The Ultimate Maui Travel Guide (2026): Where to Stay, Eat, & Explore

Kaanapali Beach Views

The Ultimate Maui Travel Guide (2026 Edition)

Planning a trip to Maui and wondering where to stay, what to do, and the best time to visit? After more than a decade of traveling to Maui—and publishing over 20 in-depth Maui travel guides—this is our most complete and up-to-date resource yet.

This Ultimate Maui Travel Guide (2026) covers everything you need to plan the perfect trip, whether you’re visiting Maui for the first time, traveling with kids or toddlers, planning a honeymoon or babymoon, or returning to explore more of the island. From choosing between Kāʻanapali vs. Wailea, to the best hotels in Maui, top things to do, where to eat, and real travel tips you won’t find in brochures, we break it all down in one place.

We’ve stayed all over the island, explored Maui in every season, eaten at dozens of restaurants, road-tripped the Road to Hana, snorkeled with Green Hawaiian Sea Turtle, and experienced Maui both with and without kids—so everything here is based on real trips, not sponsored recommendations.

Inside this guide, you’ll find:

• The best time to visit Maui (and when to avoid crowds)

• Where to stay in Maui for families, luxury travelers, and first-timers

• Our top things to do in Maui, from beaches to waterfalls

• A 4-day Maui itinerary you can actually follow

• What to pack, how much a trip really costs, and reservations you need in advance

Whether you’re planning a short getaway or a full island adventure, this guide is designed to help you plan smarter, avoid common mistakes, and make the most of your time in Maui.

This Maui Guide Is Perfect For:

• ✔ First-time visitors
• ✔ Families with toddlers & kids
• ✔ Honeymoons & babymoons
• ✔ Travelers planning 4–10 day trips
• ✔ Visitors looking for 2026 updates

Honua Kai Sunset Views in Maui, Hawaii

Jump to a Section

• Best Time to Visit Maui
• Where to Stay: Kaanapali vs Wailea
• Top Things to Do in Maui
• What to Pack for Maui
• Best Restaurants in Maui
• Best Ice Cream in Maui
• 4-Day Maui Itinerary
• Maui With Kids
• First-Time Maui Tips
• Maui Travel FAQs

None of these recommendations are sponsored. Every hotel, restaurant, and activity is included purely because we love it—and because we believe in supporting local Maui businesses.

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Quick Facts: Maui

• Best Time to Visit: October–Early December
• Best Area to Stay: Kaanapali (Families), Wailea (Luxury)
• Ideal Trip Length: 7–10 days
• Do You Need a Car?: Yes
• Good for Kids?: Very

Best Time to Visit Maui is in October - Kula Farm Pumpkin Patch Views

Best Time to Visit Maui

We got married in October and after trying a few other months, we think this is the best time of year! The weather isn’t as hot as the summer months but you still get plenty of sunshine, and if you book early, prices are cheaper than the high season of Spring/Summer. It’s also the beginning of whale season!

See what else makes October in Maui the best season to visit!

Quick Seasonal Summary

Here is a breakdown of each month:

• January–March (Whale season)

• April–May (Shoulder season sweet spot)

• June–August (Peak summer travel)

• September–October (Best value months)

• November–December (Holiday crowds)

When to Visit Maui

Maui is a year-round destination thanks to its warm temperatures and consistent sunshine, but the best time to visit depends on what you’re looking for — fewer crowds, better prices, whale sightings, or perfect beach weather. Understanding Maui’s seasons can help you plan a trip that matches your travel style and budget.

January–March: Whale Season & Winter Escape

Winter is one of the most popular times to visit Maui, especially for travelers escaping cold weather. From January through March, humpback whales migrate to the waters around Maui, making this the best time of year for whale watching.

What to expect:

• Peak whale season

• Slightly cooler temperatures (still warm by mainland standards)

• Larger winter swells on the north and west shores

• Higher prices and more crowds, especially in February

This is a great time for whale tours, scenic drives, and enjoying resort amenities, though some beaches may be less calm for swimming.

April–May: Shoulder Season Sweetie Spot

Spring is one of the best overall times to visit Maui. The weather remains excellent, crowds thin out after spring break, and prices begin to drop.

Why this is a favorite:

• Warm, sunny days

• Fewer crowds than winter

• Lower hotel rates compared to peak season

• Calm ocean conditions for snorkeling

April and May are ideal for first-time visitors who want a balanced experience without the peak-season rush.

June–August: Summer Travel & Family Season

Summer brings warmer temperatures and consistent sunshine, making it a popular time for families and school vacation travel.

Summer highlights:

• Excellent beach weather

• Calmer ocean conditions overall

• Great snorkeling and water visibility

• Busy resorts and higher demand

While crowds are higher, Maui handles summer tourism well thanks to its spread-out beaches and resorts.

September–October: Best Value Months

Early fall is often considered the best time to visit Maui for deals. After summer travel slows and before the holiday rush begins, prices drop and crowds are lighter.

Why fall is underrated (and our favorite!):

• Lower airfare and hotel prices

• Warm ocean temperatures

• Fewer visitors at major attractions

• Great conditions for beach days

September and October are especially appealing for travelers who want a relaxed, less crowded experience.

November–December: Holiday Travel & Seasonal Transition

Late fall brings a mix of quieter travel early in November and busy holiday periods in late December.

What to know:

• Early November can be calm and affordable

• Thanksgiving and Christmas are peak travel times

• Weather remains warm, though slightly more variable

• Holiday pricing applies in late December

If you’re visiting during the holidays, booking accommodations early is essential.

No matter when you visit, Maui offers beautiful scenery, warm weather, and unforgettable experiences year-round — it’s just a matter of choosing the timing that fits your travel priorities.

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Where to Stay in Maui: Best Resorts and Areas

Choosing the right area is the most important part of planning your Hawaii vacation. Having stayed all over the island, we’ve narrowed it down to the two most popular regions.

Kaanapali vs Wailea: Where to Stay in Maui

	Kaanapali	Wailea
Vibe	Lively, walkable, family-friendly	Upscale, quiet, romantic
Budget	$ – $$$	$$$ – $$$$
Best For	First-timers & families with kids	Honeymoons & luxury travelers

Grand Wailea Mermaid Fountain

Best Locations to Stay in Maui

Choosing where to stay in Maui can completely change your experience. Each area of the island has a different vibe, climate, and pace — and the “best” choice depends on whether you’re traveling with kids, as a couple, or for relaxation.

Kaanapali

Kaanapali offers a lively resort area with a long beachfront walkway, shopping, and restaurants all within walking distance. This is our preferred area to stay!**

Best for:

- Walkability

- Larger resorts

- Group trips and families

Wailea

Wailea is known for luxury resorts, calm beaches, and beautifully manicured grounds. It’s ideal for families, honeymooners, and travelers who want easy beach access without sacrificing comfort.

Best for:

- Families

- Couples

- First-time visitors

Lahaina

Lahaina has more local charm and historic appeal, with a mix of condos, boutique hotels, and oceanfront dining. There aren’t as many options to stay here after the fire in 2023.

Best for:

- Condos

- Budget-friendly stays

- Central access

Kihei

Kihei is one of the most affordable places to stay and offers sunny weather and easy access to beaches.

Best for:

- Budget travelers

- Condo stays

- Long-term visits

Hana

Hana is remote, quiet, and lush — perfect for travelers who want to disconnect. SIGN ME UP!

Best for:

- Adventure seekers

- Romantic stays

- Slower travel

Kaanapali vs. Wailea: Which is better?

• Kaanapali: Best for families, first-timers, and those who want a walkable "resort" feel. It is generally more budget-friendly.

• Wailea: Best for honeymoons, luxury travelers, and a quieter, more exclusive atmosphere.

• Guide to Kaanapali

  Kāʻanapali Beach is one of the most iconic beaches in Maui, known for its soft golden sand, calm clear water, and unbeatable resort location.

  Whether you’re traveling with kids, planning a romantic getaway, or visiting Maui for the first time, Kāʻanapali offers the perfect mix of relaxation, walkability, and activities—all with stunning ocean views. Read our full Kaanapali Guide for more!

  Important note about the 2023 Lahaina fires: While the Lahaina wildfires in August 2023 were devastating for the historic town of Lahaina, the Kāʻanapali resort area was not directly impacted. Most hotels, beaches, and resorts in Kāʻanapali remained intact and operational, and the area continues to welcome visitors. Travelers staying in Kāʻanapali can expect a normal resort experience, while also being mindful and respectful of the ongoing recovery efforts in West Maui.

• Guide to Wailea

  Exploring Wailea is a vibrant mix of adventure and relaxation, with some of our favorite activities including shopping, snorkeling, and hiking.

  The boutique-lined streets offer a perfect blend of high-end brands and charming local shops, ideal for leisurely browsing and finding unique treasures.

  When it’s time to dive into nature, snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters reveals an underwater paradise teeming with colorful reef fish and graceful sea turtles. For those craving a bit of sweat and stunning vistas, the nearby hiking trails wind through lush landscapes and volcanic formations, providing breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and beyond.

  Whether you’re eager to indulge in retail therapy, embrace marine wonders, or chase panoramic panoramas, Wailea effortlessly serves up unforgettable experiences. Read our full Wailea guide here. Wailea effortlessly serves up unforgettable experiences.

Our Top Recommended Maui Hotels

• Honua Kai Resort & Spa: Our absolute favorite for stays of a week or more. Since these are condo-style suites with full kitchens, it’s the best place to stay in Maui for families. Read our full Honua Kai Review.

• Sheraton Maui Resort: Located right on Black Rock, this is a snorkeler’s paradise. We highly recommend booking a room overlooking the bluff for the best sunset views on the island. See our Sheraton Maui Review.

• Grand Wailea: If you are looking for the ultimate luxury experience in South Maui, this is it. The pools are legendary. Check out the Grand Wailea experience.

Pro Tip: Looking for more options? Check out our complete list of the Best Hotels in Maui.

Honua Kai 3-bedroom Condo

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Favorite Top 10 Things to Do in Maui

There’s more to Maui than the beaches and pools! Get out and explore the beautiful island! Our top 10:

• Road to Hana

  The Road to Hana is a 64-mile stretch that runs around the northeast side of the island with rainforests, beaches, stunning coastal views, and waterfalls galore! It’s very different (and adventurous) than the rest of the island! Top Stops on the Road to Hana:

  • Lava Tubes

  • Twin Falls Waterfall

  • Black Sand Beach also known as Waiʻānapanapa State Park (you must have a reservation)

  • Pipiwai Trail (Bamboo Forest) → Waimoku Falls

  • Coconut Glen’s Ice Cream - obviously we got ice cream!

    See more stops and photos and a handy map in our Road to Hana post or our Road to Hana Guide.

• 🤿 Snorkeling Adventures

  We love finding Green Hawaiian Sea Turtles! See our favorite spots including Black Rock, to find our shell friends as well as amazing tropical fish!

• Scuba Dive

  We are scuba certified and LOVE seeing everything Maui has to offer under the sea! There are so many cool spots like a cave called the Cathedral that even has what looks like an alter and stain glass window! See more Scuba Adventures to be had!

  Pro-tip: Get out and snorkel Black Rock during the day and see what lies beneath at night with a guided night scuba dive!

• Hiking Trails

  There are some amazing hikes in Maui with stunning views for all levels of hikers. I’m more of an occasional hiker so if I can do these, you can do it too! See our favorite Maui Hiking Trail list, including the Kapalua Coastal Walking Trail or Pipiwai Trail (Bamboo Forest) that ends at Waimouku Falls (waterfall)!

  All this and more on our full Top 10 Things to do in Maui list.

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What to Pack for Maui

Just a swimsuit! Kidding! We used to travel to Maui for a few days with a carryon and snorkel gear before kids. It’s a little different now that we bring 10 pieces of luggage/carryons/diaper bags but I still pack the same things for me!

Packing for Maui is refreshingly simple thanks to the island’s warm weather and relaxed vibe, but a few smart additions can make your trip far more comfortable. Between beach days, scenic drives, and cooler evenings at higher elevations, having the right essentials ensures you’re prepared without overpacking.

Clothing & Footwear

Maui’s dress code is casual, breathable, and beach-friendly. Think dresses with pockets!

Bring lightweight clothing you can easily mix and match, including shorts, tanks, sundresses, and swimsuits. It’s a good idea to pack more than one swimsuit so you always have a dry option. Comfortable walking shoes are essential for exploring towns, short hikes, and sightseeing, while sandals or flip-flops are perfect for beach days.

Even though Maui is warm year-round, a light jacket or sweater is helpful for evenings, ocean breezes, or trips to higher elevations like Haleakalā.

Beach & Sun Protection Essentials

The Hawaiian sun is strong, so sun protection is one of the most important things to pack.

Reef-safe sunscreen is required in Hawaii and should be applied generously throughout the day. A wide-brim hat and UV-protective sunglasses provide extra protection, while a reusable water bottle helps you stay hydrated during long beach days or sightseeing.

If you plan to explore rocky beaches or snorkel directly from shore, water shoes can be very helpful.

Day Trips & Adventure Gear

Many Maui activities involve being out all day, so having a few practical items on hand makes exploring easier.

A small backpack or beach tote (my fave) is ideal for carrying sunscreen, water, snacks, and electronics. A portable phone charger is especially useful on longer drives like the Road to Hana. Motion sickness remedies are also worth packing if winding roads affect you.

For those planning outdoor adventures, a camera or action camera is a great way to capture Maui’s scenery, waterfalls, and underwater views.

Packing for Families & Kids

Traveling to Maui with kids means packing with sun protection and comfort in mind.

Rash guards or swim shirts help reduce sun exposure, and water shoes protect little feet on rocky beaches. Snacks, refillable containers, and favorite comfort items can make long days and travel transitions easier.

Many accommodations provide baby gear, but it’s always best to confirm ahead of time if you’re relying on items like cribs or high chairs.

Good news: there is a Target and Costco right by the airport if you forget anything!

Toiletries & Practical Items

Most hotels and vacation rentals provide basic toiletries, but it’s helpful to bring travel-size essentials you prefer. After-sun care like aloe vera can be a lifesaver after long days outdoors, and a small first-aid kit is useful for minor scrapes or blisters.

Bug spray is optional but recommended if you plan to visit lush or rainy areas. I always bring it because I often get bites no matter where I go!

What You Can Skip

To save luggage space, you can leave heavy jackets, formal clothing, and bulky beach gear at home. Maui is casual, and most items can be rented or purchased locally if needed.

Want a Full, Printable Packing List?

Don’t miss my favorite outfits for Hawaii as well as my FULL list of must haves- a detailed, printable checklist that covers every category — including electronics, toiletries, and family-specific items!

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New Kaanapali Beach Location for Maui Brewing Company

Best Restaurants in Maui: Where to Eat

After a decade of visits, we’ve narrowed down the absolute best places to eat in Maui. From high-end dining to the best food trucks, these are our non-negotiable stops.

