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Best California Road Trip Rest Stop

March 11, 2022April 4, 2023 Cherise and Shine

The past couple years have taught me to slow down and enjoy more of my beautiful home state, and showed me that California has more to offer than I could’ve ever imagined. Towering redwood trees, unparalleled coastlines, otherworldly desert landscapes, magical spring florals and fabulous cities full of vibrant culture and delicious food. As one of the few places you can snowboard and surf in the same day (we’ll have to try this sometime!) we have come to love traveling to places like Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Sequoia National Park, Death Valley, Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, Joshua Tree and Carlsbad/La Jolla/San Diego within days of each other.

Of course, doing any of these trips would take several hours of driving. California is a vast state, so embarking on a road trip can take anywhere from a three to twelve hour drive. A good rest stop is a must for any epic road trip, and we’ve recently discovered The Oasis on I-5 as our new favorite place to take a break on a long drive to refuel our car and refuel ourselves before continuing on our journey!

Conveniently situated between Bakersfield and Los Angeles, California’s premier travel stop on I-5, the Outlets at Tejon, have tons of options for food, fuel, fashion, hotels, art galleries, open areas for pets and more! We have stopped at the outlets on our way to several local adventures: taking photos at the almond blossoms in Bakersfield, visiting family and friends in the bay area and on our way to different national parks like Yosemite and Sequoia. It’s even served as a great stop for those last-minute gifts you might need to purchase for family or friends (or yourself—I won’t judge!).

Shopping
The award-winning Outlets at Tejon feature more than 40 stores and brands with deals up to 65% off. From clothing and jewelry to home goods and sports supplies, there’s something for everyone here. With great deals and a good variety of recognizable brands, we were able to quickly shop for clothing for upcoming birthdays for a few family members, as well as find things for ourselves.

By making these purchases, we later found out that we could show our receipts at Guest Services to receive $15 gift cards which we were able to use to buy lunch later, and also enter into the monthly sweepstakes (more on that below!). During this month’s sweepstakes (March 2022) for example, you can win a $500 Airbnb gift card or a $200 gas card. We also received coupons from Guest Services which we could use at these stores so it ended up being a fantastic, high-value shopping experience.

Stores Options Include:

Adidas
Aerie
Aeropostale
American Eagle Outfitters
Auntie Anne’s
Banana Republic Factory Store
Bath & Body Works
Bird Dog Arts
Calvin Klein
Carter’s
China Max
Cinnabon
Coach
Columbia Sportswear
Cosmetics Company Store
Cotton On
Express Factory Outlets
Famous Footwear Outlet
Fragrance Outlet
Gap Outlet
Guess Factory Store
H&M
Hot Topic
Journeys
Kate Spade
Kevin Jewelers
LE Creuset
Levi’s Outlet Store
Lids
Lucky Brand Jeans Outlet Store
Michael Kors
Nike Factory Store
Old Navy Outlet
Oshkosh B’gosh
Perfumes-4-U
Polo Ralph Lauren
Puma
Rack Room Shoes
Skechers
Sunglass Hut
The Children’s Place
Tilly’s
Tommy Hilfiger Company Store
Zumiez

Fuel & Electric Charging
In addition to 100+ fuel pumps and dozens of EV chargers, did you know that Tejon Ranch features the 2^nd biggest Tesla charging station in the world? We didn’t, but using the Tesla Supercharger gave us a much quicker charge than a normal charging station, taking the car from a low 8% charge to a full charge in less than 30 minutes. Not even enough time for us to eat and shop, so if we were really in a rush this would have been extremely convenient! The area also felt extremely clean and safe, so if we had to charge a car late at night on a drive home, we absolutely would not hesitate to stop here.

Food & Drink
There are more than 30 restaurants and food options to choose from here, from sit-down restaurants to drive-thrus, dessert and casual cafes. Lots of options for different dietary restrictions. There are even some awesome food trucks and stalls here. The first time we visited Tejon Ranch, we found a delicious Mediterranean food truck and devoured our meals before we remembered to get a photo. And the last time we were here on our way to check out the almond blossoms in Bakersfield, we swung by the Starbucks drive-thru and grabbed a quick pick-me-up before continuing on our way. My husband is always happy to stop for In-N-Out though seeing a place to get a good Philly Cheesesteak sandwich made him reconsider and get that instead, and we got some donuts for my father while I grabbed a smoothie. With this range of options, there’s really something for everyone.

