If you want nothing more on
your vacation than a fabulous
beach, a luxurious Kauai
vacation rental, and a perfectly
mixed mai tai, you're in luck -
Kauai has some of the most
spectacular beaches (not to
mention the best mai tais) in
the world. But Kauai's wealth of
natural wonders is hard to
resist; the year-round tropical
climate and spectacular scenery
tend to inspire even the most
committed desk jockeys and couch
potatoes to get outside and
explore. If you have your own
snorkel gear or other water
sports equipment, bring it.
If you can't, don't fret;
everything you'll need is
available for rent. Safety
Tips-- When planning sunset
activities, be aware that
Hawaii, like other places close
to the equator, has a very short
(5-10 min.) twilight period
after the sun sets. After that,
it's dark. If you hike out to
watch the sunset, be sure you
can make it back quickly, or
take a flashlight.
As in finding and choosing
the right Kauai vacation homes
to fit your own needs and budget
where it's best to contact
experts like us to guide you, so
too is planning a hiking
vacation easier if you rely on
experts. Go with an outfitter or
a guide and let them worry about
the details. Experienced outdoor
enthusiasts can follow your
noses trek into the rainforest
on your own, but it's often
preferable to go with a local
guide who is familiar with the
conditions at both sea level and
the summit, knows the land and
its flora and fauna in detail,
and has all the gear you'll
need. It's also good to go with
a guide if time is an issue.
If you really want to see
native birds, for instance, an
experienced guide will take you
directly to the best areas for
sightings. And many forests and
valleys in the interiors of the
islands are either on private
property or in wilderness
preserves that are accessible
only on guided tours. If you go
with a guide, plan on spending
at least $100 a day per person.
But if you have the time,
already own the gear, and love
doing the research and planning,
try exploring on your own. We
recommend that you always use
the resources available and
inquire about weather, trail, or
surf conditions; water
availability; and other
conditions before you take off
on your adventure.
For hikers, a great
alternative to hiring a private
guide is taking one of the
guided hikes offered by the
Kauai chapter of the Sierra Club
in Lihue
(www.hi.sierraclub.org). The
club offers guided hikes on
preserves and at special places
during the year, as well as 1-
to 7-day work trips to restore
habitats and trails and root out
invasive plants like banana poka,
New Zealand flax, nonnative
gorse, and wild ginger. This
might not sound like a dream
vacation to everyone, but it's a
chance to see the "real" Kauai
-- including wilderness areas
that are usually off-limits.
The Sierra Club offers four
to seven hikes a month on Kauai.
Hikes are led by certified
Sierra Club volunteers and are
classified as easy, moderate, or
strenuous. These half-day or
all-day affairs cost $1 for
Sierra Club members, $5 for
nonmembers. (Bring exact
change.) When you are ready for
high adventure in spectacular
Kauai, come to the Kauai
vacation rentals experts - us!