Frommer's Kauai - Jeanette Foster [70]
Day 3: Wow—Kauai’s Own Grand Canyon
If the kids are 8 or older, head out west, up to Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Park. Have warm clothes along, as it can get cold at 4,000 feet, and be prepared for rain. Get an early start and have breakfast at the Kalaheo Coffee Co. & Café. Stop in Waimea town to explore the Russian Fort Elizabeth State Historical Park and the Menehune Ditch, then plan to spend most of the morning (before the clouds roll in) either hiking the various trails in the Waimea Canyon area (for hikes) or at least pulling over in the scenic look out areas and viewing the canyon. Then travel another 16 miles and a few thousand feet up the road to Kokee. Stop for lunch at the Kokee Lodge, open from 9am to 3pm. Check in at the Kokee Natural History Museum to learn about the forests and surrounding area, locate good hiking trails, and pick up a couple of trail maps. In the afternoon, wander around the park, and stay for sunset. Stop for dinner at the Brick Oven Pizza in Kalaheo.
Day 4: Sailing or Swimming in the Ocean
Head for the ocean. If you think the tykes will like sailing and snorkeling, book a sail/snorkel tour out of the Kukuiula Small Boat Harbor or Port Allen (see “Boating,” in chapter 7) for the trip of a lifetime—exploring the Na Pali Coast.
If your clan is not the boating type, drive west to Kauai’s Poipu Beach Park. Spend the day here. Plan on dinner at Poipu Beach Broiler, where the kids’ menu has all their favorites.
Day 5: Explore a Magical Garden
Take a day off the water, call Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens to make sure they are open, and book a tour. If you have tiny tots, they will love the children’s play area. This incredible, magical garden is for people who shudder at the thought of seeing a botanical garden: The whimsical magic of the place will win over even the most stubborn. Drop by Kilauea Fish Market to get a picnic lunch to eat down the road at the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge (see “Birding”), a 200-acre habitat for Hawaii’s ocean birds. Eat your picnic on the coast, join a guided hike, or just wander through the fairyland of the wilderness area. Have dinner at the wonderful Lighthouse Bistro Kilauea.
Day 6: Discover a Museum or Walk on a Sleeping Giant
You can visit Kauai’s Children’s Discovery Museum in Kapaa—where the kids can have the time of their lives playing with virtual reality television, playing Hawaiian musical instruments, or hiding out in a “magical” treehouse. Eat lunch just outside of Kapaa at Duane’s Ono-Char Burger, in Anahola . In the afternoon, if your kids are teenagers, hike up Sleeping Giant Mountain. If they are very young, head for Lydgate State Park, where one of the best kid’s playgrounds on the island is located. By dinnertime, you’ll be hungry; try the Ono Family Restaurant, in Kapaa.
Day 7: 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. Take the family to the Kauai Museum in Lihue or take the train ride at Kilohana in Puhi. Die-hard beachgoers can head to Kalapaki Beach for their last few hours of sun. Get some burgers for the beach at Kalapaki Beach Hut. Start planning your next trip to Kauai.
4 Kauai for the Adventurous
Are you one of those people who hates the thought of lying around at the beach, doing nothing? Is your idea of the perfect vacation to be up, active, and trying new adventures? Then Kauai is the place for you. Our suggested itinerary below covers all the basic things to see on Kauai, with added adventures that active people like you love.
Kauai for the Adventurous
Day 1: Arrive in Kauai; Head for the Beach
I can’t say this too often: To readjust your internal clock, get outside and get some sunshine (don’t forget the sunscreen). I’d suggest going to the closest beach to your hotel (see my picks in chapter 7). Start your adventure by dining on ethnic cuisine that you have never tried; check out our restaurant picks in chapter 6.
Day 2: Fly Through the Sky and Swim Through the Water
One of the