Can't miss activities/restaurants in Kauai?

[SpartanGirl]

My husband and I are heading to Kauai for 10 days in early April.  It will be our first time to Hawaii.  We'll have a rental car and aren't really "sit on the beach" types.  We won't have the kids with us, and we're hoping to do some hiking.  We have some experience hiking (we hike with the kids all summer), but I wouldn't call us experts by any means.

Any suggestions on things that we absolutely shouldn't miss?  Best places to eat (I've searched the board and found a few recommendations already, but would love to hear more)?

Any other advice for our first trip?  I've been reading this board, trip advisor and guide books, and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed with options. 

[dutchgirl678]

Get the Kauai Revealed book, it is the best resource for tips on where to go and eat and stuff. We went last year but with the kids so it was a little bit different for us. Where on the island will you be staying? We were on the east side and had breakfast in Kapa'a at this place called Kountry Kitchen that was so good! We also drove all over the place. We went to the North Shore and hiked at the far end of the road. We saw the lighthouse, wandered around in Hanalei Bay. We drove south and went snorkeling in Poi'pu and drove up the mountain to see the canyon. There are lots of cool hiking trails there. There are great sail cruises that show you the spectacular west coast. We took a helicopter tour.

[keweenawlove]

I love Kauai. Here's my post from our trip 2 years ago.

For hikes, we did the Kalalau Trail to Hanakapi'ai Falls which was amazing. It's a 3-6 hour hike depending on speed, how often you stop, etc. We're doing the whole trail on our trip this spring. We hired a guide one day to take us somewhere we wouldn't have found ourselves and ended up at the bottom of the canyon at a waterfall called Lonomea. It was really cool because we had the place to ourselves. The hike back out was brutal though. The other hike I remember was Sleeping Giant on the east side but that one was kind of boring after the other 2. I really want to do the Awaawapuhi trail or one of the other Koke'e trails that we didn't have time for our last trip.

I'm not sure how the north shore is for snorkeling in April is but it's worth trying if conditions are good. Tunnels and Hideaways were our favorites.

We didn't do too much in the way of eating out. The Beach House was our nicest meal and the views were incredible. Puka dogs was worth a stop for a quick lunch. Honestly though our favorite meals were food picked up from the farmers markets that we grilled on our lanai.

Have a great trip!

[SpartanGirl]

Feb 10, 2014 15:40:44 GMT -5 dutchgirl678 said:

Get the Kauai Revealed book, it is the best resource for tips on where to go and eat and stuff. We went last year but with the kids so it was a little bit different for us. Where on the island will you be staying? We were on the east side and had breakfast in Kapa'a at this place called Kountry Kitchen that was so good! We also drove all over the place. We went to the North Shore and hiked at the far end of the road. We saw the lighthouse, wandered around in Hanalei Bay. We drove south and went snorkeling in Poi'pu and drove up the mountain to see the canyon. There are lots of cool hiking trails there. There are great sail cruises that show you the spectacular west coast. We took a helicopter tour.

We're staying in Princeville.

I just ordered the Kauai Revealed book. 

[orangello]

If you're in Princeville (we stayed there too), you definitely need to do at least the first few miles of the Kalalau trail. Get there early! Hanalei Bay has some good restaurants, we ate at Bubba Burger (lol, NOT fancy) and some South American place I can't remember the name of that was delicious. Oh, Hanalei Coffee Roasters for coffees and easy breakfasts. We also ate at The Tavern (twice), and it was delicious. I'd skip the restaurant at the St. Regis, can't remember the name but it was overpriced and not that great for dinner. We did however love their breakfasts and the beach bar.

If you get calm seas when you are there, I'd hike down to the Queen's Bath - it's a short gorgeous hike, and so, so pretty once you get there. However - if the waves are up, do not attempt! We didn't hike or explore as much as we planned on because we had amazingly calm seas, and my husband discovered his now passion for snorkeling while we were there - we pretty much spent every morning at Tunnels beach, and then either explored or relaxed in the afternoons.

We absolutely loved Kauai, and can't wait to go back and also go to the other HI islands.

[keweenawlove]

Feb 10, 2014 16:10:25 GMT -5 orangello said:

If you get calm seas when you are there, I'd hike down to the Queen's Bath

Or better yet, the Secret Lava pools near Secret Beach. They talk about them in the Kauai Revealed book. Similar to Queens Bath but less people. Secret Beach was our favorite beach too.

[orangello]

keweenawlove, was Secret Beach the hike with the really steep sort of stairs, with a rope to hold on to on the side? For some reason we tried to go and decided it was a little too steep (I think it had rained earlier and it was slippery, maybe?), but now I wish we'd tried it!

[keweenawlove]

orangello I think you're thinking of Hideaways Beach. We stayed at the condos right at the start of the path so we made the hike down a few times. The ropes were definitely necessary. The hike down to Secret Beach was comparable to the one to Queens Bath. In my head right now at least.

[bullsgirl]

Loved both Tunnels Beach and Hanalei. Defiyely agree with Hanalei coffee roasters. I also really liked a hole in the wall place in a strip mall called Hanalima Baking. We found it by accident on our way back from Waimea Canyon, and ended up eating there twice. Great cheap breakfast and lunch.

My favorite dinner was at Caffe Coco.

[christy082]

We took a catamaran tour of the Napali Coast. It was probably my favorite thing we did (on our honeymoon, between 3 islands). It was breathtaking.

[SpartanGirl]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. I'm bookmarking all of them to check out. keweenawlove Your trip review in your blog was very helpful!

Thanks all!

[Alyssa]

I recommend hitting up Wahooo in Kapaa.  I ordered sea bass and it was so good.

www.wahooogrill.com/

[devonpow]

Just posting here to refer back later DH and I are going to Kauai for a week sans kids in June. Report back and let us know what you recommend! 

[mdgirl]

I have a couple of Kauai posts in my blog, but we were based in Poipu both times. This one talks about a couple hikes we did on that side of the island, and this one covers the Hanikapi'ai trail.

[SpartanGirl]

Feb 11, 2014 20:53:23 GMT -5 devonpow said:

Just posting here to refer back later DH and I are going to Kauai for a week sans kids in June. Report back and let us know what you recommend! 

I will!!

[SpartanGirl]

Feb 11, 2014 21:05:28 GMT -5 mdgirl said:

I have a couple of Kauai posts in my blog, but we were based in Poipu both times. This one talks about a couple hikes we did on that side of the island, and this one covers the Hanikapi'ai trail.

These are great, thank you!  H and I are seriously considering the Hanikapi'ai trail to the falls if the weather cooperates, so it's nice to read first hand accounts of what it's like.

[Deleted]

Waimea Canyon was one of our favorite adventures.

[Deleted]

If you drive to waimea canyon, which I highly rec, stop at the hanapepe bakery and cafe in hanapepe. Looks like a dive and it's soooo good! We had a late breakfast there.