Rock out croppings on Oahu's West Side make for wonderful wave watching

If you’re looking to combine the two into a kind of ultimate Christmas present vacation for parents and kids alike, it’s actually doable these days on the west side of Oahu. The beautiful new Aulani resort combines Disneyland style fun and imagineering with its warm Hawaiian setting and true Hawaiian style. Not an inexpensive vacation retreat, it nonetheless offers great beauty and great child-friendly attractions in a neat package with a great view.

With both hotel rooms and time share units to choose from, the Aulani offers luxurious, spacious accommodations, a calm beach, and plenty of Disney fun.

The Disney vibe has absorbed rather than distorted the laid-back Hawaiian feeling island travelers love, and has also worked with Hawaiian heritage to replicate architectural and cultural themes throughout the property. Of course, your children probably won’t care about any of that. They’ll be too busy having fun.

We loved entering through thatched roof huts, and being greeted with flower and kukui nut leis. The lobby is visually stunning with a high ceiling from which light that look rather like jelly fish dangle in fishing nets. Best of all was a mural of island life that rings the lobby. The room itself was well designed, with Hawaiian sea-life designs on the furniture, headboard, and in the bathroom, but it was honestly a bit compact for our taste. And we probably could’ve done without the Mickey Mouse characters hidden, Waldo like, in the pattern of a quilt with a pineapple design. However, that’s me the curmudgeon, talking. The small children in our party loved finding Mickey. The hotel has suites and adjoining rooms available for larger families.

But who’s going to spend a long time in the room when outside is the grand ocean, and several wonderful, kid-friendly pools. With a saltwater pool for snorkeling lovely stocked native fish, an enormous pool with water-park amenities, and spas geared for both the young and adult travelers, there’s plenty of outdoor activities available and accessible for all ages.

An elegant, well appointed, but compact Aulani room

We loved the way the pool featured a faux volcanic rock plateau with sea life carvings part of the rock. The kids loved the water slides, including one that began on the crest of the volcanic rock for inner tube rides. For my taste, the best part of the pool was the long “lazy river” that traverses the resort grounds. However, voted best by kids of all ages was the saltwater snorkeling lagoon. This is a safe and delightful environment to experience snorkeling, and the stocked fish are colorful and profuse.

Children from ages four to ten will enjoy the kids club, Aunty’s Beach House. There were hula lessons, lei making, and supervised pool play. Older kids will enjoy the star gazing nights and pool parties at the Painted Sky Spa.

For the holidays though, you may just want to relax with your family around you – and the Pau Hana room offers craft making and games for the entire family. Also for everyone to enjoy: the Menehune Adventure Trail. Check out a GPS rigged cell phone and follow the clues on a hunt for menehune, the Hawaiian equivalent of leprechauns. There are over three hundred tiny, gnome like statues scattered about, on the grounds, in elevators, and around the pool. The modified cell phone activates mechanized menehune to emerge from hiding places behind rocks and bridges, and trigger an LCD TV lava flow. Crafted with all the Disney skill the kids could see at Disneyland itself, this was a great addition to the trip and added a lot of value to the resort’s Disney experience.

We loved walking along the soft sand of uncrowded Yokohama Bay State Park on Oahu's west side.

Paddleboarding and surfing lessons are also available in the relatively calm waters off the resort’s coast for parents and older children, and if you’re looking for more adventure, take the half hour drive up the West coast of Oahu to the end of the island’s paved road at Yokohama Bay State Park. This beautiful, wild enclave has lush green mountains, fine white sand, and completely uncrowded beaches, plus picnic areas, changing rooms, and friendly lifeguards. The surf can be tumultuous here, and we use this beach for walking rather than swimming. One rocky point mid-beach offers mini waterfalls cascading down its sides as the waves come in, and gave us a great excuse to linger and watch the sunset. One caveat here: outside the park there are unregulated encampments; you won’t want to explore there, nor will you want to stay in the state park itself too long after dark.

But then, why would you? You’ll want to drive back to the resort and enjoy a family-friendly movie floating in an inner tube in the pool; or a torch lit dinner at one of the hotel’s many, excellent restaurants. And take a little time congratulating yourself on creating the ultimate vacation holiday gift: Disneyland and the Hawaiian Islands – all rolled into one.

Particularly fascinating to children, zoos are a wonderful place for people of all ages to learn about the animal world and our role in its preservation while having fun. Listed alphabetically, the following 10 zoos were selected from the west coast region of the USA and include Washington State, Oregon and California, as well as Alaska and Hawaii. Visit one of these fantastic zoos and discover some of the species that share in our amazing world.

Alaska Zoo

A tiger lounging at the Alaska Zoo

Located in Anchorage, Alaska, the Alaska Zoo features a wonderful variety of animals native to this region. There are reindeer, moose, musk oxen, polar and brown bears, wolverines and wolves. Visitors can see a wide collection of birds of prey including owls, hawks and eagles. The zoo is also home to exotic cold weather creatures including Tibetan yaks, snow leopards, Amur tigers and double-humped Bactrian camels. There are tours, animal encounters and various programs that provide guests of all ages with educational experiences they are certain to remember. For more information on this wonderful zoo visit their website at www.alaskazoo.org

Honolulu Zoo

Elephants eating peanuts at the Honolulu Zoo

Hawaii’s tropical climate makes the Honolulu Zoo on the island of Oahu the perfect place for animal species indigenous to the tropics. Birds, mammals and reptiles from three major habitats are showcased here. The African Savannah habitat includes chimpanzees, giraffes, zebras, rhinoceroses, lizards and a walk-through aviary. The Tropical Forest habitat features monkeys, tigers, elephants, Komodo dragons and colorful birds. The Pacific Islands habitat has native birds and reptiles including the Galapagos tortoise and Eclectus Parrots. Children can also enjoy a close encounter with the domestic animals in the Children’s Zoo including sheep, goats, hedgehogs, and llamas. For more information visit their website at www.honoluluzoo.org

Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens

A pensive gorilla at the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens

Situated on 133 lush sprawling acres in Griffith Park, the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens is home to over 1,100 birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and more than 800 species of plants. The fantastic exhibits include a gorilla reserve, walk-through tropical aviary, elephant habitat, rainforest, reptile house, and a host of animals native to Australia, Africa, Eurasia, and North and South America. A two-acre Winnick Family Children’s Zoo delights children with a petting area and low windows for pint-sized viewing at rare and unusual animals. The zoo also features an animal themed play park for little ones to climb and explore. A variety of shows and programs at the zoo allow for close encounters with the animals as well. For more information visit their website at www.lazoo.org

Oakland Zoo

A majestic lion at the Oakland Zoo

Set in the picturesque Knowland State Park of Oakland, California, the Oakland Zoo offers families a haven in which to explore the many animals living here. Its main attraction is the African Savannah where elephants and other animals roam a six-acre habitat with grassy hills, open plains, pool and trees. The zoo’s Tropical Rain Forest is a lush and inviting habitat with tigers, primates, colorful birds, reptiles and more. The zoo also features a fantastic children’s zoo with many play and discovery areas including giant sculptures, a Bug House with live insects and a Reptile & Amphibian Discovery room. A small amusement park within the zoo boasts rides for children as well. A variety of programs including live animal presentations and feedings make a trip here unforgettable. For more information visit their website www.oaklandzoo.org

Oregon Zoo

An orangutan at the Oregon Zoo

Founded in 1887, the Oregon Zoo is the oldest zoo on the western part of the USA. Located in Portland Oregon, this 64-acre zoo is home to about 260 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, invertebrates and amphibians, 1,000 species of exotic plants in their botanical garden, and exhibits reflecting different regions from around the world including Africa – with lions, cheetahs, giraffes and hippos, Asian elephants, rainforests – with monkeys, birds and caimans, the Pacific shores – with bears, penguins, an insect zoo, the popular walk-through aviary Lorikeet Landing, and the Northwest – with a delightful petting farm where goats, hogs, ducks, chickens, rabbits and more reside. The zoo also boasts wonderful train rides that take guests on a scenic tour through the zoo and Washington Park. For more information visit www.oregonzoo.org

Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Curious lemurs at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Surrounded by spectacular views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma, Washington offers a fantastic combination of zoo and aquarium on its 29-acre property. Most of the zoo animals are native to the Pacific Rim and feature such creatures as tigers and gibbons, to walruses, beluga whales, polar bears and puffins. The aquariums – South and North Pacific – are inhabited by a variety of fascinating marine life including shark, seahorses, cuttlefish and eels, and have a discovery center with touch tank. Children can play and explore at the Kids’ Zone with its live animals, petting zoo, crafts, and climbing and play apparatus. Then they can go for an enchanting ride on the zoo’s Antique Carousel that dates back to 1917. For more information visit www.pdza.org

San Diego Zoo

A panda munching on a bamboo shoot at the San Diego Zoo

100 acres in San Diego’s Balboa Park is home to one of the world’s best zoos with more than 4,000 animals and a botanical garden teeming with exotic plants. The San Diego Zoo has many rare and endangered animals and features exhibits with exquisitely reproduced natural habitats that include gorillas, tigers, leopards, jaguars, polar bears, camels, koalas, giant pandas and much more. The zoo’s Discovery Outpost has a wonderful Children’s Zoo with petting area and playground, and over 30 animal exhibits designed with kids in mind. Tours, animal interactions, presentations and programs offer fascinating and educational experiences, while gondola rides on Skyfari give guests an unforgettable view of the zoo and surrounding San Diego areas. The zoo also features a thrilling safari simulator ride and miniature train ride. For more information visit www.sandiegozoo.org

San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Elephants at the San Diego Safari Park

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park is an expansive 1,800-acre sanctuary with rolling hills, rocky slopes, and over 3,500 animals in the San Pasqual Valley near Escondido, California. Visitors can embark on a variety of safaris where they will be treated to memorable wildlife encounters from scenic and relaxing cart and tram tours with knowledgeable guides, to exciting zip lines with panoramic views, to caravans, sleepovers in tents, and more. Kids will enjoy exploring the park’s jungle gym playground, Discovery Station with fun and educational activities, interactive water play area, Petting Kraal with goats, colorful lorikeets, and exotic merry-go-round with its many rare and wild animals for a delightful ride. This African-themed park offers guests a beautifully recreated glimpse of several African regions including a Gorilla Habitat, Lion Camp and Elephant Overlook. For more information visit www.sandiegozoo.org

San Francisco Zoo

A tamarin at the San Francisco Zoo

One of the most popular attractions in Northern California’s Bay Area, the San Francisco Zoo in San Francisco, California has about 700 animals representing the regions of Asia, Africa, Australia, North America and South America. Its 100-acre location by the Pacific Ocean offers families fabulous exhibits, a scenic nature trail, shows and programs, miniature steam train, carousel, bird sanctuary, playground and recreational area. The Children’s Zoo has its own exhibits including an Insect Zoo where kids can observe and learn about creepy crawlies in fascination. It also boasts a Family Farm with petting area, hatchery, and programs like animal care and feedings. The Fisher-Price Little Learners’ Log Cabin provides young children and toddlers with dynamic learning opportunities including music, crafts, games and animal encounters as well. For more information visit www.sfzoo.org

Woodland Park Zoo

Penguins at the Woodland Park Zoo

From tropical rain forests, to the African savannah, to the Pacific Northwest, the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Washington houses about 1,100 animals in its award-winning naturalistic habitat exhibits. Watch jaguars in a lush tropical forest; see lions, hippos and zebras in the grassland plains; hand feed tropical birds as you walk through the Willawong Station where over 150 colorful birds fly free; listen to Madagascar hissing cockroaches and katydids, or observe desert millipedes and scorpions in Bug World. Children will love the Family Farm (seasonal), with its petting area that includes goats, rabbits and sheep, and the nature-themed Zoomazium where they can have fun expending energy in a playground, enjoy stories, arts and crafts, and live animals. The zoo also features an historic carousel with 48 horses that is open year-round. For more information visit www.zoo.org

The most visited of the Hawaiian islands, Oahu is a fantastic holiday destination with its historic Pearl Harbor, the Honolulu Zoo, Waikiki Aquarium, Diamond Head Crater, Ala Moana Center – one of the largest open-air shopping centers in the world – and so much more. Listed alphabetically, the following five resorts are our top choices for families looking to visit the beautiful island of Oahu, and feature lovely beachfront locations with plenty of recreation for the whole family. Come explore the countless treasures of Oahu with your family, and take home memories to last a lifetime.

