How to Spend a Day in North Shore, Oahu
Known for its beautiful beaches, warm weather, and hundreds of blonde people, a trip to Oahu would not be complete without a visit to North Shore. I spent an incredible week at Turtle Bay Resort in January, dillydallying around empty beaches and drinking $12 mediocre lattes! So basically, I’m the perfect candidate for writing a guide on how to spend a day in paradise. Here we go.
8am-10am/Whenever You Wake Up!
Okay gym gurus, go for it! If your hotel offers it, you can start your day at the gym or a workout class. Alternatively, you can go for a walk around the hotel or do a quick YouTube workout in the hotel room.
But for those of you on vacation in every shape and form, I hear you and I feel you. You can start with a delicious coffee and breakfast instead! Some hotels have their own cafes, but I recommend a trip to the Sunrise Shack if you’re up for it.
I must admit, the prices are definitely on the high end, but the aesthetics of the little yellow building hidden in the luscious greenery of the Hawaiian mountains is a tough pass-up for a trend-loving gal like me. They have a unique collection of coffee as well, offering “bullet” versions of lattes and matchas complete with coconut oil, MCT oil, and/or butter as creamer. Sounds strange, but it’s surprisingly tasty.
10am-1pm
After Sunrise Shack, head over to Waimea Falls for a beautiful waterfall hike. The ground is paved and flat and it’s 3.5 miles round trip. You can swim in the falls as well!
1pm-2:30pm
For lunch, stop at Ted’s Bakery for a giant menu including fried chicken sandwiches to traditional Hawaiian plates.
For dessert, I recommend visiting Matsumoto Shave Ice for an icy treat. They have several different flavors and options to add condensed milk or mochi balls.
However, beware of long lines and a bee infestation in all of the trash cans… #worthit
2:30pm-6:30pm
The rest of your afternoon will be spent at the beach! There are lots of great options including Pipeline Beach or Banzai Beach, Waimea Beach, or for a more secluded beach (but potentially a longer drive), Turtle Beach.
Consider stopping at Foodland on your way for beachside snacks and drinks, and be sure to bring a book, sunscreen, and a towel!
6:30pm-8pm
For dinner, drive up Kamehameha Highway to 56-565 Kamehameha Hwy. Here, you will find roughly twenty different food trucks offering a large variety of dinner options. Sit down restaurants don’t seem to be popular in North Shore and this is my favorite alternative.
As you can see, North Shore is the place to be for sweet treats and relaxing by the water! Following this guide, you’ll get a taste of Hawaiian cuisine, views of the greenery, and a relaxing afternoon on the sands of the most beautiful place in the U.S.! As always, feel free to comment any questions you have down below, and don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter for updates on new content.
