NFT: Kauai - Hawaii

Check out the Grand Canyon of the Pacific on the SW part of the Island (Princeville is in the North).

Check out the link below to find some good stuff to do.

BTW...Kauai was my favorite Island when I was living in Hawaii.
What to Do in Kauai - ( New Window )

You picked a great place. I will try to come back a post some recommendations later. How long are you staying?

Don't think about going to Maui -- GO TO MAUI!

the Napali coast. One of the most amazing experiences of my life. I would also recommend hiking at least part of the Napali coast trail. It gets pretty harrowing, some parts are for expert hikers only, but the early part of the trail is beautiful.

Drive up the Waimea Canyon, some of the most spectacular views you will find anywhere. Spend a day at Poipu Beach in the southern part of the island. Enjoy, it is spectacular!

I would shop around, and check reviews first, but this should give you a start.
Na Pali Coast Tours - ( New Window )

I wish I could remember specifics, but I'd definitely take a helicopter ride over the island, which specifically takes you to Manawaiopuna Falls. Absolutely breathtaking.
Link - ( New Window )

a lot of kayaking. Hiking. Water falls. And did some scuba diving.

Food is good everywhere.

although I'm biased because my fiancee is from there - free lodging for a Hawaii vacation is pretty fantastic. The St. Regis is probably the nicest upscale resort on the entire island.

Definitely take a day and drive the island end-to-end - it's a long-ish drive to Polihale but it's a beautiful one. Poipu is nice but very crowded. Hanalei is quite possibly the most beautiful place on earth, but also gets more crowded every year. Take a tour of Na Pali if you can. And definitely drive up into the mountains (and stick to well-maintained roads unless you're renting a vehicle that can handle difficult terrain) - Kauai is The Garden Island for a reason. Waimea Canyon is a sight to behold.

They treat you right. Private small beach, pool is great. They greet you with a cool towel when you arrive! Just stay away from the $21 pool side hamburgers. They are good but very pricey!!

see the Canyon and the Napali coast.

I stayed in the townhomes near the entrance of the St. Regis. Head to Hanalei for dinner a couple nights. Take the Na Pali Coast tour of some sorts and definitely go to the Grand Canyon.

Other than that - just explore. We did a different beach everyday. We went zip lining. Played golf once and just found cool places to eat. Use Yelp and the guide Aloha Alan gave you.

A must try is Ono Char burger which is right on the road from the airport to Princeville. Looks like a shack, but you better stop.

The St. Regis is really a superb hotel. I put in a lot of time researching before I went, and kept a lot of notes. Here's what I'd do:

Recommendations:

1. Bar Accuda - Great restaurant only 5' drive from the hotel. Get a table on the patio outside. Inside is a little noisy.

2. Merriman's Poipu - Poipu area is about an hour drive. I'd recommend checking it out and then having dinner at Merriman's. It's a nice little shopping area that's worth walking around, and then Merriman's is good for dinner.

3. Captain andy's North Star boat - They take you to the Napali coast by sailing around the island. Serve dinner on board, and it's actually pretty decent (grilled chicken and vegetable, nothing fancy). Beers included.

4. Avoid the Kauai Grill in the hotel. It's just ok, but expensive.

5. Definitely do the brunch on the middle level that overlooks the water. Its expensive,but worth it.

6. Check out the sabering on the patio at the hotel. Happens around sunset.

7. Princeville ranch was good for zip-lining.

8. Pick random trails and hikes and go exploring. The island is unreal in terms of its natural beauty.

have fun!

Hanalei bay is very nice, and there was a pretty good Tapas restaurant in town. I think they have kayak tours on a stream that empties in Hanalei bay, but we didn't go.

Further down, Tunnels had good snorkeling.

Wamaia Canyon (on the opposite end of the island) was very cool. McBryde Garden was very nice. Poipu looked like a nice spot to spend the day, but we just drove through.

Be careful if you decide to Trek down to Queen's Bath, which is in Princeville. I went with my kids after some rain, and the path was extremely slippery and narrow, with a drop of about 20 feet to a stream on the side. Also, rougue waves have killed visiters to Queen's Bath.

My family did an ATV tour through a huge farm. I don't remember the name of the tour, but it was a lot of fun.

I've been to Oahu, Maui twice, Big Island twice, and Kauai once. You can't go wrong in Hawaii.

In town. Great coffee

Just as you come into town from princeville its on your right. The fish taco truck in the park across the street has the best fish as well

Good surfing as well

Had always wanted to stay north at Princeville, but we were on a reward trip and stayed at the Hyatt Regency Poipu Bay. My recommendation is to rent a jeep and visit Polihale Beach, which is as far west as you can go on the island, about 5-7 miles offroad after Route 50 ends. You will not be disappointed...a pristine 10 mile stretch of unspoiled beach leading right up to the foot of the Na Pali cliffs. Mainly locals only.

Ziplining through the jungle canopy at the center of the island is awesome as well.

Finally, stop at any of the roadside poke stands (fresh raw tuna in soy sauce with scallions)...it'll change your life.

And bring back the pink salt we discussed back on one of the cooking threads.

Thank you for the recommendations so far.

I'd like to also take my son on a helo ride (wife will not go). IS it worth it for those who've been?

The idea of renting a jeep is totally in my wheelhouse. Just get lost for a while and try to experience the local flavors.

A few years ago. If you can, take a helicopter tour of the Napali Coast, you will think you died and went to heaven, or the set of LOST.

You can snorkel on any of the beaches and swim in and around sea turtles, grab some snorkeling gear and head down there, it's unbelievable.

The Kona coffee plantation is pretty cool, it smells like fresh brewed coffee every inch of the plantation and the samples are as good as I've ever had and I'm a coffee nerd.

It's half Australian Outback and half tropical paradise, be sure you see the red clay hills and hike if you get a chance and then head to the rain foresty part (I don't know what it's called) in the same day. We rented a Jeep with a removable hard top, well worth the expense to see much of the mountains, seaside and rest of the island in open air.

In comment 12296932 FatMan in Charlotte said:

Quote:

I stayed in the townhomes near the entrance of the St. Regis. Head to Hanalei for dinner a couple nights. Take the Na Pali Coast tour of some sorts and definitely go to the Grand Canyon. Other than that - just explore. We did a different beach everyday. We went zip lining. Played golf once and just found cool places to eat. Use Yelp and the guide Aloha Alan gave you. A must try is Ono Char burger which is right on the road from the airport to Princeville. Looks like a shack, but you better stop.

Seconded, we stopped there and it was amazing.