Pat’s Top 7 Kauai Picks: What’s there to do on the Garden Isle anyways?
Welcome millions of internet readers! Okay, friends and family, or whoever is reading - disclaimer at the top - this is way more than 7 things, but the listicle generator said this title would draw you in!
Like my attempt at punchy travel blog writing? Share the link with friends! Oh, and if you find cooler things to do on Kauai, email your tips to me.
Always looking for things to scout out on the next trip...
See more Kauai photos here (Copyright PatBell.com 2013, 2015).
Anini Beach - get there early to find parking, and your place in the small sand strip they call a beach, or under a shade tree in the grass. The snorkelers among us saw sea turtles and an array of fish. Mild to strong current at times. While there really isn’t very much sand between the bank and the water, there’s still plenty of space to navigate around your fellow tourists. Bring a cooler and some essentials if you plan to make a day out of it, because there are no services within walking distance.
Tunnels Beach - Look for Hanea Beach Park (not to be confused with Ha’ena State Park, up the road further), and backtrack the half mile or so to the snorkeling friendly reefs. We found a “super secret” access road that puts you right in the middle of the beach. Hint: plug this in to Google Maps. If you are not a strong swimmer, don’t go out one of the channels between the reefs. While that may be your best bet to see turtles, the water gets dark and choppy quickly.
Protip: Need snorkel gear? Hit up Snorkel Bob’s. But don’t let the sales people upsale you to gear you don’t need. Feel weird about using communal gear? There’s a Costco and a Walmart on the island!
Ke’e Beach: It’s at the end of the road! Really, if you take Kuhio Highway any further, you’ll end up in the ocean. Great views of the Na Pali Coast. We often see Monk Seals at this beach. There is some snorkeling to be had, but mainly we just like to sit in our beach chairs, and watch the waves crash into the rock walls up the coast.
Lydgate Beach - Great for kids! There are two protected saltwater pools, plentiful parking, big patches of sand, shade trees, grassy areas, bathrooms and showers all in close proximity. What’s not to love? The trees double as wind barriers if you go in the winter and a squall hits. Or so we’re told.
Yeah, yeah, there are tens of other cool beaches. Grab a tourist pamphlet at Foodland, and page through until you find their top 10 beaches list. Then visit every single one, until you find the few that are just right for you. It’s like playing Goldilocks, but for beach bums.
Waimea Pier - There was ukulele music in the air when we stopped. We didn’t find much to see in Waimea, but this pier is worth a gander. We have this shot framed on canvas in our bathroom. Because nothing helps take the mind to faraway tropical places, like a long fishing pier in black and white, jutting out into the open ocean.
Kilauea Lighthouse - If it smells like dirty birds in the vicinity, it’s because them thar hills is full of bird poop, e.g. guano. Don’t throw a cigarette butt down there, folks, you might burn half the island up. But really, a nice photo any time of day, and easy to get to from the highway. Just follow the signs.
Waimea Canyon - The “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” Yep, that’s what they call it. Pretty self explanatory, it’s a big ass canyon. Don’t like heights? Stay off the overlooks up here.
Protip: Bring the right camera lenses if you want to get some shots of things faraway, like amazing (but tiny!) streams of waterfalls.
Wailua Falls - What’s not to like about a drive up attraction! But seriously, get out of Lihue on the open road and check this thing out. Apparently there are some super dangerous trails nearby. A man weaving baskets out of leaves told us about them.
Protip: parking is tight, and there’s barely any turn around space, so don’t take your caddy, daddy, unless you can turn it on a dime.
4) Places to stay: We have stayed at both Plantation at Princeville condominiums and Bali Hai by Wyndam. Deals abound on VRBO.com.
Here’s the exact condo we stayed in. Interior and furniture was in good condition, has a nice lanai, box of kid toys, Pack and Play, a garage full of essentials (boogy boards, surf boards, lawn chairs, beach chairs, floaties, you name it!), nice (small) pool, hot tub, and outdoor BBQs. What more can you ask for?
Protip: Whether you stay in Princeville or not, check out the sun deck at the St. Regis in Princeville. It has one of the best unobstructed views of Bali Hai and Hanalei Bay.
Kalalau Lookout - Check the weather before you go. We’ve been there in sun, and we’ve been there in rain.
Protip: The latter (rain) usually means the view is obscured, as the mountains will be socked in with fog. It’s a long, windy road to the top just for foggy nothingness! Mind the weather app. Or pay the ultimate price: wasted time in tropical paradise.
Hanalei Valley Overlook - If you want to check out the famous Taro fields below, this is the place to stop and get your gawking on!
Kealia Beach - Right off the highway outside of Kapaa heading Northbound, there’s a great scenic overlook. Lots of roosters hanging out. Big waves. Worth a stop and a walkabout on the jogging trail that wraps around the bend. Signs say there is a whale migration that can sometimes be observed. We didn’t observe.
6) Trails - or Trail singular:
Okolehao Trail - OK, this is the only trail these non-hikers ventured out on. And it was kind of like a survivor-challenge. Huge elevation climb. Slippery as hell in the rain. But big payoff when you get to the top, and see a rainbow over the valley. Who would’ve thought finding the wrong trail could be so much fun! We were intending to just walk along the river, when we saw the sign, and figured we’d see where it took us...
Hanalei Gourmet - Some of the best food we’ve had! Wife went back for the Marlin fish tacos at least three nights. Live music and the owner is a Virginia Tech fan, so you’re likely to find sports on one of the TVs.
Also in Haneli, we liked Kalypso for Happy Hour and cold island drinks.
Tacos al Pastor - This little taco truck is hidden in a grove of taco trucks. OK, not a grove, but some kind of taco truck park. Go for the namesake, and you won’t be disappointed! Great fuel for your road trip, or a nice reward to yourself after a long, hard day at the beach.
Also in Kapaa, try Olympic Cafe. It’s got a great view of the downtown area, if drinking a cold one and idle people-watching is your thing. Food was A+.
Luau Kalamaku - It’s on a plantation! Old-timey train rides and stuff. Admittedly, this is the only one we’ve been do. Basically, one long boozy food-fest. We rode there on an old bus from the North Shore. If you can find a designated driver, or don’t plan to imbibe, I’d take your rental car.
Speaking of rental cars, we found an awesome deal on a rental car through Costco Travel. Went the mini-van route, and we’ll be doing that for infinity and beyond. Averaged out to be about $30/day.
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