Family Travel: 4 Rules for Vacationing on Oahu

by Hilarye Fuller on November 4th, 2012 | 2 Comments »

Oahu, Hawaii is a fantastic vacation destination whether you are looking for a family vacation, honeymoon, or a much coveted couples vacation. If you are looking for a well-rounded Hawaiian getaway, Oahu has lots to offer for everyone and will help create lasting and meaningful memories.

4 Rules for Vacationing on Oahu

Follow these four easy rules for taking an Oahu vacation to make sure you come home with an arsenal of stories, pictures, and memories.

Rule #1: Don’t Limit Yourself to the Beach

Of course, relaxation and beach time should be a big portion of your Oahu visit, but take the time to sight-see and immerse yourself in the culture and traditions. Your best bet is to sketch out a rough itinerary and jot down a few of the places you would really like to see. Then you can research how and where it would make the most sense to schedule your time. For example, make sure to stop by the valley of the temples on your way to the Polynesian Cultural Center and plan a trip to the Dole Plantation the same day you are headed to the North Shore, this way you won’t waste time zigzagging across the island and you can spend more time relaxing and enjoying the sights.

Rule #2: Try Something New

Vacations are a great time to step outside your comfort zone and try something you have always wanted to do but may have been afraid to. Oahu is the perfect place to do this with a plethora of adventurous activities to try. Try taking surfing lessons, scuba diving, sea kayaking with turtles, snorkeling, hula dancing, or even just try poi for the first time. The possibilities are endless, but even if you fail or make a fool out of yourself, you will still have fun trying to learn something new about yourself.

Rule #3: Indulge Yourself

The point of going on any vacation is to indulge yourself a little, right? Oahu is the perfect destination to do just that. Whether you want to indulge in a world class spa treatment, play golf, relax on the beach, spend way too much money shopping, and eat lots of amazing Hawaiian food, Oahu has it all. Waikiki Beach is a tourist hot spot and great way to indulge yourself in all these ways.

Rule #4: Be a Kid Again

Throw all your inhibitions to the wind. Spend way too much time in the sun, build a sandcastle, play in the water, and, our favorite, eat way too much sugar. Hawaiian shave ice every day is the best way to cool off from the sun and make sure to try a Dole Whip. Even if you aren’t traveling with kids, try to think like one. Children always have the best time because they don’t come with expectations and see the world with a generally upbeat optimistic perspective. Try to follow that line of thinking and you will have a great time.

Don’t forget to take lots of pictures and remember to soak in the moment. Vacations go by so fast but it’s the memories that stay and last a lifetime.

Have you been to Oahu? What was your favorite thing to see/do/eat?

Based out of Salt Lake City, Utah, Hilarye Fuller is a travel blogger and stay-at-home mom who has traveled all over the world with her two little girls. Follow her adventures and travel advice at www.dottingthemap.com