Disney’s Aulani Resort and Spa

View of the hotel and shallow water cove perfect for families with young kids

With its recent grand opening in August 2011, Disney’s Aulani Resort & Spa beautifully captures the tradition of Hawaii and the magic of Disney in a seamless sanctuary resting on Ko Olina’s pristine beaches. Fine dining, a spa with fitness center, gorgeous accommodations with private balconies, and a host of recreation make this resort an unforgettable experience for the whole family. The pool complex is an idyllic waterpark with its swimming pools, slides, interactive play features, lazy river and whirlpools. The resort also boasts a private snorkeling lagoon, water sports with equipment rentals, and exciting island excursions. Children will be enchanted with Auntie’s Beach House kids’ club with numerous entertaining activities including games, music, hula dance lessons, and arts and crafts.

Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort

The Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon looks like something out of a movie

For those who like to be close to the exciting action of beautiful Waikiki Beach yet still enjoy the allure of an exclusive beachfront refuge, the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort is for you. This 22 acre haven on the shores of Duke Kahanamoku Beach in Waikiki features a wildlife habitat amid tropical gardens, fantastic accommodations, luxurious spa, fitness center, shops, a myriad of dining options, and endless recreation opportunities for the whole family. There are five swimming pools, a water playground, slides, waterfalls, whirlpools, and the enchanting five acre salt-water Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon. Children ages 5-12 can enjoy Camp Penguin with its engaging Hawaiian-themed activities including storytelling, games, music, arts and crafts, and off-site excursions.

Kahala Hotel & Resort

Swim with the dolphins in their private lagoon, enjoy one of their many pools, or go snorkeling on this perfect beach

One of Oahu’s premier luxury resorts, the Kahala Hotel & Resort is just 10 minutes from Waikiki’s lively activities and shopping. This oceanfront sanctuary in the posh Kahala district of Honolulu features lush tropical gardens, fantastic accommodations, restaurants, hot tub, swimming pools including children’s pool, fitness center, and world-class spa. Guests will be charmed with the resident dolphins in the resort’s own private lagoon where they can experience a close encounter with these playful creatures. Children ages 5-12 can join the Keiki Club where they will be safely entertained with fun educational activities rich in Hawaiian culture. The resort has a wide array of recreational activities including water and beach sports, complementary bicycles, and cultural activities like hula dancing, lei making and playing the ukulele.

Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club

Pool View from Hotel Suite

The Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club is a family favorite with good reason. Located on the secluded shores of Ko Olina, this resort offers spacious and elegant villas with kitchens, living and dining areas, and balconies with stunning views and breathtaking sunsets. Daily activities are featured for all ages including a children’s activity center, outdoor play area, game room, and fitness center. Lovely pools beckon with waterfalls, slide, whirlpools, children’s pool and lush landscaping. The beautiful coves of Ko Olina with their calm turquoise waters make this resort a haven for those seeking shelter from crowds. Sea turtles can often be seen swimming in the crystalline waters by the beach.

Read more about this great family resort from one of our writers: Marriott Ko Olina Beach Club Vacation

Turtle Bay Resort

Turtle Bay Resort boasts fantastic snorkeling along its natural rock formations

Situated atop a peninsula overlooking the dazzling waters of Oahu’s North Shore, Turtle Bay Resort is a paradise the whole family will enjoy. The resort boasts beautifully appointed accommodations from cottages and villas, to rooms and suites that fit a variety of family needs, all with spectacular ocean views. There are three swimming pools including two children’s pools, a water slide, and two hot tubs. Some of the island’s celebrated surf spots are just a few miles away and include the Banzai Pipeline, Sunset Beach, and Waimea Bay. With fine dining, resort shops, spa, golf, tennis, fitness center, and a wide array of on and off site recreational activities, this oceanfront resort is an unforgettable retreat.

Read more about the Turtle Bay Resort and Oahu’s North Shore from one of our travel writers:  Oahu’s North Shore, Hawaii – Beyond Honolulu

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Waikiki Getaway During Pregnancy

No matter which farmer's market you attend, there's sure to be great produce!

You’ll find: some form of live music. Farmer’s Markets are usually ‘booked’ just like any other venue, although sometimes street performers peddle their musical wares spontaneously. Kids love music and you’ll hear, for free, something your little ones can dance to. As they get older, they’ll enjoy chatting with the musicians who are often performing to improve their fan base in the area. Be sure and encourage your kids to tip the musicians, who aren’t making a living any other way.

You’ll find: fresh flowers. And it’s a sad vendor who doesn’t offer a single, inexpensive bloom per child. We see this kind offer everywhere and it does wonders for business and is a delightful treat. Our kids have been handed blooms ranging from sun flowers to daisies and daffodils in the spring.

You’ll find: fresh fruits and vegetables, in season. It’s an education in taste – with free sampling allowed and usually offered – and sustainability. What time of year do strawberries grow when they’re not imported from half way around the globe?

You’ll find: an organic purveyor of either fish, meat, cheese, or eggs – depending on how large your market is, maybe all three, and usually under the rate you’ll pay at the grocery store.

