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7 things to do in Kauai (other than go to the beach)

You’ve heard plenty of advice on the best beaches in Hawaii. But make sure not to miss all the other amazing sights and tastes Kauai has to offer.

The Hawaiian island of Kauai really doesn’t have to try too hard. There’s no strain to fabricate the perfect paradise for resort-stayers, and there’s no beach music thumping late into the night. Kauai simply is what it is. And what it happens to be is the incarnation of tranquil, rugged, untouched beauty.

 

Kauai is the oldest of its Hawaiian sisters and you can almost feel that unbothered maturity when you step ashore. Time feels infinite. The lush rainforest whispers, the clear waves undulate and the chickens strut about just as they’ve done since the island emerged from the sea 5 million years ago (okay, well the wild chicken population actually proliferated in the 1980s– but the sea and forest are both truly ancient).

 

An island vacation to such a paradise invites a large allocation of time to be spent lounging in the Polynesian sun with a ‘lava flow’ cocktail in hand. And rightfully so. Kauai is nothing if not a reminder to slow down and savour nature. However, we would be remiss not to mention the sights and tastes of Kauai that exist beyond the relaxation of the beach.

1. Nāpali Coast tour and snorkeling

Visiting Kauai without seeing the Nāpali Coast would be like visiting Paris without catching sight of the Eiffel Tower. This coastline of stunning clifftops, long stretches of coastline and dense rainforest is like something out of a movie. Which it is. Nāpali is the iconic introductory island shot in Jurassic Park.

 

There are several ways of viewing this 27-kilometre-long island – from a kayak to a helicopter. But we suggest taking a snorkeling boat tour for up-close views of the scenery and marine life. Local companies, like Captain Andy’s or Blue Dolphin Charters, lead fantastic tours.

The Napali Coast is like something out of a movie

2. Queen’s Bath

Queen’s Bath is one of those unreal places you are usually only able to view on the Instagram feed of that travel influencer you’re insanely jealous of. This swimmable tide pool filled with clear, blue water on the north shore of Kauai is safe to visit on days the swell is less than 1.2 metres, so make sure to check the surf report.

 

The short, 15-minute hike to the natural pool is pleasant in its own right and features a beautiful waterfall. Find more detailed directions here.

Snorkeling swimmers in Queens Bath

3. Hanapepe Art Night

Since its inception in 1997, Hanapepe Art Nights have brought a buzz of music, open art galleries and street vendors of all kinds to the demure streets of southern Kauaian town Hanapepe. Held every Friday from 5 pm to 9 pm, Hanapepe Art Night provides an authentic peek into the local Kauai experience and a great night out.

Hanapepe Art Night provides an authentic peek into the local Kauai experience

4. Waimea Canyon. And stop for shaved ice.

While most of Kauai’s main attractions and towns reside on the coast, don’t miss this scenic marvel at the centre of the island. Known as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific", the stretching steep gorges of Wailea Canyon are spectacular to behold.

 

There are several beautiful lookout points that are fairly intuitive to find. Just drive along Waimea Canyon Road and keep an eye out for lookout spots, such as Waimea Canyon Lookout. Pro tip: stop by Kauai’s favorite snow cone shack, JoJo’s Shave Ice in Waimea, for a frozen treat after a day of exploring in the sun.

The stretching steep gorges of Wailea Canyon are spectacular

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5. ATV through the historic Kipu Ranch

ATVing is the perfect dose of action to spice up your beach trip. There are plenty of great ATV tours to choose from, but Kipu’s is special because of the exclusive stunning views and access to some Hollywood blockbuster backdrops. Whether you knew it or not, you’ve already seen some of Kipu’s views in scenes of Indiana Jones, Pirates of the Carribean or The Descendants.

 

In addition to the breathtaking sights and a photo-op swinging on the famous Indiana Jones “vine," you’ll leave the tour with more knowledge about both the island and the historic, 1,214-hectre ranch built in 1872.

6. Kauai Coffee Estate

Kauai Coffee is much more than a cosy coffee shop. It’s the largest coffee farm in the U.S. and it offers free walking tours of the property four times a day. If you’re a coffee lover (or know a coffee lover that could use a caffeine-inspired gift), stop by to sample a variety of coffees, learn more about how coffee is grown and harvested and even catch a live coffee roasting demonstration.

