88 fun things to see and do in Guam: Part 5

Conclusion

69. Talofofo Falls Resort Park. This must-see destination in Guam’s southeastern side is packed with unique features and varied activities for all ages—from the famous Talofofo Waterfalls to the so-called Yokoi’s Cave, a cable car, suspension bridges, an erotic garden, a horror house, an outdoor shooting range, children’s rides, a monorail car, a historical museum and a viewpoint tower, among other things.

Riding the secluded resort park’s cable car offers you thrilling aerial views of rich greenery and the cascading 30-foot Talofofo Waterfalls in the Ugum River. The two waterfalls are also accessible by foot, with the help of 60-meter and 40-meter suspension bridges.

For the young ones and the young-at-heart, there is a child’s train, bumper cars, spinning cups ride and spinning chairs ride. The resort park also offers a barbecue field, a gift shop and cafeteria, walking trails, wandering pigs, ducks, birds, and lots of nature photo opportunities.

A view of Tumon Bay Beach from the 11th floor of The Westin Resort Guam.  Most of Guam’s major hotels are located on a strip of white sand bordering the sparkling blue waters of Tumon Bay, the island’s favorite coastal playground.  (HAIDEE V. EUGENIO)

Riding a cable car at the Talofofo Falls Resort Park gives you the best aerial views of the 30-ft. Talofofo Waterfalls.  The resort park also features suspension bridges, a so-called Yokoi’s Cave, an erotic statue garden, a ghost house, an outdoor shooting range, children’s rides, a historical museum and a viewpoint tower, among other things. (HAIDEE V. EUGENIO)

The Manenggon Memorial Park in Yona, dedicated to the Chamorros who died and survived World War II.  (HAIDEE V. EUGENIO)

The author in front of a map at the Hamamoto Tropical Fruit World, which allows visitors to see and learn about hundreds of fruit trees either by foot or by open-air carriage.  (HAIDEE V. EUGENIO)

The 1,000-ft. long wooden boardwalk that leads to the Fish Eye Marine Park, a circular underwater observatory.  (HAIDEE V. EUGENIO)

Tourists prepare to dive at the Piti Bomb Hole, one of Guam’s most popular marine preserves.  (HAIDEE V. EUGENIO)

Bill Thompson, World War II survivor and veteran, was wounded three times during the Battle of Saipan. He served as a sergeant in the 4th Marine Division. (Dennis B. Chan)

There’s also a “Ghost House” that features installations and figures that are supposed to creep you out. Further down is a Guam Historical Museum, a viewpoint tower and an outdoor shooting range.

“Love Land,” meanwhile, is an adults-only garden that cleverly features erotic and humorous statues.

The resort park’s other major feature is Yokoi Cave, named after Japanese Sergeant Shoichi Yokoi, who was found in the jungle near the waterfalls by a Chamorro farmer 28 years after the end of World War II.

The original underground structure that was Yokoi’s hiding place was destroyed in a typhoon but a replica that’s also supported by strong bamboo canes continues to attract visitors to the Talofofo Falls Resort Park.

Yoichi hid in the jungle when American forces invaded Guam in 1944. Unaware of the end of the war, Yoichi remained in the jungle for more than a quarter of a century, feeding on tropical fruits and animals until Talofofo farmers discovered him in 1972. Yoichi returned home to a hero’s welcome two weeks later. He remarried upon his return to Japan and died at the age of 82 in 1997. Yoichi’s survival tools are also now displayed in the Guam Museum in Hagatna.

70. Cocos Island. This 100-acre island resort is located 5 miles off Guam’s southern coastline and is a short ferry ride from Merizo. The crystal clear waters surrounding Cocos Island allow visitors to enjoy snorkeling, jet skiing, parasailing, windsurfing, and other water sports.

71. Beaches, and more beaches. A visit to Guam won’t be complete without sampling its warm tropical waters, white sand beaches with swaying palm trees, pristine marine environment waiting to be explored, and abundant water activities. Its coastlines are dotted with beautiful beaches that make any tropical island vacation worthwhile, offering a picturesque experience for those lucky enough to reach this corner of the Pacific.

Although many of these beaches were already mentioned previously, it’s worth listing once again your beach options from north to south. To the north are the unspoiled beauty of Ritidian Beach and Tanguisson Beach.

You may also begin your journeys in the waters of Guam’s central beaches—from Ypao Beach or the Governor Joseph Flores Memorial Beach Park to Gun Beach, Matapang Beach, East Agana Bay Beach, and Asan Beach.

Most of Guam’s major hotels are located on a strip of white sand bordering the sparkling blue waters of Tumon Bay, the island’s favorite coastal playground. Tumon Bay is one of the island’s five marine preserves that offer some of the best snorkeling on island. So whether it’s swimming or snorkeling by the beaches of Hyatt Beach or Outrigger Guam Beach Resort, you will surely get absorbed in your island vacation.

