Top Five Things to Do in Kauai

Kauai is a magnificent place full of lush gardens and forests, beautiful beaches, and amazing opportunities for sports and relaxation alike. Of all the Hawaiian islands, it has the best combination of resort-like resources and peace and tranquility. For newcomers to Kauai, however, all that opportunity can be a bit overwhelming. How do you figure out what to do? Where do you start first? If this is a once in a lifetime trip, and every hour of every day you are there really counts, it is important to have a plan before you go so that you do not waste any time trying to learn about the things to do in Kauai while you are actually in Kauai. A little bit of research before hand can go a long way to making your special once-in-a-lifetime vacation even more spectacular.

With that in mind, here is our list of the top five things to do in Kauai, gathered and assembled through years of experience in living on the island.

1. A Day at the Beach: You need to make sure you give yourself a day at the beach, any beach, in Kauai. Pick one close to where you are staying so that you do not feel stranded, but pack well. Bring towels, umbrellas, sunscreen, food, drinks, frisbees and balls, extra clothes, books, chairs - anything and everything to make your day comfortable. Bring gear to use in swimming in the water, and materials for relaxing on the beach. Just make a day of it - soak in the sun and the sound of the surf. This is a great activity to do in the middle of your week between more active days.

2. An Active Day on Land: Plan a day to hike one of Kauai's many trails. The island is called "The Garden Isle" for a reason. It has fantastic plant life, and there is no better way to see it than on a hike. Bring the appropriate clothes and supplies, and give yourself over to the fun of a physically active day. Most of all - be sure to bring a camera!

3. An Active Day on the Water: You can set aside a beach day, but be sure to give yourself time for an active day on the water: windsurf, jet ski, parasail, surf, water ski, boat - there are plenty of ways you can get out on the water and enjoy the view of the land and the shore and the excitement of riding the waves. These activities can be a little pricey, however, so be sure to budget accordingly.

4. A Day Underwater: Snorkeling and scuba diving in Kauai are a lot of fun, and there are opportunities to take courses in scuba if you don't have education, so enjoy it while you're there. Even better - this is a certification course before arriving in order to jump directly into the water - literally! The most beautiful part of Hawaii are under water, and you can not really appreciate until you see it. Make sure you take time to explore the underwater world while you're at, and for snorkeling or diving down.

5. A day of Serendipity not want to come back completely from vacationexhausted. Make a day of rest and relaxation for all the little things you see during the week, the eye-do planning. One of the great pleasures of travel is to take the time to explore - this is the day to go visit the store, saw the charming, the restaurant that looked inviting, wanted to buy the jewel. Enter to enjoy the time and space and the process is an important part of holiday to enjoy it - so you can not waste a day after feelingleaving it open. You'll find things you want to do in that time throughout the week.