What I look forward to the most when I visit the island of Oahu in Hawaii is visiting North Shore.
We always stay in Waikiki because of the location. It’s in the middle of all the action and walking distance to shopping, restaurants, beaches and beach bars (mai tai’s anyone?) But when we want to get away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki and experience true island living, we head to North Shore.
North Shore is about a 45 minute drive from Waikiki Beach. We usually head out right after breakfast, make a pit stop at Leanords Bakery for some malasadas and head on over.
Waimea Bay
Our first stop is Waimea Bay which is located in Haleiwa. When you arrive, you will notice the amazingly blue water. Be careful here if you’re not a strong swimmer as the water was about 20 feet deep; a sharp drop off once you get in the water. The water is so clear you could see right to the bottom. Once in a while we would catch a turtle swimming near the shore that we would follow. There is a large rock on the south side of the beach where you will find brave souls diving off into the ocean. Rowell made the jump and he said it was fairly easy to climb to the top. However, intimidation set it when he got to the top. He compared it to a steep hill on a roller coaster ride where you are anticipating the drop. Then when he jumped, it was the most exhilarating feeling.
I, on the other hand, could be found laying out on the beach and jumping in the ocean from time to time. The water feels so different in Hawaii!
Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck
After a few hours at the beach, it was time for lunch so we headed to Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck. This is the best shrimp truck in all of Oahu! Save yourself time and money and just go here. We tried many other imposters to see if there was anything possibly better and there’s not. Their shrimp scampi is absolutely the best! It’s cooked in so much butter and garlic so I’m warning you now that you will have garlic breath the rest of the day but it’s so worth it! It’s so simple. It’s just garlic shrimp with white rice and lemon on the side.
Put away the napkins ‘cuz its finger licking good!
There is plenty of picnic tables so you won’t have trouble finding a place to sit. And if you’re still hungry after all the shrimp, there is also a corn on the cob stand and a shaved ice truck in the same area.
Turtle Bay Resort
After devouring our food at Giovanni’s we drove over to Turtle Bay Resort. We like to end our day in North Shore at the Turtle Bay Resort because you can catch the most amazing sunsets here.
Check out this sunset that I captured with my iPhone. No filters, just pure beauty and catching it at just the right moment.
Have you seen the movie “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”? Well that movie was filmed at this resort. It’s an upscale resort set on 850 acres overlooking Kuilima Cove. It has a massive golf course and private villas all around. It’s quiet and secluded; very different from the vibe in Waikiki. If you truly want to get away, this is the place for you.
There have a restaurant that sits right on the beach and of course we had to try it even though we just came from Giovanni’s! I decided to get something light so I ordered the tuna poke. It came with brown rice and was the perfect “snack” before heading back to Waikiki.
If you’re ever in Oahu and stay in Waikiki Beach, do yourself a favor and rent a car for the day. Head over to North Shore. Enjoy a beautiful beach, jump off a cliff maybe, eat some shrimp and watch the most spectacular sunset. You can thank me later.
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