View of Saipan from the plane.
Cool off with coconut tuba from Garapan Public Market at the beach.
Garapan Public Market, located on Beach Road, offers an array of fresh fruit and local treats.
Stunning views of Bird Island are a must see when in Saipan.
PDN Lifestyle reporter Samantha Barnett, right, and Andrew Gumataotao enjoy the sunset at Micro Beach.
When you land in Saipan, head over to The Shack on Beach Road for breakfast and a warm welcome from staff and local regulars.
For happy hour and some shopping, support local at Marianas Creations! This spot features local crafts for sale, along with refreshing drinks and food.
The falafel bowl from Caravan of Food is a tasty option for lunch.
Inside the Angry Penne, it’s cozy and romantic.
Located on the hill behind Kristo Rai church, Casa Urashima is set inside a house that’s been transformed into a romantic dinner spot with some of the most unique and flavorful food on island.
Tuna avocado dish at Casa Urashima.
View of Saipan from the plane.
Cool off with coconut tuba from Garapan Public Market at the beach.
When you land in Saipan, head over to The Shack on Beach Road for breakfast and a warm welcome from staff and local regulars.
The falafel bowl from Caravan of Food is a tasty option for lunch.
Inside the Angry Penne, it’s cozy and romantic.
Tuna avocado dish at Casa Urashima.
I’m sitting in a small plane, peering down at stunning limestone cliffs, blue depths and the shadows of clouds on the ocean as we pass over Tinian on our way to Saipan.
The view of the Marianas archipelago en route to Saipan.
It’s my first time flying Marianas Southern Airways and I’m aboard a compact Cessna in the seat directly behind the pilot. Prior to boarding, each passenger and their bags were weighed so that the plane can be balanced carefully.
Although the flight was delayed a few hours due to a passing thunderstorm, the experience of seeing the Marianas archipelago from this perspective is truly unparalleled. You’ve got a front-row seat to view our islands from the clouds.
It’s hard to go wrong with a roundtrip ticket from Guam to Saipan at less than $200. When I’m not reporting for PDN, I’m writing my dissertation about the reunification of the archipelago, so keeping these connections strong is something that I’m passionate about.
Overall, I’d recommend the airline for travelers looking for adventure, as long as you’re not squeamish when it comes to heights or small spaces.
When you land in Saipan, head over to The Shack on Beach Road for breakfast and a warm welcome from staff and local regulars.
This is a must to start off your weekend in Saipan — the restaurant is right on the beach, and the wooden structure is covered in flowers and features local art pieces. You’ll be charmed by the notes that the staff writes on each takeout box that the food is served in, and the menu is easily adaptable to different diets.
Garapan Public Market, located on Beach Road, offers an array of fresh fruit and local treats.
As a pescatarian, I ordered the Melody crepe, served with cranberry sauce and pesto, with extra veggies instead of meat.
Next, stop by Garapan Public Market to stock up on locally grown produce and island specialties. They offer fresh coconut oil from Saipan and Rota, lemmai chips and the star of the show — coconut tuba in wine bottles. Enjoy the sweet, fizzy tuba beachside for the best results.
Saipan has unbeatable, panoramic views of the island’s limestone cliffside that are straight out of a Pacific version of the Lord of the Rings.
You’ve heard of Yona Rulez, but have you heard of Chagi Norf? Stroll up north to Marpi to witness the views and classic lookout spots, including the Grotto, Suicide Cliff and Bird Island.
Stunning views of Bird Island are a must see when in Saipan.
The sweeping landscape and birdsong were bittersweet for me. It’s impossible not to think of the loss of our local bird population and similar landscapes on Guam that CHamoru families no longer have access to due to military condemnation.
When you’re hungry for lunch, give Caravan of Food a call — you can easily find their number and menu on Instagram. They’re open only for takeout, but offer healthy and authentic Palestinian food with plenty of fulfilling plant-based options.
I ordered the falafel bowl with a side of hummus and sweet potato chips. Don’t skip on the Arabic coffee! With notes of cinnamon, it’ll impress coffee aficionados.