1. Monkeypod Kitchen (Kaanapali & Wailea)

Famous for its Lilikoi Foam Mai Tai, Monkeypod is a must-visit. It’s vibrant, family-friendly, and has a great happy hour. Read our Monkeypod Kitchen Review.

2. Merriman’s Maui (Kapalua)

For the best fine dining in Maui with a view, Merriman’s is unbeatable. It’s located right on the point in Kapalua and offers a true "farm-to-table" experience. It’s also our pick for the best Mai Tai on the island.

3. Star Noodle (Lahaina)

While it has moved locations over the years and after the Lahaina fires in 2023, Star Noodle is back home to Lahaina and remains a staple for Asian-fusion fans. Be sure to book your reservations weeks in advance—this is one of the hardest tables to get! See what to order at Star Noodle.

4. Local Favorites & Quick Bites

• Aloha Braised Food Truck: For an authentic, local taste of the islands.

• Burger Shack at the Ritz: The best casual lunch spot with a view of DT Fleming Beach. Don’t forget to save room for a milkshake!

• Island Cream Co: You cannot leave Maui without trying their chocolate macadamia nut ice cream!

Hungry for more? See our Full Guide to the 10 Best Restaurants in Maui.

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Best Ice Cream in Maui

We’ve enjoyed a whole lot of delicious ice cream and refreshing shave ice during our time in Maui! Over the course of our trip, we’ve discovered a few favorite spots that we find ourselves returning to again and again:

1. Island Cream Co - chocolate macadamia nut ice cream is a must!

2. Maui Gelato - options of gelato, Roselani ice cream, affogato, floats, shakes, mochi ice cream, shave ice, and waffles, you won’t be disappointed.

3. Burger Shack Shakes - Not only do they have amazing burgers, but fantastic milkshakes (and some boozy shake options too!). The view of the beach at Kapalua doesn’t hurt either!

4. Hula Pie at Duke’s Beach House Maui - A giant slice of Macadamia Nut ice cream pie and chocolate drizzled on top! Do you need more of an explanation?

Hula Pie at Duke’s Beach House

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Mai Tai at Merriman’s Restaurant

Best Mai Tai In Maui

Merriman’s makes the absolute best Mai Tais in all of Maui! But being the dedicated taste tester that I am, I’ve also tried Mai Tais from several other spots across the island, just to be sure there isn’t an even better one hiding somewhere. See where to get all the Best Mai Tai’s in Maui.

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Our Favorite 4 Day Maui Itinerary

How do you plan your days in Maui? It’s definitely not easy, but hey, someone’s got to take on the challenge! When traveling with toddlers, we tend to go with the flow and follow the mood of the day, since little ones can be unpredictable. However, back when it was just us adults, we’d carefully map out what we wanted to see and do ahead of time because some popular spots require permits or reservations well in advance. Don’t get me wrong, we still do some planning with the kids, but these days it’s mostly about balancing a bit of adventure with plenty of relaxing pool and beach time to keep everyone happy!

See our full 4-day Itinerary post.

How Many Days Do You Need in Maui?

You need at least 4 days in Maui! We’ve done extended weekend trips (Thursday to Sunday) and we’ve also stayed in Maui for a month (live like a local!), either way I was still crying all the way to the airport on our last day.

Here is a simple breakdown of how many days you need in Maui and what you should do:

• 3–4 days: Beaches + resort time only

• 5–6 days: Add Road to Hana or Haleakala

• 7–10 days: Ideal for first-timers

• 10+ days: Slow travel + repeat favorites

7-10 days is typically the best amount of time in Maui to get the most out of adventures and relaxation!

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Iao Needle Hike in Maui

How Much Does a Trip to Maui Cost?

Is Maui expensive? It doesn’t have to be! Here’s a real breakdown of how much our Maui trip cost, including flights, hotel, rental car, food, and activities.

See what a mid-range Maui vacation actually costs and plan with confidence.

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Babymoon in Maui

I’ve been pregnant twice in Maui and still managed to have an absolutely wonderful time! Even though I was super cautious during my pregnancies and preferred to spend a lot of time just relaxing and taking it easy, there were still so many amazing activities and beautiful spots to explore around the island.

Maui truly offers a great balance for anyone looking to enjoy themselves gently while soaking up the stunning scenery and island vibes! See more in our Babymoon in Maui post.

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Honeymoon and Romantic Things to do

For a truly romantic getaway, start your evenings with candlelit dinners at seaside restaurants where the ocean breeze pairs perfectly with gourmet cuisine.

Follow that with a sunset cruise, drifting gently on the water as the sky bursts into a palette of pinks and purples—a picture-perfect moment made for two.

After soaking in the sunset, indulge in a couple’s massage to melt away any lingering stress, leaving you both feeling blissfully connected and relaxed.

And for a splash of adventure, snorkeling hand-in-hand among vibrant coral reefs and colorful fish lets you explore a dreamy underwater world together, making memories as deep as the ocean itself.

Find more love on Maui.

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Maui with kids

Maui with Kids

Traveling to Maui with kids is absolutely worth it—and we say that after visiting the island with babies, toddlers, and young kids.

Maui is one of the easiest Hawaiian islands to do as a family, with calm beaches, stroller-friendly resort areas, kid-loving restaurants, and plenty of low-stress activities.

From choosing the best area to stay to planning nap-friendly days and finding beaches that feel more like shallow pools, our complete Maui With Kids guide breaks down everything you need to know to plan a smooth, memory-filled family trip.

🧃 Easy Snacks for Kids (That Don’t Melt in Hawaii)

The best snacks for kids in Hawaii are no-melt, mess-free, and easy to pack. Top options include:

• Gummies – Lightweight, individually wrapped, and won’t melt in the heat.

• Fruit snacks – Easy to portion and perfect for quick snack breaks.

• Pouches – Shelf-stable, refreshing, and ideal for on-the-go eating.

These snacks hold up well during beach days, road trips, and sightseeing in warm Hawaiian weather.

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Jeeps are the best Rental Cars in Maui, Hawaii

First-Time Maui Tips and FAQs

1. Do you need a rental car?

   • ABSOLUTELY! It is very hard to get around the island without one.

2. Is Maui expensive?

   • Yes, but there are many things you can do to cut some costs.

3. How many days is enough?

   • 4 days at least! I always cry on the way to the airport no matter how long we stay.

4. What not to skip on your first visit?

   • SNORKELING is a must! Find a turtle!

5. What part of Maui is best to stay?

   Wailea and Kaanapali are the most popular for first-time visitors.

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Kula Country Farms - Maui, Hawaii

Reservations You Need in Advance for Maui

• Road to Hana park reservations

• Haleakalā sunrise permits

• Popular restaurants

• Snorkel tours

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Maui worth visiting in 2026?

Yes, Maui is absolutely worth visiting in 2026. Maui offers world-class beaches, incredible snorkeling, lush rainforests, luxury resorts, and unforgettable scenery. The island has reopened many beloved restaurants and attractions, making it a wonderful time to visit.

2. What is the best time of year to visit Maui?

The best time to visit Maui is October through early December. You’ll enjoy warm weather, fewer crowds, better hotel prices, and the beginning of whale season—without the peak-season crowds of summer and spring.

3. How many days do you need in Maui?

A minimum of 4–5 days is recommended to experience Maui, but 7–10 days is ideal. This allows time for the Road to Hana, snorkeling, beach days, and relaxation without feeling rushed.

4. Where should you stay in Maui for the first time?

First-time visitors should stay in Kaanapali or Wailea.

• Kaanapali is best for families, walkability, and value.

• Wailea is ideal for luxury, romance, and quieter resorts.

5. Is Maui good for families with kids?

Yes, Maui is extremely family-friendly. Many resorts offer kids’ clubs, calm beaches are perfect for swimming, and activities like snorkeling, whale watching, and easy coastal walks are great for all ages.

6. Is Maui expensive?

Maui can be expensive, but it’s possible to plan a trip on a moderate budget. Staying in condo-style resorts, booking activities early, renting a car, and mixing restaurants with food trucks can significantly reduce costs.

7. Do you need a rental car in Maui?

Yes, renting a car is highly recommended in Maui. Public transportation is limited, and many of the island’s top attractions—like the Road to Hana, Haleakalā, and hidden beaches—require driving.

8. Do you need reservations for Maui attractions?

Yes, several popular Maui attractions require advance reservations, including:

• Road to Hana state parks

• Haleakalā sunrise

• Popular restaurants and snorkel tours

Booking early helps avoid disappointment.

9. Is the Road to Hana worth it?

Yes, the Road to Hana is absolutely worth it. It’s one of Maui’s most scenic experiences, featuring waterfalls, rainforests, black sand beaches, and dramatic coastal views. Planning your stops ahead of time makes the experience much more enjoyable.

10. Is Maui good for honeymoons and romantic trips?

Maui is one of the best honeymoon destinations in the world. With luxury resorts, sunset cruises, beachfront dining, couples’ massages, and breathtaking scenery, it’s perfect for romantic getaways.

Common Maui Planning Questions

Is Maui better than Oahu for a first trip?

Maui is better for travelers who want beaches, scenery, and a relaxed pace, while Oahu offers more city life and nightlife.

What is the cheapest month to visit Maui?

September and October typically offer the lowest prices for flights and accommodations.

Is Maui walkable?

Some resort areas like Kaanapali are walkable, but most visitors need a car to explore the island.

Are there free things to do in Maui?

Yes — many of Maui’s best experiences are free, including beaches, scenic drives, hiking trails, and sunrise or sunset viewpoints.

Can you visit Maui without doing the Road to Hana?

Absolutely. While it’s popular, many travelers prefer beaches, snorkeling, and resort time instead.

Is Maui good for a relaxing vacation?

Yes — Maui is ideal for slow travel, beach days, and unwinding, especially in Wailea and Hana.

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Black Rock at Kaanapali Beach - best for snorkeling

Planning Mistakes to Avoid

Maui trip planning can be overwhelming as there is so much to do and see! Here are a few mistakes to avoid when booking your Maui vacation:

• Not booking Haleakalā sunrise early - make sure you get your reservation well ahead of time!

• Skipping reef-safe sunscreen - let’s all do our part in preserving and protecting the reef!

• Underestimating drive times - Maui is bigger than you think!

• Overpacking activities with kids - don’t plan too much for little ones to prevent tired meltdowns!

• Not renting a car - you’ll definitely want a car, Uber and ride shares are available but limited.

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Whether this is your first time visiting Maui or you’re returning to experience it in a new way, we hope this guide helps you plan a trip filled with unforgettable moments, stress-free days, and plenty of sunshine. Maui has a way of slowing life down—in the best possible way—and with a little planning, it becomes the kind of trip you’ll talk about long after you’ve unpacked. If you found this Ultimate Maui Travel Guide helpful, we’d love for you to save it for later or share it with friends and family who are planning a trip too.

Pin this guide to Pinterest so it’s easy to find when you’re ready to start booking, and feel free to share it on social media to help other travelers plan their perfect Maui escape 🌴

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More Maui Posts:

Maui With Kids: The Ultimate Family Travel Guide 2026

Kids love RUnning on Airplane beach in Maui and in and out of waves

Is Maui Worth It With Kids? A Real Family-Friendly Travel Guide

Yes — Maui is absolutely worth visiting with kids. From calm beaches and stroller-friendly resort areas to kid-loving restaurants and flexible activities, Maui is one of the easiest Hawaiian islands to enjoy as a family — even with toddlers.

Our kids don’t understand how lucky they are for the amount of times they have gone to Hawaii! Maui is our favorite destination for traveling as a family. There is so much to do and the island has so much to offer for everyone. We have made some sweet memories together from having an infant to toddler and kid years.

We have learned to have a successful trip you need the balance of snacks, naps, and fun! therefore, we have recommendations for accommodations, restaurants, and things to do to entertain (and hopefully tire out) your tot!

Related Post: Don’t miss our ULTIMATE MAUI GUIDE

Honokōwai Beach Park

Quick Jump

• Best Places to Stay in Maui with Kids
• Best Beaches in Maui for Kids
• Best Restaurants in Maui with Kids
• Things to Do in Maui with Kids
• 5-Day Maui Itinerary with Kids
• What to Pack for Maui with Kids

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Best Places to Stay in Maui for Families

After many hotel and condo stays around Maui, let’s break up the island to compare which areas are best for your family!

🏝️ Best Areas to Stay in Maui With Kids

Area	Best For	Walkability	Beach Type
Kā‘anapali	First-timers, toddlers	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Sandy, swimmable
Wailea	Luxury, older kids	⭐⭐	Resort beaches
Napili / Kapalua	Quiet stays, babies	⭐	Calm coves

These are the best areas to stay in Maui with kids based on walkability, beach conditions, and family-friendly amenities.

Kaanapali vs Wailea vs Kapalua with Kids

• Kaanapali is much more kid friendly, as well as budget friendly, than Wailea. Both areas of the island have family friendly hotels but Kaanapali has a long stretch of them! There is a great beach and tons of hotels and shopping along Kaanapali with a long walk way to connect everything together.

• Wailea has more high end hotels that are more geared towards adults, such as the Four Seasons or the Andaz. The Grand Wailea has an awesome pool with lots of water slides but you can also get similar pools in Kaanapali.

• Napili and Kapalua are further North and rockier than the previous areas discussed. It’s not as walkable as the hotel resorts are more spread out, which makes it less crowded and quieter. Kapalua bay has a great beach that doesn’t have big waves but also has a coral reef that is great for snorkeling! The Kapalua coastal trail is great for strollers or walking with a carrier.

🏨 Condo Resorts vs Hotels

Depending on your length of stay, if it’s more than 5 days, you might be more comfortable trying a condo like Outrigger’s Honua Kai! You can pick your room layout (Studio, One Bedroom, Two Bedroom or Three Bedrooms) so that you have plenty of space especially when babies or toddlers are napping and you need another room to hang out in!

Condo Rental Wins:

• Pools are like resort pools! Honua Kai has one of our favorite pools complete with water slides, splash pad, and kiddie pool! You can even get food and drink poolside service from Duke’s restaurant!

• My favorite feature is having a full kitchen with the little ones so you can make pancakes or have fresh fruit and milk available in a full sized refrigerator as opposed to a mini fridge.

• We book through Maui Resort Rentals and they have cribs/pack n plays so you don’t have to bring a bed!

Taking first steps on a Little Beach bridges in front of Honua Kai

Best resorts for families

Don’t get me wrong, the resort hotels are wonderful too! If you have kids that are 4+, traveling is a bit easier since you don’t have to bring diapers, strollers, pack n play, etc!

Kaanapali has a few great hotel resorts:

• Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas

  • The Westin in Kaanapali has an amazing pool area with slides, fountains, and one especially parent-friendly feature: our 3-year-old could climb up to the slide on their own and land in a shallow pool (about 1.5 feet deep). This setup was a huge win for us—it gave our toddler independence while giving us a much-needed break from constant stair climbing.

