40 minute (one-way) drive to two different beaches and delicious treats? Sign me up.

Beach Day! Hop in the Jeep and head North on the Highway (19). You are going to drive for 40 minutes. Watch for the mile marker 69. That’s where you’re going to turn left. There is a parking lot and a pay station by the entrance to the beach. Beach entrance and parking is $10 per car and $5 per person. The parking lot is unprotected by shade and was incredibly windy, but do not let that dissuade you from heading down to the beach. There are bathrooms and showers and shaded picnic tables.

Do read the signage carefully. There is lots of coral and tropical fish and turtles in the area, so please use mineral and not chemical sunscreen, as it harms the wildlife.

The beach has lots of shade cover for those of us who burn easily. Sand is lovely, but there are some rocks/coral which tender-foots might prefer water shoes/socks.

If you are anything like me, you will have swam and hung out in the shade and eaten the lunch you’ve packed in your handy cooler bag, and now you’re still a bit snack-ish. Once you’re ready to leave this beach, pile back in the Jeep. Drive back up the windy roads to get to he main highway. BUT WAIT! Immediately to your right at mile marker 69, before you get back onto the highway proper is a little food truck. They make the BEST malasadas I have ever had. Only malasadas? Okay, fine. But excellent donuts.

Now that you’ve had a delicious donut snack, let’s hit 49 Black Sand beach! It’s only 9 minutes away.

Get back onto Highway 19 and go south back towards Kailua-Kona. Turn right onto Mauna Lani Drive and continue to the coast. There is a gate, and they will give you a pass for beach access. No cost. Once you reach the parking lot, bring your beach chairs and your flip-flops and head to the beach. There are bathrooms and showers to get the lovely soft sand off your feet.

You can stop at Costco on the way home, or just head back to the pool and Kona house when you’re done. The sky’s the limit.