Down south’s beaches are not to be outdone, from Agat Beach or Nimitz Beach to Ipan Beach Park, Talofofo Bay Beach, and Tagachang Beach Park.

And Guam’s clear waters offer a wide array of activities and experiences—from swimming to snorkeling, diving, windsurfing, banana boat riding, jet skiing, parasailing, sea walking, boat tours, and sunset cruises. Or simply a place to kick back, relax and soak up the sun. For diving, there’s Blue Hole, Hap’s Reef, Gab Gab II, and The Crevice.

72. Jeff’s Pirates Cove. A visit to Ipan Talofofo isn’t complete without a stop at Jeff’s Pirates Cove, which is a popular beach bar, a local seafood and barbecue restaurant, an events venue by the beach, a souvenir shop (at one time, they were selling used vinyl records) and a mini-museum rolled into one.

The pirates’ cove boasts of unique artifacts, glass fish floats, stone tools, ifit wood sculptures and rare seashells, among other things. The mini-museum is also home to World War II Japanese straggler Sgt. Yoichi Yokoi’s true story wall.

73. A taste of Germany at McKraut’s. Down south is McKraut’s Fast Food and Beer Garden, which uniquely brings a taste of Germany to a tropical island. The place has a good selection of German beers on tap and by the bottle, and remains to be one of Guam’s best spots to mark Oktoberfest.

Owned by a German named Ludwig Uhmeyer, the place offers generous servings of Bratwurst, burgers, hot dogs, fries, wings, salads, and onion rings, among other things. The business started out as a roadside stand and grew to a full-fledged bar and restaurant in Malojloj. The place could get too busy at times so your food orders may take a while to be served, but in the meantime, enjoy your pint of beer.

74. Fish Eye Marine Park. Enjoy your journey through a 1,000-foot long wooden boardwalk, stopping from time to time to enjoy the fresh ocean breeze, the blue expanse, the horizon, the mountains and the fish below, to access the first and only underwater observatory in Micronesia. The Fish Eye Marine Park is at the center of Piti Bomb Hole, a popular marine preserve and a premier dive location.

The circular marine observatory is 71 feet high, with the bottom 31 feet below sea level. The upper deck offers a 360-degree view of the surrounding areas. Walk down the spiral staircase to the lower deck and peer into 24 windows for a magnificent view of the undersea inhabited by over 200 fish species and coral gardens. From time to time, you get to see divers also marveling at the wonders of the sea.

Across the street from the marine observatory is the Fish Eye Visitor Center that boasts an open-air theater restaurant, a man-made lagoon, a waterfall, a wedding chapel, a barbecue area, and a local gift shop. Against a backdrop of nature and tropics are lunch buffets and dinner shows.

75. Golfing in paradise. Guam has seven golf courses designed by golf legends like Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player and come complete with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and lush jungles.

These include those at Leo Palace in central Guam, the 18-hole Talafofo golf course in the south, the Mangilao Country Club golf course, the Country Club of the Pacific, Guam International Country Club, Alte Guam Golf Resort, and Windward Hills Country Club. There are also driving ranges to choose from.

Guam also has two military golf courses—one at Andersen Air Force Base and the Navy Nimitz Golf Course.

76. War in the Pacific National Historical Park. Owing to its rich war history, Guam is home to seven different parks that honor all who participated in the Pacific Theater of World War II including those from the United States, Japan, and the Allied nations. These seven different park areas both on land and under the sea make up the War in the Pacific National Historical Park, spanning a total of 1,000 acres.

These sites receive thousands of residents and visitors each year. For more information, visit the T. Stell Newman Visitor Center near the U.S. Naval Base Guam entrance on Marine Corps Drive.

The seven sites include the Asan Beach Overlook Unit, the Asan Bay Unit, the Piti Guns Unit, the Mount Chachao/Mount Tenjo Unit, the Agat Beach Unit and Ga’an Point, Mount Alifan, and Fonte Plateau.

77. South Pacific Peace Memorial Park. Completed in May 1970, this 50-foot peace memorial tower shaped like praying hands commemorates the 50,000 Japanese lives lost during World War II. A Japanese non-profit group called the South Pacific Memorial Association funded the peace memorial’s construction.

78. Tarzan Falls. Tucked away in Santa Rita is Tarzan Falls, a beautiful and refreshing treat on most summer days but the trails could get too muddy and slippery during wet season. Shoes hanging freely from the power lines greet hikers. There are different trails, especially in the beginning, but they all lead to the same river and waterfalls.

Don’t stop at the first river and waterfall you see. Follow the trail to the left leading further down to the major waterfall. It’s a good place to cool off and swim, offering a gorgeous backdrop for souvenir photos.