  • The Westin also has great restaurants, a Starbucks, and an ARCADE!

  • Other activities include feeding the flamingos and birds in the morning. Ask the front desk about the times for daily feedings. We were even able to hold the birds too!

• Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa

  • The pool at the Hyatt Regency Maui is a kid’s tropical playground that feels more like a mini-waterpark than a hotel pool. Between the sandy lagoons, waterslides, swinging rope bridge, hidden grottos tucked behind rushing waterfalls, and the legendary Ululani’s Shave Ice located right on the pool deck, it provides enough adventure to keep children entertained from sunrise to sunset.

  • The Hyatt Regency Maui resort has a resident colony of African Black-Footed Penguins. Located right in the atrium lobby, these charismatic birds are a must-see, especially during the daily 9:30 AM feedings where children can watch them waddle, swim, and dive for their breakfast while learning about conservation from the wildlife team. It’s essentially a mini-zoo experience without leaving the hotel, featuring not just the penguins but also flamingos, swans, and talking parrots scattered throughout the lush grounds.

  • Has a game room/arcade area geared toward kids and teens.

African Black-Footed Penguins at the Hyatt Regency Maui

Wailea also has a family friendly hotel:

• Grand Wailea

  • Though there isn’t an arcade, the Grand Wailea offers a kids club and teen lounge including video games and indoor activities— which is more structured and supervised than the Hyatt or Westin Arcades.

  • The Grand Wailea pool is widely considered the heavyweight champion for kids on Maui. The massive Wailea Canyon Activity Pool is a sprawling 25,700-square-foot playground that is actually nine individual pools connected by a network of lazy rivers and whitewater rapids.

  • Children can choose from five different waterslides, including the three-story Lava Tube for the brave and gentler interconnected slides for the younger ones. Between the Tarzan rope swing, the hidden caves behind waterfalls, and a dedicated Baby Beach with a sandy bottom and zero-entry slope, it essentially functions as a private, world-class waterpark that keeps kids engaged for days on end.

    See our full review of The Grand Wailea.

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Honokōwai Beach Park

🏝️ Best Beaches in Maui for Kids

The key to the best kid friendly beaches in Maui:

• Calm water

• Shallow entry

• Easy parking

• Nearby bathrooms

Here’s what we recommend:

• Kaanapali Beach is great for kids who are strong swimmers or like to boogie board. There are a few free lots to park in but they fill up quickly. Otherwise it’s best to park at a resort or the Whalers Village Shopping parking lot. See more but

• Airplane Beach just north of Kaanapali has a more shallow entry and calmer waves than Kaanapali. Our toddlers loved running up to the waves crashing on the shower then running from the water before it could catch them. Parking is harder to find or the free lot near the Sheraton is quite a distance and fills up quickly.

• Kapalua Bay is also a great play for littles that want to play in the ocean that is more Shallow with softer waves. If you peak on the other side of the bay off the grassy knoll, you’ll find turtles sleeping. There’s a parking lot (fills up quick, get there early) with public bathrooms nearby too.

• Honokōwai Beach Park has a playground AND a great beach that is protected by a rock reef so it’s more like a pool that even infants can sit and play in! There’s also a public bathroom and parking lot too!

Look Closely for the Sleeping Green Hawaiian Sea Turtles in Kapalua Bay

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🌊 Things to Do in Maui With Kids

• Easy hikes

  • Iao Valley is great to wander around and has different hiking levels for all ages. There’s also a stream to swim in.

  • Kapalua’s Coastal Trail is even stroller friendly with stunning beach views.

    See our full breakdown in our Maui Hiking Trails Post!

• Farm visits

  Kula Ranch is a great place to visit especially in October! They have a full pumpkin patch as well as a few animals to look at and pet. Kula is above Wailea but you ave to drive around to get to it. Also, try the pumpkin bread sold in the little stand!

• Road to Hana Stops

  The Road to Hana is such a great way to see how gorgeous Maui is filled with waterfalls, beaches, banana bread stops and more! If you do go, it is an ALL day adventure, so plan and prepare ahead of time.

  You must stop at the Black Sand Beach and try to get to Haleakala National Park for a hike through the Pipiwai Trail (Bamboo Forest). See our full list of Road to Hana Stops for more!

• Professional Maui Family Photos

  Maui provides the perfect background for any photo, so take your professional family portraits on the island! Think Christmas card photos - Male Kalikimaka! Our favorite local, Tracy Leboe at Baby Hawaii Photography, is super talented taking maternity photos but also captures gorgeous family moments! Book your session ahead of time.

Family Portraits taken by Baby Hawaii Photography

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🍽️ Best Kid Friendly Restaurants in Maui

1. Monkeypod is a very toddler friendly restaurant with crayons and free butter noodles for kids 3 and under. It also has great happy hour and my favorite Mai Tai! There are two locations on Maui - Kaaanapali and Wailea!

2. Barefoot Bar is a fun restaurant where you can eat with your toes in the sand! It is part of Hula Grill but has a separate entrance on the South side of the restaurant. They also have crayons and some good kid food options. Our kid claimed, “it was the best restaurant ever!”

3. The Ritz’s Burger Shack is a toddler approved restaurant located outside with a big grassy area for kids to run around. It’s also parent approved if you want to hang out and have a boozy milkshake or just watch the waves crash on the shore for a few minutes!

🧃 Easy Snacks for Kids in Maui (That Don’t Melt)

When you’re exploring Maui with kids, having the right snacks on hand can make all the difference. Between beach days, car rides, and long sightseeing stops, you’ll want options that hold up in warm weather and are easy for kids to eat on the go.

These parent-approved snacks travel well around the island and won’t melt or turn messy in your bag:

• Gummies
  Gummies are lightweight, easy to portion, and a favorite with kids of all ages. They’re ideal for beach bags, stroller pockets, and plane rides since they don’t melt like chocolate snacks.

• Fruit Snacks
  Fruit snacks are great for quick snack breaks while sightseeing or driving around the island. Look for resealable packaging so you can spread snacks out throughout the day without waste.

• Pouches
  Fruit and veggie pouches are especially helpful in Maui’s heat. They’re refreshing, mess-free, and easy for kids to eat while walking or riding in the car. Many are shelf-stable, so refrigeration isn’t an issue until they’re opened.

Love this idea but don’t want to pack all of this? I don’t blame you! Good news is that you can get these as soon as you land at the Target or Costco by the Maui OGG Airport!

💡 Parent Tip: Pack snacks in a small insulated pouch or shaded backpack pocket to keep them out of direct sun, especially during beach days or long drives.

We bring our Wagon instea of a Stroller

Traveling to Maui With Toddlers

1. Nap-friendly days

   With toddlers down to one nap, we would try and get out early, because they were up early anyway, and make it back before naptime or time it where we would be in the car so they could nap.

2. Stroller walks

   There were a lot of stroller walks up and down Kaanapali beach when we had infants and toddlers! We would bring our beach wagon and put both toddlers in for a walk!

3. Pool days vs adventure days

   We would typically alternate pool days and adventure days but most days involved a splash in the pool regardless.

   We would even use a night swim as an incentive to eat their dinner.

4. What to skip with toddlers

   • The Road to Hana is great but is a longggg day for little ones. It’s essentially a 5 hour (or more) drive so you must plan accordingly to be on the road ALL day. You can break it up with stops but getting to the furthest point is a three hour drive straight there. Even the first stop from Kaanapali or Wailea is about a two hour drive. If you’re only in Maui for a few days this might be a good one to skip unless your kids are a bit older. If you’re pregnant and have nausea, don’t attempt it. I speak from experience.

   • Haleakala sunrises and sunsets are breathtaking, but don’t go with toddlers or younger.

   • Sunset cruises are fun but stressful with younger kids that like to run around.

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Walking along the kid and stroller friendly Kapalua Coastal Walk in Maui

5-Day Maui Itinerary with Kids

Day 1 Arrival

12p Arrival into OGG, pick up rental car

1p stop at Target, Costco, then pick up Tin Roof

3p Check into Honua Kai Condo

4p 🛍️ Head to Whalers Village for shopping and dinner at Monkeypod (get extra food for fridge). Must order: Chicken Wings, Kalua Pork Pizza, Free Butter Noodles for kids, pie slices to go to eat in room after kids go to bed. Don’t forget to order the best Mai Tai on the island! All of this is on the Happy Hour menu!

6p Back to hotel for bedtime

Day 2 Pool-time and Burgers

5a Kids wake up, make pancakes (and coffee) in room

7a Adult Breakfast pickup (or dine in) at Duke’s

8a Pool opens!

11a Back to room for lunch

12p Naptime

2:30p Drive to Ritz in Kapalua and have Linner at Burger Shack (it’s a big meal to fill up on). Must order: burger and milkshake

4p Explore Ritz and Kapalua or go to DT Fleming beach

6p Back to Hotel for Bedtime

Pipiwai Trail With Baby in Carrier

Day 3 Road to Hana Adventure

5:30a Kids wake up - make more pancakes for everyone (and another pot of coffee)

6:30a Drive the Road to Hana

8a Stretch legs at Banana Bread Stop

9a Arrive at Kīpahulu Visitor Center which is part of Haleakala National Park where you can explore the Oheo Gulch Pools, Pipiwai Trail (Bamboo Forest), and Waimoku Falls

11a Eat a packed lunch or drive to the Food Trucks in Hana

1p Stop at Wainapanapa Beach (Black Sand Beach) - make a reservation ahead of time.

3p Drive back to hotel

5p Dinner at hotel or pick up something on the way back

6p Bedtime

Day 4 - Pool and Luau

6a Kids wake up

7a Breakfast at Slappy Cakes or The Gazebo

8a Kapalua Bay for beach time, maybe try the coastal walk

11a Back to room for lunch

12p Naptime

2:30p Quick Pool Play

5p Luau at Hyatt or Sheraton

7p Bedtime

Day 5 - Last Swim and Depart

6:30a Kids Wake Up

7:30a Breakfast at Duke’s

8:30a Take turns with your partner packing

10:30a Drive to Airport (and cry the whole way)

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Sticker Tape Road and Travel Magnatiles keep them entertained in the hotel room

What to Pack for Maui With Kids

I think giving a list of what not to pack is a shorter list because we bring almost everything! One thing I will advise is there is a Costco and a Target by the airport so make your Target order for pickup before your flight takes off so it’s ready for you when you land. You can always Instacart Costco or just head in for free snacks.

Here is a copy paste of what I packed for my 2 and 4-year-old on our last trip.

Shop our Toddler Packing Amazon list.

Carry-on Plane

• Personal Carry-on:

  • Toys & some books

  • iPad

  • Headphones 🎧

  • Waterbottles

• Wagon - We bring a wagon instead of a stroller these days now that the kids are older. Though we loved our travel stroller for when we had babies!

• Snack Bag - Dedicated light weight backpack that folds up into a pouch

  • Pouches

  • That’s it bars

  • Pirate booty

  • Cereal Bars from Trader Joes

  • Bear Fruit Snacks

  • Gummies

  • Teddy Grahams

Here is the full list of everything else that scatters into multiple bags:

Sleep 

• Inflatable bed x 2

• Sheets x 2

• Blanket x 2

• Small Toddler pillows x 2

• PJs

• White noise / Hatch

Food Things

• Food bag

• Bowls 🥣

• Baby Spoons 🥄

• Bibs

• Water cup/bottle

• Milk cup

• Sippy cup

• Safe dish soap 🧼

• Sandwich bags

• Snack bowl

Travel and Misc

• Car seat x 2

• Car seat bags x 2

• Swaddle

• Clothes pins

• Outlet covers

• Beach bag

• Beach blanket mat

Toiletries for Kids

• Baby shampoo

• Baby body wash

• Soft Wash Cloths

• Nail clippers

• Brush

• Kids Tylenol

• Kids Sunscreen

• Diaper rash cream

• Baby Aquaphor/neosporin

• Ear drops

Clothes and diapers

• Sweatshirt for plane & Mainland airport travel

• Socks

• Shorts

• Shirts

• Swimwear

• Swim diapers

• Size 4 diapers

• Pull ups

• Overnight Diapers

• Wipes

• Hat

• Multipurpose Sanitation wipes in ziplock bag

Toys and Entertainment - Shop our Toddler Packing Amazon list

• Bath Toys - Cars 🚗

• Books 📚

• Sand toys 🏖️

• Football 🏈

• Frisbee

• Trucks 🛻

• Cars 🚙

• Sticker Road

• Plane toys - coloring book, sticker book

• Cards 🃏

• Travel Magnatiles

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Is Maui Worth It With Kids?

Yes—Maui is absolutely worth it with kids, especially for families traveling with toddlers and young children. The island offers calm, swimmable beaches, family-friendly resorts, walkable areas like Kā‘anapali, and activities that don’t require long drives or packed schedules. With the right balance of pool days, beach time, and nap-friendly outings, Maui is one of the easiest Hawaii islands to enjoy as a family. If you plan intentionally—choosing the right area to stay and skipping overly long excursions—Maui can be both relaxing and unforgettable with kids.

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More Maui Posts:

A Curated Christmas in Napa: A Luxury 3-Day Guide to St. Helena & Yountville

Vines, Lights, and Luxury: Our Hallmark Movie Escape to St. Helena

We recently celebrated my 40th birthday just north of Napa in St. Helena and Yountville, and it was truly magical! Since my birthday is in December, the entire region was decorated for the holidays—it felt like walking onto a Hallmark movie set.

While many people flock to Napa in the summer or for Harvest Season, I wouldn’t trade this cozy, festive vibe for the world. The crowds are thinner, the vines are dormant (making way for the yellow mustard flowers!), and it’s much easier to snag reservations at luxury hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants.

Three days is the perfect amount of time to soak it all in. Here is our tried-and-true winter itinerary.

The Alila main building - front desk and restaurant

Day 1: Arrival and Fireside Luxury

Where to Stay: Alila Napa Valley

I actually teared up a little saying goodbye to our room at checkout. The Alila Napa Valley is the ultimate luxury retreat. Our balcony featured a private fire pit and a giant outdoor soaking tub with relaxing bath salts. The hotel's main building is a stunning Victorian, but the rooms are sleek, high-tech, and modern.

• Pro-Tip: This is a fantastic use of Hyatt Points if you’re a member!

Bath tub and fire pit on the Balcony of our Alila Hotel Room

Bouchon front Entrance in Yountville

Dinner: Bouchon (Yountville)

This wasn't our first time at a Bouchon, but it was our first time at the Yountville location. Since Thomas Keller is a local, his restaurants operate with absolute perfection. Our waiter even offered to take photos of us by the Christmas decorations!

• Must-Haves: The roasted chicken, the Mac n Cheese (trust me), and the profiteroles.

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Model Bakery Breakfast: Latte and English Muffin

Day 2: Historic Vines & "The Brightest Town"

Breakfast: Model Bakery

This St. Helena staple has been around since 1908 and is world-famous for its English Muffins (Oprah’s favorite!).

