Bucket List Trip: Family Adventures in Maui

Maui Zipline

For families seeking adventure, the Maui Zipline offers an exhilarating and safe experience amid a beautiful pineapple plantation. Enjoy panoramic views and an adrenaline-pumping adventure that caters to all skill levels, ensuring a thrilling escapade for the entire family. Kids must be 10 to enjoy the ziplining, but our little one and grandma enjoyed exploring the plantation by tram while we were on the adventure.

Maui Offroad Adventures

Explore Maui's rugged terrain and breathtaking landscapes with Maui Offroad Adventures, providing an exciting off-road excursion suitable for families. From scenic drives to adventurous trails, this experience offers a unique perspective of Maui's natural beauty and diverse landscape. You will learn about the history of the island and how we can help in the reforestation efforts that are desperately needed to maintain the beauty of Maui. You will be dirty after this adventure, so make sure to leave enough time to return to the hotel or rinse off at the beach afterwards.

Maui Ocean Center

Ideal for a family-friendly outing, this incredible aquarium offers an insightful exploration of the island's marine life. The center offers interactive exhibits, educational presentations, and the opportunity to observe sharks, turtles, and tropical fish up close, providing an educational and entertaining experience for the whole family. Don’t miss out on the humpback whale 3D experience!

Easy hike and snorkeling in Honalua Bay

Honalua Bay is located on the northwest coast of Maui, near Mile Marker No. 32 on Honoapiilani Hwy. The short (less than a mile) access trail through a breathtaking forest transports you to a true paradise. The trail leads to a picturesque bay, which is a haven for swimming and snorkeling. While the hiking is suitable for all ages, please note that the beach at the bay is rocky and you have to bring your own gear. There are no lifeguards or bathrooms nearby, which inspired us to wait for the beach porting until our kids were a bit older to enjoy.

Kamaole Beach Park (Kihei)

Kamaole Beach Park, with its clear waters and soft sands, is divided into three sections (Kamaole I, II, and III). Each section offers a family-friendly atmosphere, excellent swimming conditions, and facilities such as restrooms, showers, and picnic areas. This is an easy and relaxing day trip for all ages.

Surfing Goat Dairy Farm

Who doesn’t love goats?!? This fun off-the-beaten-path experience is great for all ages. You can enjoy a meet and greet with the goats while they play on their surfboards, tour the farm, help with chores or show up for the cheese. It’s choose your own adventure, but reservations are recommended!

Kā'anapali Footgolf:

If you have a soccer fan whose love of the game doesn’t go on vacation – this footgolf course in paradise is perfect! Combine soccer and golf on a gorgeous golf course for fun at all ages. Reservations are required and if you’re lucky, you will catch a fairy regular afternoon rainbow during your game.

Day trips

Pacific Whale Foundation

From whale-watching tours (December-April) to snorkeling adventures and sunset cruises, this is our favorite organization to book through on Maui. Being dedicated to marine conservation and the protection of ocean wildlife, each boat has an experienced naturalist aboard providing valuable insights and educational information. Our kids love picking their brains with burning questions regarding the seas, and the guides have always been patient and oftentimes pretty funny too (if you’re into dad jokes). They provide gear that makes it possible for even the littles to get in the water and experience the magic of Maui’s oceans. If you’ve never seen your animal-loving three-year-old come face to face (observing the safe 3m distance) with a sea turtle, I highly recommend adding it to your bucket list.

Trilogy Discover Lanai

If you are looking for an all-day adventure with snorkeling, beach combing, hiking and the potential to see wildlife, this is the trip for you! Trilogy has exclusive permission to escort guests to Hulopo'e Marine Preserve, where you spend time on the island to hike nearby, lounge at the beach or snorkel in the bay. You have the chance to see whales (December-April), dolphins and other marine life en route and are treated to sprawling coral reefs and a wide array of tropical fish while enjoying Hulopo’e Bay. The food on the Trilogy tours is quite delicious and don’t pass up the cinnamon rolls!

Note

In the wake of the recent fires in Maui, the livelihoods of countless families have been deeply affected, and historically significant aspects of Maui have faced devastating losses. Let us be mindful of the ongoing healing process and refrain from visiting Lahaina town. If you are seeking ways to contribute to the recovery of the local community, we encourage you to explore opportunities to volunteer or support here. The spirit of this island and its people has bestowed boundless generosity upon all who have been welcomed before, and in this trying time, our collective support is of utmost importance.

MonkeyPod

This must-visit location for us started with our interest in their famous Mai-Tai's for mom and dad and we keep coming back! There are two MonkeyPod in Maui, Wailea and Kā'anapali so depending on where you are staying on the island you can enjoy the culinary delights and highly rated (by my kids😊) kids menu. Do note that they only take reservations in Wailea, so you can generally expect a wait in Kā'anapali. There is a kids' climbing play area in Whaler’s Village and the beach steps away so as not to fret, you can keep those littles engaged. Just don’t wait until fooditudes are in full effect to show up!

Dukes

Offering a laid-back atmosphere and delicious Hawaiian cuisine, Duke's is a must-visit restaurant for families. Situated right on the beach in Kā'anapali, it provides a stunning oceanfront dining experience coupled with a diverse menu suitable for both adults and children. Our kids love to head out on the boardwalk and enjoy splashing in the waves while we wait for our meal. You can’t go wrong with the dishes, but we never miss a chance to enjoy the Hula pie!

Mama's Fish House

I would be remiss not to recommend a visit to Mama’s Fish House, known for its fresh seafood and unique culinary offerings. This experience is on the high end of choices, and while situated right on the beach in Paia and amenable to children, we have chosen to leave our kids behind (ask me for nanny recommendations) and enjoy an incredible parents-only night out.

Coconut’s Fish Cafe

This family-friendly, casual eatery with a couple of locations in Kihei, is order at the counter and enjoy where you can find a seat. In my search for the best fish tacos, I must say the tacos here rise pretty darn close to the top. Our pickiest daughter was thrilled to find a hotdog on the kids' menu, which is nice that they have options as we know our littles cannot be expected to indulge in all of our culinary quests.

Leoda's Pie Shop:

A local gem celebrated for its delectable pies and scrumptious offerings, drawing both locals and tourists alike. They prioritize the use of fresh, locally sourced ingredients and always have super-friendly staff that promotes a laidback atmosphere. There is usually a line, so get here early if you hope not to wait. If you find the line has started, bring your vacation vibes, and enjoy the people-watching and gorgeous weather while you wait. If you ask me, don’t miss the Olowalu Lime Pie. Yum.

Paia Fish Market

Previously, three locations in Maui – the Lahaina location was sadly burned in recent fires. The Paia and Kihei locations currently provide delicious stops for seafood-inspired casual meals. They do have non-seafood options and a great kids menu too. We loved everything we got, but I rarely pass up fish tacos, which did not disappoint!

Slappy Cakes

This breakfast restaurant offers a unique experience where kids and adults alike can channel their inner creative culinary spirit and design their own pancakes on a griddle right at your table. Our kids love this place. The pancakes are delicious, but our vegetarian daughter raved about the avocado toast as well. Worth considering if your jet lag has you up early and looking for a fun way to start your day.

Cafe O'lei at the Mill House

This was a happy surprise located at the Maui Tropical Plantation where we went ziplining with Maui Ziplining. It was super fun to watch others take on the zip-line course while we enjoyed a beautiful meal in a lovely setting. You can also take a tour of the pineapple plantation, ride a tram, and shop the quaint market with handmade goods and local produce and products. If the day is yours, there is plenty to do here.