I am planning a trip to Kauai in early October. I have begun my research and I am very excited. We will spend the first 2 nights in Honolulu and visit Pearl Harbor, then we will be in Kauai for 8 nights. It is just my husband and I.
We are staying at the Marriott (on points which is nice!!!). We will have a rental car.
Neither of us are terribly athletic, so we are not prepared difficult hikes.
I am planning to do a helicopter tour of the Na Pail Coast. Any suggestions for which tour to book?
How difficult are the river kayak tours?
I also an thinking of a sunset cruise one evening.
I am looking for suggestions for dinner for our 39th Anniversary. I would like something nice!
Any other suggestions for things to do and places to see are greatly appreciated.

Hopefully,
If you would be interested, I have a file I have compiled of my favorites on Kauai from over 20 visits.

If you are interested, send me your email address and I will forward.

I am going to add to the question. Along with a romantic meal where would we go for an amazing Sunday champaign brunch?

Hope and Rock,
Drop Rich a line.
He's a very helpful Kauai guy.

Unlike myself because after about 15+ trips over to Kauai, I STILL can't figure out why people go to Kauai.

My research continues......>-

...oh and if the Princeville Resort is still open for Sunday Brunch (did I hear it is being remodeled?), that's the one!

Unbelievable views...or maybe it was the company we dined with?

We did a tour with Blue Hawiian Helicopters a couple weeks ago and were happy with them. Kauai is so beautiful!

Kauai is a great choice for a relaxing anniversary trip!
As for Rocky's question....my husband & I have enjoyed several special anniversaries & birthdays on Kauai. Sadly, the Sunday Champagne brunches were vanishing on our last visit Nov-Jan. Cafe Hanalei at Princeville is now undergoing changes (and their amazing fri nite Seafood Buffet has ended-sob!) Grand Hyatt has daily buffet but had ended their extensive Sunday Champagne Brunch.

So we tried the Marriott (Lihue) and had a wonderful table in a private corner, great friendly server, really enjoyed our leisurely brunch poolside. Other visitors enjoy Gaylords and their setting, but we were generally disappointed with their brunch, but we loved their special omelettes.

We like fish and always return to Tidepools at the Hyatt for our anniversary in Dec. My husband asks for a private table watching the koi, or the waterfall view.

I miss the "beer brunch" at The Whaler just up from the Marriott in Lihue.
Some of the best poke I have ever tasted, some good micro brews and some great scenery.


Oh and "hopefully"...while it's not a hike per se, you can drive out to Polihale, park your car and walk up the beach to the cliffs and then back. Time it so you can see a sunset.

Congratulations on your Anniversary!

I could not help you with questions re kayaking since we do not do many vertical things on Kauai. However, as for a helicopter tour, Jack Harter is still one of, if not the best.

Are you staying at the Lihue Marriott or the Waiohai? Even if you are staying in Lihue, Plantation Gardens in Poipu would be my suggestion for a special dinner. Roy's is always tasty but the location--in the shopping center--is not terrific. So, here is what I would do.. Have drinks and sunset watching at The Beach House in Lawai (do not eat dinner there!) and then head to Plantation Gardens for a lovely meal on the patio.


I am not much of a Sunday brunch person since I tend to overeat and then be thirsty and miserable the rest of the day, so I do not trust me around the buffet table.. LOL Have breakfast at Joe's on the Green, again in Poipu. Sit outside overlooking the gorgeous golf course.. It does not get much better than that.

Again, Congratulations!

Anna Roz

Joe's Scramble with jalapenos.
Don't get mo' bettah'...

Last trip we too had a lovely dinner at Plantation Gardens. Go early and stroll the Moir Gardens. Beautiful orchids and garden setting near the beach.

Thank You Everyone for the responses!! I am so very excited.
Rich in PA, I sent you my Email address. I would love your file of notes.
Kal, after 15 trips I am sure you have lots to add.
Anna Roz, we are staying at the Lihue Marriott. I am a little worried about this location. But it is what was available to use my Marriott points. Is it nice there?
Does it rain a lot in the Lihue area?
I have 3 Tour Books at this point, including Fodor's and I am a bit confused.
Keep your thoughts and suggestions coming.

Hopefully,
We have stayed many times at the Lihue Marriott and also at the Princeville. For a stunning sunset, the Princeville is a great place to have a drink - on the balcony outside the lounge - get there early, it fills up fast. There is a gorgeous view overlooking "bali-hai" (this is where they filmed South Pacific). The Princeville also had a fantastic breakfast overlooking the same view.
The Marriott is in a great location and is very private. I highly recommend Duke's Canoe Club - right next door for the best Mai-Tai - food's good (and reasonable) also. We always camped out on the beach and used the bar near the pool for snacks and drinks - very relaxing.
Be sure to buy Kauai Revealed ("the blue bible") before you go.

Let us see.. No rain to rainbows or, no rain no waterfalls... There should not be a mansoon in October. Hope that it rains a little every morning so that it clears the psyche a little.. And no, Lihue is not the rainier side of Kauai; the Northshore is but not really in October either, although who knows?

Lihue Marriott is fine, very nice actually. We stayed there only once (doing annual pilgrimages to Kauai since 1985) for our 25th when we arrangeed the whole vow renewal deal on the beach. It was very nice. But I digress here.

So, yes, Lihue Marriott is terrific; good, central location, nice property, great grassy area to place your lounge chair on and read or sip a drink.

As for guide books, I certainly hope that one of your books is Elenor Horowitz's Kauai Underground Guide. If not, get it and this is the only book you would need to celebrate yourselves on Kauai.

O.K. One more thing.. If your husband is thinking of buying you an anniversary gift, head to Jim Saylor's Jewelry in Kapaa. Jim was instrumental in many celebrations through the years. LOL

Anna Roz

Thanks Anna Roz,
I am not sure jewelry is in the cards for this trip, but I will keep your recommendation in mind.

Ditto Horowitz' Kauai book.
She seems to exhibit the true meaning of aloha in her book vs TBB.

We used her's on our first trip over.

I forgot to mention my fave hike is up a barstool at The Sand Bar.

Dolciani, I received my "Blue Bible" from Barnes and Noble yesterday, Thanks for the tip it is wonderful. Anna Roz and Kal now I will have to investigate Horowitzs' Kauai Underground.
Kal where is the Sand Bar? It sounds like that is my kind of hike too.

hope,

The Sand Bar is the pool bar at Resort Quest's The Islander on the Beach.
It's located right behind the Coconut Marketplace.

If you ever have dinner at the restaurant next door HukiLau Grill (which I strongly suggest), drop by the Sand Bar for a quick mai tai before dinner.

You meet some of the nicest people there.
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/323707/photo3.html

Kal, you all look very nice! When I think of what my husband and I have been missing during our hundreds of makai walks past the Islander over the years and not even being aware of the Sand Bar (and we HAVE had a great dinner at HukiLau Grill next door) Maybe too busy looking at the ocean?

Unfortunately, we'll now have to wait for those mai tais until 2009 when we return to our timeshare down the beach.

rojo,
Very nice walking paths all along the CocoCoast, yah?

I love watching whales, dolphins partying and Dec/Jan sunsets from barstool #4.

This keeps me going thru the year:
http://www.iotbowners.com/Webcam~71776~12205.htm

Click on "start controls" and then hit Sand BaR.
A lot of people wave to relatives from the "close up spot".
Mucho mahalos!