• Insider Hack: We ordered via Uber Eats and had them delivered to our Alila balcony to eat by the fire pit. It’s the perfect way to skip the line at the shop or the even longer line at Bouchon Bakery.

The warm English muffin didn’t disappoint, especially after being smothered in butter and strawberry jam!

Christmas in the Beringer Wine Caves

Wine Tasting: Beringer Vineyards

Don’t let the grocery store labels fool you—Beringer’s estate wines are high-end, exclusive, and incredible. You can book a tasting in the Rhine House, which feels like a Victorian Christmas dream or the cozy caves are decorated with lights and Christmas trees. We opted for the cave tour where Corey was our tour guide and was fantastic!

• The Bridge: If you stay at the Alila, there is a private bridge that lets you walk right into the Beringer vineyards.

• Christmas tree made out of wine barrels: The Beringer wine barrel Christmas tree is not located on the Beringer property but it is setup off a side street in St. Helena. If you’re on 128 or Main Street you’ll see the setup on Hunt Avenue which is currently closed for the display. It’s across from Model Bakery which I recommend getting a peppermint latte and frosted sugar cookie to add even more Christmas spirit!

St. Helena Beringer Wine Barrel Christmas Tree near Napa - Main Street 128 and Hunt Ave

Brew Bus at Burgers and Half Bottles Pop-up in Napa

Lunch: Burgers and Half Bottles Pop-up

We were lucky to catch this seasonal Thomas Keller pop-up. The menu featured Wagyu burgers, lobster rolls, and fried chicken sandwiches paired with half-bottles of wine.

• The Vibe: Grab a "Pliney" from the VW Brew Bus and enjoy the casual, festive atmosphere.

Handwritten Wines Tasting Room in Yountville

The Afternoon Stroll & Tasting: Handwritten Wines

Walk off lunch by exploring the Yountville Art Walk, which is beautifully lit for the holidays. Then, head to Handwritten Wines for a boutique, intimate "Side by Side" tasting. It’s a wonderful contrast to the grand scale of Beringer.

Ciccio Pizza - pepperoni with Hot Honey

Dinner: Ciccio

This spot is a local favorite. It has a cozy, lively, and unpretentious vibe that is perfect for a festive winter night out.

The pepperoni pizza with hot honey cannot be missed. It’s even good cold by the fire.

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Day 3: The Grand Finale

Breakfast: Model Bakery (Part 2!)

We loved it so much we walked down St. Helena’s Main Street to visit in person. They have a much larger menu in-store.

• Must-Have: The Chipotle Breakfast Sandwich (egg, pepper jack, tomato, and chipotle aioli).

Model Bakery is decked out with Christmas Decorations in St Helena

Last Minute Shopping: Browse the festively decorated boutiques on Main Street in St. Helena.

In the middle of town you can find a festive 36-foot Wine Barrel Christmas Tree (a major photo op).

7 Wine Barrel Tree Fun Facts

• 109 Wine Barrels Stacked

• Recycled Barrels Donated by Beringer Vineyards

• 10,500 Pounds - 36 Feet Tall

• Earthquake Proof

• 800 Feet of Garland Used

• Nearly 2600 Ornaments

• St. Helena Chamber of Commerce Designed the Tree with JCD Atmospheric Studios

This Christmas tree made of Beringer wine barrels can be found in St. Helena on Hunt Ave off Main Street 128.

St. Helena Wine Barrel Christmas Tree near Napa Valley

Lunch: Auberge du Soleil

Even on a foggy day, the view of the valley is breathtaking. This Michelin Star Restaurant didn’t disappoint! It’s a 2 or 3 course menu, so naturally I picked a main and dessert.

• The Food: The short rib with Cabernet sauce is decadent, and the Valrhona Guanaja Chocolate Fondant with mint ice cream is a chocolate lover's dream.

Auberge du Soleil Desserts by the fire

Final Stop: Kollar Chocolates

Before heading out, stop here for some edible art. Their truffles take three days to make and are incredibly intricate.

• Seasonal Treats: We loved the Peppermint Bark and the Chocolate Cinnamon truffle with the snowflake pattern.

Kollar Chocolates in Napa Valley (Yountville)

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Wine Tasting in Bering Vineyards - Cave tour

4 Reasons to Visit Napa in December

1. The Christmas Spirit: Every winery decks the halls with massive wreaths and garlands.

2. The Lights: Yountville is officially the "Brightest Town in the Valley." Don't miss Bunny Foo Foo (the giant bunny statue) dressed as Rudolph at Hall Winery!

3. The Cozy Factor: Nothing beats tasting world-class Cabernet by a massive stone fireplace.

4. The Seasonal Flavors: You get access to winter-only treats like Kollar’s holiday truffles and Model Bakery’s seasonal cookies.

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Please note this is not a sponsored post and based on my own personal experience, all thoughts are my own.

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How about another sip! See all Napa related posts or check these out:

Toddler Friendly Guide and Itinerary for Spring and Summer in Lake Tahoe

Pine trees, Lake Tahoe views from high above in Heavenly gondola ski lift

From Playgrounds to Pine Trees: Lake Tahoe Adventures for Tiny Feet

There were many summers that I went with my family to Lake Tahoe growing up and I couldn’t wait to take my little family! I did have to do some research as I was curious about what activities we could do with two toddlers!

Planning a Lake Tahoe family vacation with toddlers can seem daunting, but it's easier than you think! As a parent who's enjoyed countless Tahoe trips since childhood, I’ve compiled the ultimate toddler-friendly guide to Lake Tahoe, packed with things to do with toddlers in South Lake Tahoe and beyond. Discover the best parks for kids in Lake Tahoe, like the scenic Thomas F. Regan Memorial City Beach Park or the playground paradise of Kahle Park. Looking for easy hikes with toddlers in Lake Tahoe?

Glen Alpine Falls offers a stunning waterfall view with minimal effort, perfect for little legs. Don't miss out on enjoying a family picnic at Lake Tahoe at spots like Kiva Beach or Pope Beach. For North Lake Tahoe activities, the newly accessible Tahoe East Shore Trail (often called the 'Impossible Trail') is a paved, stroller-friendly wonder. Explore the charming town of Truckee, home to the fantastic KidZone Museum, a top pick for toddler fun near Lake Tahoe. When it comes to where to stay in South Lake Tahoe with toddlers, options range from VRBO cabin rentals to family-friendly hotels like the Holiday Inn Express. And for dining, I'll share toddler-friendly restaurants in Lake Tahoe like Riva Grill on the Lake and Edgewood's Brooks' Bar and Deck, where you can savor delicious meals with stunning views. Get ready for an unforgettable Lake Tahoe adventure with small children!

Shop our Amazon list for our favorite things to pack with toddlers!

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Best toddler-friendly activities and things to do in South Lake Tahoe

heavenly Gondolas from the Heavenly Village Center

Heavenly Gondolas

Location: 4080 Lake Tahoe Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

Heavenly Village Giant Chair made of Skiis

This was a great idea… kids under 5 ride free (adults are currently $124) and it’s unlimited rides for the day. It sounded perfect, however, they were closed the duration we were there and re-opening for summer just before Memorial Day.

Note: they aren’t open every day, so it’s a great idea but just check the website to make sure they are open!

All else fails, the shopping center around the Gondola base is fantastic. Tons of restaurants and stores to explore and some grassy areas to run around. In summer months, there is a mini golf course and a trampoline adventure in the center of the plaza.

Making it a road trip? See our Toddler Road Trip Essentials. You won’t want to miss our favorite toys for the car and hotel room!

Thomas F. Regan Memorial City Beach Park

Parks and Recreation

There are tons of parks in Lake Tahoe and we found some awesome playgrounds!

Thomas F. Regan Memorial City Beach Park

Location: 3199 Sacramento Ave, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

Located right on the water with perfect lake views, parking lot, and restrooms! The playground was small but there were a few slides and swings as well as a beach volleyball court and lots of grass to run around!

Kahle Park

Location: 236 Kingsbury Grade Rd, Stateline, NV 89449

Nestled higher up in the mountains, there’s a really fun park with partial lake views. There’s a playground for 2-5-year-olds and one for 5-12-year-olds. Our kids played on both playgrounds.

Glen Alpine Falls at Fallen Leaf Lake

See a Waterfall (without much of a hike!)

My toddlers are over 30 pounds and I didn’t really want to hike with them as it would be fun for 5 minutes and then I’d be required to carry one for the rest of the duration. Luckily, Glen Alpine Falls is located just off of Fallen Leaf Lake and literally can be seen from the road! We went midweek around 11a and it wasn’t very crowded with front-row parking!

There’s a split rock with a little deck that my littles liked to climb on. Afterward, we drove down to the Kiva picnic area (follow the Tallac signs) and had lunch on a picnic table steps away from the lake. It was about a 5-minute walk to those tables by the lake but there were also some closer to the parking lot with bathrooms! The path was flat so we loaded up our wagon and were able to only carry one kid who didn’t want to ride in the wagon! Win! My only complaint is that the tables are wood and old so I would bring towels to sit on next time. Luckily no splinters incidents on this adventure!

Shop our Amazon list for our favorite things to pack!

Kiva Beach Picnic

Go for a Picnic!

Why is a picnic at Lake Tahoe so much fun? For starters, it's a chance to relish the crystal-clear waters and graze on delicious food with breathtaking mountain views as your backdrop. You get to enjoy the glorious Lake Tahoe sunshine (which is usually a breeze in June!), the crisp mountain air, and maybe even some antsy entertainment if a few uninvited guests try to join your feast, though the views will surely distract you. It’s a delightful escape from the usual routine, and let's be honest, everything just tastes better when you're eating on a blanket with the magnificent Big Blue just a stone's throw away. Plus, there's always the excitement of seeing what surprises are in the basket – it's truly a sand-witch of an adventure, especially when you're surrounded by one of nature's most stunning masterpieces!

There are so many places to picnic around the lake:

• Kiva Beach

• Emerald Bay State Beach

• Kings Beach

• Zephyr Cove Park

• Pope Beach

Best things to do in North Lake Tahoe

Impossible trail - Tahoe East Shore Trail

Location: Tahoe East Shore Trail, 1924 Tahoe Blvd, Incline Village, NV 89451

It’s called the Impossible Trail by the locals because it took forever to build but if you look it up on google maps, it’s call the Tahoe East Shore Trail!

The "Impossible Trail" in Lake Tahoe, more formally known as the Tahoe East Shore Trail, earned its dramatic moniker because constructing a path along this rugged and incredibly scenic stretch of shoreline was once considered an almost insurmountable feat. For decades, accessing the breathtaking beaches and coves along Lake Tahoe's East Shore was challenging and often dangerous, with vehicles and pedestrians sharing a narrow, winding highway. The idea of building a safe, dedicated pathway seemed "impossible" given the complex terrain, environmental concerns, and the need for collaboration among numerous agencies. However, through extensive planning, funding, and engineering, this dream became a reality, transforming the "Impossible Trail" into "America's Most Beautiful Bikeway."

This paved, 3-mile trail is absolutely wonderful for toddlers and families. Its smooth, wide surface makes it perfect for strollers, trikes, and little wobbly walkers, eliminating concerns about uneven terrain or roots. The trail hugs the shoreline, offering continuous, stunning lake views that will captivate even the youngest adventurers. With numerous access points to secluded beaches and picnic spots, families can easily hop off the trail for a splash in the crystal-clear water, a snack break, or simply to marvel at the massive granite boulders. The lack of significant inclines means little legs won't get too tired, ensuring a fun, accessible, and truly memorable outdoor experience for everyone, making it far from "impossible" to enjoy with your tiny explorers!

Truckee

Location: KidZone Museum, 11711 Donner Pass Rd, Truckee, CA 96161

While the glittering waters of Lake Tahoe are the main draw, the charming mountain town of Truckee, located about an hour's drive (approximately 44-45 miles) north of South Lake Tahoe, offers a fantastic change of pace and a wealth of toddler-friendly activities. Truckee's historic downtown is a delight to explore with its old-west charm, train tracks (a huge hit with train-loving tots!), and unique shops. For active little ones, the KidZone Museum is a must-visit, providing interactive, hands-on exhibits designed specifically for young children, offering hours of engaging play. You can also head to Donner Lake (just a short drive from downtown Truckee) for a different lakeside experience with sandy beaches and calm waters perfect for splashing and building sandcastles. Many of the larger resorts in the Truckee/Northstar area also offer fantastic summer activities for families, including mini-golf, outdoor play areas, and even gentle scenic gondola rides that provide stunning views without strenuous hiking. Truckee truly rounds out a Lake Tahoe adventure by offering a blend of history, indoor fun, and easily accessible outdoor spaces for the little ones.

Where to Stay with Toddlers in South Lake Tahoe

There are a lot of adorable cabin rentals that you can book through Booking.com - just turn on the search option for “Vacation Homes”.

Caesars Republic

Location: 18 Hwy 50, Stateline, NV 89449

We have stayed at Harvey’s a few times which is now called Caesars Republic and currently under major renovation.

However, the rooms are spacious with lots of lake view options! There is a casino which isn’t great for kids, but good if you want to take turns going down to gamble or go to a bar when the children are sleeping!

There’s an outdoor pool, spa, and fitness center too. Though I’ve never seen the fitness center, good for you if you make it!

The restaurants are great but not exactly kid friendly! Here’s what you need to know:

Hell’s Kitchen by Gordon Ramsey does not have a dedicated kids' menu, but they are accommodating to families and can offer options for children. Yelp users report that servers can usually suggest items from the main menu or prepare something simple like chicken tenders or mac and cheese. 

Wolf by Vanderpump doesn’t have a kids menu either and is 21+ after 8p.

My favorite restaurant is the Sage Room which is located on the 19th floor with a perfect view of the lake! Try and get a reservation ahead of time around sunset. Again, they don’t have a kids menu but check ahead of time to see if there is something your tot might be into.

Holiday Inn Express Exterior

Budget friendly option - Holiday Inn Express Lake Tahoe

Location: 3961 Lake Tahoe Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

We had a free night through our IHG credit card that was expiring and we decided to give Holiday Inn Express a try. For a 3-star hotel, it was great. We got the double queen room with an extra floor space option, which was perfect for our two tots to run around or play with the knock-off magnatile set (Picasso Magnet Mini tile travel set). Our stay included free breakfast and was walkable to the Heavenly shops and restaurants as well as the state-line casinos!

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Where to Dine with Toddlers in Lake Tahoe

Chances are your toddler sits for 5-10 minutes and then is bored. No matter how many toys, coloring books, or crayons I pack, all I want is someone to serve me a nice meal to enjoy. Here are a few spots that we had good luck with:

Riva Grill views

Riva Grill on the Lake

900 Ski Run Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

I love this place! It’s right on the water and there is plenty to see if you’re sitting inside or outside! The tables outside on the patio were large so we could sprawl out with coloring books and food. There’s even a walkway just off to the side if you have to take a breather or wait for Dad to pay the check. Get a Woody drink!

