Location: Poipu, Kauai

Favorite Family Friendly Features: Bunk Room | Walkability | Beach Gear | Backyard | Washer Dryer

Our Quick Take: For three weeks, our family of four and one set of grandparents canvassed Kauai. From the relaxed and sunny South Shore to the adventurous and remote North Shore, we drank up all that the isle had to offer. (Thanks to our trusty minivan rental.) Unlike its sibling islands, Kauai feels less touristy and more communal. Less resort and more neighborhood. For us, it’s the perfect Hawaiian respite. And our home base of Poipu highlights one of the area’s most kid-friendly beaches – Poipu Beach Park.

With a shallow swim area and beach sheltered from waves by reefs, this small bay is ideal for splashing around. There are also attending lifeguards, a small playground, and dozens of sea turtles and seals, who lazily make their way on shore as dusk approaches each day.

Getting Down to Details:

Bedrooms: This rambling bungalow dubbed Hale Mano sleeps six and offers three bedrooms, but its layout is important to note. On the front end of the home is one bedroom with a king bed and attached bath. On the back end of the home is another king bedroom, which can be accessed two ways – via a sliding door on the back patio or by walking through the third bunk bedroom. In the hallway that connects the bedrooms is a main bathroom.

Bathrooms: The home has two bathrooms, including a main bathroom and bathroom attached to one king bedroom. Both are outfitted with showers. An outdoor shower is also available to rinse sandy toes after a day spent at the beach.

Kid-Friendly Amenities: Kids of all ages will appreciate the bunk room that offers a full-size top mattress and queen base. But the covered lanai is the greatest selling point, spacious and with plenty of seating for game nights. A small backyard is perfect for romping around when you’re not at the beach, which is less than a 10-minute walk away.

What to Do in Poipu:

If you don’t have an itch to explore, you can simply spend each day at Poipu Beach Park. Pop home for nap time and grab Puka Dogs (a Hawaiian hotdog) and shave ice at the restaurant across the street. (Another lovely option for little ones is Salt Pond Beach, further west along the South Shore.) And there’s reason to get comfortable in this stretch of sand; we watched a whale breach from the shore one February afternoon.

For even better views, however, visit Shipwrech Beach near the Grand Hyatt. Tucked to the side, you’ll find the Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail. A gorgeous oceanside walk, this sweet hike is about as magical as it gets. Pack a picnic. (Expect some light rock scrambling; we left the kids with grandparents.)

When you’ve had enough sun but want to stay close to home, make the quick drive up to Old Town Koloa. It’s a tiny stretch of shops and restaurants, but there’s more packed in than meets the eye. In fact, our opinion is that this is where you’ll find the island’s best shave ice (at The Fresh Shave). Here, you’ll also find a quick, delicious and reasonably priced (hard to come by) meal at Kenji Burger. If you’re looking to shop-shop, then you may want to swing into The Shops at Kukui’ula, which combine higher-priced retailers, restaurants and a couple of small markets.

But best yet, when you have an afternoon open to hit the road, is a drive up to the Waimea Canyon lookout, the prettiest dang driveable views on Kauai. Head to the main canyon lookout point where you’ll pay per car and per person to park and take a peek. Then, drive to the end of the state park road, where you can peer through the canyon toward the ocean. If it’s rainy, just give it time. Epic rainbows await.

And a word of caution: The roads in the state park are treacherous. Loads of pot holes and shallow, flooded passages, which makes for some admittedly nail-biting moments. (On your way back, stop into Kokee Lodge Restaurant for a snack and pick up chicken feed… if you dare. Those chickens REALLY like their feed!)

Worth a Mention: Visiting Warehouse 3540 on rainy days for coffee, drinks and sweet pop-up shops; booking Kauai Carts for four- or six-person EV cart rentals; and The Beachhouse Kauai for sunset cocktails and to watch thousands of parakeets fly in nightly.