Best Beaches in Kauai for Babies and Toddlers
This is a guest post by Sam Simon, founder of Milenomics. I’m a big fan and encourage you to check him out.
Best Beaches in Kauai for Babies and Toddlers
Today I’ll go over the beaches I consider the best beaches in Kauai for Babies and Toddlers–or for anyone really who wants a nearly empty beach with little or no waves.
A General Note on Kauai beaches: 6 weeks prior to my visit the island saw some of the worst flooding in a very long time. I’m showing a side by side here of just after the storm and the same beach during my visit the end of may:
My point is that Kauai and her beaches are very much ‘Open for Business’ even if two of the most famous beaches are still closed right now (more on that later). The island’s cleanup has been nothing short of amazing. In Hanlei you would not be able to tell there was a flood of the entire valley just last month.
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I’m back from a well needed restful time on the garden isle of Kauai. If you’ve never been to Kauai, I highly recommend the island. This is especially true if you live in one of the west coast cities with nonstop service. Diverse geography, wonderful local farm products, great food, and lots and lots of chickens await you.
This is my second trip to the island. The first time I stayed on the ‘busier’ south shore. Busy for Kauai would roughly equate to a shoulder season anywhere else. This time I spent 10 days on the north shore. There are benefits to staying on either side of the island, and they’re highly dependent on your travel style, and what you’re looking for. Because there are major ‘must see’ places on the West, South, East and North, there is no ideal place to stay and be close to everything. That’s good, but it also means a rental car is a must.
North Vs. South Shore Quick Recap:
South Short Benefits:
For the South shore you have easier access to three very good baby friendly beaches. Waimea canyon is also closer to the south shore, along with many more food options (including 3 of my ‘must eat’ local grinds).
North Shore Benefits:
The North shore has arguably the absolute best beaches on the island, and I would argue the best beach in the entire United States. Unfortunately the road to this beach is currently closed. The North shore also has two very good baby friendly beaches. Because of the geography even though it rains nearly every day the beaches may be clear and sunny while the cliffs are seeing clouds and rain. This is not rain but more drizzle, a welcome shower that moves through quickly and cools you off a bit. In general the North shore is rainier and cooler than the South.
North Shore Drawbacks:
The drawbacks of the North shore are that food options are extremely limited. That’s not to say there are no restaurants, but certain beaches might be 20+ minutes from the nearest place to eat. And if you have a specific craving you might be looking at an hour+ car ride.
Additionally the North shore is far (relatively) from large shopping centers. Budget 2+ hours Round trip to make it to a store in Kapaa or Lihue. Avoiding the drive means easily paying 1.5 times the already high prices at Foodland (Princeville) or Big Save (Hanalei).
South Shore Drawbacks:
The South shore tends to be busier, too busy at times. The hotels that are beach front are also not directly on any of the best beaches for children. No hotel really is on a great stretch of beach in Kauai. That might frustrate some of you. I see it as great because those beaches, with the exception of Poipu, tend to be deserted.
Before I start with the Best beaches in Kauai, I wanted to say a special thanks to Tim, who taught me everything I know about Hawaii.
Best Beaches in Kauai:
Anini Beach (North shore, click for map)
This beach is exactly what Kauai excels at. Public access to a miles long beach, ample parking all along the road. A 2+ mile long offshore reef keeps the waves breaking extremely far out, large old trees give perfect shade for a hot sunny day. A river meets the sea and snorkeling can be very good here. The water is 2-3 feet deep for over 100 yards from the shore. Sand is not good for sandcastles on the eastern side of the beach and there are some rocks to watch out for. No lifeguards, but no waves either.
I’ve put the pin on the above linked map at what Google calls Anini beach. There’s a parking lot, which is the location of Anini Beach park. But the beach itself stretches for 2+miles. And parking on the side of the road is plentiful all along those 2 miles. Bring your snorkels, park near one of the river mouths and look for sea turtles.
The Eastern most part of Anini is full of tide-pools. You can see sea cucumbers, fish, crabs, and even octopus in these tide pools. The Farthest West part of Anini is called Wyllie’s Beach, and is almost always completely deserted. Wylie’s beach has much better sand than the more Easterly beaches that make up Anini.
Hanalei Bay. (North shore, Click for Map)
3 miles from Princeville nestled in the Hanalei Valley is Hanalei Bay. The bay is a long 2+ mile semicircle with parking lots and bathroom facilities every 1/4 mile or so. Half of the bay (Western most side) has an extremely easy surf break, the other half has almost no waves.
Clear water, easy waves that are safe for toddlers but most importantly the best sand on all of Kauai. Powder soft and small in grain it makes excellent sand castles. It is not hard packed, and little ones can easily dig down deep without much trouble.
Lifeguard stands ring the bay for added safety. Even if you don’t get in the water, the view is staggeringly beautiful. Being surrounded by mountains, you can make out huge 300+ foot waterfalls in the distance.
