I had the good fortune to visit Kauai twice in one year and would like to share what I think are the highlights of this lush, beautiful, garden isle, as well as some suggestions to enhance your visit. On my first visit we rented a car, which I highly recommend. The airport is in close proximity to the port and it is a great way to explore a great portion of the island in a short time. Do make reservations in advance, however, as there is no guarantee that cars will be available upon arrival at the port. As we left the ship and headed for the car rental shuttle, on the spur of the moment, we decided to book a helicopter ride from one of the numerous companies offering their services pier side. This is a perfect example of an excursion that can easily be booked on your own, for less than half the asking price on the ship. We drove to Waimea Canyon, known as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific” and were thoroughly impressed with the vivid colors from the lookout at 3,400 ft. We still had time for a short visit to Poipu Beach, before we returned the car in anticipation of our afternoon helicopter ride. Poipu Beach, in my opinion, is another definite must see on the island. This black sand beach is one of a kind. Nothing we saw on land, however, prepared us for the most spectacular view from the air. This truly is one of the most magnificent ways to see the beauty of this island. This dramatic journey, from the Napili coastline, to the Wailua River, from waterfalls, to the depths of Waimea Canyon, should not be missed! May I suggest, if you do nothing else while in Kauai, take a helicopter tour. Due to a set of comedic errors and miscalculations, my second visit to Kauai was less scenic, but still quite memorable. On this trip we decided to spend the day at Kalapaki Beach, which fronts the Kauai Marriott. Although the beach is within walking distance of the pier, another option is to utilize the complimentary shopping shuttle to Anchor Cove, located adjacent to the Marriott. (Whatever you do, don’t expect to engage the services of a taxi. You may get lucky, but if more than one ship is in port, as was the case for us, the small fleet of cabs available on this island is insufficient to meet the demand). Arriving at the beach you will discover a very nice, albeit small stretch of sand, which is quite popular with the ship’s crew. Duke’s Canoe Club (yes, part of the chain) on the beach is a great spot for a refreshing cocktail or light lunch. It was very picturesque and great for people watching. This is an absolutely wonderful way to spend the day in paradise, if you have already visited the island previously. Definitely an island of awesome beauty, this tropical retreat is a feast for the senses. Enjoy! Let me know if you have any questions. My e-mail is nancy@portsidetravel.com. Interested in becoming a travel agent? Follow this link to find out more. Home Based Travel Agent