By Judy Koutsky
Kauai, 20 minutes from Honolulu, oozes romance. Couples often travel here to get away from the kids for a long weekend and enjoy the amazing water, surf and sun. We’ve put together a guide of where to stay, what to do, and what not to miss, so you’ll enjoy the quintessential Kauai trip.
What to Do:
Air tours anywhere are a luxury, but on Kauai a helicopter tour takes it to a whole new level. The island’s dramatic landscape—from the crater of Mt. Waialeale, to Waimea Canyon, to the spectacularly rugged Napali Coast—truly is one of the memorable tours you’ll probably ever take on a vacation. Since many of the most beautiful places on Kauai are inaccessible by car, a helicopter is the perfect way to see the Garden Island. Kauai is breathtakingly beautiful from the air, with rolling hills and valleys on the eastern shore and majestic mountains on the west. The wonderful lightness of a helicopter combined with the skilled navigation of the pilot, makes this one of the best excursions on the island.
For biking enthusiasts, nothing beats a ride down Waimea Canyon Road. Starting from the rim of the canyon, the bike ride down is 12 miles of smooth winding blacktop to the shore of the blue Pacific. Riders can choose between a four-hour sunrise or three and a half hour sunset ride. Whether you decide to see the sun rise over Waimea Canyon or the sunset over the “Forbidden Island” of Ni‘ihau, this tour not only gives you a good work-out, but also allows for some of the best views on the island.
Of course for hiking enthusiasts, Kauai really is the perfect respite. With more than 90 percent of the island being inaccessible by road, this island is a hiker’s paradise.
Whether you want to hike the scenic Kalalau Trail along the Napali Coast or Waimea Canyon, Kauai is a wonderful maze of interesting trails, hidden waterfalls and archeological mystery. You can take a guided tour to learn more about the island up close or venture out with a friend at your own leisurely pace.
One guided tour well worth taking is the private guided waterfall hike. This is an exclusive hiking experience on the pristine, private Princeville Ranch on Kauai’s north shore. Ascend “Green Hill” and witness breathtaking mountain and ocean views. Hike the lowland rainforest, Kalihiwai Valley, to the spectacular five-tiered Kalihiwai Falls. Continue up the valley to a second waterfall and swimming hole surrounded by fern-lined walls for lunch and finish the day by floating on inner tubes.
NEXT: Romanic Adventure on Kauai
