Hawaii is a great place to go on a family vacation

This past June 2017, our family was able to embark on a 14 day Hawaiian vacation. We visited four of the islands: Oahu, The Big Island, Maui, and Kauai. It was a wonderful vacation that we will remember forever and it was made even better because my parents, my siblings, and their families were able to come as well. I’m hoping that I will be able to give you some ideas for your future Hawaiian family vacation. Since this would be one looooooong post, I am dividing it up into four parts. 

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Part 1: Days 1-4

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Day 1: On the first day of our travels, our family flew to Los Angeles on American Airlines. Our flight was delayed 2 hours so we didn’t take off from Raleigh, NC until 9 p.m.! I would have picked an earlier flight but my mom picked them so I just went with it.

Travel Tip: Try to book earlier flights in case of delays, especially if you have young children.

We got to L.A. at around 11 p.m. (2 a.m. Eastern). When we landed and went to our hotel, we had a bit of a snafu. Our credit card company thought we had a case of fraud because we didn’t notify them that we were now in California. Oops!

Travel Tip: Notify your financial institution before you leave for vacation in a different state (or country) so your card won’t get declined and they know it is you charging the card.

The first room I had reserved went through but the 2nd room was declined due to the fraud alert. So the hotel sold our second room and we were left with only one room for five people (only 2 beds) because they were completely booked up and full for the night. Luckily, my daughter was able to share a bed with a cousin in another room but it is totally not what I wanted to have to deal with after traveling across time zones. On the bright side, we saved $274 by not renting a second room. 

Day 2: After having only about 5 hours of sleep, we headed back to the airport on the shuttle. As inconvenient as it is, I would still break up the trip in two parts.

Travel Tip: If you have young children and are traveling from a place where the flight would be really long (10 hours for us), breaking up the flight into two days will save you and them from going “bonkers”. I don’t think I could handle it, let alone the kids. I am also glad I spent a little more money and upgraded our seats. We upgraded to Delta’s Comfort Plus seats. The extra inches (up to 4) of leg room is totally worth it on the long flights. The extra inches made it easier for me to rest on the drop down tray. On our other late night flight, there wasn’t enough room to do that so it was incredibly hard to get any sleep.

Since we had an early morning flight, we got into the Honolulu airport at around lunch time. We grabbed our rental car and headed up north towards the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Travel Tip: Rent a car from these companies (Avis, Budget, Advantage, Hertz, & National) at the Honolulu airport to save time since you can walk straight over to the rental counters. Otherwise, you have to waste time waiting on a shuttle to take you over to the other rental agencies. 

Car Rental Center

Polynesian Cultural Center (Oahu)

On our way to the PCC, we stopped at Kualoa Beach Park to use the restroom and see Mokoli’i, commonly known as Chinaman’s Hat. According to Wikipedia:

“It is a basalt islet in Kāneohe Bay, Hawaii. Mokoliʻi is part of Kualoa Regional Park and located 1⁄3 mile offshore of Kualoa Point, Oahu. The 12.5-acre islet is owned by the City and County of Honolulu and is protected by state and federal park regulations. It is open to the public from dawn to dusk. It can be accessed by kayak, boat, surfboard, by swimming, or wading at low tide.”

Chinaman’s Hat

Since it was lunch time, we chose to eat at Pounders Restaurant located at the Polynesian Cultural Center’s new Hukilau Marketplace. The restaurant is named for Pounders Beach, a popular bodysurfing spot located about a half-mile down Kamehameha Highway. Pounders serves produce fresh from island farms, Hawaii-raised beef, locally caught seafood, and bakes distinctive Hawaiian-style pizzas in their brick oven imported from Napoli. The kids can order a pizza and design and make their own pizza at the pizza making station (don’t know the official title). The Mahi-Mahi nuggets were good with the aioli sauce. “Pupu” is another name for an appetizer. You bet the kids and my husband had a lot of laughs talking about how they were going to eat some “Pupu” for lunch!

The Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) is a wonderful place to learn about all the Polynesian cultures. We enjoyed visiting the different exhibits and learning about the Tongans, the Fijians, the Tahitians, just to name a few. One of the young Tongans gave my son a woven grass cube that she had made.  They also got in a little spear throwing. 

Afterward, we went on a little canoe ride there. We watched a video about Hawaii in the IMAX type theater. It is a 4D experience that I will not give away. You need to experience it for yourself.

We went on the free trolley tour that took us to see Brigham Young University (BYU) Hawaii. 

BYU-Hawaii

We also visited the beautiful Laie Temple. It is one of 150 or so (and counting) temples owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in the world. We were able to tour the Visitor’s Center and chat with the missionaries who volunteer there. It was neat to see scripture printed in many different languages.          

  The Laie LDS Temple

When we returned from the tour, we checked into the Courtyard Marriott hotel (right next door to the PCC) and got ready for the Dinner Buffet and show at the PCC. The PCC is a great place to visit with many options as far as luau’s and shows. We did the evening show which included a buffet dinner before the show. We were all so exhausted from travel and the long day that it was hard to stay awake, however I’d recommend going to the PCC.

Travel Tip: If you book early enough, you get a 10% discount.

Day 3: The next day, we visited Pearl Harbor. I had reserved our tickets online in advance for the U.S.S. Arizona: https://www.recreation.gov/showPage.do?name=landing&landing=/htm/pearlharbor/home.jsp&contractCode=NRSO&parkId=72369

The tickets for the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial site & ferry go on sale every morning 2 months in advance at 7:00 a.m. HST (Hawaii) which is 1:00 p.m. EST in North Carolina where I live. Tickets are free unless you add the audio tour for $7.50 but the tickets are usually all gone within minutes. You are also only allowed to reserve or purchase 12 tickets per account. You may also get free tickets by lining up at or before the museum opens at 7 a.m. They give out 1300. First come, first served. You can also go through a tour company that includes the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial but they are typically much more expensive.

Travel Tip: You must arrive at least 30-60 minutes early so you don’t miss your tour time as you may not be able to go at all. We were just a few minutes late due to a wrong turn and we had to beg the guy in charge to let us try to fit in on another boat to get out to the U.S.S. Arizona. They pack people in tight in those boats, I can attest.

The Memorial was so peaceful and reverent. It is a sullen experience but I am grateful for the service and sacrifice of those service members who lost their lives.You can still see the oil slick on the surface of the water. The oil from the sunken ship continues to leak out and will for many years to come.

U.S.S. Arizona Memorial         Names of fallen soldiers

Oil leaking from the U.S.S. Arizona

Waikiki Beach & Surrounding Areas

After touring Pearl Harbor, we checked into the Armed Forces hotel, Hale Koa, on Waikiki Beach.

Travel Tip: If you are a military member, this is a really nice hotel in a great location for less than $200 a night per room (depending on the time of year) which is amazing. It is common to pay twice that at the other hotels.

We ate dinner at a restaurant on the beach and then walked back to our hotel, enjoying the beautiful evening. 

Waikiki Beach at Sunset

Travel Tip: Each Friday evening, the Hilton Hawaiian Village (next door to the Hale Koa) puts on a free firework show on Waikiki Beach. The fireworks show usually begins at 7:45pm or 8:00 pm depending on the time of year and the daylight hours. The show lasts about ten minutes.

Fireworks at Hilton Hawaiian Village viewed from the Hale Koa hotel

Day 4: The next morning, we explored the resort, went for a jog, and enjoyed more of the beach’s beauty including a rainbow! We enjoyed the pool, swam at the beach, and watched the homecoming of the Hokule’a from a distance: http://www.hokulea.com/home/.       Rainbow over Waikiki Beach       

  Pool area at Hale Koa

Diamond Head

We decided to hike Diamond Head but didn’t plan too well as we thought there was a short cut to the top (my mom said there was) but either we went to the wrong entrance or she was making it up because we ended up hiking uphill, in some very steep sections, for an hour in the mid day heat with little water.

