Frommer's Kauai - Jeanette Foster [69]
Day 10: See Kauai from a Different Perspective
See Kauai from the ocean by joining a kayak tour, where you will skim over the ocean’s (or a river’s) surface coming eyeball-to-eyeball with turtles, flying fish, and other marine creatures. In the afternoon, book a horseback riding tour and see Kauai from a different vantage point. There are a variety of different types of tours , from riding along secluded beaches to trekking back to hidden waterfalls. Plan a quiet dinner and an early bedtime.
Day 11: Get Pampered—A Day at the Spa
Plan an entire day at a spa. In chapter 1, we recommend several top spas , which will soothe your aching muscles from your days of adventure. Try something new—maybe a traditional Hawaiian lomilomi massage or an ayurvedic massage (once given only to royalty for rejuvenation). Do nothing but lie around and relax. Order room service or get takeout for dinner.
Day 12: Back to the Beach
Polish up your tan at the beach (my list of favorites is in chapter 7). Even if it is raining on one side of the island, frequently you can drive to the other side and it will be bright sunshine. Get a tropical-flavored shave ice and enjoy a taste of the islands.
Day 13: Shop ’Til You Drop
Get out the list of people you must buy gifts for and then turn to chapter 9, “Shopping,” for my list of great places to shop, great buys, and ideas on what to take home.
Day 14: Getting the Most Out of Your Last Day
If this is your last day, spend it in the Lihue area. It’s close to the airport, and there are plenty of things to do. You might want to step back in history and visit the Kauai Museum in Lihue or Kilohana in Puhi. Or drive up to the Wailua Falls, just outside of town. Shoppers may like wandering around the old town of Lihue. Die-hard beachgoers can head to Kalapaki Beach for their last few hours of sun. If you are in a casual mode, get some burgers for the beach at Kalapaki Beach Hut.
3 Kauai for Families
Your itinerary is going to depend on the ages of your kids. The number-one rule is don’t plan too much; especially with young children, who will be fighting jet lag, trying to get adjusted to a new bed (and most likely new food), and may be very hyped up and excited to the point of exhaustion. The 7-day itinerary below is a guide to various activities. Pick and choose the ones everyone in your family will enjoy.
Kauai for Families
Day 1: Arrive in Kauai; Settle in, and Head for the Swimming Pool
Even kids suffer from jet lag and need to reset their internal clock. So expose the family to sunlight as soon as you arrive; even an hour or so will help them adjust to the time difference. If you have young kids who are not used to the waves, you might consider taking them to the swimming pool at your accommodations. They’ll be happy playing in the water, and you won’t have to introduce them to ocean safety after that long plane ride. Plan an early dinner with food your kids are used to; if you’re in Poipu take them to Brennecke’s Beach Broiler. On the Coconut Coast, try Bubba Burgers.
Day 2: Up, Up, and Away in a Helicopter
Since you’re probably on mainland time, the kids will be wide-awake while it’s still dark out. If the kids are old enough (8 years or more), plan an early morning helicopter tour so they can see the island from the air. Or if it’s not raining, head out to Hanalei Beach to watch the sun make its appearance in the east, at 5:30am in summer, and 6:30am in winter. Then head into Hanalei for an early breakfast at Hanalei Wake-up Café.
Since you are already at the North Shore, plan a day at the beach with the kids. Gear up with snorkel equipment, lots of floating equipment, and plenty of sunscreen, and plan to spend the morning at Kee Beach. When the kids start to complain about being hungry, head back to Hanalei and grab a bite at Tropical Taco; take it down to Hanalei Beach for a picnic lunch.
The kids may be passed out after lunch and all that sunshine. Head back to your hotel (and grab a quick nap yourself). Plan another early