Kauai, South Shore, top 3 'must dos' ?

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Keeping in mind that I hate crowds (I know, what's Glitter doing spending all that time in NYC, but that's different somehow...), love beaches, snorkeling, shortish hikes, adventuresome jeep rides... some nightlife ideas would be most welcome, too. Will start another thread for north shore soon...

TIA, I'm getting psyched!!

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

1. Eat
2. Drink
3. Spend time on the beach

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

1. Eat
2. Drink
3. Spend time on the beach

Your enthusiasm for Kauai is overwhelming

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Your enthusiasm for Kauai is overwhelming

Hey! Those are my three favorite things no matter which island I'm on.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Keeping in mind that I hate crowds (I know, what's Glitter doing spending all that time in NYC, but that's different somehow...), love beaches, snorkeling, shortish hikes, adventuresome jeep rides... some nightlife ideas would be most welcome, too.

Given those preferences, I suggest the following:

• spend time exploring the many south shore beaches
• snorkel (Lawai Beach near the Cliff House restaurant is a popular place)
• do some short hikes - Waimea Canyon park is a good option. Or do some hiking along bluffs east of the cove where Shipwreck Beach is located)
• do an ATV activity

For nightlife there aren't really a lot of options. Maybe a luau - Gaylords or the Hyatt.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

You have got to have a Puka Dog in Poipu.

And, get a bowl of Ramen at Hamura Saimin in Lihue.

Take an hour long lesson on an ultralight. It will be the closest thing to flying you will ever experience.

And, the Fern Grotto just reopened after a couple of years. That's worth a trip.

Bring Deet. There are a ton of mosquitos in Kauai.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

You have got to have a Puka Dog in Poipu.

And, get a bowl of Ramen at Hamura Saimin in Lihue.

Take an hour long lesson on an ultralight. It will be the closest thing to flying you will ever experience.

And, the Fern Grotto just reopened after a couple of years. That's worth a trip.

Bring Deet. There are a ton of mosquitos in Kauai.

Oh NO!!! I hate mosquitos, but they love me

[happymum Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close happymum]

We have done two of the all-day kayak/hike/swim trips and enjoyed them both. Neither were overly strenuous, but provided a nice balance of activities. I dont remember the company name, but suspect that we found it through Kauai Revealed or Frommers. I dont remember the mosquitos as being bad, but maybe thats because they are our unofficial provincial bird!

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

I don't remember mosquitos either (and I'm like Glitter, hate them but they love me). I do remember at the end of our last stay there some kind of infestation of really tiny flying critters.

[aliikai2 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close aliikai2]

Just 3 top things ?

Kauai Cookie Company in Hanapepe

Kauai Coffee just north of Hanapepe

Glass beach and the beach out past the end of Pe'e road.

Dinner at the Beach House ( make your reservations before you arrive for sunset)

Keoki's Paradise for at least Hula Pie, they also have pretty good food and a fun faux South Seas atmospher.

Salt Park and Salt park beach.

The Waimea canyon and Kokee park.

Those are my top picks..

Greg

[Luanne Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Luanne]

Kauai Cookie Company in Hanapepe

Kauai Coffee just north of Hanapepe

Glass beach and the beach out past the end of Pe'e road.

Dinner at the Beach House ( make your reservations before you arrive for sunset)

Keoki's Paradise for at least Hula Pie, they also have pretty good food and a fun faux South Seas atmospher.

Salt Park and Salt park beach.

The Waimea canyon and Kokee park.

Those are my top picks..

Greg

See..............eat, drink and beach.

[Nancy Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Nancy]

Helicopter Tour

Take a good helicopter tour of the island. It was the highlight of our trip 6 years ago. Never thought hubby would agree to go, but he really enjoyed it. That being said, don't think he'd go again.

Nancy

[davhu1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close davhu1]

snorkel Poipu Beach
hike Waimea Canyon
explore the beaches, [stop at the Spouting Horn]

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

Sorry I have six....choose your top three.

1) We had a great tour with this company December of 2004. We kayaked up the Wailua River, hiked through the jungle to swim in two different falls including Kipu Falls, Ziplined, then took the wagon ride back through some ranch estates and to the river for a motorized boat trip back. Our two local guides were great. We had a blast.

Outfitters Kauai - Outdoor Adventure Activities, Kauai, Hawaii


2) There is a place to cliff dive (jump) into the Ocean just east of Shipwreck Beach. Ask a local and they will show you where to jump.


3) We had a great horseback ride. It was pretty much a tail to tail ride but it did go to the ocean and on the 'hidden' beach for a little bit as well as through some nice scenic trails and a bit of open range. Our guide was local and very nice. We will go back and do it again.

Kauai Horseback Riding: CJM Country Stables in Poipu


4) Be sure to go to Polihale State Park (Beach) for some real local and deserted beach on the south end of the Napali Coast. It is a wild rental car ride through the old sugar cane fields. The road is full of pot holes and a bit rough but if you have an SUV then go fast and just avoid the big pot holes. If in a regular rental car you will have to go slower and keep an ear out for your hub caps coming off. Alamo did not ding us for a missing hub cap.

5) Snorkel in front of the Lauai Beach Resort.

6) Waimea Canyon is very nice. Go down every road you can find and be sure to hike out near the lookout areas where they have trails.

I could go on but.....

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

You guys rock! These are great, except no helicopter tours for me
I have flown in an Ultralite, but will not ever get into another helicopter, unless I needed to be airlifted somewhere for medical treatment...