Things to Do to Enjoy Honolulu

One thing for sure, I need sun to grow! I am one of those who really rejoice when summer comes.I love the heat, the sweat and the bright days.

For summer vacations, I normally head to the beach. I love the feel of the sand on my toes, the salty water on my lips and the scorching sun on my cheeks.

Choosing a beach to head to is quite difficult for me because I like to go to all of the beaches. Unfortunately, budget and metaphysical considerations afford me to be in one place at one time only.

Why did I choose to go to Honolulu? Simply because of the fact that I can combine eating good food, nice beach and shopping together. This will translate to activity for every member of your family. Honolulu is a one-stop shop destination for a family--Mom can shop, kids can swim and Dad can eat. Everyone is happy!

I highly suggest to splurge, just a bit, when choosing a place to stay in Honolulu. For me I put premium to accessibility. I want to be in a hotel that has a beachfront and at the same time accessible to the shops--meaning, I can just walk to the shops. You don't want to waste time daily just to commute to the beach or to the shops. This is why I chose to stay in a very strategic hotel that has a beach front, has nearby restaurants and shops. I stayed at the Royal Hawaiian and I enjoyed every second of it!

I could just walk to the beach, eat at the nearby restaurants and shop just outside the hotel. You will be able to save too on transportation, not to mention, your precious time. This afforded me a lot of time to swim, check out both the local and branded shops and eat at adorable food trucks and fancy restos.

When in Honolulu, I highly recommend eating the local food for a change. I tried their Loco Moco and became an instant convert. I tried the known dishes with a local twist like the French Toast made with King's Hawaiian soft bread, coconut syrup and berries! I ate this everyday for the rest of my vacation days! You can get this at the Surf Lanai Restaurant, The Royal Hawaiian.

Having a sweet tooth, I also tried the Hula Pie at Duke's Bar. Truly unforgettable!

One cannot leave Honolulu without eating some malasadas from Leonard's! These are like doughnuts which are very good with coffee!! I also enjoyed the retro vibe of the place!

One of the must visits in Honolulu is the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. It is a nostalgic way to relive history with the children or reminisce the good old days with the grandparents. This is a tour with tickets to buy so it would be best to buy the tickets in advance and allot at least a half day for this tour.

You will find here both local and popular brands. Shopping here though can be a bit pricey. I recommend visiting the mom and pop shops around for some precious local buys.

As the saying goes, 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do.' I enjoyed the public hula lessons. This is fun and a very good way to meet other tourists and the locals.

Visit the tourist centers and get a copy of the schedule of the Hula Dance Shows. These are for free and quite fun to watch with the whole family. This is also a good photo opportunity for the everyone.

Waikiki Trolley is a very convenient way to tour the island. I bought the seven(7)-day pass and got to get around the island conveniently--way cheaper than taking the cabs and less confusing than taking the local buses. If you are traveling with children, this might be a lifesaver!

Plan your trip now and have a summer vacation to remember forever!