Travel Tip: If you want to hike Diamond Head, go early in the morning right when it opens as parking is limited and the heat takes a lot out of you. Wear a hat, wear sunscreen, and bring water. Only hike if you are healthy. Also, there are no facilities on the hiking trail itself, just at the start of the hike. I believe it is 1.6 miles round trip. My son, Owen, did great considering, but I wouldn’t bring kids younger than five years old unless you want to carry them most of the way. It is an amazing view and was worth it but I underestimated the effort it would take. We did get to enjoy some shave ice right before the climb. 

                                                                 Climb up to Diamond Head                                                              

View from Diamond Head

Next stop: Adventures in Hawaii: Part 2 – Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America!

Many locals here in North Carolina have heard of the Biltmore Estate. I’m sure most of them envision a picture of the huge mansion and the massive adjacent gardens. It had been years since I visited and now that I have four kids ages 5-13 years old, I was considering another trip since they were older and I was finally stroller free! Much to my surprise, there are several sights and activities for the whole family in addition to visiting the house and gardens. I had so much fun (the kids did too)!

A brief background and history: “The Biltmore Estate is a large private estate and tourist attraction near Asheville, North Carolina. Biltmore House, the main residence, is a Châteauesque-style mansion built by George Washington Vanderbilt II between 1889 and 1895 and is the largest privately owned house in the United States, at 178,926 square feet of floor space (135,280 square feet of living area). Still owned by George Vanderbilt’s descendants, it stands today as one of the most prominent remaining examples of the Gilded Age.”–Wikipedia

We bought our tickets online before we arrived. At times throughout the year, they have discounts if you purchase them in advance. Their website is user friendly and even has suggested itineraries for the family, which makes the planning part a bit easier. For current ticket prices and information click here: http://www.biltmore.com/visit/plan-your-visit/buy-tickets/daytime

There are many activities and events included in your admission like the Biltmore House and Gardens as well as the Antler Hill Village and Winery. Our first activity of the day was bike riding on the Lagoon Trail. Bike rentals are not included in the price of admission and range from $15-60 per bike. We each rented one for an hour at $15 each. The Lagoon trail is a paved trail along the French Broad River where you get to pass rows of sunflowers and ride over little wooden bridges. Our kids ages 5 to 13 had no trouble riding the approximately 40 minute trail roundtrip. 

Below the Bike Barn is “The Barn”, a historic structure with blacksmiths, woodworkers, and exhibits of old farm equipment. The area can also be rented out for private events. Afterwards, we headed over to the Farmyard and the kids got to pet the roosters, chicks, and goats.

They played at the Pisgah playground before heading over to eat at Cedric’s Tavern for lunch. I recommend the Tavern Pimento Cheese with pretzel chips. Yum!

We couldn’t have timed it any better as it rained while we were there during our entire lunch and stopped when we were done. The Biltmore Estate has several options for dining some of which include: a bistro, a cafe, a smokehouse, a bake shop, a lounge for afternoon tea, and restaurants for elegant dining. Some are casual, some are a bit more formal but all can accommodate children.

We stopped into The Biltmore Legacy building which held an exhibition on Vanderbilt family weddings. The curator was kind and patient as my 5 year old son asked numerous questions about the dresses and shoes.

Our Biltmore Estate adventure included a visit to the Vanderbilt Winery (free tours and wine tasting). Even though we only had the grape juice, it definitely looked like a popular place to be. On the weekends they have “grape stomping”. That would have been a blast but we went on a Friday so will have to come back again to try it. The Antler Hill Hotel is super convenient, right next to the village. The village also has a Creamery that I’m sure would be a delight on a warm summer day.