Salt pond park (South West Side, click for map)
This is another bay, similar in size to Poipu, but with about 95% less people. An excellent snorkel location, a decent food truck, lifeguards and facilities all make this the best alternative to Poipu on the island. Weekends this place can get very busy with locals, but on weekdays you might just be the only people there.
The gem here is the smaller ringed pond on the farthest West side of the beach. Waves break over natural rocks creating tide pools, small waterfalls and a calm 1-2′ deep pools. Tall Palm trees prove shade, and food trucks will show up during lunch time.
Stop at hanapepe and pick up pie from The Right Slice and enjoy a sunset or an afternoon of peace and quiet. Close to the start of the Waimea canyon drive also. The sand is full of shells and small rocks/pebbles. Not great for sandcastles, but easy to dig in. The Salt pond creates a tidepool of sorts, with Black Crabs, sea cucumbers and small fish making for fun aquatic life spotting for the little ones.
Lyndgate park (East Shore, click for map)
This is another perfect beach area for children. There are two lava rock enclosed pools, one for older children and one for babies. Crabs, small fish and other Maine life can be found in these pools. Facilities are nearby, and the sand makes good sand castles.
The jewel of this park is the huge children’s playground in the center. A great place for kids to blow off some steam or for an older children to play while parents enjoy the beach. I realize that having a playground at the beach seems odd–but it is also full of some local artwork, and really worth checking out.
Poipu (South Shore, click for map)
Poipu is by far the most popular small wave beach on the island. Surrounded by large resorts it can become extremely busy. The breakwall and a natural Sandbar make the water calm enough for even the smallest babies in some spots.
Plenty of restaurants and bars in this area, but I’d recommended stopping at either Seuokas snack shop (plate lunches) or the Big Save Market (poke, tako) in Koloa and taking lunch to the sand.
Rocky in spots, apparently good for snorkeling but I’ve never enjoyed snorkeling at poipu, just too many people.
Ke’e Beach (North Shore, click for map)
I’ll argue with you that this is the best beach in the United States until you either tire of hearing me say so or agree with me. Unfortunately it seems that the road to Ke’e will be closed for at least until September 2018, and possibly longer.
Sea Turtles, Monk Seals, a protected reef, few people, a lush canopy of green trees, beautiful sunshine, and soft sand make Ke’e the ultimate beach for me. It helps that you’re literally at the end of the road, the farthest beach you can reach unless you hike the Kalalau Trail. I feel like I’m at the edge of the world when I’m on Ke’e beach. I feel freedom and peace unlike elsewhere. A protected deep pool gives you a nice snorkel spot.
I wouldn’t say this is the best baby friendly beach (Hanalei is probably better), but you have to experience it, and Tunnels beach at least once, so it has to be on this list.
Still More to Consider
The great part about Kauai is that no matter how much time I spend there I always seem to find something new. Three family friendly beaches I’ve yet to hit are Kalapaki, Fuji and Ho’ona (All clickable maps). With miles and miles of baby and kid friendly beaches I’ll just have to keep coming back to Kauai.
3 (Dry) Free Things to do with Kids on the Big Island of Hawaii
Hawaii isn’t cheap. No matter if your condo is only $279 a week, no matter if you cashed in miles to get there, once you arrive everything from gas to eggs will give you sticker shock. Because of this I went out of my way to find free things to do on the Big Island with the Deal Kids. I wanted to share my top three* with you and am looking forward to hearing your ideas as well.
Petroglyphs at the Fairmont Orchid: Petroglyphs, or native Hawaiian rock carvings, are all over the Big Island but the ones at the Puako Reserve are very accessible to all ages (even strollers). You could spend days exploring the 175 mile Ala Kahakai trail and thousands are in the fields in the Mauna Lani property where the Fairmont is located. If you just want a quick dip into the Petroglyph pool, follow the signs once you get near the Fairmont Orchid to “Petroglyph Park”. You’ll park in a beach parking lot and back to your right (facing the beach), there’s a nice display of at least 20 Petroglyphs that even the littlest kids could enjoy. If you’re a bit more adventurous, there’s a 1/2 mile or so trail through the woods that takes you to a larger field. After you’ve had your fill of history, take a walk along the beach path to the Fairmont’s poolside deli for a mango smoothie to cool off and some turtle watching from their pier: a wonderful 1/2 day good for even the youngest travelers.
Manta Ray Viewing from the Sheraton Kona: Nighttime activities with kids can range from $50/person Luaus to, well, dinner and shave ice. The Deal Kids and I really enjoyed seeing the hundreds of rays undulate to the bright lights the Sheraton Kona shines onto the ocean. Don’t bother getting to Rays on the Bay before 15 minutes after dark as you have to wait for the snorkel boats to clear out. Don’t feel bad about going through the restaurant to the viewing area in the back- they’re used to it. Also, be patient and let it take a bit for your eyes to adjust. Those whitecapped waves you think you’re seeing? Those are manta rays!
