercharged, JBA Ceramic Headers, Walboro 255LPH Fuel Pump, 1UZ Rods, 20" x-sp enkei wheels, 7009 navi w/custom JBL wire harness + OEM XM/Sirus radio, drive by wire, and many other mods.
The volcano is on the Big Island. They've got some really nice scenery...from pretty dry volcanic to lush green, waterfalls, and lava tubes. I tooks some relatives there last year and we had a blast. Probably another good one for when the kids get a little older though .
Pakakz speaks the truth. Gotta see the waves and taste the food up on the North Shore. Kua 'Aina burgers are awesome too (there's also one near Ala Moana but not quite the same atmosphere. Best to get a rental and do your own thing at least a couple of days. Whatever you do, don't stay in Waikiki the whole time. If you like burgers there are several great places (IMO) around the island that I don't think you can get on the mainland...I could be wrong. I can give you some names if you're interested. Again, the island is small so won't be too hard to find . Look for the shrimp trucks too...although you probably have lots shrimp in FL.
My bad...I just remembered reading that Mighty Mo is going into drydock for some much needed repair and maintenance in October and won't be back for a few(?) months...can't remember exact dates. That only leaves USS Arizona and USS Bowfin (you might have to pay for the latter). If you get to Ford Island (it's part of Pearl Harbor) you can see the remains of the USS Utah. They also have the Pacific Aviation Museum as well. Ford Island is where the Mighty Mo would've been as well. They filmed a lot of the battle scenes for the movie Pearl Harbor as well as Tora! Tora! Tora! there. Much easier to access if you have a military ID...? I'm sure there are tours as well.
If you drive around the island, you'll eventually see Chinaman's Hat which is also a favorite spot for filmmakers. Right across the street and a little way up the mountain is Kualoa Ranch. They've got some nice things to look at as well as ATV and horseback riding. I've only been up there once and it was for a wedding. Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden is in Kane'ohe. Only thing is the mosquitoes (from what I've experienced anyway. There's an Academy of Arts in "town" if you like artwork. The places I mentioned are in no particular order geographically or by preference. Just rambling now. Laters.
the 5 year old will like the volcano and likely remember it (my son has been going back every year since he was four, he's six now, and he still remembers stuff we totally forgot).
one thing about the volcano is when we were there in july, the top of Volcano National Park was closed off due to high sulfur emissions and dangerous levels of vog (as in, if you have asthma, don't even think about it). we stayed well below the lookouts, and my son still had a blast hiking the lava tubes, many easy-level hikes, etc... bring a flashlight if you're going to do the lava tube hike. there are some lights in there, but there are some big puddles and uneven ground in the tubes that you could trip on.
i'm not sure what the current conditions are now, probably can find them on the internet if you google volcano national park.
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