79. Hamamoto Tropical Fruit World. For yet another unique experience, visit the Hamamoto Tropical Fruit World in Yona for a close encounter with hundreds of tropical fruit trees. If you miss the open carriage tour (like we did), you can always explore the fruit garden on foot but always stay on the paved paths that snake through the highlights of the 50-acre farm.

Just minutes into the hike, the silence was broken by the sounds of two dogs fighting it out with a monitor lizard. That’s certainly an unexpected twist to the journey into the world of fruit trees. Learn more about egg fruit, coffee, Kei apple, Barbados or Acerola cherry, avocado, mulberry, sugar apple, sapodilla or chewing gum tree, jack fruit, star apple, star fruit, siniguelas, pineapple, breadfruit, bilimbi, lychee, miracle fruit, mango, mansanita or popcorn cherry, betel nut palm and peanut butter fruit, to name a few.

While you are forbidden from picking fruits from the trees, you can partake of a fruit buffet toward the end of the tour. The eat-all-you-can spread offers fruits harvested that morning and if you’re there for a lunch buffet, expect some other island favorites like barbecued chicken, hotdogs, rice, and salad.

80. Shoppers’ island. Guam has high-end retailers T Galleria by DFS and Lotte Duty Free and dozens of luxury-name brand boutiques. It is home to Micronesia Mall (and Macy’s) and Agana Shopping Center (and SM), along with many other shopping complexes that suit every budget you have. Besides large American-style shopping malls, there are also open-air shops like the Chamorro village and flea markets such as the one in Dededo. Ross at Guam Premier Outlets is always crowded. Forever 21 also just had its opening last week at GPO.

But how do you get around? If open-air transportation is your preference, hop on trolleys that can take you from one shopping destination to another throughout central Guam. Rental cars, rental scooters, and taxis also provide great ways to explore the island. The best tours, however, are those with friends living or working in Guam.

81. Wedding destination. With its tropical island beauty as backdrop to romance, Guam has become a destination for tying the knot, celebrating wedding anniversaries and honeymoons. In recent years, Tumon Bay’s white sand beaches and popular tourist sites such as Two Lovers’ Point have been favorite spots for actual wedding ceremonies and pre-wedding photo opportunities.

82. Tagada Amusement Park. When you’re walking by or driving by the Tumon area, you won’t miss the swinging Viking ride that’s modeled after a Viking ship and is one of the three feature rides at the Tagada Amusement Park. Perched between Ohana Bayview and Pacific Place, the amusement park also offers bumper cars and a dancing platform.

83. Night life. Guam’s night life has something for everyone—from Las Vegas-style cocktail shows to magic shows, beach bars, neighborhood bars, rooftop hotel bars, karaoke bars, dance clubs, pool bars, open air restaurants, cultural dinner shows with fiery fire dances and concerts, to name a few.

84. Mount Lamlam. While Saipan has Mount Tapochau as its highest peak, Guam has Mount Lamlam, which measures 1,334 feet above sea level. Those lucky enough to explore this side of the island can hike the summit from a trailhead across from Cetti Bay Overlook. It could be quite challenging but the rewards of sweeping panoramic views are worth it. During Good Friday on Holy Week, residents and curious tourists flock to Mount Lamlam’s summit as part of an annual pilgrimage. The crosses planted at the peak are symbolic of Guam’s predominantly Catholic faith.

85. Manenggon Memorial Park. A few weeks before American forces arrived in Guam in July 1944, Japanese troops forced thousands of Chamorros to march to concentration camps like the one in Manenggon. A memorial shrine in Manenggon, Yona was built, dedicated to the Chamorros who died and survived the Japanese occupation of the island during World War II. Every year, memorial services are also held to commemorate the war victims of the Faha and Tinta Cave massacres in Merizo and the Fena Cave massacre in Agat.

86. Staying fit and relaxed. Guam offers hotel spas, massage shops, hair and beauty salons, skin clinics and all sorts of fitness and beauty facilities to help you glow and maintain that waistline even after spending days at the beach or partaking in island buffets. Over the years, Guam has also seen the opening of yoga studios such as Yoga Chill in Ypao. For Zumba aficionados, there is a free Zumba class daily from 6pm to 7pm at the Micronesia Mall.

87. Memorial wall for Micronesia’s fallen soldiers. The A.B. Won Pat Guam International Airport is more than just Micronesia’s regional airport that serves as the entry point for Asian countries and its neighboring islands of the CNMI (Saipan, Rota, and Tinian), Palau, the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia’s Pohnpei, Yap, Chuuk, and Kosrae. It is also an art gallery and museum of sort, and prominently displays photos of Micronesia’s fallen soldiers, including those from Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

88. The people. Guam is known to visitors as the jewel of Micronesia not only because of its natural beauty but also because of the Hafa Adai spirit of its people.