You’ll find: an environmentally friendly vibe. Most shoppers bring their own, reusable bags. Information booths or vendors often provide literature – including coloring sheets for the kids – about recycling and earth friendly habits like composting.

You’ll find: interesting pre-made foods and household products. More interesting tastes too: items like home made balsamic vinegar, muffins, hummus, organic candies, nuts, vegetable spreads and more are usually sold and samples are free and freely proffered.

Mmm, apples

Here are some of our favorite Farmer’s Markets in a variety of locations:

Oahu- located on the spacious, pleasant grounds of the Kapiolani Community College, this Saturday morning family favorite has plenty of free parking. It also features cooking demonstrations with samples, free coffee (not for the kids, obviously), and wonderful island treats like fresh hot malsadas (Portugese donuts), and shave ice.

Big Island of Hawaii, Naalehu, K’au. Another Saturday morning staple, this is a small town haven with craft makers offering beautiful, inexpensive jewelry, home made soap and perfumes, and photography along with the fruits and veggies. We had vendors show our kids how to make a lei here and explain the difference between native and invasive flora.

Santa Monica, CA – Saturday and Sunday markets are the thing in this upscale beach community just west of downtown Los Angeles. Plenty of ready to eat items including funnel cakes, delicious vegan cobblers, and Middle Eastern treats like baklava and taboule. Excellent offerings of exotic fruits and vegetables, too. A real scene, with plenty of fun people watching and an easy stroll down to Santa Monica’s ocean pier and amusement arcade.

New York, New York – Hard to choose which market to attend here, Brooklyn, Greenwich Village, West or East side. Wherever you go you’ll find lots of music, clothing items and discount goods as well as wonderful prepared ethnic foods including Kosher items and Ethiopian dishes.

Named “Greenmarkets,” and begun back in the mid-70′s, NYC farmers markets run in every borough of the city, and along with bringing in the fresh fruits and vegetables grown outside the city, there are almost always interesting, one of a kind artisan bakery vendors, too.

Washington, DC – Adams Morgan district has a congenial neighborhood market, with lots of home made baked goods with a distinctly Southern feel. The Eastern Market constructed in 1873  offers its wares under a weather-proof and historic roof. Here you’ll find fresh produce and a great selection of dairy products. You’ll also find lunch – famous crab cakes at The Market Lunch. This market runs daily, but it moves outdoors, weather permitting, on weekends. Sometimes arts and crafts vendors join the scene on Saturdays; and in the summer free full-out concerts are run on the corner patio of the market.

Chicago, IL – Farmer’s markets run city wide, and there is a plethora to chose from. Independent markets, city-run, and church sponsored. One of the best is the Tuesday slot outside the Museum of Contemporary Art- a great stop for a little art browsing followed by food al fresco and fresh produce for home.

New Orleans, LA – Sadly the great French  market is mostly just a souvenir selling spot with a few farm stand vendors in between and some killer lemonade that’s almost, but not quite, worth a trip. Luckily, New Orleans has a new and wonderful food vending find Saturdays in the Crescent City Farmers Market located in New Orleans’ historic Warehouse District. The music is maybe the best in the country; there are many food demonstrations by master chefs, plenty of samples, and amazing, if decadent baked goods with a regional bent. Plenty of parking, and if the weather’s bad, the market moves indoors. We also found artists at work and hand crafted jewelry.

Miami, FL – Coconut Grove Farmers Market although we found parking a bit of a challenge. Along with the wide selection of organic produce, there were also wonderful organic cookies, prepared salads with fresh fruit, and interesting offerings of teas and spices. There were also plenty of fresh squeezed juices, an excellent Cuban food selection, and rare finds like fresh ceviche and non-dairy ice cream for sale.

Redondo Beach, CA – Held every Thursday morning starting at about 7am, this bustling Farmer’s Market takes place just South of the Redondo Beach Pier and adjacent to Veterans Park where the Esplanade Harbor Drive and Catalina Avenue intersect.  The vendor stands are lined up along Harbor Drive steps away from the beach and Pier.  There is a wide selection of fruits, vegetables, fresh grown herbs and spices and fresh caught fish.  Coffee addicts will love the gourmet brewed coffee available at a fraction of the cost of Starbucks.  Like many farmer’s markets, there is an abundant variety of home made products like hummus, nuts, baked pastries and other organic delights.

Enjoy the farmer’s market experience with your little ones now – someday soon, they’ll be helping you find the crispest broccoli and carrying their own canvas satchels.

Aokis Shaved Ice North Shore Oahu

For a more balanced meal, there’s fresh fish at Haleiwa Joe’s, with a patio view of the bay and boats.

Outside of Haleiwa, you’ll find the Waialua Sugar Mill. The old plant now houses some wonderful shops from surf board shapers to glass makers. Open on weekends: a movie theater. The small town ambiance and interesting craftsmen who work here make this a pleasant stop. Also in Waialua: the distinctly low key Surf and Cultural Museum. Antique surfboards, the first motorized board and old wooden boards make a fascinating collection. After the curators give you some perspective about the big waves and surf culture of the North Shore, drive on down the road for some unspoiled beach scenery near Dillingham Air Field, before turning down into the center of the island.

If you’ve recovered from your shave ice fix, you’ll find more sweet treats at the Dole Plantation. Now this is a heavily tourist frequented sight, but it’s still a lot of fun. There’s pineapple and the whipped cream ultra sweet Dole Whip just in case you still need a sugar rush. You can explore the grounds and learn about the different types of pineapples grown here and the history of the pineapple industry. Even more fun is the maze, reputedly the world’s largest maze. It sprawls over three acres with over two and a half miles of paths through hundreds of Hawaiian plants. Those who finish quickly may win a prize and even have their names recorded on a sign by the maze’s entrance. We didn’t fit into the fastest category by any means, but we had a great time. The plantation garden tour will fill you with pineapple facts; while a pleasant break from walking a true kid pleaser can be found on the Pineapple Express, a two mile train journey brimming with information about the Dole agricultural business and the history of the plantation.

