Aggie Lewis, the owner of the travel agency Aggie’s Travel, is a frequent visitor to Hawaii, going there almost every year. Kauai is her favorite place, which she describes as “truly magical.” Aggie’s Travel was established in Oak Lawn, Ill, in 2009. However, Aggie has been in the travel business for over three decades.
According to Aggie, most of her customers who go on multi-island Hawaii vacations rate Kauai as their favorite. As the oldest of all Hawaii’s islands, she’s convinced that Kauai is the most beautiful place.
Based on Aggie’s suggestions, here is how you can get the best out of a five-day Kauai vacation.
Day 1: Your vacation should ideally kick-off with a relaxing stay at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa. Located on the south shore of Poipu, the resort offers an array of outdoor activities like hiking and kayaking. Post an exciting morning, guests can chill at the resort’s spa or enjoy a lazy afternoon wading in the resort’s lazy river. A short distance away is Poipu Beach where you can have seafood at a casual dining restaurant across the street.
Day 2: Start the morning with a visit to Kauai Coffee Co., the largest coffee farm in the U.S. A self-guided tour with generous coffee samples can be a delightful start to your day. After loading up on caffeine, head to Waimea Canyon State Park, the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” Here, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery at your own pace. Then, head east to the Wailua River to see the waterfalls. Spend the evening attending the Smith’s Family Garden Luau, which is right on the river.
Day 3: A boat tour of the 17-mile-long Napali Coast would be the perfect beginning to the day. The tour will take you past secluded beaches, valleys, and waterfalls. Dolphins are known to join in the tour; just be on the lookout. You can cap the day off with dinner at Tidepools restaurant at the Hyatt.
Day 4: Breakfast at the Kountry Kitchen in downtown Kapaa would be an excellent choice. Known for their plate-size macadamia nut pancakes and other delectable dishes, the restaurant will give your day the perfect start. After breakfast, go ahead and explore the Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens and Sculpture Park. You can follow it up with a visit to Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge and Lighthouse. In the evening, head back to the Hyatt to unwind with some sushi and cocktails at Stevenson’s Library.
Day 5: Start the day as leisurely as you want and, in the afternoon, visit Kilohana Plantation in Lihue. Here, you can go on a Rum Safari Tour, which includes sampling Koloa rum and meeting farm animals. End the day with a mouthwatering pasta dinner from La Spezia in Old Koloa Town.
Have more time?
With another day or more on your hands, there’s plenty more you could do in Kauai. You could go mountain tubing with Kauai Backcountry Adventures, do some off-roading in an ATV with Kipu Ranch Adventures, soar on Kauai’s longest zipline on a Koloa Zipline, or try hiking the Nounou Mountain. Top it all off with a meal from the Beach House Restaurant in Koloa or the oceanfront Bull Shed Restaurant along the Kuhio Highway in Kapaa.