Food Options Include:

Arby’s
Auntie Anne’s
Baja Fresh
Baskin Robbins
Black Bear Diner
Burger King
Carl’s Jr
Charley’s Philly Steak
Chipotle
Denny’s
Dunkin’ Donuts
Firehouse Subs
The Habit Burger & Grill
In-N-Out Burger
Iron Skillet Restaurant
Jamba Juice
McDonald’s
Panda Express
Pieology
Pizza Hut
Popeyes
Starbucks
Subway
Taco Bell
Wendy’s

Art Museum
One of my favorite things about Tejon Ranch is a hidden gem—an art gallery called Bird Dog Arts that features original contemporary artwork from more than 85 California artists. Not only do they sell artwork and feature receptions, lectures, artist demonstrations and performances, but they also have the cutest local cat named Turkey. Turkey’s backstory is he was rescued from a tree on the premises, and now he lives a cushy life offering a-meow-zing tours to visitors and encouraging folks to support local artists. This is one of the more fun and colorful spots in the area and provides a great chance to take things slow and relax as well as an opportunity to browse.

Exciting Rotating Offers
The Outlets at Tejon also have promotions and events that always keep things new and exciting. Stop by Guest Services when you arrive and see what offers they have going on. Currently there is a monthly sweepstakes for travel prizes ranging from Disneyland passes, hotel stays, Airbnb or Gas gift cards, or other special deals, usually for hotels and activities in different cities such as Paso Robles, Palm Springs, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Napa, Ojai, Anaheim and more.

Last month in February for example, the prize was a vacation on Mammoth Mountain, covering a 2-night stay at The Village Lodge and two ski equipment rentals. My husband and I have yet to go on a winter vacation together where we’ve done activities in the snow like skiing or snowboarding, so I know we would have loved to win that prize! Other upcoming prizes are also tied into local vacations: April will feature a 2-night stay at The Ojai Valley Inn and 2 vouchers for golf, May winners will receive a 2-night stay at The Archer Hotel in Napa along with two wine tastings at the hotel’s winery, and June’s prize is four Disneyland tickets and a gas card. We definitely miss our Disneyland passes so will make sure we’re entered into June’s sweepstakes. Just looking at the list of future prizes gets us excited about other California destinations! J

Currently, there’s also a deal where you can bring your receipts to Guest Services and get a $15 gift card* to spend at Tejon Ranch for every $50 purchase (that includes any combination of gas/food/convenience store purchases). We did some shopping for my sister’s birthday, and were able to bring our receipts and pay for our lunch that day. Pretty great deal!

Guest Services also offers Travel Tejon Passports, which you can get stamped per receipt from shopping, dining, refueling or hotel stays. For each stamp, you’ll get entered into the monthly sweepstakes. Up to three stamps per category (shopping, hotels, dining and gas/convenience). No minimum dollar amount for these entries.

*Limit 1 per person, receipt(s) must be from the same day to be eligible, supplies on a first come first serve basis. Visit TejonOutlets.com/contests-sweepstakes for full terms and conditions.

Nearby Getaways
As we mentioned up top, the I-5 freeway is a long, connective highway that can take you from San Diego in the southernmost areas of California (or even down to Mexico if you like!) all the way north through the Shasta-Trinity Forest and into Oregon. Lots of major cities exist near the 5, and other major freeways and highways connect to it, taking you to a huge variety of beautiful cities and environments. There is so much more to California than just the great coastal cities, and taking the 5 allows you to see how much this state really has to offer! And of course, you can always get to Nevada (Las Vegas/Lake Tahoe/Valley of Fire State Park) from here relatively easy as well.

