Ardenwood Historic Farm is located at 34600 Ardenwood Boulevard in Fremont, California. Although Ardenwood is open year round, the peak season for visiting the farm is during the summer (April 1 to November 15). During the winter, the Patterson House is closed and the farm offers fewer activities for visitors. Still, you will be able to stroll through the grounds and visit the various farm animals and peacocks that have made the farm their home.
Of course, the Waikiki Aquarium exhibits the mandatory tank of clownfish. Before Finding Nemo, I don’t know if all the aquariums had clownfish exhibits. I certainly wasn’t paying attention to clownfish because they were just like all the other fishes. However, after Finding Nemo, they are every where because clownfish are THE fish.
The Waikiki Aquarium is located on Kalakaua Avenue towards the Diamond Head end of Waikiki Beach and was easily walkable from the ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Tower. Despite the dated appearance of the facade, the facilities inside appear quite modern. With your paid admission, you also receive a wand that triggers audio commentary when you punch in the number of the exhibit. This is not a large facility, like the Monterey Bay Aquarium, but there are more than enough fishes to keep the little ones occupied for about an hour.
Admission is $9.00 for adults, $8.00 if you present an AAA card.
Located on Ford Island, the Pacific Aviation Museum offers an introductory movie and exhibits on the planes involved in the Pearl Harbor attacks. After you have visited the USS Arizona Memorial, you may proceed across the parking lot to purchase tickets for the USS Bowfin Submarine and Museum, the USS Missouri, as well as the Pacific Aviation Museum. Tickets may be purchased individually or within a package. The Bowfin is located near the ticket booth. To visit the USS Missouri and Pacific Aviation Museum, ride the shuttle bus that takes you on to Ford Island.
Pearl Harbor is a place familiar to Americans and Chinese alike. On December 7, 1941, the Empire of Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and other military installations in Hawaii. This attack galvanized America and ushered in the United States’ official entry into World War II. Of course, for China, World War II started long before the “Day that will Live in Infamy” and American assistance, in the form of Lend-Lease aid, also predated the attacks. If you visit Hawaii, then a stop at Pearl Harbor is practically mandatory. It is not just an American historical site, but a world historical site. The USS Arizona Memorial offers free admission to its exhibit hall, theater and the memorial itself. You access the memorial by boat after viewing the introductory movie about Pearl Harbor and World War II.
The Dole Plantation is located at 64-1550 Kamehameha Highway, Wahiawa, HI. You can ride the Pineapple Express to see fields of pineapples or walk thru their demonstration garden to view varieties of pineapple up close. The koi pond is worth a quick visit.
Absolutely gorgeous fish at the Dole Plantation koi pond. Another visitor was feeding the fish at the time and it triggered a minor feeding frenzy.
The Dole Plantation offers pineapple fans a delightful peak inside a pineapple farm. Located in Wahiawa, the Plantation includes a store that sells all sorts of pineapple food products, including fresh pineapples, dried pineapples, pineapple jams, and pineapple ice cream. For children (and fun-loving adults), the Pineapple Express offers a 20 minute train ride around the plantation where you can see fields and fields of pineapples, as well as tropical fruit trees, such as mangos and bananas. If your traveling companions only understand Chinese, the narrated train ride can be broadcast in Mandarin. All aboard!
Located on Oahu, Hanauma Bay is a gorgeous and popular snorkeling destination. Hanauma Bay is easily accessible from Honolulu by car. Just take H1 East, which eventually turns into 72. After you pass Hawaii Kai, you will start climbing uphill. Keep an eye out for the Hanauma Bay sign. Parking is cheap. Just $1 per vehicle. The Hanauma Bay Natural Preserve is open daily (except Tuesdays) from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Come early since the parking lot can fill up. For out-of-state visitors, admission is $5.00 per person 13 and older. After you have purchased your tickets, you have to view an educational video before you may head down to the bay.
If you don’t have your own snorkeling gear, you can rent equipment from the concession booth. One set of snorkeling gear, which includes a mask, snorkel and pair of fins runs $9.00 per person (I believe) for the entire day. They also offer a mask with prescription lenses if needed. If you know how to swim, snorkeling should be second nature. Just head out to the reefs and be amazed at all the fishes out there. Just remember to snorkel with a buddy for safety reasons. The Bay is quite shallow and you should be able to stand up as needed, though try not to stand on the reef to avoid damaging it.
P.S. If you must go to Costco during your vacation, stop by on your way back to Honolulu from Hanauma Bay. There is a Costco warehouse located in Hawaii Kai.
The ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Tower provides a decent kitchen. The refrigerator is on the left. The automatic dishwasher is also on the left-hand side, though not as visible. The range/oven is on the right. You can also see the rice cooker on the counter. Not the largest kitchen, but more than enough room to prepare a decent vacation meal.