Explore The Islands: Kauai

There are three areas of Kauai where most of the lodging options are found-the North Shore/Princeville, the Coconut (East) Coast/Wailua/Kalapaki Bay and the South Shore/Poipu. Each Kauai destination is quite unique and offers a range of experiences. The west side of the island is home to the aptly named "Grand Canyon of the Pacific"-Waimea Canyon, one of Hawaii's premier natural attractions.

Kauai, the fourth largest Hawaiian island, is often given short shrift by visitors. You can easily spend 7-10 days or more exploring this island that is home to 60,000 persons. There are scores of exotic beaches hidden away down quiet lanes; hundreds of miles of hiking trails meandering through gems like the Kokee State Park at the top of Waimea Canyon and Haena State Park at the entrance to the Na Pali Coast; scenic and romantic villages like Hanalei and Old Koloa Town; and the Wailua River, where a trip up Hawaii's only navigable river ends at the Fern Grotto, a huge rock amphitheater draped in ferns under a cascade of water.