If you need some ideas of places to explore from Tejon Ranch, here’s a variety of suggestions ranging from a short hop to a trip you’ll definitely want to grab some snacks and supplies for:

Bakersfield (30 miles / 30m drive)
Angeles National Forest (32 miles / 35m drive)
Los Angeles (84 miles / 1hr 30m drive)
Santa Barbara (120 miles / 2hr drive)
Sequoia National Park (122 miles / 2hr drive)
Pismo Beach (122 miles / 2hr 10m drive)
San Luis Obispo (135 miles / 2hr 20m drive)
Fresno (140 miles / 2hr 30m drive)
King Canyon National Park (160 miles / 3hr drive)
Lone Pine / Alabama Hills (177 miles / 3hr drive)
Palm Springs (190 miles / 3hr drive)
San Diego (204 miles / 3h 10m drive)
Death Valley National Park (182 miles / 3hr 15m drive)
Yosemite National Park (200 miles / 3hr 20m drive)
Joshua Tree National Park (215 miles / 3hr 27m drive)
Anza Borrego State Park (233 miles / 4hr drive)
Monterey (237 miles / 4hr drive)
San Jose (258 miles / 4hr 3m drive)
Big Sur (227 miles / 4hr 15m drive)
Mammoth Lakes (277 miles / 4hr 40m drive)
San Francisco (300 miles / 4hr 45m drive)
Las Vegas (300 miles / 5hr drive)
Lake Tahoe (400 miles / 7hr drive)

Hotels
If your journey has led you to Tejon in the evening and you’re looking to spend the night near the Outlets, there are four reasonable hotels to choose from that all seem great for families. In the visitor center we also saw nature photographs of the Tejon area so if we spend the night here in the future, there definitely seemed to be nice spots nearby for exploration and to watch the sunset or sunrise.

Best Western Liberty Inn

Eco-Friendly Property, Free Parking, Breakfast, WiFi, Accessible, Indoor Pool
Phone: (661) 858-7777

Day’s Inn

Free Parking, Outdoor Pool, Breakfast, Pet-Friendly, Fitness Center, WiFi
Phone: (661) 248-1530

Hampton Inn

Free Parking, Indoor Pool, Breakfast, Accessible, Pet-Friendly, Business Center, WFI
Phone: (661) 241-7100

Microtel Inn & Suites

Free Parking, WiFi, Breakfast, Business Center, Accessible
Phone: (661) 241-6666

A Pet-Friendly Haven
The Outlets at Tejon also have a lot of open space and are a great place to take your pets out for some fresh air. Dogs can get weary on long road trips too, so of course we let took our Golden Retriever-Great Pyrenees mix out to enjoy the grass, the sun, and friendly people who wanted to pet her. We saw a number of other dogs stretching their legs and enjoying themselves as well. She was thrilled!

Outlets at Tejon Information

Open Daily: 10:00am – 8:00pm
Guest Services Daily Hours: 10:00am – 5:00pm
Phone: 661-858-2155
Address: 5701 Outlets at Tejon Pkwy, Arvin, CA 93203
Located off I-5 and Highway 99 just south of Bakersfield

In Summary
The Outlets at Tejon have become an essential part of our road trips that we look forward to—a rest stop where we can get gasoline, coffee, In-N-Out, see our favorite art gallery cat and maybe even get some shopping done before resuming our journey. It’s a fun, clean, safe and welcoming space that always has fun surprises to offer, and is a perfect stop on anyone’s California road trip up the I-5.

Uncategorized

A Weekend at Glacier National Park

April 25, 2021April 4, 2023 Cherise and Shine

While Montana may not be the first state that comes to mind for a getaway, it has so much to offer. The rugged terrain, beautiful rolling hills and miles of incredible roads to drive can fill anyone with a sense of wanderlust and maybe a teeny bit of curiosity as to what farm life may be like. After all, the landscape is filled with cute barns and hay fields, and the population of the whole state (1 million) is a quarter of the population of Los Angeles alone (4 million). But what it lacks in hustle and bustle, it more than makes up for in scenery. And few places in the nation are as beautiful as Glacier National Park.