USS Arizona Memorial - Pearl Harbor Hawaii

Further down the spine of Oahu, near Pearl City, you’ll find another kind of plantation worth exploring. Plantation Village contains a museum as well as preserved plantation houses, and the excellent guides accommodate any age with their involving stories and historical information. You can sample some local fruit and learn why foreign labor was necessary to Hawaii’s economy and growth, and get a sense of the lifestyle of the plantation, good and bad.

Naturally, if you’re near Pearl City, you’ll want to take your family to Pearl Harbor for an awe inspiring look at the Arizona Memorial & the USS Missouri. There is often a long wait to take the boat onto the Memorial proper; however, the museum and visitor’s center and a view of the memorial from the shore may suffice for younger family members. That was how we experienced this moving site, and we still felt that we got a lot out of the experience.

Waimea Bay Hawaii - Summer Time

Again alternating well traveled attractions with scenery off the beaten path, we loved spending an afternoon at Yokohama Bay State Park. Although close to the North Shore in miles, because no paved road connects the north shore to the west, to see the raw beauty of Yokohama Bay and Kaena Point, you’ll need to access these areas from this central part of the island, taking the H-1 to Farrington Highway. It’s a long drive in Hawaiian terms, about 45 minutes from the H- 1/Farrington interchange, but the breathtaking beauty of the state park that’s literally at the end of the road is worth it. Again, the surf is rough here, not suitable for the little ones to go in the water without hand holding, and even that at the water’s edge. The beach itself though is a wonder here, from the lush green hills reaching down almost to the sand to small waterfalls created on the rocky shore front at every pull of the waves. We loved having a picnic in this scenery, and being on a relatively deserted beach with friendly life guards ready and willing to explain the beauty and power of the ocean to our kids. It’s the kind of place mostly locals frequent, and it’s not unusual to have this area almost entirely to yourselves.

Yokohama Bay Hawaii - empty enough for you?

If you decide to stay on this side of the island for a night, try the Makaha Beach and Golf Club. Another low key, family friendly older style resort with laid back service and washer/dryer available for those sandy bathing suits. Otherwise, after a relaxing afternoon, head on back through the center of the island to your North Shore base.

There’s one more tourist-centric attraction that’s well worth your time, and that’s the Polynesian Cultural Center in the heart of Laie – the town with the rock arches. To us, the PCC is a kind of Hawaiian cultural Disneyland, founded by Brigham Young University. Great hands-on crafts and food demonstrations, a vastly entertaining canoe-pageant, and a luau dinner show are among the attractions of this culturally driven theme park. The exhibits represent eight South Pacific island cultures through a series of island villages laid out around the park. Guides involve visitors in games, language, crafts, music and history. We made and tasted poi, played games with a stick and coconut balls, sang along with a musical group, and drummed. Interactive history. The luau itself is an excellent value and very family-friendly – no alcohol served on the premises. The fire dancers alone are worth the price of admission, and while many visitors take a tour bus back to a Honolulu hotel, its a short drive back to either the Turtle Bay or the Kei Iki, and a much more relaxing experience.

A little further up the road you’ll find the Kei Iki Beach cottages at Sunset Beach. The cottages have full kitchens and one or two bedrooms, plus a living area and either porch or ocean front patio. The Kei Iki gets booked well in advance and it is worth it – a great price, clean, spacious, with an apartment like feel. While there’s no daily maid service, you can pick up clean towels or sheets any time and there’s a washer/dryer on the property. What we liked best were the hammocks, big enough for two, hung with a peaceful eye toward the sunset – well, it is called Sunset Beach for a reason – and the stars at night. Zero light pollution means excellent astronomical offerings.

Those spacious kitchens can be easily stocked at a large and modern Foodland grocery just across the road from the Kei Iki. And you can supplement your store bought goods with road stand produce and flowers available all around this part of the North Shore. We’ve enjoyed fresh sliced papayas, mangos, coconut, pineapple, and sugar cane. One stand even sells homemade macaroons.

Also near by – Ted’s Bakery. Famous for its delicious haupia pudding – and chocolate haupia pie – this eatery also offers excellent plate lunches and sandwiches ranging from fish to meat and veggies.

Another enjoyable beach is also a state park with ample picnic benches, a tire swing, and plenty of tree shade. Malaekahana Beach offers a great view of nearby Goat island, and has plenty of soft white sand and quiet coves.

In the small town of Laie, a short drive will take you to a spectacular if wind whipped view of rock arches – caused by a 1940′s tsunami.

Right in Honolulu, along with the family-friendly urban street scenes in Waikiki and downtown Honolulu, there are other free entertainment attractions, some weekly and many nightly. Near the famous and lei bedecked Duke Kahanamoku statue in the heart of Waikiki is the Kuhio Beach Mound, a small out door amphitheater featuring a wonderful hula show four nights a week. With live Hawaiian music and highly skilled dancers, this hour long concert is a great treat. Be sure and take some time by the bronze Duke statue, too – Duke is welcoming your family with open arms. One of the world’s greatest water athletes, he was a famous swimmer, surfer and paddler, and considered the father of modern surfing as well as Oahu’s good will ambassador.    

More good will is found once a week, downtown at the Kapiolani Park bandstand, where there is another free musical delight, the Royal Hawaiian Band. Also free are monthly musical concerts on the lawn at the Hawaii Art Museum. The museum itself is a wonderful repository of historical artifacts, modern art and sculpture, and classic art in a peaceful and of course, stroller friendly, atmosphere.    

Kualoa Ranch

Run by the historical preservation group the Daughters of Hawaii, Queen Emma’s Summer Palace rests on lovely grounds and affords both guided and self-guided tours of this history rich spot. The personal belongings of Queen Emma are beautifully preserved in this Victorian era styled residence with a lovely garden area for the kids to enjoy.    

