Our first trip to Kaua’i was everything we were expecting and much more. If you’ve never been, let this RealFoodTraveler.com article be your guide to planning. If you’ve been before, it might just entice you to return to try something new. We were very fortunate to have been the guests of the Kaua’i Visitors Bureau for portions of our visit. Here are our picks for the top things to do in Kaua’i.

Save this article about to Pinterest to help you plan your trip to visit Kaua’i. Photos and graphic by Courtney Drake-McDonough, RealFoodTraveler.com.

Top Things To Do in Kaua’i: Start by staying somewhere wonderful

“Aloha” said the smiling man to me as he opened my car door and I climbed out. “Welcome to the Grand Hyatt Kaua’i!” said another as a purple orchid lei was looped around my neck. Since I was a kid, watching Gillian’s Island, I fantasized about visiting the place that greets you with a flower necklace and maybe a kiss on the cheek. The kiss did not happen, but my Hawaii fantasy was really coming to life on the Garden Isle – Kaua’i!

Strolling into the elegant open-air lobby, I stopped in my tracks, stunned by the sight of a massive tree shading a lush tropical garden and a mesmerizing view of the bright blue Pacific beyond. The beauty was almost too much – so incredibly bright and colorful, an idyllic vision. I had to blink a few times to let my eyes keep focus on it all. Finally, my wife nudged me, “Honey, we need to check in!”

Entering our room, I immediately went to the lanai doors and once again, was stunned by the view – a green carpet of grass dotted with colorful gardens under swaying palm trees, ran up to a beach with crashing waves – under a perfect blue sky. It was all too good to be true – a vivid technicolor dream. My wife grabbed my hand and enjoyed the view with me, saying “Wow – now THIS is Hawaii!”

The grounds of the Grand Hyatt Kaua’i Resort and Spa, continued to awe us as we strolled around the gardens and massive pool campus – yes, it is big enough to warrant the term “campus”! Pools in every variety, from a free-form saltwater lagoon with sandy bottom, to lazy river-style pools among rocky ledges and seating nooks, to large open spaces for group play and slides – all engulfed in lush landscaping. Oh, and then there are the waterfalls amid lush gardens… the dining huts hovering over the koi lagoon… sandy beaches for surfing and swimming… tide pools to explore… Stunning.

Hungry for more? Discover 3 unique ways to eat local in Kaua’i.

Beyond flower leis, another part of my Hawaii fantasy is a luau and the Grand Hyatt Kaua’i hosts a lavish luau on the grassy lawn area, not far from the crashing Pacific surf. A self-serve buffet is followed by the show and the chance to take selfies in front of a massive, colorful ALOHA sign. Colorful, vibrant, and a celebratory nod to native Hawaiian culture.

The Grand Hyatt Kaua’i Resort and Spa is literally an island paradise.

Top Things To Do in Kaua’i: Eat and Play Well

Not far from the Grand Hyatt Kaua’i resort are many noteworthy sightseeing places and memorable Kaua’i island experiences. Highlights of our visit include:

Koloa Heritage Trail, where an easy hike from the Grand Hyatt Kaua’i resort along the coast lets you observe sea turtles bob in the surf, as they dive to munch a sea grass that only grows in the shallows below the volcanic rock cliffs, hammered by thundering surf. Overhead, unique sea birds sail and swoop.

Poipu Beach where sea turtles that, unique in all of Hawaii, come up onto the beach each night to rest from a day fighting the relentless surf for food. Local community volunteers educate the crowd that gathers and ensures the turtles are not disturbed as they rest. Nearby Brennecke’s is a casual eatery with tasty, inexpensive fare with great views of the beach.

It’s an amazing thing to see the turtles come ashore for the night. Community volunteers help keep curious onlookers at a distance while also educating them about these wonderful creatures.

Spouting Horn, like a mythic sea dragon, the blowhole wheezes and snorts with the undulations of the surf. Nearby are the National Tropical Botanic Gardens, worth a visit to learn more about the island’s unique flora.

