Aloha fellow fodorites! I have to travel back to Kauai in just about a month (So sad ) for two weeks. I've visited a few times but it's been a while so I would love any updates on must see/do places/things. This time it's the whole family (DH & 2 littles) We'll be staying in Poipu and have a full kitchen. We love fresh food (everything from fish to fruit/veggies) and enjoy cooking when we can. Any insight on the best places to shop would also be appreciated. We're kind of laid back people but don't want to just sit and let time pass by completely. We are used to having to drive to get most places at home so that's not a big issue to us.

DH and I have been to the Allerton Gardens but that was back in 2008, anyone think it would be worth doing again? We enjoyed it last time but were lucky enough to have an awesome guide that had been around for a long time and knew major history for the garden. I've heard the tour doesn't take you to as many locations as it used to?

We've been contemplating a day trip to the volcano on Hawaii just DH and I; does anyone have any thoughts on that? I think it would be a neat trip to experience but don't want to be disappointed and end up with a poor tour and regret wasting time doing it. I'm sure to do it justice it would take days, but we don't really have that.

I know the train ride at Kilohana Plantation would be a hit with the littles. Any other suggestions to do with them?

Ok, enough for now I don't want to be a pest. Once again, I would love any insight anyone can offer to make a chicken infested trip bearable!

Thanks!!!

Hello!!

Great choice on Kauai , you will not be disappointed! Here is a link with TONS of information provided by Fodors Travel for your upcoming trip .

http://www.fodors.com/world/north-am...a/hawaii/kauai

After the train ride you can visit the Koloa Rum place for tasting, very good. Lydgate Park for the Kamalani Playground and possibly snorkeling depending on their age and if they can swim.
I would not take small childen to the Volcano National Park. Right now there are no legal lava hikes, you can only see a glow from the lava lake at night.
Also you do not say how old your children are, but taking very young ones to the volcano is not recommended (check the NPS website) due to the gases being harmful for young lungs.
Hopefully Kal, songdoc and some of the Kauai regulars will chime in here soon with other suggestions.

Sadly, I believe The Tavern is now closed due to the gold course renovation.

Poipu now has Merriman's and Josselin's Tapa's and a few others in the newish plaza right by the roundabout where you can hang a right to head to Spouting Horn. They also have a "Whole Foods" type of store there but I wouldn't do my weekly grocery shopping there.Good coffees, fresh juices, pastries etc tho.

A lot of Farmer's Mkts now on Kauai.

We liked La Spezia in Koloa. Good Italian. Reasonable wine list.
Kids may like Puka Dogs in Poipu and Hanalei.

Joe's on the Green always a fave.

We are no longer "kiddies" but still enjoy the train ride!

Ditto jamie's suggestion on Kamalani Playground and Lydgate Beach .

Rent some bikes in Kapaa and head out on the biking/walking path.

BTW...how "little" are the littles? Some nice ATV tours start in the Poipu/Koloa areas.

...and fer cryin' out loud....mini golf in Kilauea. Golf and learn about the history of the islands.

Wow awesome suggestions so far, thanks guys!

jamie99, we didn't plan on taking the kids (G&G will be along to allow DH and I some time alone here and there) but thanks for the heads up about the gasses! And yum to the rum tasting, that could be fun.

CaroleA2, we'll add the birds at the lighthouse to our list to do with the kids. They enjoy watching the birds around here so I'm sure they will enjoy that. We also enjoy tunnels and ke'e and hope to make it there this time as well!

Kal, the littles are 5 and 2 so I'm guessing too young for a lot of the tours. They might enjoy the mini golf though. We golf around here and our 5 yr old has her own set to putt around with. Where would you recommend grocery shopping? We've previously done Safeway in Kapaa but I think there's one in Lihue now right? Where's a good place to rent bikes, never done it but always thought it would be fun. Now to talk DH into it!

Never been to Lydgate, might have to check that out too!

Can't wait to hear more!

Be careful about Tunnels in Nov. It is one of my favorite beaches, but if the currents are strong it could have dangerous rip currents. I don't think Tunnels has a life guard either.

Kal gives the best advice!

BIG Safeway in Lihue....if you can figger' out how to get into it! Traffic circle at one entrance that is pretty screwy.
LOL Remember, there is also a Costco.

I'm not sure but some of the ATV tours may still have "buggies" where they will drive for you or you can drive them. 2 and maybe 4 seaters?

We did a regular ATV tour out of Koloa and we went thru the mountain underneath Queen Eliz's profile (lonnnnng tunnel) and came out where they filmed the stampede scene i the original Jurassic Park.

5 and 2 might be too young to do the inner tube ride down the old irrigation ditch?

Smith Family grounds and then a barge ride up to the fern grotto. The kids may like the peacocks roaming the beautiful grounds.

And there is always the bowling alley!


Wonder if the Lihue Marriott still does the horse/carriage
ride?
@nanabee....

LOL, it sounds like Safeway might be an adventure in itself! G&G are members of Costco but I've actually never been to one seeing as the closet one to us is 2 hrs away! Should we go there first or Safeway? With 2 kids we go through a fair amount of food but don't need to overbuy and be wasteful either. They're fruit/veggie mongers. Are there things either place really has an edge on?

I'll have to look into the ATV thing once, could be neat to try.

I have to ask, where's the bowling alley? All the times I've been I never knew there was one.

I'd do Safeway over Costco simply because you don't need a 6 lb bottle of peanut butter or 4 lbs of pasta. Are you a Safeway Club member? If not, join here.

www.lihuebowlingcenter.com/ We know where it is but have never been. Nor have we've been to the movies there.

Near some of my fave places to eat, Rob's Goodtimes Sports Grill, Dani's Cafe, Hamura's.
I'd say "fave places to dine" but I'm not elitist enuff.

Kal, I am a Safeway Club member so good to go there; thank you though!

I do have a couple more questions maybe someone can help with. First is about a restaurant we enjoyed last time we were there; Yum Cha. It was at the golf course at the Hyatt. It was Asian fusion type food. I know it's closed now but does anyone know of anything similar on the island?

Next question is about a good place to get fresh fish. We enjoy cooking it but are not sure where the best place to get it would be.

I just recently read that the Wildlife refuge up at the lighthouse is closed until the end of April. Does anyone know about that? I'm guessing that means no go for the bird watching up there?

Anyone have any recommendations on a zipline tour if DH and I were to do one?

I'm taking the fact that no one has written about the volcano day tour means no one really recommends doing that?

Thanks again everyone, 1 month and counting!!!

Our new "dinner with local pals" fave place that is a little "Asian fusiony" but it's in Kapaa:
www.jotwo.com/

You may want to try one of these places in Poipu?: www.theshopsatkukuiula.com/directory#dine

We've only hit Merriman's Burger Pizza bar. We "don't do nights" in Poipu since we stay in Kapaa. ;-)
Like to be within walking (stumbling distance to our hotel after having dinner/cocktails.

When we were there this past January, we heard the Lighthouse area was being renovated but I think you can still drive up to the upper parking area and do some bird and surf crashing watching from there. Don't go too far down some of the paths either.

If not, drive up, turn around and go have a nice meal at Lighthouse Cafe or hit the bakery and check out the art or mini-golf?