Edgewood's Brooks Bar and Deck on the patio overlooking a golf course and Lake Tahoe

Edgewood’s Brook’s Bar and Deck

180 Lake Pkwy, Stateline, NV 89449

For a memorable dining experience that caters to both adults and toddlers, consider Edgewood Tahoe's Brooks' Bar and Deck. While Edgewood is known for its upscale golf course and lodge, Brooks' Bar and Deck strikes a perfect balance, offering a refined yet comfortable atmosphere that warmly welcomes families. Situated right off the picturesque 18th hole, the expansive deck boasts unparalleled views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierras – a constantly changing panorama that can keep even the most restless toddler entertained. Their "gastropub" menu features elevated comfort food, with options that are often appealing to a wider range of palates, and the casual-yet-classy ambiance means you won't feel out of place with a high chair and a few kid-friendly snacks. It's a wonderful spot to enjoy a delicious meal while soaking in the iconic Lake Tahoe scenery, creating a special memory for everyone in the family.

California Burger Co.

California Burger Co.

1001 Heavenly Village Way #2b, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

Located in Heavenly Village, this outdoor spot was great for toddlers. There was enough fake grass, a fire pit to run trucks over (when the fire was off and not hot), and live music. They also had frozen lemonade so the kids had a drink while Mommy and Daddy also had a fun drink. Wink, wink! The food was good - burgers were great but they didn’t have a kid’s burger, luckily there were chicken tenders and a grilled cheese to choose from.

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Itinerary for 4 days in Lake Tahoe during Spring or Summer

Day 1

5p - Arrive in Reno

5:30p - Pick up rental car

6:30p - Grab Chick-fil-a by airport and drive to Tahoe (about an hour)

7:30p - Check into hotel

8p - Bedtime

Day 2

5:45a wake-up call from excited 1.5 year old, 3.5 year old slept longer

6a walk around the neighborhood grab breakfast - we had free breakfast with our room but there are lots of coffee shops in the area if you need a destination. We also made muffins and brought them with us.

8a - eat breakfast together as a family - Social House was a good recommendation

10a - head to the park on the lake

12p - lunch at Riva Grill

1:30p - naptime

3p - drive over to Kahle Park

5p - drop car off, walk to California Burger Co. outdoor seating, live music

6:30p - walk back to hotel, get ready for bed

7:15p - bedtime

Day 3

6:15a Wake-up call from a happy toddler

7a - Free breakfast at the hotel restaurant

8a - walk over to the shopping center to entertain toddler

10a - 35 min Drive to the waterfall (Glen Alpine Falls)

10:40a - Arrive and explore

11:45a - drive to Kiva picnic area

12:05p - arrive Kiva picnic area, walk down, eat lunch

12:40p - drive back to hotel

1:15p - naptime

3:30p - walk over to Heavenly shopping center - shops, restaurants, mini golf (during summer)

5:45p - dinner

6:30p - walk back to room, get ready for bed

7:30p - bedtime

Day 4

6:20a Wake-up call from toddler

7a - Breakfast at Heaven’s Little Cafe (eat it there or take it to go!)

8a - drive to North Shore’s Tahoe East trail aka Impossible trail

8:40a - Hike Tahoe East trail aka Impossible trail

11:30a - Lunch at Inclined Burgers and Brews - kids menu includes hamburger, cheeseburger, grilled cheese and chicken strips

12:30p - take a drive for a car nap

3p - Arrive at KidZone in Truckee - 11711 Donner Pass Rd, Truckee, CA 96161

5p - Drive back towards the south shore

6p - Dinner at Edgewood’s Brook’s Bar and Deck and enjoy the sunset

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What to pack for Toddlers?!

Shop our Amazon list for our favorite things to pack!

What was in our suitcase? Pretty much everything! Being there mid-May, there was still snow on the mountains so it was mid 60’s during the day but 30’s at night!

For a family of 4 (including 2 toddlers), we packed:

• 3 duffles- we love the Eddie Bauer duffle that compacts into a small bag

  • Duffle #1 - toddlers’ clothes, diapers, shoes, toys, etc.

  • Duffle #2 - My clothes and hub’s clothes

  • Duffle #3 - toddler bumper for bed, you can use pillows but we had free bags we could check. Sometimes we bring the race car blow-up bed

• 2 car seats - infant and toddler

• 2 personal bags (however, mine was toy overflow) - Picasso Magnet Mini tile travel set, Go Dog Go board book, trucks, Pixar Cars bath toys, Reusable Sticker books, and Crayola Mess Free Coloring books.

• diaper bag

• Insulated Snack bag - filled with PB&J sandwiches, That’s It Bars,

• wagon (instead of our stroller, but we LOVE this travel stroller)

Don’t forget to grab a Crossword Puzzle for nap time! This is our FAVORITE puzzle! Travel terms and countries! https://amzn.to/4lVixuR It keeps my mind working and gives me a list of places to add to our bucket list!

See our full list on Amazon.com!

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So pack your bags, grab your little adventurers, and get ready for a Lake Tahoe trip that’s anything but ordinary. It’s an adventure waiting to be explored, even with the littlest legs leading the way!

Please note this is not a sponsored post and based on my own personal experience, all thoughts are my own.

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Things to do in Summer in Lake Tahoe with a Toddler

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Read more about Lake Tahoe in these posts:

Do You NEED Travel Insurance?

For the crazy and unprecedented events of 2020, travel insurance might be more important now more than ever for future trips! Make sure you’re protected for delays, illness, lost luggage, and even natural disasters—the best travel insurance can soften the impact of unforeseen events.

How do you get travel insurance? How does travel insurance work? How much does travel insurance cost? ALL great questions that can be answered in this ultimate Travel Insurance Guide from Consumer’s Advocate.

PRO TIP: We typically book travel on our credit cards that offer travel insurance, just make sure you read the fine print!

You never know who’s watching you. Look out for pickpockets! ;-)

5 Interesting Facts About Travel Insurance

1. Buzzkills - Standard in most travel insurance policies is a drug and alcohol exclusion that won’t payout if you’re intoxicated. So… don’t get hurt after that mai tai in the fun tiki glass with the tiny umbrella.

2. How much does travel insurance cost? It depends on what type of coverage you end up getting. Typically costs range about 4-10% of the trip price. However, premium coverage or Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR) policies can be a bit more expensive. But if you can cancel a $3000 trip for $100, isn’t that worth it?

3. Event Cancellations - Allows for the cancellation of the trip if the specific reason for the trip--an event such as a concert or festival--is canceled.

4. Medical Coverage - If you are injured on your trip, some policies will fly a relative to take care of you or even emergency transport to your hospital of choice around the world. However, if you are being adventurous, check out extreme sports (bull riding, cave diving, and mixed martial arts) in the Explorer Plan vs Standard Plan activities (kite surfing, ice hockey) coverage here.

5. Loopholes--as they’re commonly understood--do not exist in insurance policies. While coverage can be denied for a number of reasons (drug or excessive alcohol use, for instance), those reasons are clearly laid out in the policy contract. 

Zip-lining in Maui, Hawaii

5 Different Types of Travel Insurance Coverage

1. Basic cancellation coverage: Covers you for pre-paid, non-refundable expenses under a fixed set of circumstances outlined in your policy. ​​​​​​ You can make a claim when have to cancel a trip due to:

   • A health emergency or illness, for example. Depending on the policy you choose, you may also be able to make a claim

   • If you’re laid off from work or you’re called for jury duty (depending on the policy chosen).

   • If your travel provider has to cancel your trip due to a natural disaster in the destination city.

2. Trip delay insurance: You’ll be reimbursed for any expenses you incur as a result of your trip being delayed

   • Usually included with cancellation coverage.

   • Meals, hotel charges, and taxi fees are among the expenses covered.

   • Short departure delays are not covered; policies set a minimum number of hours for covered delays.

3. Trip interruption coverage: protects you in the event you have to return home due to an emergency once you’ve already started your trip.

   • It will likely pay for the cost of getting you home and getting you back to your destination once you’re able to travel again. 

4. Cancel For Any Reason (CFAR): Offers the fullest coverage but may only make sense for you if your calendar is subject to change at a moment’s notice. 

5. Specialized Event Coverage: covers special events for most cancellations (i.e. outdoor game gets rained out)
   
   Have high-value items (phone, laptop, camera, etc.)? Make sure your items are within the limits of your policy; and if not, consider increasing your policy coverage! 

So do you NEED travel insurance? Probably a good idea if you’re planning in 2020!

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Do You NEED Travel Insurance?

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How to Spend a Day on La Digue in the Seychelles - Full Itinerary, Packing Essentials, and Map

If you’re in the Seychelles, you MUST visit La Digue

Our trip to the Seychelles was spectacular! There are 115 islands to explore, Mahe is the biggest and main island, with the most resorts and a popular destination. We decided to go exploring and after asking the locals, EVERYONE said you have to go to La Digue and see the rock formations, it’s the reason most come people come to the Seychelles. Here was our itinerary on how we spent the day on La Digue!

Map provided by Wanderlog, a travel planner

Here is a map made with the Wanderlog Travel Planner, so you can follow along, add to your Google maps account, or create your own personal map! Wanderlog allows you to create great maps and guides for any vacation! 

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Purchase Tickets in Advance

We bought tickets a few days before through the hotel, just ask your concierge to help you arrange your trip. We booked through Mason’s Travel; They picked us up and dropped us off at the hotel making it super easy and convenient.

La Digue Island

What to Pack for a Day on La Digue

You don’t need much, here’s what was in our backpack/bag:

• Towels

• We wore our swimsuits and coverups

• Sunscreen - the sun is VERY intense! Make sure you reapply a few times.

• Sun Hat

• Credit card or cash for food. There is an ATM by the souvenir shops!

• Snacks and water

• Camera Gear - cameras, GoPros, batteries, memory cards

• Mophie - external battery

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Getting to La Digue

6:15a Mason travel picked us up to take us to the Cat Cocos ferry that went to Praslin. Our hotel had a continental breakfast available in the lobby, we stopped there while we waited for the shuttle.

7:30a Set sail to Praslin! We were apprehensive about the ferry as we read tons of reviews how horrible it is that the water is choppy and everyone gets seasick. It wasn’t too bad, but I’m not going to lie, it wasn’t a smooth cruise.

8:30a Arrive in Praslin to change boats to get to La Digue which only was another 15 mins to get there.

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Exploring La Digue

Anse Source d’Argent Rocks

9:30a As part of our package, we chose to rent bikes. We picked them up promptly on arrival and rode straight to Anse Source d’Argent beach which is most popular during the day. I had researched some beaches prior to arriving and took screenshots of them since I knew I wouldn’t have WiFi on the island (we didn’t pay for the international plan but had it set up in case of emergency).

https://en.seyvillas.com/html/la-digue-beaches was the best site with descriptions and how busy the beaches are. 

We recommend the following stops:

• Anse Source d'Argent - most popular and picturesque

• Anse Patates

• Grande Anse

• Petite Anse

La Digue - Anse Source d'Argent Beach

Anse Source d’Argent

We tried to beat the crowd and rode our bikes south straight to Anse Source d’Argent. As we were riding along, there were breathtaking views everywhere and watch out for the giant tortoises on the road, they look like big rocks! There’s even a tortoise habitat where they have tons of them protected in an area. That is close to Anse Source d’Argent, you’ll see them on the way past the Coconut Keeper. 

The weather was cloudy at first but cleared up right away! The rocks were amazing, we had a fun time wandering around and exploring through them. 

Anse Source d’Argent

We decided to head North and took the trail up and around until it ended at Anse Fourmis. Some of the hills were pretty steep, I walked my bike up at times! Biking is a great way to see the island because you can get around so quickly. There were also these cute buggies you could jump on.

Why did the tortoise cross the road?

You can pretty much stop anywhere and there is a beach. It’s ok to leave your bikes unlocked, just don’t leave your belongings in the basket. Also, there are swings and hammocks everywhere. 

Anse Patates

Anse Patates

Anse Patates was a nice beach, not too crowded off the main road. This is where we saw the tortoises crossing the road. 

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Lunch

We had read how expensive all the restaurants were and decided to stop at the supermarket and have a picnic on a beach. 

Josh stopped in the STC Supermarket, picking up ham, cheese, crackers, 2 juice boxes, and 3 bottles of water for 130 rupees or about $10! We biked over to Grand Anse to have a picnic and enjoy the view. We had the beach all to ourselves! We walked past the Petite Anse Beach Bar, serving drinks. There was also a restroom here.

Grande Anse

Grand Anse for lunch

Down the beach, we climbed through a hidden path between two rocks to climb up and over to get to Petite Anse beach!

Path to Petite Anse

We rode back to Anse Source d’Argent for a swim, then laid on the beach until the tide was too high. 

It was time to return our bikes anyway, so we dropped them off and went to the souvenir shops next door. The shops generally had all the same merchandise and we didn’t find anything we liked in particular. Some shops took credit cards, but others were cash only and in rupees. There were ATMs nearby. 

Ice Cream at Fish Trap

Since it was going to be a little bit of a trek back, we stopped at the Fish Trap near the dock for a beer and a snack which included french fries and ice cream. Might not be healthy, but it was tasty!

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Leaving La Digue

4:45p We boarded the Cat Rose boat and were on our way back to Praslin. 

6:00p Changed boats to the Cat Coco from Praslin back to Mahé. Our driver met us and drove us back to our hotel, the Hilton Northolme.

Anse Source d'Argent

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Watch our “Perfect Seychelles Vacation” video for travel inspiration and more on La Digue!

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How to Spend 5 AMAZING Days in Sydney, Australia

Sydney Opera House

What to do for 5 Days in Sydney, Australia

While we were on our 3-week honeymoon, we spent a large chunk of it in Sydney! We had spent New Years in Sydney but left to let the crowds die down a bit and came back on the 3rd of January. Overall, we enjoyed our visit and would definitely go back. Making the long trek from California, we wanted to see all Sydney had to offer and spent about 5 days there.

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Where to Stay in Sydney

We used our Hyatt reward nights, a perk from our Hyatt Credit Card, along with some points, and stayed at the beautiful 5-star Park Hyatt Sydney. It was the perfect location - across from the Opera House, near Circular Quay (where you can jump on a train or ferry and get anywhere in a matter of minutes), and under the Harbor Bridge. 

Park Hyatt Sydney

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Here was our 5-day itinerary for Sydney:

Day 1

Pancakes on the Rocks

MORNING

We started with breakfast at Pancakes on the Rocks. We love pancakes, figured it couldn't be bad with so many great Yelp reviews. The service was a little slow but the food made up for it. I had chocolate chips pancakes, of course, because everything is better with chocolate!

We went down to Circular Quay (pronounced "key") and took the ferry across the harbor to the Taronga Zoo.