going to sun road in glacier national park

wildflowers along going to sun road at glacier national park

Glacier National Park, also known as the crown gem of the continent (that’s right—the entire CONTINENT), is a truly impressive park spanning 1,583 square miles (4,101 square km). The views are akin to Banff National Park in Canada, with stunning trails, sweeping vistas, colorful wildflowers, energetic wildlife and—you guessed it—GLACIERS. While you can see MUCH beauty simply driving around Going-to-the-Sun Road (the main fairway through the park, much of the most awe-inspiring viewpoints at Glacier can only be seen while hiking, making it a hiker’s dream park.

sunrise swim at lake mcdonald in glacier national park

I would highly recommend staying a full week if you have the time, as this allows you flexibility to see as much as possible while giving you leeway for any trail closures due to bear activity, wildfires, snow or other roadblocks. We had a few must-do hikes planned, but some of them never opened while we were there due to bear activity. If a bear is spotted on a trail, the trail will close until there are three subsequent days without any sightings.

THINGS TO NOTE FOR GLACIER NATIONAL PARK

BEARS – OH MY!

Glacier is home to a sizable bear population, including roughly 300 grizzly bears. Make sure to take bear spray with you! Our wonderful hotel Duck Inn Lodge had spray that they loaned us, but you can also buy this (and a bear bell if you desire) anywhere in the area surrounding the park. Be cognizant of your surroundings, don’t take food out while you’re hiking and avoid twilight hours when bears may be more active. We opted to wait until sunrise to do some of our hikes as we did not want to be the only ones on the trail and stumble upon unsuspecting bears.

COVID CLOSURES (East Glacier)

In a normal season, you can drive straight through Glacier from the west side of the park to the east side via the Going-to-the-Sun Road (50 miles). But during 2020, the entire east side of the park was closed, and there’s a ticketed entry system being planned for Summer 2021. Please be mindful of this, and check for park closures on the park website ahead of your arrival.

GETTING THERE

There are a few different ways you can get to Glacier National Park: Planes, Trains and Automobiles (but really, though).

PLANE: if you are flying into Glacier National Park, the nearest airport is in Kalispell and aptly named “Glacier National Park International Airport.” My direct flight from LAX was roughly 3 hours and $300 roundtrip.

TRAIN: If you fancy a smooth ride, WiFi and a great window view, Amtrak’s Empire Builder route has three different stations servicing Glacier Park.

East Glacier Station: Usually open April – October
Essex Station: Spot just outside park between East and West entrances
West Glacier Station: Located about 2 miles from Agpar Visitor Center within the park

AUTOMOBILE: Regardless of how you get to Montana, you will definitely need to have or rent a car once you’re there. Depending on where you’re driving from within, there is a lot to see along the way (Banff National Park from the North, Badlands National Park from the West, Yellowstone/Grand Teton National Park from the South, Mt. Rainier National Park/Seattle/Portland from the West).

NOTE: If you want to rent an SUV once you arrive to Kalispell, make sure you book your car far in advance. When we were making our booking in July a few weeks before our August trip, all SUVs were sold out through OCTOBER! We liked our sedan, but driving an SUV is easier for high clearance on dirt roads.

WHAT TO PACK

What you pack will depend on the season, but it’s not called “Glacier” for nothing! We went the beginning of August and while Kalispell, Whitefish and surrounding areas were all in the 90s F, the mountains are a different story. We were FREEZING on some of our hikes. I’ve also seen photos from friends posting in July where the trails are all covered in snow. So whatever the weather report tells you, be sure to bring layers! You will also want to pack bug spray, a first aid kit, sunscreen and hiking boots.

WHERE TO STAY

We opted to stay in Whitefish, which is roughly a 30-min drive (26 miles) to Glacier National Park’s west entrance. Whitefish is a little closer to the park than Kalispell, and the town is simply adorable. We stayed at Duck Inn Lodge, which offered lovely views of the river and daily delicious breakfast (still drool when I think of the egg omelet/casserole of the day!). The adorable property is run by Tyler, Mark and Alyssa, who are very friendly and were great resources for our questions about the area.

