Thank you everyone for adding your comments to my previous question. I did book my ticket for Kauai. Anyone have a good"top things to do" list for Kauai for a three day visit? Also which beaches can you swim in?

I like the North Shore area - there is a shopping area in Hanalei and some good restaurants. You can take the Capt Andy Zodiac trip around the North Shore, which is kinda fun. Also, Tunnels is a great beach for snorkeling. It can be dangerous though if the conditions aren't good - and there isn't a life guard. I would check with local dive shops before going.

My favorites: A drive to Waimea Canyon (hopefully on a clear day) A Helicopter ride over the Napali Coast, fantastic , something in the water to see the Napali Coast, like Zodiak or other boat Snorkeling Tunnels, Ke'e beach (becomes the parking lot at the very end of the road), A visit to Poipu Beach

Agree about Waimea Canyon and the heli tour (expensive but worth it). Agree on north shore as well. Also get shave ice with the ice cream on the bottom.

nanabee, unless he has come back recently, Captain Zodiac has not been in business in Kauai for a few years now, but there are other good Zodiac tours, I have to go with a catamaran due to a back injury.

Agree with North Shore and Waimea Canyon for sure and if you have time, do a boat tour, I've done 7. If helicopter is too pricey, look at Wings over Kauai fixed wing plane for about half the price, hope to do that this next trip.

When you drive up to Waimea canyon, don't stop there, continue on up into Kokee and the Kalalau lookout for spectacular views.

Hi Jamie, I knew the orginial (or my brother knew Clancy from High School and worked for him for many years) Capt. Zodiac but I think he sold many years ago to some guy named Andy - and I think there was some dispute over royalties.

Which companies are doing the tours now? I also prefer the catamaran's because they are more stable.

If you are in Lihue I recommend Hamuras Saimin. My brother in law lives in Oahu and recommended it. Seeing how he used to fly over to Kauai just to go there I figured it must be good and it's awesome! It's difficult to find so I recommend a good GPS!

http://www.yelp.com/biz/hamuras-saimin-lihue

btw, calling it a dive or hole in the wall is elevating it to a higher level - but the food (especially the saimin and their pies) are to die for.

I give Hamura's Saimin a B+

I would too sf. It's such a great local dive and that is what I like about it!

I wouldn't call it a dive at all. I would ask for a lillikoi pie FROZEN to go.

I would definitely call it a "hole in the wall", if not a dive. The location alone calls for that description

there is nothing wrong with being a local "diner, drive-in or dive!! "

In fact maybe someone should contact Food TV and mention them. I bet Guy Fieri wouldn't mind a trip to Kauai.

Hi nanabee,

There are some companies doing Zodiac type tours from both the North and West shores, I read recently where Holo Holo just introduced a rigid hull inflatable going from the North Shore (their other boats still leave from the West Shore and are cats). Not sure of the names of the others, but if you go to wizardpub.com and click on Kauai and click on Links and select boat tours, it will have names of all the companies that are reviewed in their guide book.

Personally I have used Captain Andy's and Holo Holo and both are good boats, good crews and good food. Also long time ago I went out with Catamaran Kahunu, that was in the good old days when all the boats left out of Hanalei. Captain Andy's has a new sailboat called Southern Star which is getting amazing reviews over on TA, a few bucks more but you get a hot meal instead of a sandwich and salad and much better seating areas.

"btw, calling it a dive or hole in the wall is elevating it to a higher level" nanabee

I'm talking about the building Lookin - not the food.

Just hand me the Frozen Lillikoi Pie and no one gets hurt......

If Fieri goes to Kauai, then he's got to do Banana Joe's too.

I think Puka Dog is too famous.

I loved the Waimea Brewing Company on the way back from the canyon - on the grounds of the Waimea Plantation Cottages. The place is still there operating under another name, and the brewmaster is about to open up the Kauai Island Brewing Company in Port Allen. Anyway, we loved the open air restaurant that is now the Grove Cafe.