Our family hopes to be able to take a family vacation to Kauai every year. It’s so peaceful and we feel so connected as a family. Things are just slower in Kauai and it has seriously been our favorite family vacation ever! I share our favorite Kauai Restaurants and Food Trucks and now I want to share with you are favorite place to go and things to do in Kauai.
Things to Do In Kauai by Town
Kapa’a: This is the town we stay in. We love it! It has some of the best shops and places to eat. Our favorite beach in this town is called Lydgate Beach.
Lydgate Beach: Huge wooden playground (like huge, look it up), two bays to snorkel in but because of the massive rainstorm they had there last fall, there is a lot of debris in the two man-made bays so the snorkeling was bad. (we couldn’t see anything but last October it was a great snorkeling spot). We still hit up this spot twice because it was close to us and safe for our entire family.
Rental bikes: Coconut Crusiers (on the main road/highway) you can bike on a paved bike path that follows the coast line, easy bike ride, barely any hills, great for the entire family. They have bikes for the entire family. You can also rent snorkel gear from them.
Ho’opi’i Falls: THE WATERFALL you all see on my instagram and in my youtube video. There is a lower falls and an upper falls. It is a 2 mile public hike (to upper falls) you have to have life jackets and JUMP AT YOUR OWN RISK. Make sure to stay away from the white water below the falls, especially for your little kids. The lower falls is really gorgeous too! You can’t jump off them but there is a rope swing that is fun. Some of Jurassic Park was filmed there. It’s about a 1/2 mile extra than the upper falls and it gets muddy and steep, so be careful!
Poipu: Another town we love and will drive to at least one of the days we are there.
It is known for some popular beaches, a lot of resorts are there, and good food. But, it is more populated.
Baby Beach is also in Poipu, it is a separate small beach that is protected from the waves and currents and the water is really swallow. I thought it was too “babyish” for my older kids so I wouldn’t go there just for the beach (especially since there are other beaches closer to Kapa’a that are baby friendly. BUT, it does have POKA DOGS!! (learn more about those at the end of the post when I talk about food)
Near Princeville:
Anini Beach: the best beach in my opinion (for the entire family). You CAN SNORKEL WITH TURTLES!!! We loved it! And they have bathrooms and water stations to wash off your feet. AND the water is swallow enough that it was really safe for Henry and the kids could swim without a current. We came to this beach twice and we would probably go again!
Lighthouse: there is a lighthouse just south of Anini beach you might want to go see!
Hanalei: A popular place with good food but we didn’t come here this last trip because of everything we had available to us in Kapa’a.
Hike: There is a really amazing hike (NOT KID FRIENDLY) in Hanalei. Jeff did it with his brother in laws and loved it!
Grand Canyon of Kauai: It’s clear on the other side of the island (from Kapa’a) but worth the drive. (according to my sisters) Look into maybe for a rainy day.
Napali coast tour (north side of the island) these boat tours takes you around the north side of the island. There is no access to some of the north side of the island so if you are kid-free on your trip, definitely consider doing one of these tours or a helicopter tour!
Please tell me if you go and if you enjoyed these places!
XOXO