FAVORITE PHOTO SPOTS

Now the part you’ve all been waiting for! Here are some of my favorite photo spots from our time at Glacier:

GOING-TO-THE-SUN ROAD

There’s honestly so much beauty to see right from the road at Glacier National Park. Many of my favorite shots were taken just by pulling over the side of the road (make sure you always park in a designated pullout)! I especially love getting photos around the Logan Pass area.

wildflowers off of logan pass in glacier national park

LAKE MCDONALD

No trip to Glacier National Park is complete without visiting Lake McDonald. In fact, it would be rather difficult to see the park without stumbling upon this 10-mile long lake. Conveniently located near the west entrance and running parallel to the Going-to-the-Sun Road, Lake McDonald is warmer than a lot of the other lakes as it is not comprised of glacial water (we actually saw steam coming off of it the morning that we visited).

PHOTO TIP: Visit Lake McDonald for sunrise, when the sun emerges from behind the mountains and lights up the water through the mist! You’ll likely have it all to yourself as well—save for a few photographers. If you want to take photos on the dock, route your GPS to Apgar Loop.

sunrise at lake mcdonald glacier national park

HIDDEN LAKE TRAIL

Hidden Lake Trail was hands down my favorite hike at Glacier National Park. In my opinion, it was the most rewarding in terms of the views-to-miles ratio. Every step we took was surrounded by stunning vistas, colorful wildflowers and wildlife (from marmots and goats to chipmunks and a longhorn sheep in the distance). Because this hike is so popular and the Logan Pass parking lot is the primary starting point for a few different well-known trails, make sure to arrive early in the morning. We found out this trail had reopened (after previously being closed due to bear activity) late in the morning, so arrived around 12pm and circled the parking lot for a full hour before we found a space!

yellow bellied marmot at glacier national park

PHOTO TIP: The overlook is a great resting point, but the best views of the lake are a little further down the path. Continue on as though you’re going all the way down, and stop at some of the stunning spots as you go!

Distance: 2.6 miles (roundtrip) to the overlook; 5.2 miles (roundtrip) to the lake
Trail Difficulty Rating: 8.05 (Moderate)
Parking: Logan Pass

ST. MARY’S FALLS & VIRGINIA FALLS

The hike to St. Mary’s Falls was honestly far more enjoyable than we expected! This hike was heavily trafficked and definitely the easiest of all the treks we embarked on. A mix of waterfalls, mountain views, lakes and woodland trees—what more could you want? Would definitely recommend this one for families. Parking is limited, so try to hit up this spot early as well.

TIP: There are unmarked waterfalls on this hike that are so beautiful, we didn’t even realize we hadn’t made it all the way to the last set of falls and turned around! Keep going—it’s worth it!

Distance: 1.7 miles (roundtrip)
Difficulty: 2.13 (easy)

two girls enjoying st marys falls at glacier national park

WILD GOOSE ISLAND

This one is a simple pull-over-the-side-of-the-road-and-get-a-shot kind of thing. Wild Goose Island reminded me a bit of Spirit Island in Maligne Lake (Jasper National Park, Canada). This adorable island is a photographer’s dream—especially on a calm day at St. Mary’s Lake (it was insanely windy when we visited!).

FUN FACT: Wild Goose Island is the tiny island in the first scene of Stanley Kubrick’s film, “The Shining.”

HIGHLINE TRAIL (TO GRINNELL GLACIER OVERLOOK)

Distance to Haystack Pass: 7.2 miles (roundtrip)
Distance to Granite Park Chalet: 14.9 miles (roundtrip)
Distance to Grinnell Glacier Overlook: 15.5 miles (roundtrip)
Difficulty: 21.16 (strenuous)
Parking: Logan Pass

This heavily trafficked hike is one of Glacier National Park’s most famous—and for good reason! While a difficult endeavor with narrow pathways (some cliffside with ropes for you to hold onto as you walk) and steep switchbacks, this hike is surrounded by beautiful views. If you go all the way (which we did not), you’ll be rewarded with an overlook view of Grinnell Glacier. Definitely want to revisit one day and do the complete hike!

girl hiking on highline trail in glacier national park

hiking on highline trail in glacier national park

everything to know for glacier national park - guide

Lifestyle

24 Hours in Death Valley National Park

February 16, 2019April 4, 2023 Cherise and Shine

I am so excited to share with you guys about Death Valley, and truly don’t know why it took me so long to finally visit. We were only here for 24 hours, but even so, this strange destination left such an impact on me. Few places have made me feel more like I’m on another planet than this jaw-dropping landscape.