Stop by to sample a variety of coffees

7. Step into a Hemingway novel at Art Cafe Hemingway

It’s hard to dive into an Ernest Hemingway novel, with all of its sumptuous food descriptors, and escape without some serious cravings. Now you can finally step into the world of Hemingway and leave with a satisfied stomach.

 

This farm-to-table cafe brings the food of Hemingway’s world to life with menu items inspired by and named after the author’s books. This spot on the eastern side of the island is in an endearingly rickety building with good vibes and curated art lining the walls.

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12 grand journeys throughout North America

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    Discover North America’s epic adventures — from Route 66 and Alaska cruises to Hawai‘i road trips, NYC culture, Mexico trails and more.

    1. Route 66, the Main Street of America

    Travelling with: Ricky French

    Sunset on Route 66 in the California Mojave Desert.
    Hit the open road and trace America’s legendary highway. (Image: Getty/Der_Thomasa)

    Dubbed the Main Street of America, Route 66 radiates serious main character energy, cemented into popular culture through everything from John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath to the Disney Pixar film Cars. Spanning nearly 4000 kilometres from Chicago to Los Angeles, the historic highway celebrates its centenary next year, a timely invitation to take the mother of all road trips along the Mother Road. Allow two to three weeks to tackle the full length, or bite off a smaller chunk at either end, cruising the dramatic deserts of California or the more pastoral landscapes of Illinois, lined with neon-lit diners, retro gas stations and quirky roadside attractions.

    2. Mexico’s Día de los Muertos

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    emblematic catrina of mexico with flowers and necklace with sempasuchil flowers
    Celebrate life and honour loved ones in vibrant style. (Image: Getty/Fabian Pacheco)

    You might know Oaxaca as the birthplace of mole and mezcal. But the state in southern Mexico is also where the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) began. Time your visit to coincide with the colourful holiday, on 1–2 November, which honours and celebrates loved ones who have passed away. Oaxaca is also Mexico’s Michelin-starred culinary capital, with 18 restaurants and a humble taco stand listed in the 2025 guide.

    3. Museum-hop in New York City

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    The Guggenheim Museum’s iconic spiralling exterior, a highlight of North America Epic Adventures.
    Step inside and marvel at bold, world-class art. (Image: Damiano Fiore)

    Your map app will look like it’s been scattered with confetti after you’ve dropped pins on all the museums you want to visit in New York City. Must-sees are the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art aka the Met, and the Museum of Modern Art. The American Museum of Natural History is also a draw. It’s also worth venturing into the boroughs to browse institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum, which has a huge permanent collection categorised by culture.

    4. The USA’s music scene

    Travelling with: Elizabeth Whitehead

    The Seattle skyline at night, aglow with city lights on North America Epic Adventures.
    Soak up skyline views and dive into the city’s coffee culture. (Image: Abigail Boone)

    If you’re a muso, chances are you’ve wanted to make a pilgrimage to the United States, the epicentre of so many beloved genres. Whether you’re head-banging your way around the Grunge Circuit in Seattle, chasing the twang of the pedal steel through Tennessee or bouncing between blues bars in the Mississippi Delta, the USA’s rich music culture has something that’ll strike a chord.

    5. Road-tripping Hawai‘i

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    A woman surfing in Hawaii, gliding across turquoise waves on North America Epic Adventures.
    Catch the waves and ride Hawaii’s iconic swells. (Image: Ben Ono)

    Hawai‘i is one of the most diverse US states to road trip around. Of the six major islands to visit, the Island of Hawai‘i packs in everything from the snowy summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa to black-sand beaches and lava fields frozen in the act of flowing forward. Change down a few gears on the island of O‘ahu, too, where you can find your own patch of sand on Waimanalo Beach. Visit poi and pineapple plantations. And hang ten on beginner-friendly waves on the North Shore.

    6. Cruising Alaska

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Explora Journeys ship cruising in Alaska.
    Sail past glaciers and spot whales in pristine waters.

    Seeing Alaska from the sea allows you to cover a lot of distance quickly. This immersive frontier now beckons more than ever before with Explora Journeys adding the American state to its global destination portfolio. Best of all are the pre-and post-journey immersions that connect the luxury of a cruise onboard Explora III with the rugged grandeur of the Alaskan interior. UnCruise Adventures also weaves in access to remote national parks, legendary wildlife corridors and authentic cultural experiences on its Alaskan itineraries.

    7. The Wixárika Route in Mexico

    Travelling with: Elizabeth Whitehead

    People journeying through the Wixarika Route.
    Journey deep into sacred Huichol traditions and art.