Not far from the Summer Palace are the famous views and easy paved trails of the Nuuanu Pali Lookout. Lush mountain views give way to a spectacular vista of the Koolau mountains and the Windward side of the island, with the beautiful blue ocean beyond. Caveat: it’s often extremely windy at the look out. The site of a famous Hawaiian battle, this beautiful spot rises more than a thousand feet above the ocean. From the stone over look, you can take a paved trail which was once the old Pali highway, past fragrant plants and small springs. It’s much easier to walk down than to walk up though, so keep that in mind for your littlest family members.    

Pali Lookout View

From the look out you can see the Valley of the Temples below. Located near Kailua Beach, in this lush valley you’ll find a recreation of a Japanese Temple, the Byodo-In. This authentic structure was built entirely without nails as a commemorative tribute to Japanese immigrants in Hawaii. Beautiful gardens lead to a fishpond – with huge koi your family will enjoy feeding and watching. Peacocks strut around the grounds, and you’ll also find turtles near the pond.    

There is also an enormous bell or bon-sho which visitors are allowed to ring. Sounding this bell is said to summon happiness and a long life; the former was certainly summoned to our children when they struck the bell. Inside the temple is a stunning Buddha covered in gold leaf. Be sure to remove your shoes upon entering the temple itself.    

If you chose to spend the rest of the day relaxing at Kailua Beach, no one will blame you! Excellent for kayaking on calm days, when the wind kicks up you can watch expert wind surfers skim the waves. It’s a pleasant spot with soft sand and picnic tables.    

However, between Kailua and Diamond Head, there’s another delightful beach, Waimanolo. While the surf can be rough here, the shore line is delightfully shaded with ironwood pines, great for acorn collecting and a leisurely picnic with no need for a beach umbrella. We enjoyed many a long afternoon here with some food, the Sunday newspaper comics, and buckets full of acorns. The backdrop of the stunning, emerald Koolau mountains here makes this relaxing spot feel magical.    

And what about the picnic? There’s fine food to be found here at locally owned Keneke’s, a fast food stand where the food is delicious and most of it freshly made on site. The shaved ice is, in our opinion, the best on the island, and the smoothies are fantastic too. Shrimp, fresh mahi-mahi, and even a house made veggie burger are available. There’s also the shredded pork Kalua Pig Sandwich, an authentic taste of a luau without the commensurate price tag! Fantastic plate lunches include macaroni salad, rice and crisp fries.    

Looking to walk off your meal? Again driving back toward Diamond Head, you’ll find the paved trail to the Makapuu Point Lighthouse, a turn of the century landmark perched on the edge of a sea cliff. The view is dramatic and great for seasonal whale watching, too.    

Nearby is Sea Life Park, a smaller, sweeter version of more corporate marine life sanctuary’s such as Sea World in California. Here you can enjoy many different sea life encounters from dolphins to rays, turtles, and sharks in the featured Reef Tank. The park allows many hands-on interactions, and while they’re not inexpensive, they’re also a good value in terms of a safe, nature loving experience. Visitors can swim with the dolphins or rays, feed or play with sea lions.    

Lighthouse at Makapuu Point - from the ocean

One other family fun option on the Windward side – Kualoa Ranch. You’ve seen this ranch before – on television and the big screen, if not in person. Many locations seen in Lost were filmed here, as was footage from Jurassic Park. Also a working cattle ranch, and a tourist attraction with a variety of tour options to chose from, ignore the commercial hype of the gift shop and enjoy a bouncy bus tour around the property for a spectacular scenery and a fun look at where some of your favorite Hollywood productions set up shop. Several of the view points will give you a good look toward the North Shore of the island, where more beauty and relaxation abounds.    

And virtually across the road from the ranch is the state beach park known by locals as “Chinaman’s Hat” for the shape of an island close enough for a low tide kayak ride. There’s not much shade here, but the water is very shallow and with a wide grassy area behind the narrow white sand beach, its a great spot for some kite flying, frisbee tossing, or just plain relaxing near another beautiful Hawaiian ocean view.

Royal Hawaiian Hotel Honolulu

Ohana means family in Hawaiian…you may already know that from watching Lilo and Stitch, possibly more than once, with your children. It’s true, too, nothing could be more of a family destination that the Hawaiian islands. We’ve had the pleasure of spending a great deal of time there over the past four years, usually, but not always renting a condo in Honolulu, Oahu.

Because many of our stays have been extended, finding a condo through on-line vacation rental websites has worked tremendously well. And, as you can probably guess by now from some of my other blogs, we like doing at least a substantial share of our own cooking. There are wonderful bargains to be had by the week, month, or three month period – you just have to look and decide how close you want to be to the beach, whether you want an ocean view, and how many bedrooms you need. In many cases you’ll find prices for a well-furnished two bedroom condo a few blocks from Waikiki beach commensurate with the cost of a hotel room on the sand. Quieter accommodations are found toward Diamond Head, near the Honolulu Zoo and Kapiolani Community College; trendier units are found nearer to the Ala Moana Mall and Ala Moana’s beach and boat harbor; central Waikiki will be higher priced and have a noise factor included with the convenience to restaurants and upscale shopping.

Honolulu is a great place to be no matter where you stay. With a mix of night life, restaurants, and tiki torches in Waikiki there’s always a feeling of joyous bustle at sunset. Walking along with your family and enjoying the kitschy spectacle of street performers on Kalakaua Avenue is a great way to start or end an evening. The galleries, unique craft shops, and inexpensive Asian restaurants in downtown Honolulu’s Chinatown is also a simple pleasure. The first Friday of every month finds children’s entertainment, crafts and food booths, even carnival rides along with open-into-the-evening art exhibits. Beautiful and inexpensive lei shops are also a part of this district – your kids will love sniffing the flowers and selecting their favorite, some of which are seed or nut based and can be saved as souvenirs.

