On the off chance that you want to get around and really see things and do things while you visit Kauai, here are our personal favorites. Driving distance are approximate and from the East side, i.e. Kapaa, Wailua, and Lihue.
Driving
all the way North to the end of the road is a 1/2 day to full day trip not to be missed.
The round trip drive time from East Kauai is probably 2.5 hours. But you'll
want to stop a dozen times the last 30 minutes of the drive to look at ocean views,
beaches, mountains, dry cave, wet cave, etc. If you like to take pictures
you'll shoot a couple of rolls of film there. Do treat yourselves to a
convertible rental car. It will probably cost an extra $30 or $40 a day,
but how often will you be driving here?
There is a nice beach, Ke'e
Beach, at the end of the road that is usually a little crowded. [If you're
through Hanalei at the right time for lunch eat at the Hanalei Dolphin restaurant.
And if the Wishing Well shave-ice wagon happens to be open you MUST have a rainbow
shave ice over macadamia nut ice cream. It's a rule.]
Going to the "other" end of the road,
West, is another 1/2 day to full day must-do trip. The drive doesn't start
out as impressive. But when you get to Waimea
Canyon that one view is so spectacular it is worth it. The round trip is
maybe 3 hours from East Kauai.
Keep driving another hour (roundtrip) north past the Canyon lookout to the very end of the
road and you'll be rewarded with another fantastic view - the Kalalau valley in Kokee
State Park. And
there is a nice little snack bar in Kokee before you get to the Kalalau lookout
that has really good, albeit overpriced, sandwiches, salads, and lunches.
There are LOTS of great hiking trails in Kokee, not all as wet as the Ale Kai swamp trail.
A
20 minute drive will take you to Wailua
Falls. No
hiking is required to see these easily recognizable twin falls made famous by
the open credits of the 70s TV series Fantasy Island. The
Opaekaa Falls are just five minutes from the Wailua Beach. A second
lookout at Opaekaa falls has a great view of the Wailua River valley. And
across the highway are the stone remains of a sacred temple. These Heiau
are still sacred to residents of Hawaii so please treat them with the respect
appropriate for any place of worship.
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Accommodations |
Dinning |
Excursions |
Free Activities |
Other Activities |
Shopping |
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Page lasted updated May 30, 2011