This desert national park located on the border of California and Nevada is truly otherworldly, has become one of my favorite road trips to take from Southern California. The harsh climate and fascinating history from the Native American inhabitants to the craze of the Gold Rush and mining colonies make this land lost in time a fascinating place, and exploring the scattered ghost towns or ruins will cause you to feel like you’re in the Wild West.

Continue reading “24 Hours in Death Valley National Park” →

Lifestyle

10 Tips for Driving Maui’s Road to Hana

October 15, 2018April 4, 2023 Cherise and Shine

No trip to Maui is complete without embarking on the iconic drive along the Road to Hana. Boasting 59 bridges and 620 curves in just 42 miles, the Hana Highway is a precarious drive that is not for the fainthearted.

I’m lucky that my husband is an excellent driver and didn’t bat an eye at the turns, crazy parking situations and one-car bridges! We had an amazing time doing the drive on our own, as we could go at our own pace and prioritize what we wanted to see. If you’re willing and eager to plan a DIY drive down this winding wonderland, here are some tips for you!

1. SET OUT EARLY

Even though it’s just about 42 miles (67 km) to Hana Town, it would likely take you 2-4 hours to drive without factoring in stops or your return drive! I would advise setting out as early as possible, both to beat some of the crowds and also ensure you have enough daylight to accomplish your must-do’s. We did this in September (make sure you look up sunrise/sunset times for whatever season you’re there in) and started from Paia Town around 8:00am. By the time we made it to Pipiwai Trail at the end of the day (10 miles south of Hana), we were sprinting up the path to try to get to the bamboo forest before dark…and didn’t succeed.

Plus, if you’re planning on driving back to West Maui at night, these roads are not super fun to drive when it’s pitch black and you’re going down dirt paths along steep cliffs! If we could do it again, we would likely choose to spend the night in Hana.

ALSO, I just want to mention: you might get carsick. This might be obvious, but it was something I didn’t expect and nobody mentioned to me. I got soooo dizzy around so many of the turns!

2. DOWNLOAD MAPS AND RESET YOUR ODOMETER…

You won’t have cell reception for most of the Road to Hana. So if you’re driving yourself, make sure you reset your odometer right at the beginning (there will be a sign indicating where the road starts), and have an idea of what mile markers have interesting things you want to stop at.

3. …BUT IF ALL ELSE FAILS, FOLLOW THE CROWDS!

However, if your odometer gets messed up or you forget to set and don’t know what mile markers to look for, do not fret. If a spot is worth visiting, most likely you’ll see a few cars clustered around. If you’re curious enough, just pull over and check it out—might be a waterfall, a pretty view, a botanical garden, lava tube or something else fun!

4. IF YOU MISS A WATERFALL, DON’T WORRY—THERE WILL BE MORE

This might sound like weird advice, but it’s true. There are sooo many incredible waterfalls along the Hana Highway, and when we first started out, I made my husband stop (and in some cases, dramatically pop a U-turn and backtrack) at every one, but we quickly realized that it wasn’t the end of the world if we missed a couple here or there. Enjoy the journey and stop where you can, but don’t beat yourself up over anything you might miss—the adventure gets better with every mile.

That said, I would like to advocate for my favorite waterfall spot: Upper Waikani Falls (aka “Three Bears Falls”) between Mile Markers 19 and 20. You’ll see them when you’re driving over a bridge, and will find there’s no parking right there—don’t panic, there’s a little dirt area just a minute or two past that you can park at and then walk back down. It’s a bit of a climb to get to them, but absolutely a worthwhile waterfall to chase!