Here’s some ideas for your stay in Waikiki:

Early morning walk – from the coral sands of Ft. DeRussy beach to the relatively secluded cove of Sans Souci beach you’ll find you have virtually all of Waikiki beach just about empty before ten a.m. Walk the sand or the sidewalk. The peaceful morning offers several beautiful spots – including the palm lined breakwater near Queen’s beach at the Sans Souci end – for a little water play along the way.

Catamaran ride – pick your boat from those moored along the sand. A little reggae on the waves and a guided description of a spectacular coastal view of the beach and Diamond Head. We love to lounge in the hammock like netting struck aft.

Snacks – The Sheraton Moana with its lush banyan tree courtyard has afternoon pupus – that’s appetizers or snacks to you mainlanders..

Dinner – grand views of a chroma key blue sky predominate at Ocean House in the Outrigger Reef. With tables on a long porch that leads directly to the sand, kids can play right outside on the beach while you wait for dinner to be served.

Closer to Diamond Head you’ll find the Kahala Resort – a letter perfect family enclave with nearly waveless beach, rentable – whether you’re staying there or not – cabana chairs, great smoothies served to you right there on the sand. There’s a diving platform for older kids and soft, sand-castle friendly sand for the littlest ones. Here the view is of Koho Head, not Diamond Head, an equally iconic Oahu crater.

And right there in Waikiki, the Aquarium has gorgeous fish, well thought out information on local reef life, and even offers family concerts once a week in the summer, with picnic dinners on the lawn. The Zoo, though small, has accessible exhibits of creatures great and small, with the simian residents comical performers, and the bird exhibits startlingly beautiful.

I’ll lead you around the island, to the North and West shores in an upcoming blog, but there’s plenty to do – or not do – relaxing in and around Honolulu! And no matter what activity or journey you take on the island, your ohana will feel right at home. Children are smiled upon, not frowned at, no matter where you go or how cantankerous a momentary mood.

Be sure to read the continuation of our adventure in Hawaii in More Hawaii for your Ohana.

View from our hotel room balcony at the Sheraton Waikiki

My wife was about 4 months pregnant and I wanted to plan one last vacation as a couple before the baby arrived.  It was our first baby and although I was excited about becoming a Dad, I was also very concerned about how much our lives would change once the baby arrived.  Although we had been on many vacations with family and friends, it was rare that my wife and I had a chance to get away just the two of us.  My wife was already showing, but the nausea was finally gone so we decided to seize this small window of opportunity and book a 10 day vacation to Hawaii!

It was May, 2009, and I managed to book our entire vacation including round trip flights, hotels, and rental car online on expedia.com.  We didn’t need a rental car on our first half of the trip where we stayed at the Sheraton Waikiki in Oahu.  In this article I wanted to outline the wonderful time we had on this part of our vacation because although we really enjoyed our second half on the Big Island, it really felt like two separate vacations!  Waikiki is known to us as the more touristy, and glamorous island with high rise hotels like the Sheraton, the fancy restaurants and  glitzy shopping malls like the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center.   

We did not need to rent a car because everything we wanted to do was within walking distance from our hotel.  We love the Sheraton because of its beach front location right next door to the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. The hotel stands 31 stories tall and our room was on the 27th floor facing the ocean and pool!  We had a pretty standard sized room with a King size bed, but our view from that height was far from standard and it just took our breaths away! When we first entered the room, we walked over to the balcony and took in the amazing scene in silent awe. 

As expected, all of Waikiki Beach was a constant throng of locals and tourists.  It was already about 12pm when we arrived so there was little or no hope of securing a good spot at the pool.  This was not a problem since all we wanted to do when we first arrived was go exploring.  The first thing we did was walk over to the Royal Hawaiian to check out the shops, restaurants, and overall premises.  As a kid I stayed at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel at least once a year with my family, and being there brought back many of those slumbering memories.  I remembered how we loved to go up and down the elevators, always taking the “bathers” elevator directly to the pool area which led to the beach.  I recalled the many times my older cousin and I rented those long surf boards so we could ride the notorious long running Waikiki waves.   It warmed my heart to think about how wonderful it was to be here all those decades later with my wife and soon to be born son!

View of the Royal Hawaiian from our Room

Because of the time change, we had very little trouble waking up early so we could reserve our seats at the pool.  We found the perfect place each morning on a small section of grass right between the pool and the boardwalk facing the ocean.  We set up our lawn chairs with towels and umbrellas along that stretch of grass, and with the palm trees above us we had plenty of protection from the sun.  Each day before lunch I would leave my wife at the pool for about 1 hour while I got a quick workout at the gym.  While I was gone my wife continued to enjoy the view of the ocean and the people walking by as she devoured her tabloid magazines.

We ate breakfast a few times at the Royal Hawaiian’s Surf Lanai.  It was a very nice and casual atmosphere right next to the pool and beach.  The food was great, especially the papaya, pineapple, and other fresh fruit.  I especially liked the wonderful fresh guava and orange juice.  I must have had at least 4 glasses of guava juice each time! 

View from our brunch table at the Hanohano Room of the Sheraton Waikiki

The best breakfast was of course at the Hanohano room.  It was a buffet style brunch located on the very top floor of the hotel.  The food was absolutely to die for, and it felt like we were dining at the top of the world!  I rarely eat desert, but at the Hanohano room I could not resist the bread pudding even after about 3 trips to reload my plate!

One day I ran into a my old friend Brent from Manhattan Beach California.  He was there on business but it was a Sunday afternoon and I saw him on the beach in front of the Royal Hawaiian.  I introduced him and his friend to my wife and agreed to meet them later at Duke’s for a drink or two.   What a coincidence to randomly run into an old friend on a remote island on a beach with thousands of people!  It was amazing, so I made it a point to meet up with them later for a drink.  It was a Sunday, so I knew Duke’s would be crowded and full of drunk people as it is every Sunday.  My wife agreed to let me go there by myself for a couple of hours while she went back to the room to relax and get ready for dinner.  While I was there my friend suggested that my wife and I have dinner upstairs at Chuck’s Steakhouse.  It was really funny because I asked him if he could recommend a good steak and seafood place in the area and all he did was point up!  We were very pleased with his recommendation!  Our food was excellent and it was a pleasant and serene atmosphere despite all of the debauchery going on directly below.