Higashiara Playground and Park: Playground? Really? Yes, playground! We kept driving by Higashiara Park, tucked into the hillside of the ring road about 20 miles south of Kona, on our way to and from other places. We finally stopped by on our way to the airport and immediately regretted not having come sooner. Higashiara has an enormous playground with more slides, ziplines, merry-go-rounds, swings, and playhouses than any kid could desire.
But that’s not what makes it special. First, the entire playground is steeped in Hawaiian design: from the volcano of the climbing structure to the outrigger canoe made for hide and seek. The tiles decorating the seating areas are decorated with Petroglyphs and other Hawaiian icons. Then, once you’re done admiring the playground, you just have to look up- the entire park has a picture perfect view of the Pacific.
*Notice I threw the word “dry” into the title. I did that to remind you that the beaches in Hawaii are free, as is snorkeling once you have the gear. The Deal Kids had never snorkeled before so Kahaluu Bay was just their speed. The beach is not fancy at all, but we spotted 3 large turtles, an eel, and more than enough fish to keep us entertained in a very shallow and protected cove. When you’re done, there’s a local conservation society set up at the beach to help you identify what you saw…and an all important shave ice truck.
We bought our masks and snorkels at Long’s Drugs for $6/set when we got there and went out twice: definitely a bargain. The masks were fine, but the snorkels very basic- I ended up finding up some fancier ones for $1 each at a thrift store. You’ll definitely want swim/beach shoes as the entry is rocky.
I’d love to hear if you’ve visited any of my picks and if you have your own to add to the list. What are your favorite free things to do on the Big Island? Please share in the comments.
Just Your Average Last Minute Beach Trip…To Hawaii, August 2015
It’s the end of summer. Camps are over and many families find themselves with a spare week and nothing to do. In DC that often means a last minute trip to the beach. Yes, I considered a Mid-Atlantic Beach Getaway but then the Wonder Triplets struck in the form of Deal Kid’s Best Friend, a Skyauction Certificate, and Signup Bonuses. 12 hours later we were on a plane to Hawaii!
Reading over that last paragraph I realize some I have some explaining to do. Before I start, let me write a quick love letter to Deal Dad. Few guys out there get a call at 1:30PM on a Tuesday saying “How bout I take your kids to Hawaii at 4AM tomorrow morning?” and say “ok, just don’t spend too much”. Single ladies: if you find one like Deal Dad: He’s a Keeper. None of the crazy crap I do would be possible without him.
Now for the explaining:
- Deal Kid’s Best Friend: Since returning from a month in Asia Deal Kid has been content hanging out in his room facetiming his friends. (Not that I blame him) Any mention of leaving the house, much less getting outta Dodge, got a reaction similar to Deal Dog’s at the vet. However, Deal Kid’s Best Friend’s family happens to be on vacation here on the Big Island of Hawaii so male bonding time is assured. I knew Deal Kid would be onboard. Deal Girl? She’s up for any travel, anytime.
- A SkyAuction Certificate: I went on a rant about the Wyndham Credit Card being terrible a few months ago. The coffee on my Lanai is Exhibit A. I always keep a SkyAuction Certificate in reserve because you never know what might pop up as available timeshare rental inventory, especially at the last minute. Lo and Behold, a 2 bedroom Oceanfront Condo at the Kona Coast Resort, a Wyndham Property, is open for this week! I’ll review the property later, but suffice to say it’s definitely worth $35/night. This is the 3rd year in a row I’ve seen Hawaii at the last minute in August. I originally offered it to Deal Kid’s BFF’s Mom, but they had lodging squared away…which got me thinking…
- Signup Bonuses: On the way out I used Avios earned from a 100K targeted Platinum Amex signup bonus. At 22.5K each way it was not the cheapest option, but at 12 hours out I took what I could get! The 100k signup bonus for the Citibank AA Executive card, which we had gotten 2 of last year, left us with enough miles for 3 OW tickets home from Hawaii. (Note: The bonus is now lower).
- A few more notes in our favor:
- We also have AA Aviator cards, which provide a 10% rebate on miles redeemed.
- Platinum American Express airline credits covered the close in booking fee on the AA tickets.
- The tickets back come during AA’s value season so were only 17.5k each.
- A few more notes in our favor:
So a Lucille Ball-like scheme hatched at 1:30 PM on Tuesday had us leaving for the airport 14.5 hours later and arriving in time for a sunset swim on Wednesday. Phew! Yesterday we explored the Volcano National Park and the Deal Kids had lots of firsts: from convertible ride to Hawaiian Shave Ice. Today will be all about the water. After that? No idea! Feel free to share your Big Island faves.
Where have you gone at the absolute last minute? How did you do it? Please share in the comments and maybe it will help another reader find his or her escape!
