The hotel overlooks Kawela Bay and Kuilima Cove. Droves of sea turtles make Turtle Bay their home, hence the name Turtle Bay Resort. All 443 rooms at the resort have priceless views of the Pacific. For honeymooners, stay in one of the resort’s private beachfront cottages and wake up to coffee in paradise each morning.
The resort is situated on 880 acres with five miles of practically people-free beaches and twelve miles of ocean trails for horseback riding. Turtle Bay is the ultimate honeymoon spot for newlyweds seeking unspoiled beauty and solitude on Oahu.
Ride the waves through the hotel’s surf school, rent a sailboard or play a round of golf at one of the two 18-hole golf courses. It’s not uncommon for the surf to get rough at Turtle Bay, so keep in mind that a surf board or sailboard rental isn’t possible on wind-honking days.
Turtle Bay Resort is a 45 minute drive from Honolulu. On the drive north you will surely want to stop and spend time at the famed Bonsai and Pipeline Beaches. Cadres of surfers lay in wait to carve the next big wave. Nearby is the famous Dole Pineapple Plantation, which makes for a fun excursion as well as the tropical orchards of Waialua.
There are a limited amount of restaurants on the North Shore, but don’t despair. The Ola Restaurant at Turtle Bay is on the beach where you can dine with your feet in the sand. You can see the restaurant in the movie “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” which was filmed at the resort over a five day period. In the town of Haleiwa, a hopping burger joint, Kua Aina, serves the best charbroiled burgers on the island and try the seafood at Haleiwa Joes. For a quick stop, try one of the many shrimp trucks in town; there’s one for every day of the week. And if you’re looking for nightlife, head for Honolulu.
Tips: It’s advisable not to veer off the beaten path too much. There are locals who don’t want to see tourists in what they consider “their territory.” Ask the concierge at the hotel about off the beaten path spots and he or she will steer you in the right direction.
On Oahu, you will be asked for your license when making a credit card purchase. It’s a precaution to protect the tourist trade to Hawaii.
On some of the remote beaches, you will see local Hawaiians living in tents. Move on and let them have their privacy.
United Airlines has daily flights to the Hawaiian Islands
