Aloha and Happy Halloween!
Sarah here with a recap from my family's vacation to Hawaii last week. This was actually our first family vacation ever (if you can believe that for someone who has worked in travel for 10+ years!). We wanted to do something relaxing and adventurous but nothing too far since our newborn is only 9 weeks old. October is when Seattle starts to show its true colors—rainy and chilly—so Hawaii felt like a no-brainer. Fall is typically a less crowded time because it’s between peak summer and winter holiday seasons, yet still offers warm
weather and little rain making for a more relaxed family travel experience. A quick (ish) 6-hour flight, and we landed in paradise.
We've talked about Hawaii a lot in the past so be sure to check out our blog to see all our posts about these special islands. This week, I’ll be sharing my top 5 family travel highlights from Maui and Oahu so you'll see how my Ohana fell in love with Hawaii this fall season.
1.!Suite Style Rooms
At J5, we have talked about the Fairmont Kea Lani in Maui quite often and getting to experience it first hand with our little family made it even more clear how great it is for family travel. At the Fairmont Kea Lani each room is suite-style making it the ultimate set up for families. We have two small kids who go to bed quite early (not to mention nap) so having those separate spaces allowed us to put the littles to bed and enjoy some quiet time on our balcony while sipping a glass of wine (or two)! The Nespresso machine in each room is an added bonus being able to wake up with a cup of coffee to the breathtaking ocean views.
2. Kids Eat Free
When it comes to Hawaii the price of food definitely adds up since a lot of products need to be imported, so when there is a restaurant that says "Kids Eat Free" -- you go! All children 5 years and under eat for free, when they order from the Keiki Menu with a registered adult guest. While this little guy above didn't get to enjoy the delicious food at the Fairmont Kea Lani his big sister did and it was a hit. Kō, Kea Lani Restaurant and AMA Bar & Grill all offer the "Kids Eat Free." Kō has been voted best restaurant in Maui so many times they are running out of space on the wall to showcase the plaques. They also offer great Happy Hour prices. It's a win-win!
3. Paia
Maui stole our hearts!
We rented a car, which I highly recommend for families visiting Maui so you have the flexibility to explore. One of our first stops was Paia, a laid-back North Shore town with a fun, bohemian vibe. Its downtown is filled with boutiques, art galleries, and cafes serving fresh, local fare (and of course shave ice!).
Paia’s location is ideal: it’s the perfect first stop for families with older kids heading up the Road to Hana, and for those with young kids, Baby Beach nearby offers calm, shallow waters and soft sand. We even met a family who saw sea turtles while snorkeling there! So when in Maui, add Paia to your list!
4. North Shore Oahu
On Oahu, we stayed right in the heart of Waikiki at The Royal Hawaiian, a.k.a. the Pink Palace. My daughter was in awe by all the pink—even down to the famous pink pancakes, which we can confirm are just as delicious as they look! While Waikiki has plenty to explore, we wanted a break from the crowds, so we set off for Waimea Falls. Some heavy rain and flash flood warnings changed our plans, so we kept driving and ended up on the North Shore, stumbling into the coolest beach town filled with surf shops and some of the best poke I’ve ever had. Then, we spotted a pop-up event on the beach, which turned out to be a kids' surf competition—talk about impressive! To top it off, we saw sea turtles swimming right along the shore. (It's a tad hard to tell, but this is one's little head peaking through to the left.)
It was pure magic.
See the turtles in action here!
5. Maui Upcountry
Back to Maui for the last of our top 5, because it truly did steal our hearts. We started our day at the Surfing Goat Dairy farm, where we got to feed the goats. At first, Skylar was terrified, but once we got started and she saw the goats sneezing on our hands, she couldn’t stop laughing! Surfing Goat also offers goat cheese flights and, for the brave, goat milking. Overall, Surfing Goat Dairy is a big hit for the kids—and, to be honest, for the adults too!
For lunch, we stopped at Ocean Vodka, just down the road from Surfing Goat, and the views were incredible. Visiting Upcountry offers a whole different perspective of Maui that’s not to be missed. You can see water on both sides of the island at once, making you feel like you’re on top of the world.
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Hi, I'm John, and I'm told I have a cool accent. I absolutely love travel and I am proud to have built a team as passionate about exploring the world as myself. It took me a very long time to align my career with my undeniable passion for exploring, but now I and the team are here for you. Your personal travel tailors - award reservation and luxury custom itinerary experts. We provide a bespoke service, imagining and creating itineraries for independent minded families and groups.