5. BRING A TOWEL, SWIMSUIT, CHANGE OF CLOTHES AND CHANGE OF SHOES/SANDALS

Trust me, you’ll be jumping off of waterfalls and swimming at some of the most beautiful beaches you’ve ever seen, and be in desperate need of a wardrobe change. Also, because it’s so tropical and wet, you’ll be getting muddy as you hike along paths on your stops. I brought sneakers, but never wore them and stuck to my flip flops—but on the other hand, my husband pretty much exclusively wore shoes (until we were splashing around waterfalls!). Regardless, you’d much rather have options and not have to worry about it!

6. STOP AND EAT THE FOOD

While it’s definitely a good idea to bring snacks for the drive, there are so many delicious stops on the Road to Hana that you won’t want to miss. Try banana bread at Aunty Sandy’s (my husband’s fav!) or at Halfway to Hana, and pop into Coconut Glen’s at Mile Marker 27 for some of the tastiest (and allergy-friendly) coconut ice cream you’ve ever had. We’ve also heard there’s an insanely good Thai place somewhere on this road, but we didn’t manage to find it. Ah well, something new for next time!

7. VIEWS, VIEWS, VIEWS

While pretty much ANY place you stop at on the Road to Hana will be breathtaking, this highway has some incredible lookout points that should not be missed. Mile Marker 18.8 has an incredible lookout point with a view of Wailua Valley, and is one of our highlights from this drive.

8. SEE THE BEACHES IN HANA

I’ve heard a lot of people tell me that the Road to Hana is more about the journey and less about Hana itself. While Hana is indeed a sleepy town of 1,200 people, it’s still not to be missed. Besides the delicious food trucks and tropical views, there’s the ever-famous Waianapanapa State Park (Black Sand Beach). And Kaihalulu Bay (Red Sand Beach) is one of the most magical Hawaiian beaches I’ve ever seen. Yes, Kaihalulu is a bit off the beaten path, but it’s 100% worth going to!

9. DON’T BE AFRAID TO GO PAST HANA

Most people will do the drive, arrive in Hana, grab some food and then head back the way they came. I would say if you can, you should keep driving and head back to West Maui the other way—via the back side of Haleakala, which offers you a unique perspective of Maui that very few experience, and which takes you the same amount of time to drive as the Road to Hana. The climate is arid, resembling California in parts. And the starry sky we saw was enough to make us pull over, huddle together and gape in awe at the Milky Way before us. I’ve been in plenty of sparsely populated destinations, from the Sahara Desert to the Marquesas Islands, yet still have never seen as many stars as I did that beautiful night.

I will confess: if the Hana Highway is winding and narrow, these roads are dusty, steep and bumpy. Much of it isn’t even paved. It seems that a lot of rental car companies will have a “your own your own” policy and threaten to “void” your rental car contract if you take this pathway. We had NO idea this was a thing, and merrily took our Hyundai Sonata on this very special drive and returned the car without any problem or additional charge. But I can’t guarantee that this will be everyone’s experience!

10. BUT MOST OF ALL, TAKE IT ALL IN AND HAVE FUN!

Driving the Road to Hana is an experience unlike any other. Being disconnected from the world allows you to take in the grandeur of God’s creation and marvel at the wide variety of beautiful terrains on such a small island. This day fueled my love for waterfalls, introduced me to the glory of red sand beaches, filled my stomach with delicious coconut-y things and brought me closer to my darling husband for all his bravery and skill behind the wheel. It was exhausting, exhilarating, enlightening and ecstatic. And I would do it all over again.

ADDITIONAL ROAD TO HANA TIPS

Currency: U.S. Dollar (make sure to have cash on hand!)

Languages: English (Official), Hawaiian Pidgin, many people can speak Mandarin Chinese and Japanese

Transportation: Public transit is nonexistent; rent a car or hire a van.

Food: Banana bread, anything coconut, Thai, barbecue and Hawaiian-Mexican fusion (we ate at “The Surfing Burro” food truck in Hana and really enjoyed it!).

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