When I travel, I like to see as much as I possibly can. The island of Oahu is pretty small, so I knew the best way to see it all was going to be by car. That’s why the hubs and I planned the ultimate Oahu road trip for our babymoon!
*This post is not sponsored and may contain affiliate links. All content and opinions expressed are my own.*
The Best Route to take for the Ultimate Oahu Road Trip!
We were really lucky to be able to rent a car and take a road trip around Oahu. Not only was it the best way we could think of to see EVERYTHING, but it was also a bucket list item for me! We ended up renting a Toyota Corolla from Enterprise and it was perfect for us. Plenty of room for all our beach necessities, really comfortable, and it got great gas mileage. We only had to get gas once and it was when we returned the car (5 days after picking it up!).It’s pretty easy to make all these stops in one day, depending on how much driving you want to do. We decided to split it into two days (I’ll explain why below), but you can definitely make it in one if that’s all you have!First Stop: Waikiki
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Hat is from Forever XXI or H&M (can't remember :p), Purse is from Lulu's
Maternity Jumpsuit from Topshop, Kimono from Forever XXI, Purse from Lulu's
I recommend starting your morning in Waikiki. This area gets pretty packed, so it’s nice to walk the beach before it’s completely full. Start the day with a calm walk in the sand, then head to breakfast!
My favorite breakfast/brunch spot in Waikiki is definitely Heavenly Island Lifestyle. We only went here once but OMG I wanted to go back so bad! Eihab had the Salmon & Spinach Eggs Benedict, and I had the Blueberry Compote & Acaí Berry French Toast. Oh my lawwwd it was divine! The service was also amazing. They originally brought Eihab the wrong dish, and within two minutes had realized their mistake and brought us the correct dish. I also had a side of local plain yogurt with berries (I couldn’t stop eating!). All the food is locally sourced and so delicious, I highly recommend checking this spot out!
Second Stop: Leonard’s BakeryI know you just ate, but trust me, you don’t want to miss Leonard’s! They have the best malasadas (a type of Portuguese donut) and they make a great snack for your next stop!
Third Stop: Diamond Head State ParkLast week I wrote a whole post about this beautiful hike, so be sure to check it out! This is definitely a must see if you’re in to stunning 360° views! Continue on from Leonard’s and within minutes you’ll spot this beautiful mountainous crater. The hike is about 1.6 miles round trip, and be sure to enjoy some Hawaiian Shaved Ice when you get done (Eihab said it was the best he’s every had!);
Fourth Stop: Sandy BeachAfter hiking Diamond Head Crater Trail, you’ll probably be ready for some beach time and possibly a snack. Head to Sandy Beach (it’s about a 10 minute drive) for a little break and the best garlic shrimp you’ll ever have in your LIFE. This beach does have a pretty strong undertow, but it’s still nice to take a break and walk through the water to cool off!
Hat is same as above, earrings are from Adorn on NE Fremont, dress is Bobeau from Adorn on NE Fremont
Fifth Stop: Lanikai BeachOahu has some of the most beautiful beaches, so it only makes sense to hop from one to another! From Sandy Beach, head North to Lanikai Beach. The water is so clear and actually pretty warm! There aren’t public bathrooms or parking and it can get pretty crowded, but it’s a must see! If you get hungry, stop in to Boots & Kimo’s in the small town of Kailua for some famous Hawaiian Pancakes and beef ribs!
Sixth Stop: Laniakea (Turtle) BeachAfter you leave Kailua, plan on being in the car for awhile. You’ll want to head north/northwest along the coast until you get to the North Shore. This is a gorgeous drive because you get to see amazing coastline, as well as Jurassic Park-esque jungles. It was pretty surreal to feel like we were literally driving through the movies!Once you get to the North Shore, you’ll see lots of spots to stop. We stopped at this commune type place with some food trucks and stands for a quick break, then continued on. We decided we wanted to split our roadtrip into two days so we could watch the sunset on the beach. We ended up stopping at Laniakea Beach, also known as Turtle Beach, in the hopes that we’d see the sunset and some turtles! We didn’t spot any turtles, unfortunately, but the view of the sunset was absolutely incredible! The beach itself has a lot of seaweed so not the best for swimming, but if that’s something you want to do, Sunset Beach is really close by and perfect for getting in the water.
Hat is "Sydney" from Tenth Street Hats, Kimono is Veronica M from Adorn on NE Fremont, One-piece suit is from Target
Seventh Stop: Dole PlantationWhether you continue on from the North Shore or come back the next day, the Dole Plantation is a must see. There’s a lot to do for kids and adults, like pineapple tasting, a Pineapple Maze, and viewing of the tiniest and cutest pineapples you’ll ever see! Be sure to get a cup of Dole Whip for a treat!Eighth Stop: WaikikiTo round out your trip, head back to Waikiki. You’ll notice a lot more people on the beach, but be sure to take some time to walk out to the pier and watch the surfers. We loved doing this to end our ultimate Oahu road trip because it made us feel like we had gone in a circle and seen everything we wanted to!
Dress is Velvet by Graham and Spencer Taya Crew Neck Dress from Adorn on NE Fremont (but it's on sale at Revolve.com for $70 off!), Flip-flops are from Target
My sunnies were gifted and I have no clue where they're from, Eihab's sunnies are Ray Ban's
What stops would you add for your ultimate Oahu road trip? Leave me a comment and let me know!
xo,B
Oahu Road Trip
When I travel, I like to see as much as I possibly can. The island of Oahu is pretty small, so I knew the best way to see it all was going to be by car. That’s why the hubs and I planned the ultimate Oahu road trip for our babymoon!