Our stay at the Sheraton Waikiki was a wonderful experience that we will never forget.  This was our second time staying at this hotel and we were just as pleased the second time as we were the first.  The exciting part about it was that after 5 days and nights of luxury and bliss, we still had one more island to visit!  Of course I’ll leave that story for another time.

Read part 2 of our Hawaiian Vacation: Hapuna Beach Prince Hawaii Vacation

Enjoying the Marriott’s Ko Olina pool

After experiencing the cold blast of a rare New Jersey winter storm in January, my wife and I were ready for our up and coming warm and tropical February family vacation in Hawaii.  We were in New Jersey visiting my wife’s side of the family for almost 1 week, and it was the first time flying with our 3 month old baby boy.  I’m happy to say we survived the flight experience unscathed and were ready for round two!

Once again my brother-in-law had paved the way for our entire family excursion to the tropics, this time by organizing a trip to the Island of Oahu at the Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club Resort.  We’ve been to the Island of Oahu many times before, but we normally stay in the busy Waikiki Beach area at either the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, the Sheraton Waikiki, or one of the many Outriggers that line the coast.  The Marriott Ko Olina Beach Club was in a more remote and secluded part of the Island which is what we were looking for.

The nice thing about travelling to Hawaii from the “mainland” is that you gain a few hours on the flight, leaving you more time to enjoy the day.  Unfortunately our American Airlines flight was delayed over two hours so it was a wash.  As it turns out our flight back was even worse but I’ll leave that story for another time.  Our son Christian was a handful on the long trek there, but having our parents, my sister and her family around to help made a big difference.  It also helped to know that there was a warm and tropical island waiting for us on the other side!

When we arrived at the airport we were greeted by our Limo driver who did a masterful job packing all of our bags and belongings into his limited truck and front passenger seat area.  Transporting Christian was easy with his car seat and the snap-and-go stroller.  The ride from the airport to the hotel was only about 30 minutes, and we made the best of it by popping open a bottle of Campaign and toasting to our new adventure.

It was about 2:30pm Hawaiian time when we arrived at the Marriott.  The official check-in time was 4pm and unfortunately the hotel did not have any rooms ready for us until precisely 4pm.  That was a big inconvenience especially for my wife who had to find a private place to pump milk!  Although Christian was only 4 months old, he was no longer breastfeeding.  He still drank breast milk, but he would only drink from the bottle and absolutely refused to drink from my wife’s breasts directly.  After spending all day travelling, my wife’s breasts were engorged and she was in a great deal of pain.  She needed relief immediately and couldn’t wait another minute so we set up camp in the lobby by the only electrical outlet we could find and covered her while she operated the breast pump! 

It was a rough start, but after we finally checked in to our rooms the excitement settled back in.  We had a wonderful one bedroom suite with a separate kitchen and living room.  There was also a separate foyer between our bedroom and living room where we parked the baby’s belongings and our suit cases.  We had a nice large balcony area with a view of the lush and green mountains.  It had a comfortable patio set where we often fed our son oatmeal in the mornings.

The pool view from my sisters suite!

The pool was one of the main attractions that brought us to the resort in the first place, and we were not disappointed.  One of the other guests we met on our trip told us the hotel had spent several million dollars re-vamping the pool area and it definitely showed.  There were several pools and spas with waterfalls all surrounded by volcanic rock formations.  The water slide was unlike any we had seen before because of the way the entire slide with all the twists and turns were embedded inside volcanic rock.  That meant the entire trip from the top of the slide to the bottom took place in total darkness!  The kids loved it!

My only complaint is that none of the pools were heated, which may not be such a bad thing if it wasn’t February.  For this reason I spent most of my time either in the ocean or in one of the spas.   We did swim in the pool several times only because we wanted Christian to experience it for the first time.  He was wearing his special swimmy diapers, board shorts, and a full body outfit which was mainly used to protect his skin from the sun, and it also helped to keep him somewhat warm in that cold water.  He was a bit fussy at times, but he enjoyed it for the most part.  My wife brought with us a dolphin shaped blowup flotation device which looked like a small personal baby boat.  It gave him steady support in the water, and the long tail that stretched around over his head provided him with much needed shade.

The JW Marriott Ko Olina lobby atrium

We were very impressed with the Ko Olina resort and very pleased with the location.  There was a boardwalk that stretched for miles between our resort and other hotels along that coast line.  Every day we walked along this boardwalk to explore the other calm water coves along the way.  We also walked over to the neighboring  JW Marriott Ko Olina to have brunch on several occasions.  The JW Marriott was of course a beautiful resort and the hotel itself was an amazing sight to see with its elaborate design and architecture.  The pool however did not even compare to the water paradise of pools, spas, water slides, and waterfalls that made our hotel stand out in class by itself.  That is why we give the Oahu Marriott Ko Olina a high rating in the kid friendly department!

Boardwalk to the JW Marriott Ko Olina

Our hotel restaurants and bars had excellent food and service.  We ate dinner almost every night at Chucks Steak and Seafood because of the convenience, but mainly because we loved the food and service.   There was also a luau at the resort one night and the food and entertainment were world class.  Christian had no problem falling asleep in his snap-and-go stroller each evening on our way to dinner.  We made sure to bring his sleepy sheep noise maker to try and mask the different noise level changes during dinner, and it worked out perfectly. He is a heavy sleeper by design, and he slept through our family dinners and then on through the night without a hitch!

Overall our Hawaiian vacation was everything we thought it would be and more.  Other than the long journey going and coming, it was a very relaxing week and a great bonding experience for our family.  We will definitely be back.  Aloha!