After you get your order, take your food to any of the pavilions across the street along Beach Road and have a nice oceanside lunch.
For happy hour and some shopping, support local at Marianas Creations! This spot features local crafts, including woven pandanus hoops (a statement piece for any island girl), Tinian soju and spondylus jewelry. They also make a mean basil gimlet, from the fresh basil growing outside.
For happy hour and some shopping, support local at Marianas Creations! This spot features local crafts for sale, along with refreshing drinks and food.
From Marianas Creations, stroll straight down the road to Angry Penne for dinner. This spot only recently opened, but I have to say it’s the best Italian food I’ve ever had (this is coming from a girl who looked forward to spending every childhood birthday at Capricciosa).
Inside, it’s cozy and romantic — Chet Baker’s velvet voice rolls off the stereo and the smell of freshly made pizza permeates the intimate dining room.
I adored the penne arrabbiata (as in, I would hands down plan another weekend trip to Saipan just to eat here again), a saucy, spicy pasta dish with fresh garlicky notes. The pizza, of course, is also delicious and pairs well with red wine.
If dinner doesn’t knock you out, finish off a date night at International Roller Skates. Inside, the arcade offers blaring pop music and disco lights that give it a frothy, ‘80s movie feel.
My boyfriend and I had fun renting roller skates to loop around the rink, dodging the little kids that were there for a birthday party.
Located on the hill behind Kristo Rai church, Casa Urashima is set inside a house that’s been transformed into a romantic dinner spot with some of the most unique and flavorful food on island.
For breakfast the next morning, I confess that I went back to Caravan of Food to try their ijeh cauliflower patties (a fluffy, egg fritter with cauliflower) and shakshuka (eggs poached in tomatoes and spices).
If you want more traditional breakfast fare, treat yourself to the crispiest empanadas and chicken kelaguen wraps at Galaxy Snack Bar. After breakfast, stop by Hafa Bean to get some iced coffee for the road.
We spent our second day in Saipan swimming at Micro Beach and grabbed a lunch bento box from Himawari (a Saipan staple if you’re in the mood for Japanese). I also recommend treating yourself to an affordable massage at Healing Stone.
The local organization 500 Sails is helping to guide traditional navigation efforts, and they also offer regular weekend sails for community members. While we didn’t catch them this trip, I’ve participated in their Saturday sails in the past and the experience is powerful. It’s worth doing some planning to check them out.
For dinner, we went to Casa Urashima. Located on the hill behind Kristo Rai church, Casa Urashima is set inside a house that’s been transformed into a romantic dinner spot with some of the most unique and flavorful food on island.
Inside, each dining room is transformed into a cozy, intimate lounge with its own character — you can opt to sit in a red room with couch seating, or the sea-green dining room with warm lamp lighting.
PDN Lifestyle reporter Samantha Barnett, right, and Andrew Gumataotao enjoy the sunset at Micro Beach.
We ordered the avocado tuna cream sashimi dish to start, then enjoyed crispy Brussels sprouts and foil-baked mushrooms in what tasted like a balsamic butter sauce. The ginger mule is a must for the spicy, surprising flavor. The restaurant also boasts Japanese fusion pizzas and pastas.
Saipan is the gateway to our sister islands in the Marianas. It is a creative haven for innovative, locally made and sourced food, and exciting cultural revitalization efforts.
With more accessible flights and ticket prices, I hope that more locals make the trip up to Saipan and the other northern islands to appreciate the distinct beauty and resilience of our homelands.
Reach Samantha Barnett at sbarnett@guampdn.com.
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yes, we need a CSMI - commonwealth of the Southern Marianas Islands, or the CMI, Commonwealth of the Marianas Islands, also how do we agree to the spelling of Chamoru, CHamoru, or Chamorro, or Tsamoro or tomorrow, like frank delima says
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The view of the Marianas archipelago en route to Saipan.
UOG Endowment Foundation 40th Anniversary Gala