Next stop was to drive to the Biltmore House itself. The 8,000 acre estate is so huge you have to drive a few miles within the estate to get to the different sites. It’s a beautiful drive so I didn’t mind. We parked in the parking lot and took the shuttle even though it is only about a 5-8 minute walk to the House. The rain was iffy so we hopped on the shuttle just in case it poured. As we entered the mansion, we opted to purchase the Audio Guides for the self guided tour as there wasn’t much as far as printed information. It was worth the extra cost in my opinion so you could know the important details and story behind each room. It actually kept my 5 year old’s attention a lot longer than it would have without the Audio Tour. I know he was itching to play Hide-and-go-Seek. You can also purchase different guided tours like the Upstairs-Downstairs or Rooftop Tour. Don’t forget to also look into visiting for the Christmas season when the House is adorned in holiday decor.

I think my favorite room in the House is the Banquet Hall with its seven story high ceiling and large Flemish tapestries lining the wall. I can just imagine the splendor of eating a 10 course meal next to the triple fireplace. My son kept calling it a castle. Yes it is the closest thing to a castle in America. Just Amazing!

The old horse stables now house different shops,  the bathrooms, and most importantly, the Ice Cream Parlor. We got a scoop of Moose Tracks in a waffle cone to round out our walking tour. The ice cream gets a “thumbs up” and I’m picky about ice cream.

Our last stop were the gardens which we finished right before the rain came again.

Other Activities (extra fee required) we could have tried include, rafting on the French Broad, paddle boarding, clay shooting, Segway tours, the Land Rover Driving Experience, horseback riding, and many more. 

All of us were worn out but all could agree that we had fun filled day at the Biltmore Estate. Have you ever visited? What was your favorite activity or sight? Comment below.

 

 

1. Take a picture with Hawaiian Goofy. We had just barely checked in and were about to head over to Aunty’s Beach House when we ran into Goofy at just the right time. No line waiting for us!

2: Check out Aunty’s Beach House. Get your kids registered and get their Magic Bands that will allow you to easily check them in and out and keeps track of where they are in the club. The club and it’s supervised activities are for children ages 3-12 years of age. Tip: At the busy travel times of the year, the club and some of their optional free classes (hula dancing) can at times reach capacity quickly. So make sure to sign up for the classes early in the morning.

3: This one is for all you moms (ok, some of you dads too). Visit Laniwai, the amazing spa! I don’t have many pictures due to privacy reasons but also I don’t want to give it all away but there are many ways to pamper yourself in there. Try out the cold and hot tubs in the outdoor Hydrotherapy Garden. The Painted Sky Teen Spa is next door for guests ages 13-17.

4: Dance in a parade with Minnie and Aunty at the Makahiki Character Buffet Breakfast.

5: Play in the sand with a bag of beach toys you can check out for free (including Boogie Boards)! Just gather and return them when you are done using them.

Getting a Mickey Ear Shave Ice and saying hello to Pluto

6: Get a pineapple, haupia (coconut), and liliko’i (passionfruit) flavored shave ice….and eat said shave ice in the kind-of-hidden-hot-tub-we-practically-had-all-to-ourselves. Shhhh…Pluto, don’t tell anyone!

7: Drop the kids off at Aunty’s Beach House and enjoy a date night at ‘Ama ‘Ama so you can eat some mini fish tacos in PEACE! 

8: Say “Hi” to my friend, Mickey Mouse! Photo-op included with your Makahiki Character Breakfast (printed photos available to purchase).

9: Swim in the numerous pools, rent snorkels for a fee at the Rainbow Reef (man made coral reef with lots of fish located inside the resort pool area) or rent a Stand Up Paddle Board to use in the lagoon.

Stitch statue

Outdoor movie lawn

Oahu sunset

10: Say “Aloha!” to Stitch on the way to watch an outdoor Disney movie on the lawn. Straw mats are provided for sitting on. Lastly, enjoy a good ol’ Hawaiian sunset. No filter needed. A hui hou! (until we meet again).