There were Koalas, giraffes, kangaroos, everything that can kill you, and my favorite, the penguin exhibit that had Fairy Penguins! 

Top of Taronga Zoo

The zoo is located on a hill with spectacular views of Sydney from all over, so we recommend you start at the top and work your way down.

Penguins in the Taronga Zoo

We took a few animal selfies too! We liked the zoo, but the Featherdale Wild Park was even better (see day 2 below).

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AFTERNOON - Olympic Park

In the afternoon we took the ferry back to Circular Quay and boarded a train taking us out to the Sydney Olympic Park. Josh loves to visit Olympic Parks and this one had a lot to see and it was all outdoors!

The park was built to host the Summer Olympics in 2000. They had the torch, the Olympic Cauldron that looks like a spaceship which was where the flame was lit the duration of the games, markers that noted how high someone jumped, who won each sport, and name of everyone who participated.

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Day 2

Morning - Blue Mountains

We booked a tour with Blue Diamond Tours, which conveniently picked us up from the hotel, and took us to the Blue Mountains National Park. The mountains look blue because the eucalyptus forest disperses droplets of Eucalypt oil into the atmosphere which combines with dust particles and water vapor, scattering refracted rays of light which are largely blue in color. #funfacts

The rock formation located in the Blue Mountains is known as the 3 Sisters, which aboriginals legend told, the 3 daughters from the Katoomba tribe fell in love with 3 brothers from a neighboring tribe, but they were forbidden to get married by tribal laws. The brothers didn't agree with this law and captured the 3 sisters, causing a war outbreak between the tribes and the sisters were turned into stone by a witch doctor to protect them. Unfortunately, the witch doctor died in the war and no one was able to turn them back. 

From Scenic World’s Website

We took the Scenic World Skyway cable car suspended across the Jamison Valley to a park called Scenic World where they had attractions and the best views. You could look through the floor of the car and see the rain forest below.

looking through the floor of the skyway cable car

We also road the Scenic Railway, the world's steepest incline railway, which travels down a cliffside through tunnel and ancient rain forest at a gradient of 62 degrees. At the bottom, you can walk around the rainforest and check out the site of the old coal mine.

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Afternoon - Featherdale Wildlife Park

ARCHER, THE KOALA, at Featherdale Wildlife Park

My favorite part of the day was when we went to see Australia's native animals at Featherdale Wildlife Park. I love animals and this was probably my favorite thing to do in Sydney.

You can get up close and personal with the animals - touch them, hold them, feed them. The ever so adorable Archer, the koala, is best-loved as he is the popular koala. I even had my Mom paint him from a picture I took because I needed to see him every day.

There are many other animals throughout the park such as kangaroos that are literally hanging out and let you pet them! We also saw more fairy penguins, wombats, wallabies, a Cassowary, and a Tasmanian Devil, OH MY!

Evening in Sydney

We came back to the hotel, freshened up and walked around the harbor over to the Opera Bar for dinner. The Opera Bar is located directly under the Opera House. They had a great food selection, we loved their burgers. The restaurant is set up with open seating and you order by the kitchen, get a number and they deliver to your table.

We also enjoyed their dessert (of course) having a crepe with chocolate sauce and vanilla ice cream. I was a perfect ending to our perfect day with a gorgeous pink sunset.

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Day 3

Morning in Manly Beach

We started our day going to Manly Beach! For food, we found this spot called Hemingway's which looked like a library but served food and alcohol. It was early, so we had coffee and breakfast with a slight breeze and gorgeous view of the crystal blue ocean. 

We walked around and did a little shopping, buying souvenirs and gifts for friends and family.

Afternoon - Sea life Sydney Aquarium

PLATYPUS at the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium

We took the bus back and decided it was time for more animals so we paid a visit to the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium and found Nemo, Dory, and lots of sharks. 

We walked through the aquarium and after scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef, it felt like we had seen a lot of these fish before. However, they do have unique creatures that are hard to find in the deep blue and were glad to see them here (love the platypus). If you have kids (or act like a big kid like me) there are interactive pools where you can touch sea cucumbers and starfish.

Also, the high point was the underground glass tunnels where fish and sharks swim around you on all sides and it feels like you're underwater with them.

Happy Hour in Sydney at a Secret Whiskey bar!

BAXTER INN - WHISKEY BAR

It was happy hour and we found a hidden gem! We went to a whiskey speak-easy called the Baxter Inn. It was a little challenging to find but worth it when we got there. You have to head down a nondescript alley on Clarence Street and walk through an unmarked door on your right, down a dark staircase to the basement level. The dim lighting and waiters outfits felt like we had walked into another dimension. They had 360 different whiskeys from around the globe and make their own apple juice for their fine crafted cocktail! 

Baxter Inn Speakeasy Bar - Sydney

Afterward, we went to a casino in The Star hotel. Walking in, there was signage in front explaining the signs which show you might have a gambling problem because of Australia's gambling issue. It was kind of sad, but kind of funny. We played roulette and won! No gambling problem here. 

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Day 4

MORNING - Beach Walk

We took the bus over to Bondi Beach. We then did a 5 mile hike along the coast from Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach. Along the way, we walked through the Tamarama and Bronte beaches. This wasn't an easy hike, there were steep inclines, stairs and sun. Lots of sun. The sun was intense and even after re-applying sunscreen a few times, we burned. It hurt.

AFTERNOON - Luna Park

Luna Park Entrance

We came back cleaned up and took the ferry over to Luna Park, a carnival-like amusement park with a scary entrance. and did a couple of rides, but the highlight was playing on the slides in the funhouse. Josh and I raced for at least 30 minutes. This was definitely made for kids. 

Luna Park Slides

EVENING

Afterward, we had dinner at an Italian restaurant right next to Luna Park, called Ripples Milsons Point. It was right on the water overlooking the harbor and I had the most amazing pumpkin ravioli. 

We came back to the hotel and wanted to grab a few pictures on our last night:

Harbor Bridge at Night

Opera House at Night

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Day 5 

MORNING - Opera House Tour

Our last day in Australia started with breakfast at the Park Hyatt Sydney. We overlooked the harbor directly at the Opera House and started to feel a little sad we were leaving. 

Opera House Tiles Close-up - Chevron Design

We walked over and took a tour of the Opera House. As an iconic staple to the city, We were excited to see this gorgeous building and learn the history behind it. Up close you can see the shaped tiles that are shell-like making a chevron type pattern across the roof. The inside is just as stunning, as there are several venues within the house. The 2 largest concert hall is the largest and has the largest organ with over 10,000 pipes! 

THIS IS KNOWN AS THE OPERA HOUSE CLEAVAGE

AFTERNOON

Since we were leaving that night, we had some time to kill but couldn't go too far. We decided to explore "The Rocks" which was the area right above our hotel. It's great for shopping and restaurants.

We went to Fortune of War (claims it is Sydney's oldest pub, which a lot of bars do) which wasn't anything special but nice to stop for a good cold brew.

Fortune of War - Sydney’s Oldest Pub

It was time to hop in a cab and head to the airport. We were sad to leave Sydney, but we weren't done with our Honeymoon yet, New Zealand and French Polynesia were next!

We would love to go back to Sydney and check off anything we missed! Let us know in the comments below if there is something you recommend! 

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HOW TO SPEND 24 HOURS IN PARIS AND SEE EVERYTHING IN ONE DAY - COMPLETE ITINERARY AND MAP

10 MILE GALAVANT ACROSS PARIS SEEING ALL THE SIGHTS

Can you see everything in Paris in one day? Yes! It may be exhausting but totally worth it (your feet might not agree). Pro-tip wear SUPER comfy shoes.

Here is a map to guide you throughout your day! You can save it to view offline on your phone if you save it to the Google maps app when you have Wifi.

Park Hyatt Paris - Best hotel in Paris!

MORNING IN PARIS

7:00 AM We started with a big breakfast in the hotel (we stayed at the Park Hyatt Paris Vendome using our reward nights).

We ALWAYS find THE BEST rates through Booking.com. See deals of up to 50% off! You can save a bunch of money if you book a bundle flight+room+rental car! They even have apartments, lodges, and houses you can rent, just like AirBnB or VRBO! By booking through this link, I receive a commission at no additional cost to you! PLEASE support our blog and bookmark this link!

Paris views from the Park Hyatt Vendome

Of course I had a chocolate croissant and coffee, but there was also cheese and cured meat so I had to have some! Do as the Parisian's do!

PLACE DE LA CONCORDE

From the Hyatt, we went down to the fountain in the Place de la Concorde. I love it because it's the fountain Anne Hathaway throws her phone in, in the Devil Wears Prada. It was Fall and the leaves were turning, adding extra charm to the city (who knew it could get better?). We walked through the gardens and past the Grand Palais.

CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES

10:00 AM We strolled down the Champs-Élysées past Chanel, Cartier, Lauderee, and then there's Nike, H&M, Tiffany, Gap... come on, a GAP shirt would be that much better because it came from PARIS!

Arc de Triomphe

I could shop all day, but we had tons to see. We went down to the Arc de Triomphe. You can actually see the sights atop the Arc for about 12 euro or so. We have already walked about 2 miles.

EIFFEL TOWER

From the Arc, we enjoyed the fall day and walked along the Parisian neighborhood via Avenue Pont d'Iéna for another mile or so to the Eiffel Tower.

After taking a ton of pictures and finding out the wait to go to the top was over an hour, we decided to find some lunch. We came across a little cafe to get some sandwiches and take a little break. 

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AFTERNOON IN PARIS

2:00 PM We hopped on the metro to head to the Catacombs of Paris. From following our map we had trouble finding the entrance, and after making a loop around the block, we discovered it was closed due to ventilation issues. 

Panthéon

Our next destination was Notre Dame, and along the way we came across rain and the 18th century mausoleum, the Panthéon. We didn't go inside but continued on through the Latin quarter to find the cathedral. Totaling a 2 mile walk from the Catacombs, we had finally arrived at Notre Dame! After a 15 minute wait or so, we went through the Cathedral taking in all the beautiful stain glass windows, chandeliers, and fine craftsmanship of the church (note - this was prior to the fire ☹️).

NOTRE DAME before the fire

At this point, I was wishing I would have worn sneakers instead of my cute boots. We had already walked over 6 miles, it was time for a break and a crepe. We stopped in Crêperie du Cloître across from Notre Dame for crepes and french fries.

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EVENING IN PARIS

PONT DES ARTS - Love Lock Bridge

5:00 PM We set out again, walking another mile to the bridge, Pont des Arts, where tourists would leave "love locks" or an engraved padlock along the fence of the bridge. However, the excess weight of the locks were destroying the structure of the bridge and on June 1st, 2015, more than 700,000 locks weighing 45 tons were removed.

Sunset in Paris

Louvre

Mona Lisa

From the bridge, we trekked over to the Louvre. After 6 PM on a Wednesday or Friday, entrance fees are only €6 (instead of €9) and the museum is open until 9:45 PM. Free Admittance to those under 26 on Friday evenings. I had just missed the free entrance by a year. Note: they are closed on Tuesdays. If you are an art fan, you could spend hours or days going through the museum. We weren't that enthused to spend more time on our feet, so we did a brief walk-through to see the must-see artwork such as da Vinci's Mona Lisa, Winged Victory of Samothrace, Venus de Milo, Michelangelo’s Dying Slave, and the Sphinx. If you stretched out the Louvre walking paths, it would cover 8 miles. We didn't walk that much, but got in a good 2 miles or so.

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PARIS AT NIGHT

8:00 PM It was worth every penny to take a cab to save our feet. From the Louvre, we went back to the Eiffel Tower to see it twinkle at night. You'll be able to see the well known iron lady lit up every day from sunset to 1AM. During summer, it turns of one hour later at 2AM.

Eiffel Tower AT NIGHT!

After a few pictures, it started to rain, meaning it was time for dinner.

We found the best little place called Alfio (along the Avenue de la Bourdonnais across from the Eiffel Tower) that had spicy pasta and tasty pizza. The decor had wine bottles that had been melted down and were hung from the ceiling. 

Alfio Restaurant

 It was finally time to head back to the hotel (we took a cab) where we posted a picture or two to Facebook / Instagram and passed out!

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MORE PARIS GUIDES:

6 Days in Aruba - What to do in Aruba and Full Itinerary Included!

We spent 6 glorious days in Aruba and it didn’t seem like enough! The island is known as “One Happy Island” and it definitely lives up to it’s name! The people are so nice there, it’s very clean, and you feel very safe. The beaches are gorgeous, full of white sand from coral and white rock weathering away onto the shores.

Flamingo Beach on Renaissance Island

There are many activities to do for couples or as families. If you’re bringing kids, teens would enjoy the island more than tiny kids. We were there for 6 days and never bored. Here is all you need to know to plan your perfect trip to Aruba.

UTV Tour - Around Aruba UTV Tours

This blog uses affiliate links. If you’d like to purchase a recommended product, please use the link to support this blog. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, it simply allows me to continue creating these posts. Thank you so much for your love and support!

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DAY 1

Arrival into Aruba

We arrived into Aruba’s Queen Beatrix Airport, right along the water! Arriving was pretty easy, we got off the plane, handed a government agent our declaration card and scanned our passports where our picture was taken by an automated machine. Also, the airport had views of the ocean were gorgeous while walking through!

Pro-tip: Tourism boards are usually parked in the arrivals area with reusable bags filled with coupons and info about Aruba... they are FREE, so take one! We used them all over, around the hotel, threw towels in for our UTV tour, to the beach, etc. 

Taxi Drive views of Downtown from the Aruba Airport

It’s a $25 flat rate to get from the airport to the high rise hotels or $18 to get to the Downtown hotels. Here is a link to handy chart for taxi rates for getting around Aruba: Taxi Fares in Aruba

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Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort, Spa & Casino

Address: Juan E, J.E. Irausquin Blvd #85, Noord, Aruba

Website: Hyatt Regency Aruba

We ALWAYS find THE BEST rates through Booking.com. See deals of up to 50% off! You can save a bunch of money if you book a bundle flight+room+rental car! They even have apartments, lodges, and houses you can rent, just like AirBnB or VRBO! By booking through this link, I receive a commission at no additional cost to you! PLEASE support our blog and bookmark this link!

We stayed at the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort, Spa & Casino for 4 nights over New Years 2019! Located mid beach of hotel row, it is the perfect place to spend the day at the beach and walking distance to everything!  The rooms were so nice, hard wood floors and super spacious! The pool was huge, complete with a water slide, volleyball net and swim up bar to get your drink on!

My favorite part of walking through the resort was looking for wildlife! Parrots, swans, large iguanas, coi fish, and turtles were all over! 

Read our full HOTEL REVIEW here: Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort, Spa & Casino

We also stayed at the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino so we could visit the flamingos on Renaissance Island’s Flamingo Beach! Read our full review on the Renaissance Aruba Resort and Casino and Everything you need to know about Flamingo Beach. We’ll get more into that on Day 5 and 6!

