I could talk about Maui for days. We have been there several times now and have learned so much with each trip we take. Whether you are going for a couples getaway or a family vacation, Maui has so much to offer. In November of 2002, we took our girls(then ages 2 1/2 and 5 months). What an experience! In some respects, it seemed like more work than it was worth, but when I look back on it, I'm so glad we did it. We were really able to find so many activities to keep everyone happy, without spending a fortune.
We stayed in Kahana Beach and spent quite a bit of time just playing at the beach. It doesn't get much cheaper than that! However, we did book a few activities that we thought would be age-appropriate. Because the girls were obviously too young to snorkel, we booked a trip on the Reefdancer submarine so they could get to look under water at all of the ocean life. We were able to sit up top to look out at all of the beautiful scenery and then headed downstairs to view the ocean life through the portholes. The crew even had a scuba diver jump into the water and bring creatures up to the windows so the kids could see them up close. Really cool!
We stayed in Kahana Beach and spent quite a bit of time just playing at the beach. It doesn't get much cheaper than that! However, we did book a few activities that we thought would be age-appropriate. Because the girls were obviously too young to snorkel, we booked a trip on the Reefdancer submarine so they could get to look under water at all of the ocean life. We were able to sit up top to look out at all of the beautiful scenery and then headed downstairs to view the ocean life through the portholes. The crew even had a scuba diver jump into the water and bring creatures up to the windows so the kids could see them up close. Really cool!
On another outing, we boarded the Sugar Cane Dinner Train that ran between Kaanapali and Lahaina. I would have been disappointed if it were just my husband and I, but it was the perfect activity to do with kids. We watched the sunset as we rode on the train and then stopped for a western-style BBQ dinner. Kids were allowed to go on stage for hula lessons and they loved watching the fire dancers!
Coming from Southern California, we have been to a lot of aquariums, but we were really impressed with the Maui Ocean Center. The aquarium is oceanfront and displays many of the animals native to the Hawaiian Islands. It was the perfect way to spend a half day.
Any interest in learning how to open a coconut or macadamia nut? Have you ever seen a star fruit? The Maui Tropical Plantation is the perfect spot for all of this. They have a great gift shop to purchase all of the native fruits, candies and flowers and tour was really educational. We learned how to open a coconut and macadamia nut and got to see many of the native fruits and plants growing along the trail.
On this trip, meal time was really a blur. I spent most meals rocking the baby while trying to shove dinner in my mouth. After a few expensive, not so enjoyable meals, we decided to wait until our next trip to really enjoy the Maui cuisine. Because we had a kitchen in our hotel room, we found it best to eat breakfast before leaving, pack lunches for the beach and get dinner at restaurants like Maui Tacos or Alexander's. They both offer good food, reasonable prices and quick service. I can say the highlight was our daily trip to Scoops ice cream shop! They have the best Chocolate Coconut Macadamia Nut ice cream in the world. I believe they have a location in Lahaina and one in Wailea and there may be others. It was our daily splurge!
Coming from Southern California, we have been to a lot of aquariums, but we were really impressed with the Maui Ocean Center. The aquarium is oceanfront and displays many of the animals native to the Hawaiian Islands. It was the perfect way to spend a half day.
Any interest in learning how to open a coconut or macadamia nut? Have you ever seen a star fruit? The Maui Tropical Plantation is the perfect spot for all of this. They have a great gift shop to purchase all of the native fruits, candies and flowers and tour was really educational. We learned how to open a coconut and macadamia nut and got to see many of the native fruits and plants growing along the trail.
On this trip, meal time was really a blur. I spent most meals rocking the baby while trying to shove dinner in my mouth. After a few expensive, not so enjoyable meals, we decided to wait until our next trip to really enjoy the Maui cuisine. Because we had a kitchen in our hotel room, we found it best to eat breakfast before leaving, pack lunches for the beach and get dinner at restaurants like Maui Tacos or Alexander's. They both offer good food, reasonable prices and quick service. I can say the highlight was our daily trip to Scoops ice cream shop! They have the best Chocolate Coconut Macadamia Nut ice cream in the world. I believe they have a location in Lahaina and one in Wailea and there may be others. It was our daily splurge!
