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Kauai Island: Hawaii - A Romantic Vacation and Travel Destination

Kauai is the oldest of the islands, possibly as old as 5 million years! It is 552 square miles in size and with a population of only around 60,000, it is the least populated of the Hawaiian islands. Kauai's biggest city is Lihue.

Kauai has a reputation of being the wettest place on Earth - it has an average rainfall of 485 inches! This is how Kauai got its nickname of 'the garden isle'.

Many movies have been made on Kauai including Raiders of the Lost Ark and Jurassic Park.

There are many beautiful and romantic places to visit and stay at on Kauai. In the southern part of Kauai you can find the Poipu Resort area. Poipu has great places to play golf and tennis. World-class restaurants and hotels, and beautiful beaches. The eastern shore of Kauai is sometimes referred to as the 'Coconut Coast'. This area has many historic sites as well as some lower cost hotels and bed & breakfasts. The northern region of Kauai has both great natural scenery and hotels. The Kilauea Point Natural Wildlife Refuge is located here also.

Hotels on Kauai

Here are some of the hotels on the island of Kauai:

- Sheraton Kauai Resort: http://www.sheratonkauai.com/index.htm
- Radisson Kauai Beach Resort: http://www.radisson.com/kauaihi
- Hyatt Regency Kauai Resort and Spa: http://kauai.hyatt.com/property/index.jhtml
- ASTON Islander on the Beach: http://www.astonhotels.com/aston/index.do

Beaches on Kauai

There are many beaches on Kauai, the following are the most popular ones, grouped by region of the island:

Poipu Resort area/Southern Kauai

Poipu Beach Park - Two beaches, one great for children, the other - sometimes called Brennecke's Beach - is best for swimmers and surfers.

Cowshead - Close to the Sheraton Kauai Resort

Kipu Kai Beach - Can only be reached by boat.

Coconut Coast/Eastern Shore

Lydgate State Park - One of the most safe and popular beaches on Kauai.

Northern Kauai

Anini Beach County Park - Safest beach on North shore and very beautiful.

Ke'e Beach - Beautiful reddish/gold beach.

Tunnels Beach - Great for snorkeling and swimming and is protected by a coral reef.

Places to see on Kauai

Fern Grotto - The Fern Grotto is a fern covered cave in a tropical garden area. It is considered by many to be one of the most romantic places on the planet. Many people have been married there. To get to the Fern Grotto you take a riverboat cruise up the Wailua River. This is one attraction on Kauai you don't want to miss!

Waimea Canyon - This canyon is sometimes called 'the Grand Canyon of the Pacific'! There are lookouts and trails for hiking and mountain bikes all around this scenic area.

Waimea Sugar Museum - The Waimea Sugar Museum is an authentic and historic sugar mill. Reservations may be required. Tours are given of the ruins of the sugar mill including restored plantation houses. Great way to learn about how the sugar industry in Hawaii was built.

Captain Cook's Landing The British explorer Captain James Cook first set foot on Hawaii in 1778 at this location in the Waimea Bay. Site is within the Lucy Wright County Park.

Waioli Mission House - The Waioli Mission House dates back to 1837, but was restored in 1921. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. See Hawaiian architecture and traditional Hawaiian horticulture here!

Grove Farm Homestead Museum - Tour the oldest and still intact sugar plantation in Hawaii! Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Kauai Children's Discovery Museum - Located in Kapaa this museum offers interactive exhibits and activities for both children and adults.

Kauai Tours

Gay & Robinson Tours LLC - tour of classic sugar plantation.

Hawaii Movie Tours - see where many famous movies and TV shows were made including Jurassic Park, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Donovan's Reef, Outbreak, Gilligan's Island, Fantasy Island, Blue Hawaii and South Pacific.

Guave Kai Plantation - Tour the largest guava plantation in the US.

Alii Kayaks - Kayak down the Wailua river or by the Mt. Waialeale waterfalls, or both!

Golf on Kauai

Golf may not be that romantic for a vacation, but if you like golf, or you want a little time to yourself - golf may be just the thing you are looking for! Here are some of the golf courses on Kauai:

Kauai Lagoons - Two courses, one designed by Jack Nicklaus.

Kiahuna - Great golf surrounded by ancient Polynesian archeology.

Poipu Bay - 18 hole course on the ocean front, location of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf.

Princeville Makai - created by Robert Trent Jones, Jr.

Puakea - Play golf by the ocean and in view of Mount Haupu.

Wailua Golf Course - one of the top ranking municipal golf courses.

See other articles about taking a romantic vacation to Hawaii!

Hawaiian Vacations (introduction)
Island of Oahu
Island of Maui