Fun Vacation Ideas

Maui is a gorgeous place to visit, and contrary to popular belief that it is just a couple’s getaway, it can be exciting for the entire family. There are so many sights to see, and places to visit that it can be a real learning experience and quite enjoyable for people of all ages.

Many resorts are now catering to families by offering programs for the younger guests that include daily beach activities, waterfall tours, bird watching, and aquatic playgrounds that will allow all the children to have the time of their lives. In particular, The Westin Maui at Kaanapali Beach Resort has a great reputation for catering to children. In fact, there are a lot of Maui hotels and resorts that are so much more than just a room to sleep in; they are an experience you just can’t miss.

In Maui, there is so much more to see than the beach. The natural beauty that surrounds Maui can be found in a trip to Haleakala National Park with its diversity of ecosystems and tropical animals that you can’t find anywhere else in the world. To allow children to understand the underwater environment, you should take a day trip to the Maui Ocean Center which was voted Hawaii’s top rated family attracted by the Zagat Survey.

Children are very tactile creatures, which means they enjoy touching and feeling everything they can get their hands on. The Maui Ocean Center allows them to do just that with their incredible touch pool that is connected to the 750,000 gallon aquarium that hold sharks and tropical fish. It is an unbelievable exhibit that people of all ages will love. Another hands-on experience that is popular with children is the Hawaii Nature Center that is located in the Iao Valley on Maui. There are rainforest walks to teach them about all the different species of plants and animals, and it includes 30 interactive exhibits. One exhibit even features the world’s only carnivorous caterpillar.

What can be more exciting for children then to get to experience their own whale watching adventure. The Pacific Humpback whales are plentiful in the winter and are a great sight to behold. After finishing the day watching the whales you should plan a trip to the Whalers Village Museum which is free for everyone. Displaying over 70 species of whales, it is a great place for children to learn about the migration and life of a whale.

Another great adventure for children is the Lahaina Kaanapali Railroad which takes the family on a six mile trip through the beautiful landscape of Maui. You will not only get a view of the West Maui Mountains, but you will also be able to see the islands that are neighboring Maui. It is a wonderful way to see Maui from a slow moving train.

Of course, no trip to Hawaii would be complete without an authentic luau which is included in most resorts and hotels. The Old Lahaina Luau is another great choice when you want to take in the culture of Maui as the natives do. With Hawaiian dance and music, along with delectable foods, you can’t go wrong with this excursion.

As you can see, Maui is not just for the couples in love. There is something for the entire family to see and do while visiting Hawaii.

A Family Guide to Maui

The tropical paradise of Maui offers something special for every visitor, but the outstanding offerings particularly well-suited to families surprises many.

Most resorts on Maui provide programs for young guests including planned beach activities. The Westin Maui at Kaanapali Beach Resort is particularly popular with families thanks to the tropical foliage, waterfalls and parrots. The aquatic playground featuring a 128-foot slide makes childhood fantasies come true. Maui hotels and resorts are about much more than a room and a beach and many include special touches to encourage family visitors.

Children love to explore the natural beauty of Maui. A trip to Haleakala National Park is a must-do for families. The diversity of ecosystems and the exposure to so many new and different tropical species is a learning experience not to be missed. While watching the sunrise from Haleakala is popular with Maui visitors, it is not generally well suited to younger children because of the early start time and amount of waiting time involved.

The Maui Ocean Center showcases Hawaii’s underwater environment. Voted Hawaii’s Top-Rated Family Attraction by Zagat Survey, the Maui Ocean Center should be on every family’s tour plan.

Children enjoy the tactile experience of feeling things like a sea cucumber in the touch pool. A particularly interesting feature of the Maui Ocean Center popular with adults as well as children is the glass tunnel that leads into a 750,000-gallon aquarium with sharks and other colorful tropical fish swimming overhead. The average visit to the Maui Ocean Center takes about two hours, but many visitors linger longer over exhibits and choose to dine in one of Maui Ocean Center’s two restaurants.

The Hawaii Nature Center located in the Iao Valley on Maui is especially popular with children ages 3 to 8. The Center includes more than 30 hands-on, interactive exhibits as well as guided rainforest walks. Exhibits feature species native to Maui including the world’s only carnivorous caterpillar.

Maui was once considered the capital of the whaling industry and is the winter home to migrating Pacific Humpback whales. The Whalers Village Museum located in the Kaanapali shopping complex is dedicated to teaching about this important creature. This Maui museum displays over seventy species of whales. The skeletal remains of a 40-foot Sperm Whale are amazing, and children are shocked to see the actual size of this ocean giant. Admission to this Maui attraction is free.

The Lahaina Kaanapali Railroad, better known as the Sugar Cane Train, will be a hit with young train fanatics. While this Maui attraction is often rated as boring by adults, it is perfectly suited to families with younger children.

Traveling in an open-air coach pulled by a steam-engine, visitors enjoy a leisurely six-mile journey through Maui. Crossing a 325-foot curved wooden trestle provides a panoramic view of the West Maui Mountains, as well as islands neighboring Maui. Storytellers share the history of Maui during the trip.

A Maui vacation is not complete until a luau is included. Most Maui resorts and hotels offer luaus. Among the most recommended non-resort luaus are the Old Lahaina Luau and The Feast at Lele, both located in the Maui village of Lahaina. Children will be captivated by the Hawaiian dance and music offered by these Maui performers and are certain to find something they enjoy eating among the many luau offerings.

Maui is considered a top choice for family vacations. Children and Adults alike with enjoy learning the history and culture of Maui at locations all over the island.

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