“Hit the Road” Summer Travel Series: Maui, HI

A guest post by Kate Brightball of Style Smaller 

Ahhh, Maui. Perfect blue water, sandy beaches, and lush green mountains– it’s our favorite vacation destination! We are Californians, so most of our friends vacation in-state, in Mexico, or in Hawaii, depending how adventurous they want to be with children in tow. If you can survive the flight with kiddos, Maui is the top of our vacation destination list. 

We started our trip in Kapalua, which is on the north end of the west coast. That portion of our trip was work-related, so my husband was able to golf with associates, and we were able to spend all of our days poolside and a little bit beach-side. The golf course, he said, was incredible, and if you’re golfers, it’s worth it!

Kapalua can get a bit of the warm wind, which some love and some hate. We didn’t mind it at all, and the one day it got rainy, we just took long naps in the hotel.  The area is far from crowded, so we had a great time poolside in a relaxing and taking it easy. I found it simple to keep an eye on both kids during my husband’s work hours BECAUSE it was a light crowd, so I felt truly at ease the whole time. 

If you enjoy areas with more people, more to do, and smoother waters, Ka’anapli or Lahaina are incredible. Our top five things to do in these areas (only about a 10 minute shuttle ride from one another):

1. Paddle Boarding, Ka-anapali- I spent two mornings paddle boarding in Kapalua. The water is perfectly clear, and I paddled out (once with Sophie, once with Maggie lying in life vests in the front of the board, each for just a short stint on the board, and the remaining time I was solo). The rentals are 30 minutes or an hour, and I was simultaneously getting exercise while taking in the gorgeous coast, and enjoying the serenity of the waters. 

2. Baby Beach, Lahaina- A short walk from the main strip in Lahaina is a small path to a beach called Baby Beach. We heard about it from a friend, and it was absolutely perfect for taking our small children. There were very few people there, and the water stays shallow well into the ocean, both ideal for kids being able to enjoy the water and beach without chaos or big waves. Something to note is that the reviews say there are a ton of fish and it’s ideal for snorkeling. We brought our snorkel gear, but saw very few fish. It was still an ideal beach day with young children. Napili is far better for snorkeling, but not great for little kiddos.

3. Front Street, Lahaina- Ice cream shops, restaurants, and charm are all along this main street in Lahaina. We ate at Longhi’s as the sun set over the ocean, with a seat by the window and incredible pasta for all, and the entire meal was a dream. Front street is picturesque, and has shops and food for any age. If you want more of the mall feel and familiar stores, there is nearby Whaler’s Village, but we prefer to peruse the tiny boutique tourist shops on Front Street. 

4. Whaler’s Village- If it’s shopping that you enjoy, Whaler’s Village is perfect! Situated between so many great hotels, along a gorgeous beach, there are restaurants and shops for days. You can find the perfect pair of sunglasses, and all the beach-wear you want. There are restaurants right there, overlooking the water, and keeping things casual and kid-friendly. We particularly enjoyed the Hula Grill. Our kiddos were blissfully happy with the children’s menu, and we LOVED the live music that played as we ate. 

5. Ka-anapli Beach- I know there are mountains to explore, waterfalls to find, and plenty of activities to venture to see, but when it comes down to it: a relaxing vacation with our family means beach-pool-repeat. If this is you too, Ka-anapli beach fits the bill. Surfing and activities are optional along the beachfront, there is snorkeling for those who love it. There is people watching, sand-castle building, and warm and gorgeous water for swimming. Every convenience is at your fingertips, and it’s just one of the loveliest places in the world.

For those heading to Maui this summer: ENJOY! So much to do, see, and enjoy! 

xx,

Kate || StyleSmaller.com 

Visit our Travel tab above to keep up with our “Hit the Road” series this summer!  We have a great group of moms traveling the US and internationally, who will be sharing their family adventures!