My husband and I will be traveling to Kauai in September with our 17 month old and are trying to decide between the north and south shore. We would like access to nice beaches for our daughter (swimmable), good restaurants, and some hiking. Does anyone have a recommendation on which may be better for travel with a toddler?

We are traveling with our 14 month old granddaughter and family next week and staying at the Hyatt Resort in Poipu Beach. They have a huge saltwater lagoon with sand beach adjacent to the ocean. The ocean is too rough for swimming, but the lagoon is perfect for sitting in the water, building sand castles. Poipu Beach Park is 10 min. down the road.
I like the choices of restaurants on the south shore: Beaches, Keoiki's Paradise, Roy's, Tidepools, etc.
8-)

Too bad you didn't mention Hawaii in your header. I thought you were talking about Lake Tahoe, Ca.

Curious

llisabet:

Although I live on Kauai's north shore and sing its praises daily, for your September visit with a toddler the south shore would probably be a better fit. But do take part of a day to come up to see our magnificent beaches and mountains while you're here, 'kay?

Hi llisabet.. My hubbie and (then)21 month will be there in Sept. too. When we travelled with her at 12 months, we stayed at the sheraton in poipu because it's a great place and we are starwood members. It was a very good time, but we wished we had a kitchen, though kids eat free at their restaurants which are pretty good with amazing beachfront location. My cousins stay at the kiahuna plantation condos right nearby and the units i've seen are quite nice and adjacent to the same beach as the sheraton. We will be spliting our time in Sept. between the Lae Nani condos in wailua and the princeville hotel for a luxe few days. We end up in kapaa so much when visiting kauai and have heard good things about the lae nani, so we figured we'd try it. There is a boulder keiki area in the beach there and a heiau right next to it(not to mention a big line of ancient heiaus up the wailua river). Great if you are interested in archaeologies. You are close to everything from that area and it has a cool local vibe. My best advice would be to get on it soon, as things were already getting pretty booked as of a few weeks ago when i booked the lae nani. Check out wizardpub.com for nice shots from ultralights of all the major places to stay.
; O ) cousin annie

see thread "welcome to fodors".