Fodor's Expert Review Beach House Beach

Don't pack the beach umbrella, beach mats, and cooler for this one—just your snorkel gear, when the seas are calm. The beach, named after neighboring restaurant The Beach House and located on the road to Spouting Horn, is a small slip of sand during low tide and a rocky shoreline when it's high; however, it is conveniently located by the road's edge, and its rocky edge and bottom make it great for snorkeling. (As a rule, sandy-bottom beaches are not great for snorkeling. Rocks provide safe hiding places and grow the food that fish and other marine life like to eat.)

A sidewalk along the coastline on the restaurant side of the beach makes a great vantage point from which to peer into the water and look for honu, the Hawaiian green sea turtles. It's also a very popular gathering spot to watch the sun set. You can park in the public lot across from the beach. Make reservations for dinner at The Beach House in advance, and time it around sunset.Amenities: parking (free); showers; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; sunset; surfing.