What to do in Maui, Hawaii

Before I had a lot of traveling under my belt, Hawaii was #1 on my bucket list. Naturally, I convinced my parents to go when I was 18. Being on the west coast it is a pretty short flight. Hawaii as you can imagine did not disappoint! If you want luxury combined with adventure and relaxation, Hawaii is the place for you! There is so much more to do than just lay on the beach all week. We picked Maui because it wasn’t as crowded as Honolulu but it still had a lot to do and that Hawaii charm.

Activities

Horseback Riding

I did a horseback riding tour with my mom on one day of the trip. It was up in the mountains with a gorgeous view of the island. Our tour guide pointed out whales way out in the distance in the ocean. It was relaxing and stunning to see this perspective of Hawaii. I grew up horseback riding and cantering (running) over 5ft fences so this was pretty mellow in comparison. Still fun nonetheless, but I would have enjoyed a little faster pace and maybe even on the beach!

Golf

Alright I’m not a golfer so I didn’t personally go but my brother pretty much came along on the trip for the golfing. I had lunch on the course one day and I can say first hand that the views were GORGEOUS. Imagine golfing next to lush green hills overlooking the ocean. Word for the wise, the courses are not cheap but I suppose that’s to be expected in Hawaii.

Restaurants

The restaurants on Hawaii were just amazing. My dad splurged every night and we had dinner right on the water with the most amazing seafood. Since I’m normally a budget traveler this post will be a little unique because I had my parents who spent a lot more on this trip then I obviously could have afforded! There are other options as Maui is fairly large and there’s everything from chain Jimmy Buffets Margaritaville to five star unique restaurants. One note if you are comparing Hawaii to a trip to the Caribbean, just because of the size and accessibility of the island I found there to be so much more in terms of places to eat and the luxury of travel. It is unique in that regards to St. John or the Caymans where the island was small enough there were only so many options.

Shopping

Normally I am not one to spend my vacation shopping because I have better stuff to be doing, but I got the absolute CUTEST swimsuits here!! Maybe it’s because I love the island vibe attire but there is such a great selection of summer outfits and bikinis. Bring some extra cash to get some swimsuits and clothes that you can only get in Hawaii!! You won’t find this at your local Nordstrom.

Hiking

There are some pretty spectacular hikes in Hawaii. My mom and I did one why the boys were golfing. We must have been on the highest point of the island because we kept climbing further and further up. The drive itself over was a great way to see the island! We did a hike to a creek with some hollowed out caves. It was a pretty neat hike but it wasn’t spectacular by any means. I think I would have enjoyed a huge gushing waterfall better but we only could go so far from the golf course for a hike. I highly suggest researching some hikes and finding a good one to spend a morning or afternoon!

Walks

We stayed in a condo right by the beach so I would wake up at 6am and go for a morning run along the water. There are huge running/walking paths right next the sand and ocean that make for great views and a relaxing yet motivating work out. For being up at 6am, there were a lot of other people out on runs or doing yoga or walking the dog which I enjoyed the overall fitness environment. It’s nice to know your not the only one who wakes up at 6am to work out!! I could almost count on seeing a rainbow every morning and a great sunrise. Even if you just go for a relaxing stroll, the views and pace of life here are unbeatable.

Pool Time

Our condo had a community pool that we spent a lot of time at. It was easy because we had snacks and drinks right in our condo for easy access. Hawaii doesn’t have to be all beach, some pool time doesn’t hurt.

Snorkeling

Reaching my more favorite activities. Snorkeling!! We went on a snorkel excursion where we saw some really pretty fish! The water was a little rough but I found I was okay (I’m not a strong swimmer). It was a little chilly too but I am also a baby about water temperatures. I have to say I much prefer the warmer water in the Caribbean. We went to this amazing place called Turtle Bay with tons of sea turtles!!! That was a highlight of my trip. I was the last one back on the boat because I got so caught up following sea turtles around. Even when we weren’t on the excursion, there was also great snorkeling right off the beach. Great sea turtles here too just more people.

The Beach

Well of course!! The beach!! The beaches of course were stunning. We stuck to one main one by the shopping and our condo. It was beautiful. We didn’t explore the beaches much though so I can’t say if there were other more beautiful beaches out there. I hate to say it but I really preferred Caribbean beaches. The water was bluer, warmer, and calmer. For those surfers out there maybe that isn’t for you, but I love warm calm water. I’m not a strong swimmer and waves freak me out. Not to mention I accidentally got hit by a wave while cooling off and almost lost my top! Calm water = much preferred.

Whale Watching

Arguably one of the most fun activities I did the whole week!! We did a very small boat that couldn’t have fit more than 15 people. Because of the size we were able to go fast and follow whales around at an exhilarating pace that those big whale watching charters just can’t do. We found a big pod and I swear to go a whale went right underneath our boat!! They were all around us up close and personal. Not to mention the boat was a ton of fun at those speeds!! I was so pleasantly surprised at how much fun this was.

Hot Tub

One of my favorite parts of the trip was after a long day of snorkeling, running, hiking, and sun bathing was getting in the hot tub and stargazing. It gave us time to relax and reflect on what a great day ahead with excitement for the days to come.

Overall Opinion

I loved Hawaii. What’s not to love? For those on the west coast, the flight really is incomparable. The amount of activities really is the main draw of Hawaii. If you read all of the above then you can see that there is a huge amount of stuff to do so that you will never get bored! It is a more expensive place so make sure to save up for a trip. Hawaii can be very luxurious if you want it to be. For those who are unsure if they want to do a Caribbean trip or a Hawaii trip, I can give you some advise. If you like the beach, but purely the beach won’t entertain you your entire trip then I suggest you go to Hawaii. There is just so much more to do. On the other hand if you don’t care if you leave the beach your whole trip I suggest the Caribbean. As I said, the water is clearer, calmer, and warmer. You also have the chance of being the only one in these award winning beaches which didn’t happen in Maui. Of course if you are beach person you should go to both to find out for yourself! I just personally preferred the Caribbean but that does not mean that Hawaii isn’t amazing and I will be going back!! In fact if I moved there and never left I would not be that upset about it!! I wish!!