The Garden Isle has often been named the top island in the United States to visit, including by Travel + Leisure, whose World’s Best awards are chosen through reader surveys. Kauai has a habit of stealing visitors from the other islands thanks to its relaxing, tranquil atmosphere that is often impossible to find in a popular travel destination.
If you’re considering a holiday in the Hawaiian Islands but aren’t sure which to visit, here are seven reasons to choose Kauai:
1. Waterfalls
Kauai’s tropical beauty allows visitors to escape the stress of daily life and become rejuvenated by nature. One of the best ways to experience this almost spiritual healing is by visiting the island’s spectacular waterfalls.
Here you’ll find an abundance of cascading falls dropping into translucent freshwater pools, painting pictures that should only appear in dreams—yet are a reality on this island of paradise! The double-tiered Wailua Falls is one of the most breathtaking—so much so that it appeared in the opening of the hit 1970s TV show “Fantasy Island.”
Many of the island’s waterfalls are easily accessed without a strenuous hike. Opaekaa Falls, on the east side near Wailua, can be spotted right off the road, making it a perfect photo opportunity. Opaekaa was even on the big screen in the film “Blue Hawaii.”
If you’re up for an adventure that will make you feel like you’re in the middle of a movie scene, Secret Falls is a great choice. It requires a trek through the water and about an hour-long hike. The veteran kayaker can rent a kayak at several different island locations, but the less-experienced might opt for a tour on the Wailua River.
Once you get there, you’ll be rewarded by the sight of 100-foot bridal-veil falls gently cascading into a dazzling pool below; for the ultimate rejuvenation, take a dip in the refreshing water.
2. Botanical Gardens
Kauai’s nickname of “The Garden Isle” certainly fits: it’s home to three of the four botanical gardens in Hawaii. If you’ve pictured yourself strolling through a brilliant landscape of flowers and lush vegetation, this is where you’ll find it. The gardens are a botanical Noah’s Ark, with unparalleled diversity of exotic and native plants.
Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens on the island’s north shore includes 240 acres of diverse tropical flora. Towering palms soar 60 feet into the sky, and beautiful bronze sculptures and hidden gems are waiting around every corner. The many vibrant sights and heavenly smells welcome travelers into a fairytale setting.
Allerton Gardens, on the south shore of Kauai, features not only breathtaking landscaping and magnificent ocean vistas, but the giant Moreton Figs that were made famous in the movie “Jurassic Park.” More recently, actor Johnny Depp spent time here while filming “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.” It’s easy to see why Hollywood chooses this location for the ultimate tropical adventure!
3. Beaches
Kauai is home to over 50 miles of beaches, more than any other Hawaiian Island. For those who find themselves landlocked throughout much of the year, Kauai’s sandy shores are a must.
Hanalei Bay Beach Park was named the best beach in all of America. The idyllic setting includes a long, crescent-shaped beach often referred to as Heaven on Earth, remote and untouched by the development. Emerald-colored mountains meet the turquoise sea while waterfalls cascade down the distant peaks, providing a gorgeous backdrop.
Tunnels Beach is tops for snorkeling during the calm summer months, while Maha’ulepu Beach is a hidden treasure with a unique two-mile stretch of beach with sand dunes, caves and limestone cliffs.
4. Hiking Opportunities
Kauai is also a hiker’s paradise, with opportunities to hike along the coast, through rainforests and up to mountain peaks and scenic waterfalls. The Napali Coast alone includes 45 miles of trails along the bluffs and rainforest bogs, as well as one of its most famous hikes, in which you enter the Waimea Canyon along the Waipoo Falls Trail. This hike culminates at the 800-foot waterfall, with panoramic views of the canyon and the fragrant scent of an Awapuhi ginger–lined stream.
Day hiking has only recently been allowed, via permit only, up to Hanakoa Valley. The six-mile hike in on the Kalalau Trail offers some of the best views the island has to offer. Napali Coast trails will bring hikers to 4,000-foot cliffs that tower over the Pacific, along with a wide variety of caves, lava tubes and beaches.
5. Waimea Canyon
Visiting The Grand Canyon of the Pacific is only possible on Kauai. The ten-mile-long Waimea Canyon is a mile wide and over 3,500 feet deep. The river that winds through its bottom is named for its incredible red shade; Waimea literally means “red waters.”
The picturesque canyon offers an ever-changing sea of colors with reddish lava beds, helping to create a colorful palette of oranges, jades and mauves when the sun goes down each evening.
6. River Kayaking or Canoeing
Kauai is the only Hawaiian island with a navigable river. Experienced guides can take paddlers via kayak or canoe on the long, meandering Wailua River through lush tropical jungle while passing old Hawaiian villages, waterfalls and even large stones with ancient petroglyph carvings. This is one of the best ways to explore all that Kauai has to offer.
7. Magnificent Sunsets
For spectacular sunsets, Kauai cannot be beat. The sun’s rays reflect off the cliffs of the Napali coast, and the sandy beaches of Poipu allow visitors to watch the sun sink directly down into the Pacific through a rainbow of unparalleled beauty.
Many couples have chosen Kauai’s sunsets as the most romantic setting on the planet for a wedding, with the salmon-colored clouds and the sun’s last shimmering light casting a golden glow on the sand.
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A world of unparalleled beauty and serenity waits for you in the Pacific. Don’t let another year slip by without booking the vacation you’ve always wanted!