The Shops at Kukui‘ula is a pleasant place to stroll, shop, dine, and enjoy various events. We were lucky to catch the community farmer’s market, the Kaua’i Culinary Market held every Wednesday. We purchased locally grown fruits we had never seen or tasted. We fell in love with these fruits and wished we could find them in our home on the mainland. Living Foods market and café became an instant favorite place for us thanks to its unique array of baked goods (their Coconut Rum Chocolate Chip cookies still call to me!) and reasonably priced breakfast menu.

We saw, and bought, a variety of fruits and vegetables that were new to us, and met the farmers who grow them at the Kaua’i Culinary Market.

The small sugar plantation town of Koloa charmed us with its historic main street, including a touching monument to the long history of diverse populations coming to Kaua’i from around the world to do the grueling work of growing and harvesting sugar cane. The village park hosts gatherings, like the arts and crafts fair we enjoyed, with local artisans, musicians, food trucks, and farmers.

Fresh Shave is one of the cute businesses in Koloa. Try any of their shave ices with natural ingredients.

Lush jungle and ocean views, including coffee plantations further west along the coast to the charming village of Hanapepe, where we enjoyed a food tour (more on that in an upcoming article!) and a Pakala Porter beer from Kaui Island Brewing Co., in Port Allen, the self-proclaimed westernmost brewery in the U.S. and the world.

The Hanapepe Food Tour leads guests around to multiple restaurants in the town to meet the owners, learn about their businesses and try some of their offerings.

Hungry for more? Get details of the Hanapepe Food Tour.

A short drive to Lihue brought us to their nascent arts district with breweries, cafes, and the Kilohana Plantation where you can do a Koloa Rum distillery tour and sampling. Lots of other activities and The Plantation House by Gaylords restaurant housed in the elegant historic plantation mansion, make this a must stop.

Enjoy the offerings at Kilohana, a former plantation, where you can visit the Koloa Rum company, take a ride on a train, do a rum safari and dine at Plantation House.

Hungry for more? Make these Koloa Rum cocktails for every season.

A bit further up the coast from Lihue, the beachtown of Kapa’a was a fun place to explore, with a shop (Calabash Wearable Wood) selling items crafted by a local family of artisans from precious Koa wood, and Java Kai café/bakery serving a luscious purple Ube dessert bar that blew my mind. Inland from Kapa’a, a chocolate tasting and tour at Lydgate Farms was a delicious and eye-opening experience to the complexities of growing cacoa and creating some of the world’s finest chocolate – among the only places in the U.S. where cacao is grown. Watch for more on Lydgate in an upcoming Real Food Traveler article!

Don’t miss going on the Lydgate Farm Chocolate Tour while you’re in Kaua’i. You’ll learn (and taste) so much about local food.

Kaua’i island and the Grand Hyatt Kaua’i truly is where this traveler’s childhood Hawaiian fantasies came true!

A Note About Being Eco-Friendly in Kaua’i:

All the islands of Hawaii are in danger of being loved to death by global tourism and development. The people of Kaua’i are intent on preserving their island’s beauty and quality of life by encouraging sustainable and eco-friendly tourism. They invite visitors who seek a regenerative and mindful travel experience – one that nourishes mind and spirit while respecting and honoring the special place that is Kaua’i. When planning your travel to Kaua’i, take the Aloha Pledge to understand how you can preserve the unique beauty and culture of the Garden Island; for example, use eco-friendly sunscreen when you play in the surf to preserve the island’s delicate ocean ecosystem. To plan your visit, the Kaua’i Visitors Bureau offers helpful guidance and watch this video from the Kaua’i Museum to jumpstart your awareness of Hawaiian culture.

-Story and photos by Jimmy McDonough, Real Food Traveler Eco-Friendly Food, Travel and Adventure Editor, with photos by Courtney Drake-McDonough, Publisher and Managing Editor

Hungry for more? Read about our stay at Lumeria Maui.

Please note, we were hosted guests of the Kaua’i Visitors Bureau for many of our activities to help facilitate this article. However, as is always our policy, that does not influence our opinion or focus on providing useful information for RealFoodTraveler.com readers.