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Afternoon Beach Time

After we checked into the Hyatt Regency Aruba, we couldn’t wait to go to the beach and grab a bite to eat! There were a bunch of restaurants inland but we wanted to eat by the water. From our room, I could see a restaurant on Pelican Pier and said we should eat there. Reviews on Yelp and Google Maps said The Pelican Nest Seafood & Grill Bar was good, which was good enough for me!

Pelican Pier in Aruba

Restaurant: The Pelican Nest Seafood & Grill Bar

Address: On Pelican Pier, J.E. Irausquin Blvd 237, Noord, Aruba

Website: pelican-aruba.com

Cuisine type: Caribbean, Seafood |  Price Range: $20 - $30

We sat down in the bar which was open seating, ordered chicken sandwiches and happy hour beverages since we were there between 4-6pm. We sat at the bar along the walkway and weren’t complaining about the oceanfront views.

Pelican Nest Drinks

Chicken Sandwiches at Pelican Nest

After our meal, not sure if it was lunch or dinner, but walked along the beach to catch a beautiful sunset.

Sunset on Aruba Beach

Watch where you step, you never know what you might find!

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Ice Cream in Aruba - Gelatissimo Palm Beach

Address: J.E. Irausquin Blvd 345, Noord, Aruba

Website: Gianni’s Gelatissimo

Pricing: $3-$8

Gelatissimo - Ice Cream in Aruba

We went exploring inland where we saw shops and restaurants on our drive in. Of course we had to find some ice cream and we came across some delicious gelato at Gelatissimo!

I went with a waffle cone trying the Stracciatella (chocolate chip) and Nutella (chocolate hazelnut).

Stracciatella (chocolate chip) and Nutella (chocolate hazelnut)

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New Years in Aruba

New Years Fireworks in Aruba

We asked our cab driver where the place to be is at midnight on New Years Eve, to which he said, “right in front of your hotel!” Perfect. He wasn’t wrong, we had a few drinks at the bar and wandered down to the beach around 11p. Fireworks are legal in Aruba so they were going off all day along with these giant firecrackers that people would set up randomly in the streets. We sat and watched as people set off sparklers and small fireworks around us. As soon as midnight hit, a bunch of barges in the water close to the beach shot off fireworks for a good 20 minutes! It was spectacular, the whole beach was lit up from this amazing display! 

New Years Fireworks in Aruba

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DAY 2

Breakfast in Aruba - Dushi Bagels & Burgers

Address: J. E. Irausquin Blvd #87 Noord, Aruba

Website: http://www.dushibagelsandburgers.com

Cuisine type: Bagels, Breakfast, Burgers, Sandwiches |  Price Range: $7-$12

We decided to try a restaurant recommended by a friend, which was walking distance to our hotel called Dushi Bagels. The price was right for our meals and the service was quick. There was a bit of a wait so we just ate at the bar. They also offer to go options if you’re in a hurry! We enjoyed a breakfast burrito with ham, french toast, and delicious hash browns.

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UTV Tours - Around Aruba Tours 

Website: https://www.aroundarubatours.com/tours-in-aruba/

Or book through Viator tours: Aruba UTV Tour

Booking: We took a 4 hour UTV Tour around the island with Around Aruba Tours. It was $180 for the 2 of us. The Hyatt Regency concierge was able to book the afternoon tour for us. They also offer ATV tours and Jeep tours too! Note: An ATV is for one person, the UTVs hold 2-4 people. The driver should be at least 18 years old with a valid driving license while the minimum age for the passengers is set at 6 years.

What to bring: You will get very dusty, I’d avoid wearing white. You must wear sunglasses or something to protect your eyes. They will provide a souvenir bandana to shield half of your face from the dirt and dust. The tour ends in the Natural Pool, where you can jump in the water if you want to, I’d wear a swimsuit under your clothes because there isn’t a place to change. Also, bring a towel if you’re going in the water! The tour provides small bottles of water that they have in coolers on ice.

Our guide was AB, who was energetic and funny, and he even grew up on the island! He picked us up at our hotel in a school bus around 2pm and took us to Phillip’s Animal Garden to get situated. We paid there (they do take credit cards) and as the tour company was collecting information and payment, we were able to wander and feed the island’s most exotic animals.

Our first stop was the Alto Vista Chapel which was built in 1750. It was renovated in 1950’s and rebuilt by missionaries from Venezuela. It resembles the church in Westworld to me!

Alto Vista Chapel

Alto Vista Chapel

We traveled as a group following single file. Driving from spot to spot was dusty (and very bumpy) but had spectacular views.

Aruba UTV Tour Views

The next stop was the Natural Bridge, where a rock formation created a bridge. Not a whole lot to see but you can walk on top of it (or jump).

Our next stop was the abandoned Bushiribana Gold Mill, which sits on the northern coast. This site once processed ore from mines in the nearby hills during Aruba's gold rush of the nineteenth century. In 1824, gold was found on the island and over 3 million pounds of gold were produced.

Next, we entered the Arikok National Park on Aruba’s east coast. Conchi is a natural ocean pool sheltered by craggy rock formations. Beaches include Boca Prins and Dos Playa, a turtle nesting site.

Some got in the pool while others wandered around. I climbed on rocks and could see crabs and fish in the shallow waters nearby. Josh got in and waved!

Natural Pool

Crabs at the Natural Pool

We were dropped off at our hotel and needed to shower off the dirt! We were starving and wanted to go somewhere close-by that we could walk to…

Dinner at Smokey Joe’s Island Grill

Address: J.E. Irausquin Blvd 87, Noord, Aruba

Website: http://www.smokeyjoesaruba.com/

Cuisine type: American, International  | Price Range: $20 - $30

AB our UTV tour guide recommended Smokey Joe’s and told us they have all you can eat ribs on Tuesday and Thursday claiming they are “the best ribs in the Caribbean.” The ribs were good, and we got some chicken as well. The service was really slow, but we weren’t in a rush, just hungry!

I saw the Pink Iguana drink on the menu and it was everything I wanted. It was like a Miami vice or lava flow, filled with coconut cream, rum and strawberries! For dessert, we HAD to try the Fried Oreos and vanilla ice cream! We didn’t leave anything behind.

We did a quick stroll around the shops to walk off our dinner.

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DAY 3

Breakfast at a Dutch Pancake House - Diana’s Pancake Place

Address: J.E. Irausquin Blvd 370, Noord, Aruba

Website: Facebook Page

Cuisine type: Dutch |  Price Range: under $15

Diana’s Pancake House is located by hotel row and across from the Hyatt, above the I Love Aruba store. Dutch pancakes are served as one pancake on a large plate with whatever ingredients you desire from the menu. The pancakes were bigger than my face! I went with the Hawaiian (ham, cheese, and pineapple) and Josh had the Apple Cinnamon. They were good, but we weren’t planning on going back every morning.

Diving with Aqua Windies

Address: Dr. Horacio E. Oduber blvd 4, Eagle Beach, Aruba

Website: aquawindies.com

We went diving two days in a row with Aqua Windies! Everyone was super nice, we would get picked up and get our gear at the dive shop before continuing on to the boat. On our first day our crew was Sean, Big Rob, Rob, and Dan. We went out with Sean, who was new to them. He was very nice, but wasn’t privy as to where to look for marine life that frequented certain spots.

We drove out past our hotel to a dock with tons of birds and the prettiest aqua waters.

We had two great dives, checking out some sunken ships and the coral reef that has grown on and around them! We even caught a ray passing through!

Dinner at Salt and Pepper

Address: J.E. Irausquin Blvd 370-A, Noord, Aruba

Website: http://www.saltandpepperaruba.com/

Cuisine type: Spanish, Tapas |  Price Range: $10 - $20

Salt and Pepper shakers were everywhere! They had different salt and pepper shakers at every table and the walls inside had shelves and shelves of shakers. They even offer free sangria for those who bring a set for them to keep! After our dives we were so hungry, so we ordered quite a few tapas plates to try:

Meatballs - my fave 

Chicken wings - josh fave

Fried Brie - Yum *drool*

Spicy beef - Great!

Chicken pincho - good sauce 

Grouper - not a huge fish fan, but it was pretty good!

Chorizo sausage - it was good, but everything else as better

We ordered a beers to go, you can walk around with alcohol (just like Vegas)! We walked down through some of the hotels and played in the casinos, while checking out the pools and properties.

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DAY 4

Diving with Aqua Windies - Aruba Scuba Diving

We went out for a second day of diving with Aqua Windies bright and early to check out the airplanes. Our guide’s name was Ed who was from New Jersey and was hilarious! The airplanes were so cool and so large underwater. You could even go right through them! Our second dive was at Harbor Reef where we found lots of giant eels!

One of our favorite dives was the Airplane Wreck (70-90 ft / 24-30 m), a Convair 400 and a Beech craft 18. Both airplanes were sunk on a sloping reef surrounded by soft corals. Check out our Scuba in Aruba video here:

Relaxation

We shared a sandwich at the pool bar and spent the afternoon by the pool and took a long walk along the beach.

Steak Dinner at the Sunset Grille Steakhouse

Address: J.E. Irausquin Blvd 81, Noord, Aruba

Website: Hilton Aruba Resort | Dinner Menu

For our last dinner over by Palm Beach, we decided to be fancy and have a nice steak dinner. We had a reservation at Sunset Grille, located in the Hilton Aruba Resort, which was right next to our hotel and a quick jaunt down the beach.

We sat outside to enjoy the sunset while at the Sunset Grille! I had a mouth watering Filet Mignon and Josh ordered the Cowboy Bone-in Rib Eye. For sides, we tried the Garlic mashed potatoes and Gouda Cheese Croquettes. The croquettes were little balls of cheese and potato heaven. SO GOOD.

For dessert, we had the Chocolate Decadence Cake, rich and sweet, served with fruit on the side. YUM!

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DAY 5

Breakfast at Salt and Pepper

American Breakfast | Price Range: $10 - $20

Even though we had already had dinner here, we loved the service and the breakfast menu looked good! I had and omelet that was overloaded with ham (thats a good thing) with amazing hash browns! Their house coffee was great too, came with free refills!

New Hotel Check-in: Renaissance Aruba Resort and Casino

Address: L.G. Smith Blvd 82, Oranjestad, Aruba

Website: Renaissance Aruba Resort and Casino

Flamingos on Renaissance Island

Find the best rate to visit these flamingos by booking your room through Booking.com 

I had been waiting ALL week to check into this hotel! What I was looking forward to the most for our Aruba trip was meeting the flamingos on Renaissance Island’s Flamingo Beach.

Again, read our full review on the Renaissance Aruba Resort and Casino and Everything you need to know about Flamingo Beach.

Renaissance Adult Only hotel

There are 2 hotels at the Renaissance property, both right across from each other. The adults only hotel is more inland but still in the marina. It’s also connected to a very fancy, high end mall and casino! We tried to check in, but our room wasn’t ready. We were given passes to get to Renaissance Island to go to Flamingo Beach!

More flamingo pictures here: Everything you need to know about Flamingo Beach.

Dinner Downtown at Driftwood Restaurant

Address: Driftwood Building, Klipstraat 12, Oranjestad, Aruba

Website: driftwoodaruba.com

Cuisine type: Aruban, Caribbean, Seafood |  Price Range: $25 - $35

Loved the ambiance! The walls were plastered with driftwood and it felt like a being on a ship with steering wheels as lamps (minus the sea sickness)! Something happened in the kitchen and it took over an hour to get our food. The way they seat you and take orders, we weren’t quite sure who exactly was our waiter. We asked if everything was alright with our order and they apologized for the delay. A round of drinks with mermaid accoutrements came on the house.

I ordered the chicken with tropical citrus sauce and wish I had the recipe for that sauce! Josh tried the Aruban meal - fresh catch of the day with potato and veggies. Although the presentation of the meal was underwhelming, the food quality was spectacular.

For dessert, we ordered the Brownie a la mode and it was perfection!

Brownie a la mode at Driftwood Aruba

After dinner, we walked around the downtown area and played in a few casinos. I was still reeling from my day with the flamingos!

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DAY 6

Renaissance Island’s Flamingo Beach & Breakfast

We had to get up early to go to Flamingo Beach one more time so I could feed them! We tried to hop on the 8am boat but because the tide was low, they were boarding outside so we missed it and waited for the next one. The island wasn’t crowded at all! I was able to feed them and get some great pictures of just us!

One more time, read our full review on the Renaissance Aruba Resort and Casino and Everything you need to know about Flamingo Beach.

Feeding flamingos on Flamingo Beach

We had breakfast over by the Iguana beach and this completed our PERFECT Aruba trip.

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Departing from the Aruba Airport

We were warned by a few people to get to the airport at least 3 hours early if you are traveling back to the United States from Aruba. Not only do you pass through Aruba customs, but you also pass through US customs. The benefit here is that you don’t have to hassle with customs when you get to the US, the bad part is you spend a long time in lines at the airport. There were 7 steps to get to the gate, here is why it takes so long to get through the Aruba airport customs:

Step 1

First you have to check-in and check your baggage, which took about 30 mins to get to the counter.

Step 2

Next, you have to clear customs with Aruba. This line was outside and luckily it was a nice breezy day! It took about 15 mins to get to the front of this line.

Step 3

After, we were to take everything through the TSA metal detectors, all electronics must come out of your bags. This line took another 15 mins or so.

We thought we were done since we entered the terminal with duty free shops, but no, we were not done yet.

Step 4

We kept walking until we entered the US customs area where you have to find your bags that you checked in step 1. Some bags were on the carousels and others were lined up by airport staff. We were not allowed to open our bags.

Step 5 

After gathering our bags, we lined up for the US customs check. The line takes about 30 minutes or Global Entry had no line.

Step 6

Once we were passed the custom agents, we dropped our bags off, again.

Step 7 

Now we had to go through the TSA metal detectors one last time. Luckily there was a separate line for TSA pre-check, but you still have to take your shoes off. This took about 10 minutes.

Finally, we entered the terminal to find our gate! We had time to spare and with our Priority Pass account, we could go into the VIP lounge. It was a small lounge with limited snacks: bagged chips, muffins, sandwiches, and drinks included: wine, rum, whiskey, coffee, beer or soda. We were ok with this, all we wanted to do was sit and grab a bite to eat!

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We were exhausted when we got back home, but were ready to go back right away! Let us know what you thought of the post or if you have any questions in the comments below!

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More Aruba Travel Information:

How to Spend 5 Days in Tromso, Norway - Tromsø, Norway Itinerary

What is there to do in Tromsø, Norway during winter? PLENTY!

Northern Lights just outside of Tromsø, Norway

For our winter trip, we wandered to Norway and it has been one of our best trips yet! We wanted to see the northern lights but knew it was never guaranteed, so we booked other excursions to make our trip worthwhile while such as dog sledding, reindeer rides, and whale watching.