*This post is not sponsored and may contain affiliate links. All content and opinions expressed are my own.*
The Best Route to take for the Ultimate Oahu Road Trip!
We were really lucky to be able to rent a car and take a road trip around Oahu. Not only was it the best way we could think of to see EVERYTHING, but it was also a bucket list item for me! We ended up renting a Toyota Corolla from Enterprise and it was perfect for us. Plenty of room for all our beach necessities, really comfortable, and it got great gas mileage. We only had to get gas once and it was when we returned the car (5 days after picking it up!).It’s pretty easy to make all these stops in one day, depending on how much driving you want to do. We decided to split it into two days (I’ll explain why below), but you can definitely make it in one if that’s all you have!First Stop: Waikiki
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Hat is from Forever XXI or H&M (can't remember :p), Purse is from Lulu's
Maternity Jumpsuit from Topshop, Kimono from Forever XXI, Purse from Lulu's
I recommend starting your morning in Waikiki. This area gets pretty packed, so it’s nice to walk the beach before it’s completely full. Start the day with a calm walk in the sand, then head to breakfast!
My favorite breakfast/brunch spot in Waikiki is definitely Heavenly Island Lifestyle. We only went here once but OMG I wanted to go back so bad! Eihab had the Salmon & Spinach Eggs Benedict, and I had the Blueberry Compote & Acaí Berry French Toast. Oh my lawwwd it was divine! The service was also amazing. They originally brought Eihab the wrong dish, and within two minutes had realized their mistake and brought us the correct dish. I also had a side of local plain yogurt with berries (I couldn’t stop eating!). All the food is locally sourced and so delicious, I highly recommend checking this spot out!
Second Stop: Leonard’s BakeryI know you just ate, but trust me, you don’t want to miss Leonard’s! They have the best malasadas (a type of Portuguese donut) and they make a great snack for your next stop!
Third Stop: Diamond Head State ParkLast week I wrote a whole post about this beautiful hike, so be sure to check it out! This is definitely a must see if you’re in to stunning 360° views! Continue on from Leonard’s and within minutes you’ll spot this beautiful mountainous crater. The hike is about 1.6 miles round trip, and be sure to enjoy some Hawaiian Shaved Ice when you get done (Eihab said it was the best he’s every had!);
Fourth Stop: Sandy BeachAfter hiking Diamond Head Crater Trail, you’ll probably be ready for some beach time and possibly a snack. Head to Sandy Beach (it’s about a 10 minute drive) for a little break and the best garlic shrimp you’ll ever have in your LIFE. This beach does have a pretty strong undertow, but it’s still nice to take a break and walk through the water to cool off!
Hat is same as above, earrings are from Adorn on NE Fremont, dress is Bobeau from Adorn on NE Fremont
Fifth Stop: Lanikai BeachOahu has some of the most beautiful beaches, so it only makes sense to hop from one to another! From Sandy Beach, head North to Lanikai Beach. The water is so clear and actually pretty warm! There aren’t public bathrooms or parking and it can get pretty crowded, but it’s a must see! If you get hungry, stop in to Boots & Kimo’s in the small town of Kailua for some famous Hawaiian Pancakes and beef ribs!
Sixth Stop: Laniakea (Turtle) BeachAfter you leave Kailua, plan on being in the car for awhile. You’ll want to head north/northwest along the coast until you get to the North Shore. This is a gorgeous drive because you get to see amazing coastline, as well as Jurassic Park-esque jungles. It was pretty surreal to feel like we were literally driving through the movies!Once you get to the North Shore, you’ll see lots of spots to stop. We stopped at this commune type place with some food trucks and stands for a quick break, then continued on. We decided we wanted to split our roadtrip into two days so we could watch the sunset on the beach. We ended up stopping at Laniakea Beach, also known as Turtle Beach, in the hopes that we’d see the sunset and some turtles! We didn’t spot any turtles, unfortunately, but the view of the sunset was absolutely incredible! The beach itself has a lot of seaweed so not the best for swimming, but if that’s something you want to do, Sunset Beach is really close by and perfect for getting in the water.
Hat is "Sydney" from Tenth Street Hats, Kimono is Veronica M from Adorn on NE Fremont, One-piece suit is from Target
Seventh Stop: Dole PlantationWhether you continue on from the North Shore or come back the next day, the Dole Plantation is a must see. There’s a lot to do for kids and adults, like pineapple tasting, a Pineapple Maze, and viewing of the tiniest and cutest pineapples you’ll ever see! Be sure to get a cup of Dole Whip for a treat!Eighth Stop: WaikikiTo round out your trip, head back to Waikiki. You’ll notice a lot more people on the beach, but be sure to take some time to walk out to the pier and watch the surfers. We loved doing this to end our ultimate Oahu road trip because it made us feel like we had gone in a circle and seen everything we wanted to!
Dress is Velvet by Graham and Spencer Taya Crew Neck Dress from Adorn on NE Fremont (but it's on sale at Revolve.com for $70 off!), Flip-flops are from Target
My sunnies were gifted and I have no clue where they're from, Eihab's sunnies are Ray Ban's
What stops would you add for your ultimate Oahu road trip? Leave me a comment and let me know!
xo,B