    For generations, the Indigenous Wixárika People of Mexico have walked a sacred path known as Tatehuarí Huajuyé, or ‘The Path of Our Grandfather Fire’. The annual pilgrimage route spans 500 kilometres, taking in significant sites in Wixárika spirituality and cosmology. The route passes through the deserts, mountains and forests of northern Mexico before reaching Wirikuta, believed to be the place the sun first emerged. The route is a living cultural landscape of Indigenous culture pre-Columbian influence and, in July this year, was formally inscribed into UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

    8. Drive the Iceberg Coast in Canada

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Iceberg off the east coast of Canada
    Chase icebergs along Expedition 51 on Canada’s east coast. (Image: Canadian Tourism Commission/ Chris Hendrickson)

    Download the icebergfinder.com map to better plan your road trip along Canada’s Iceberg Coast. The new highway, which has been nearly 25 years and CAD$1.1 billion in the making, threads through the country’s pleated coastlines around Quebec, Newfoundland, Labrador, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick before looping in the French islands of St Pierre and Miquelon. As well as chasing icebergs along Expedition 51, travellers will have the opportunity to engage with cultures that have thrived in the pristine provinces for thousands of years.

    9. A foodie tour of Nova Scotia

    Travelling with: Katie Carlin

    Lunenberg Nova Scotia
    Try lobster rolls in Lunenburg on the east coast of Canada in Nova Scotia. (Image: Natalia Kvitovska/ Unsplash)

    World-famous for its lobster, Nova Scotia is a Canadian province best savoured through its culinary clout shaped by sea and terroir. Bite into lobster rolls at historic Lunenburg’s Salt Shaker Deli & Inn and sip maple rum at Ironworks Distillery. Winery-hop around Wolfville’s rising vineyards (don’t miss Lightfoot & Wolfville). Take a maple syrup tour at Sugar Moon Farm near Earltown. And pull up a seat at waterfront Bar Sofia in Halifax, where Nova Scotia oysters aguachile arrive bright with cucumber, lime and pickled onion.

    10. Soak up the sun in the Caribbean

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Overwater bungalows off a beach in the Caribbean
    Experience the white-sand beaches and cerulean seas of the Caribbean on board a cruise.

    The Caribbean is on the radar for seasoned cruisers. And it’s easy to see why, with white-sand beaches, cerulean seas and swaying palms so picture-perfect they look AI-generated. Cruise with Windstar, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity on its inaugural Xcel season to the Caribbean to enjoy action-packed excursions such as snorkelling coral reefs and shopping for local trinkets. And those sea days? Spectacular.

    11. Red Chair Hikes of Canada

    Travelling with: Kassia Byrnes

    Red Adirondack chairs overlooking Lake Minnewanka in Canada
    Take a seat at Lake Minnewanka, one of more than 400 red Adirondack chairs scattered across Canada’s hiking routes. (Image: Getty Images/ Autumn Sky Photography)

    No one appreciates the great outdoors more than Canadians, emerging from snow-covered winters to tread glacial rivers and snowshoe through forests, or to hike mighty mountains and wildflower-strewn valleys come spring. Along popular hikes around the country, more than 400 red Adirondack chairs have been placed in peaceful, breathtaking locations. What started as a social media contest now sees hikers soaking in classic Canadian lake and mountain vistas, overlooking historic sites or gazing down on the mountainous path they just travelled.

    12. Ride the Rocky Mountaineer from Denver to Moab, USA

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Sweeping views from the Rocky Mountaineer.
    The Rocky Mountaineer will continue as the Canyon Spirit in 2026, seen here carving through Ruby Canyon.

    Sighting wild animals is one of many incredible thrills along the two-day luxury Rockies to the Red Rocks route onboard the Rocky Mountaineer across America’s Southwest between mid-April and mid-October. In addition to the lone bear, we spot bighorn sheep, elk, beavers, pronghorn antelope, bald eagles and ospreys. Riding the rails onboard the luxury train, which was founded in Canada in 1990 and has been awarded the prestigious World’s Leading Travel Experience by Train several times, has never been about just getting from A to B. Ride the train from Denver to Moab and you will see the scenery change from snow-capped peaks to meadows, red-rock canyons and soaring cliffs that resemble ornate Gaudí-esque cathedrals. But it’s not until you get off the train that you can produce the ultimate Venn diagram, with nature and adventure in the intersecting spheres.

    7 Things to Do in Kauai (Other Than Go to the Beach)