North Shore, Ted's Bakery, Haleiwa, Sea Turtles

An absolutely perfect day at the North Shore has to include a trip to Ted's Bakery, there is no question about it. This is as crucial to anyone who lives in Hawaii as Mike's Pastry in the North End of Boston is to New Englanders. This little piece of heaven is located across from Sunset Beach (near Pipeline) Haleiwa, and the sweet smell as you drive by just reaches out to grab you and drag you in. Once inside, it only becomes more difficult as you struggle with way too many delectable choices - coconut cream cake or key lime pie, or maybe even their specialty, chocolate haupia pie - to die for! This morning our visit to Ted's was short, but sweet. I ended up with a cinnamon roll which was three times the size of any cinnamon roll I'd ever had in New Hampshire, and three times as delicious! Made my day!

After leaving Turtle Bay, we drove to Shark's Cove where we snorkeled on the outer edges away from the crowds of people who had come to spend a beautiful sunny day at the beach. We made our way carefully out over the lava rock tide pools to reach the open waters. Donning our snorkel gear, we slid into the waves and swam out over the massive reef. Vibrantly colored tropical fish darted about, swimming in and out of the rocks below. A small sea turtle sidled over to feed, then paddled lazily along the outer edge of the reef as we swam. The bright sunlight played among the waves as we enjoyed the views of life down under for the better part of the morning.

Continuing our way down the North Shore, we passed Waimea Bay. Incredibly gorgeous in photographs, but pictures can not begin to illustrate the raw beauty of it. We wove our way along the shoreline until we finally reached the sign for Haleiwa. Driving through the town of Haleiwa is not unlike driving through any small, New England seaside village. Lined with quaint shops and unique spots, we were compelled to stop and investigate. So many things to see, so little time!

Once we were on the road again, we drove out to the point where we stopped at Sarah's favorite surfing spot. This beach did not disappoint as it was also a favorite hangout for sea turtles. Walking along the shore, I could see the turtles in pairs or small groups gliding along in the waves, feeding along the surf line. When the waves curled up over them, they would just dive in and ride all over again. They were so magical to watch, a true Hawaiian treasure!