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I don’t talk much about touristy things to do in Hawaii on this blog, even though I spend a good amount of time in the Islands each year (and was just there last weekend) as well as having lived there for a while after college. And while I spent almost two years living in Honolulu and I visit often due to work and visit my parents who live there, I’ve not done many of the typical touristy things there for a few different reasons. Firstly, I’m not a big beach person. With my pale skin and aversion to high heat, the beaches just aren’t for me. Secondly, I have experienced much of Hawaii like a local. I eat at local spots, I worked with locals, I explored places that were more local in nature than tourist simply because I wasn’t really ever a tourist. But considering that Hawaii is a major tourist destination, I still know that there are certain things not to miss in the Islands when you visit, whether local or tourist. Over the years of time spent in Hawaii, here are some of the things I would make sure you do when visiting the Islands, specifically Oahu.

One thing that I really miss about my time in Hawaii was my apartment balcony. I would get up early and watch the sunrise over Honolulu, starting my day with the most beautiful colors as the sky awakened. It’s still something Nick and I try to do when we visit now. And due to the time change, you’re usually up pretty early the first day there, so sneak out and watch the sunrise over the city or drive to the Eastern side of the island and see it come up over the water as the sky is painted.

One of my favorite things to do on Oahu is drive the ring road that goes the full circle (well almost full circle) around the island. From the views of the cliffsides of the Eastern edge, to the green sky scraping mountains (where they filmed Lost) of the Windward coast, to the quaint North Shore towns and the volcanic edges of the Western Shore near Wainae. Driving this route, you’ll see all sides of the island, an island that differs wildly from shore to shore. I love seeing the changes in landscape as you drive around the edges.

Whether it’s the beach or the mountains, the rainforest or the cliffs, Oahu has plenty of scenery to take in while there. For many tourists, it’s easy to just stay at the beach and never get out and see the island. That’s a shame for many reasons, but the most important being that the landscape and scenery on Oahu is truly beautiful and diverse and well worth seeing.

Oahu has some of the most stunning views I’ve seen traveling. Particularly at dawn and dusk and particularly on the Eastern and Windward sides of the island, the views down the coastline are pretty incredible. One of my favorites is the view from Makapu’u Lighthouse, looking West along the Windward coast.

Perhaps one of my favorite things in the world, to watch the sunset, should never be missed in Hawaii. Whether clear or stormy, I’ve seen some pretty incredible sunsets on Oahu. One of my favorites though is just past Wainae on the Western Shore, backed by volcanic cliffs, with just the open ocean in front of you as the colors fade at the end of the day.

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One of the nice things about traveling a lot is that you see so many different types of places: beaches, the tropics, cities and small towns, rainy places and sunny places and you realize very quickly how different each part of the world really is. I know very well how hard it is to pick a place to escape to on your next adventure and with a never-ending list of possibilities, often it’s helpful to narrow down location to what you’re specifically looking for.

I’ve put together a list of some of my favorite places I’ve visited around the world to help you narrow down some possible spots for your next adventure. Whether you are looking for an exotic location filled with souks and color or a small ocean-side escape, you’ll be sure to find what you’re looking for in the following list!

I’ve written about how much I loved Bangkok and if you’re looking for a warm location but would prefer city over beach, this Thai city is the perfect spot, full of temples and culture, roadside markets and delicious street food.

Beautiful little Bushmills in Northern Ireland is exactly how you expect a small Irish town to look. Even though it’s world-famous for whiskey, you’d never know it from wandering the streets of this tiny and quintessential Irish town.

For a small city, Dublin seems to have it all. The vibrancy of the city, the almost electric and inspiring vibe of the streets, the colorful buildings and the many many bridges over the River Liffey make Dublin a fantastic place to escape to.

Hawaii is full of beaches and each Island is unique, but the thing that makes Honolulu so popular is that you get both city and beach. Whether you want to spend the afternoon shopping or laying on the beach, you get both of those things here.

London is one of those places that you’ll never be able to just visit once, for one thing, it’s a huge city and there is no way to see it all in one quick trip. For another, it’s one of those places that there is something around every corner to take in. There is always something more to discover in this beautiful and historic city.

Sometimes the mystique of the Middle Eastern culture just calls to me, the Souks, the incredible food, the ornate architecture and prayer call sounding from the gorgeous mosques all around. If you’re looking for a touch of the exotic, Marrakech is the place to be. Stay in a Riad while there and you’ll get a full dose of what the city is all about.

If I had a lot of extra cash, I’d buy a house on the edges of the Atlantic Ocean in Newport, Rhode Island and use it as a vacation home. That’s how much we fell in love with this ocean-side town when we visited last year. The iconic views, the ocean air, the rocky cliffs and open expanses of ocean, this spot is perfect for a quiet ocean-side retreat.

For a taste of the Mediterranean, you can visit lots of countries in Europe that border the Sea, but none quite measure up to France, for me at least. For an ocean-side escape in the French Riviera, that comes with macarons, croissants and French wine? I’m sold just on that alone, but Nice also boasts terrific shopping, insanely gorgeous views and close proximity to many other small French Riviera towns.

When you’re looking for a city escape, no where else is quite like New York City. The bustling metropolis is the place to go for incredible food, cityscape views and some of the best shopping in the world. Spend an afternoon in Central Park, take in the views of the Manhattan skyline from Brooklyn and you’ll fall in love with this city with each minute that passes.

Paris is one of those cities that’s hard to explain to people that haven’t been there. It’s not just the romantic architecture or the incredible treats all around, Paris is one of those cities that just has a “feeling.” It has an air to it that just seems far beyond the rest, like once you’ve been to Paris, you’ve really been somewhere. For ornate culture, a clean and gorgeous city and you’re own dose of croissants and macarons (because there really is nothing like strolling the banks of the Seine with a treat in hand), Paris has it all.

Someday I’d love to rent an apartment in this quaint Scottish city, wandering around the city and living a simple life. For now though, a visit to this quaint and romantic Scottish city will be sure to have you wanting more. Not only are there gorgeous beaches, ocean side cliff views and romantic city streets full of colorful stone buildings, St. Andrews also has a rich history and is the home of Golf. What more could you want?

I’ve never felt such peace as I did staying at the Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur, India. Waking up to look out over Lake Pichola, the mountains rising out of the mist in the distance and greenery all around us. Udaipur is one of the most naturally beautiful places I’ve ever seen and I know we’ll be back again to take in the quiet and serene peace you can find here. It’s also out of the way of the hustle of India’s biggest cities and offers a lovely city center with palaces and culture, without the mass crowds. For a relaxing time in India, this is where to go.

5 Things Not to Miss on Oahu

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