Josh was working with a producer that has a friend who has a travel business called Off The Map Travel, specializing in trips to the Arctic Circle to find the northern lights. After a few emails back and forth with Katie, she sent us an itinerary that we could adjust to our liking. One thing listed on our itinerary was spending the night in a Sami lavvu (teepee). Josh was very excited about this, but I didn't like the idea of spending the night in a tent in the cold, it sounded awful. Katie assured us it would be warm and everyone loves it. Fine, we'll try it. I still wasn't completely convinced but agreed to it for some reason. Anyway, we finalized our itinerary and the lavvu was like living in a fairytale (well, almost). The next steps were to book our flights and purchase warm clothes since this California girl doesn't know what to do in the snow but wants to build a snowman.

Click here for our Packing Essentials for Snow Guide and Check-List

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Getting to Tromso, Norway

Since we were in Syracuse for Christmas, we flew SAS from Newark to Oslo to Tromsø, Norway, and upgraded to business class for more comfort to hopefully get some sleep on the plane. There weren’t any direct flights to Tromsø from New York.

SAS Business class was really nice complete with a large screen in the seat in front of you and a decent selection of entertainment. The food was ok, not your typical American meal, the venison was very tough, but the wine selection was fantastic. Best part was the ice cream, of course, they served 3 Twins Ice Cream - sea salted caramel! SO DELICIOUS!

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Day 1

HOTEL IN TROMSO NORWAY: Clarion at the Edge

We arrived in Oslo, went through customs, and continued to baggage claim to get our bags to check them in again to get to Tromso.

Tromsø views

After landing in Tromso, our taxi driver was there to pick us up and take us to our hotel, the Clarion at the Edge. The Clarion is a newer hotel, very modern and eco-friendly. To power the lights in your room you have to put the key in a switch and they all illuminate.

Clarion at the Edge - Tromso, Norway

Our room overlooked the Tromso Sound towards the Arctic Cathedral. Apparently, they are building a port right in front of the hotel so there were 2 giant cranes obstructing our view. The beds were very comfortable and the bathroom is very tiny.

View from our room at the Clarion in Tromso, Norway

Their restaurant on the second floor had good food (and wine). Oh and they had the best sign:

Stressed Spelled Backwards is desserts! YES IT IS!

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Presis has swings as dining room chairs

DINNER IN TROMSO: Presis

Storgata 36, 9008 Tromsø, Norway

We had about an hour before we had to meet for our dog sledding adventure, just enough time to grab a bite. Right around the corner from our hotel was a Tapas bar called Presis serving Spanish and Arctic Tapas.

Upon entering, the candlelight from the tables gave a cozy and welcoming vibe, and my eyes lit up when I looked over observing that instead of chairs, some of the tables had swings! The four-year-old inside me wanted to run over and sit on one instantly, but instead, the hostess sat us at a table with plain old regular four-legged chairs by the window instead. It was probably for the better because I would have played on the swing and knocked over food, water, or a candle with the potential of lighting the restaurant on fire. So instead, I sat for a quick picture.

The food was delicious. We had their ham, bread with salt and olive oil, potatoes with a garlic aioli sauce, and spicy meatballs. It was the perfect amount of food for the 2 of us, almost too much!

Click here for our Packing Essentials for Snow Guide and Check-List
 

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Night Dog Sledding and Getting Lost

We quickly walked over to the Scandic Ishavshotel where Arctic Adventure Tours had a small bus was there to take us up to see the puppies! It was about a 30 min drive to our spot and as soon as we got off the bus I ran straight for the dogs!

Dog sledding pup sleeping

They were chained to little dog houses and jumping in and out of them, excited we were there to visit and give them attention! We were called into a room to suit up and get a winter suit, boots, gloves, and a headlamp for our sledding. It was probably for the better to wear their gear since the dogs were so smelly (but still so cute) it wouldn't stink up our clothes on our first day.

We had a quick orientation and headed to the sleds. The dogs instantly started barking and jumping with excitement when they saw us!

We jumped in our sleds and they untied each sled team one by one and off we went! The dogs run fast and are good about following each other. They are even skilled to run and poop at the same time. Lol. I liked riding more than driving! You have to do a little peddling/running when going up hills, the pups get a little tired and need a boost!

The dogs got all tangled and wouldn't run at one point, so we were stranded trying to get them in line. Since we were the last ones, everyone had gone ahead and we were stuck there. We waited for a little bit, and finally saw a headlamp heading towards us. Hooray we were saved! Even the instructor couldn't tear them apart. We sat and waited for another 5 minutes when they finally finished and joined the rest of our group. How could you get mad at a face like this:

Our sleds had pelts to sit on to make it more comfortable!

Dog sleds!

And off we went for about an hour! We saw so many stars and got caught in some snow!

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Day 2

Reindeer Sleigh Ride

See our full post here: Reindeer Rides in Norway

The hotel provided a free buffet breakfast in the morning at their restaurant, with tons of options from pancakes to an omelet station.

Our first adventure of the day was a reindeer sleigh ride! We walked over to the Radisson Blu and got on a small bus of about 14 people to the Tromso Lapland. It was a 20 minute drive to the Sami lavvu where we changed into a winter suit and gloves provided by the tour. We jumped back on the bus and drove another 20 mins to the reindeer. After a small hike up the hill, the reindeer were waiting for us by a bunch of sleighs. I leaped to them (literally, I was that excited)!

Reindeer in Norway

Of course I had to pet them and take tons of pictures, which I'm sure they loved me invading their personal space. It's what I do best. Soon after, we were all seated and ready for take off. The reindeer don't run quite as fast as the dogs, it's a slower paced, more peaceful ride.

Reindeer Rides in Tromso, Norway

This was a once in a lifetime experience. Not only did we have a reindeer ride, but we also learned of the native Sami culture. The reindeer ride consisted of about 7 or 8 reindeer pulling individual sleds. They are connected by ropes and then all sleds are connected one by one. At first, the guide was leading the reindeer up and around the hill and then hopped on the sled and away we went. The ride lasted about 40 mins total and was very peaceful trekking through the freshly powdered snow. for 3km. After our ride, they tied the reindeer in a more open area, where we were able to feed them!

Feeding Reindeer

Most of the time they would knock the food out of my hands and almost force me out of the way with their antlers to eat the remains from the snowy ground. I did get to pet them, their fur is coarse and some of them even had fur fuzz on their antlers! We then moved locations to a traditional Sami Lavuu (it looks like a teepee) with an authentic Sami guide where we had reindeer stew for lunch while being told stories of their culture along and even a joik (Sami song) was sung for us. Our guide was from a Sami reindeer herding families explaining how valuable reindeer are enriched in their culture.

See our full story: Reindeer Rides in Tromsø, Norway

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Drinks in Tromsø: Huken Pub

Strandgata 22, 9008 Tromsø, Norway

Huken Pub in Tromso, Norway

A storm came in so strong that the rain from it turned into icy roads. We were supposed to go out to see the lights but the bus wasn't going to be safe in the icy conditions and we had to cancel our tour. 

We weren't surprised, it was still overcast and others who had gone out the night before drove 2 hours to Finland to see the Northern Lights, some weren't able to catch them at all.

Huken Pub brews

Instead, we went to Huken Pub right around the corner of our hotel. We had some time to kill, where we just wanted to sit and have a beer. This was the perfect place. The decor is unique, suitcases as tables and barn chic interior.

Huken Pub Bar

The people sitting next to us had burgers that looked amazing but we had just had dinner at the hotel. They had a vast selection of Mack beers along with a few others. Not great for large groups as it is a small place inside and doesn't really have a bar to stand at. It's cozy and perfect for 2 people! 

After a couple of drinks, we walked around for a bit and enjoyed the charm of this quaint town.

Streets of Tromso

Church in Tromso

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Day 3

Whale Watching

See the full story here: Whale Watching in Norway

It was finally our day to go whale watching and we were so excited! I was a little apprehensive as to how cold it was going to be, with being on the water and rain in our forecast, but they said there were warm waterproof suits to wear. Perfect, now my clothes won't get wet and I'll still be warm! Win, Win.

Tromso Harbor

We booked this excursion through Off the Map Travel and our whale watching company name was ACIN (Arctic Cruise in Norway), we boarded the Arctic Princess, a Lagoon 450 Catamaran. 

Whale Watching - Orcas in Norway

A fellow tour company had spotted a pod of killer whales and gave a call to our captain. We drove straight towards them. WOW! There were probably about 10 Orcas in the pod and they would surface now and again where you could see their prominent white spot near there eye. They weren't jumping out of the water like Free Willy or Shamu at Sea World, but it was still mesmerizing to watch these beautiful creatures. 

Killer whales in Norway

The whales didn't seem bothered by the surrounding boats at all, coming fairly close to a couple of them. There was a flock of seagulls trying to get in on the whales’ feeding situation. We could see where the pod was heading based on where the birds were circling. You could tell when some would surface as they would give a burst through their blowholes.

We watched them for almost an hour it seemed and my feet were so cold, it was to the point where I couldn't really feel them anymore. The fear of frostbite and losing my toes set in, it was time to go inside and warm up and head back to Tromso.  See the full story here: Whale Watching in Norway

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New Hotel: Sleeping in a Teepee

See our full story of the lavvu stay here: Sleeping in a Teepee

We checked out of our hotel (we told them we needed a late check-out so we could shower and I'm so glad we did! Off the Map travel had arranged our transfer over to the Lyngen Alps. When we arrived, we met Ann Kristin with Aurora Alps, who was in charge of our tours for the next few days. We were supposed to stay in a cabin the first night, so I had one last night to get used to the idea I would be sleeping in a teepee, in the snow. However, they told us our Itinerary had changed and we were spending that night in the teepee. O.M.G. She made it sound like it was no big deal and that it would be easier for us. I was anxious and nervous inside. 

Sami Lavvu - Tent we spent the night in

We grabbed our bags and walked to the lavvu (teepee) which was about 50 feet from the house with a lit path and charming white lights strung in front.

HOW ENCHANTING! I then forgot all my fears, and as we entered the candlelit lavvu, I loved everything about it. There was a giant picnic table with food, a bar with hot drinks ready to go, a warm stove with lots of firewood, a comfortable living room setup, and a separate area with sleeping bags. Along with the candles, there were some lights strung along the top of the lavvu giving off plenty of light. I was mesmerized and felt like I was in another world. This was my kind of camping, as long as the fire kept burning!

See more in our full story of the lavvu stay here: Sleeping in a Teepee

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Snowshoes and Searching for the Northern Lights

In front of our cozy lavvu, were 2 sets of snowshoes. They were cute and I took a picture but didn't know how to use them. Ann Kristin had advised the Northern Lights would be out that night and we should use the snowshoes to get to the clearing not far from the teepee. We gathered all of our camera gear and Josh helped me get my snowshoes on and off we went. We found the clearing but the sky was cloudy and there was a light rain. We decided to wait a bit and see if the weather would clear up.

After about 15 minutes, we started to see stars and the clouds started to dissipate. We thought we were looking for green flashes or some kind of light in the sky but didn't see anything like that. Josh decided to take pictures of the stars while we waited for the aurora borealis to show. After a few pictures, he yelled, "THAT'S IT!" There it was, on his camera screen, green Northern lights! We realized they looked more like glowing clouds to the naked eye! "What about that?! Or that?!" We shot at everything in the sky, taking tons of shots and getting something a little different every time. 

Our first Northern Lights sighting

We were excited we were able to see the lights on our first night and couldn't wait until we were going out with a guide the next night!

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Day 4

Dog Sledding Adventure

We checked out of the teepee and stored our bags with Aurora Alps, which they brought them over to the cabin next door later that day. We went back towards Tromsø but stopped just after the bridge for our day dog sledding tour! There were so many cute smelly pups that were so happy to see us! 

We felt like pros since we had already gone dog sledding at night in the dark! We put on our suits over our clothes and jumped on our sleds.

Dog sledding in Norway

It was kinda rainy and it seemed like the path they were taking hadn't had snow in a while. In certain areas it was almost like water skiing which was fun but since it was raining, water had somehow leaked into my suit, and I was wet and very very cold. 

We warmed up and had some lunch in the community room (and lots of hot chocolate!). 

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Northern Lights in Finland

Evening Northern Lights Tour

We had a private tour, arranged by Off the Map Travel to go see the Northern Lights. We looked at the weather pattern and hoped we could see the lights and not too many clouds! Our driver picked us up in a large van at our cabin and took us about an hour North of us where the weather was better, and we even drove into Finland to find the Northern Lights! We brought all of our camera gear and ANYTHING to keep us warm. 

What are the northern lights exactly? Well, the Aurora is an incredible light show caused by collisions between electrically charged particles released from the sun that enter the earth’s atmosphere and collide with gases such as oxygen and nitrogen. The lights are seen around the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres.

After a many stops over 3 hours, it was time to head back to the cabin. We were beyond thrilled we were able to see the lights.

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Day 5

We were exhausted by this point, we had done so much in 4 days! We finally slept in a bit, but I was still excited to try cross country skiing! 

Cross country skiing in Norway

Since it was my first time, I may have fallen a couple of times, but overall was fun since it was something I had never done before! My thighs were definitely sore the next day! We took in the scenery, being secluded in the woods, and even saw moose tracks!

Winter in Norway

We stopped at their cabin in the middle of the woods which had no power, but a cozy area for a fire to cook hot dogs and have some hot cocoa from a thermos! We signed the guest book hoping we'd return one day! 

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New Years Eve Night and the Northern Lights

As we were enjoying our last night in Norway, we went to dinner in the main hall, and then went out at midnight for the neighbors fireworks show. The law allows fireworks to be shot off only on New Years Eve night from 11:30pm to 12:30am. The neighbors gather together to compete against other neighborhoods for the best fireworks display!  

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Last Glimpse of the Northern Lights

At about 1am the skies started to clear and the Northern Lights were directly above us! We got the GoPro and the rest of our gear and setup for a light show!

There was a glow and we were glad we were to able to see them one last time, or so we thought. We went inside for about an hour to warm up and get ready for bed. Josh went out one last time to take a look and came back yelling, "come out, come out!" I ran outside and could actually see the Northern Lights without a lens!

Northern Lights in Norway

We went inside again to warm up and edit some photos to show our family and friends at home. It was getting close to 5am and it was time for bed. As I got into bed and was scrolling threw Instagram, I heard Josh open the door, he yelled, "they're back, come out!" We went running out and there were bright green streaks across the sky! 

Aurora Borealis in Norway

As I was looking in the sky, one of the glowing clouds got brighter and greener and started moving! I turned to Josh and said, "look at that," pointing at the green streak of the aurora borealis! 

This green streak only got brighter and brighter and danced across the sky, dazzling different colors of white, green and blue as it moved. 

Aurora Borealis near Tromso, Norway

It was the perfect way to end our 5-day trip to Norway and great start to a new year! 

Don’t forget to pack these guys:

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Please note this is not a sponsored post and based on my own personal experience, all thoughts are my own.

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