Kauai (Nawiliwili), Hawaii

Watch Spouting Horn shoot water 50 feet in the air while emitting a loud groan. Legend has it that it's the cry of hunger and pain from a mythical lizard that has been trapped for centuries under the rocks. It's just one highlight of Waimea Canyon, hailed by Mark Twain as "The Grand Canyon of the Pacific." The largest canyon in the Pacific, it plunges to depths of 3,500 feet and reveals millions of years of geological activity. You'll also take in unforgettable sights through your motorcoach window as you pass through Lihue, the island's main town, Koloa, home of flower farms and sugarcane fields as well as the small villages of Oma'o, Kalaheo and Hanapepe.

Watch Spouting Horn shoot water 50 feet in the air while emitting a loud groan. Legend has it that it's the cry of hunger and pain from a mythical lizard that has been trapped for centuries under the rocks. It's just one highlight of Waimea Canyon, hailed by Mark Twain as "The Grand Canyon of the Pacific." Along the way, this moderately active half-day excursion also reveals Lihue, Koloa, Oma'o, Kalaheo and Hanapepe. The largest canyon in the Pacific, it plunges to depths of 3,500 feet and reveals millions of years of geological activity. During the course of this moderately active half-day excursion, you'll also take in unforgettable sights through your motorcoach window. You'll pass through Lihue, the island's main town, Koloa, home of flower farms and sugarcane fields as well as the small villages of Oma'o, Kalaheo and Hanapepe.

Kauai is blessed with stunning natural features and you'll get to experience some of the island's most popular attractions on this moderate half-day excursion. Nothing is more romantic than a riverboat cruise up the Wailua River to the famous natural amphitheater of Fern Grotto. Here you and your honey can enjoy a live performance of the hit song that has been associated with Kauai for decades: the "Hawaiian Wedding Song." Listen to talented Hawaiian singers and dancers and soak up the beauty of the Grotto's magical foliage. Then, continue sightseeing by motorcoach to magnificent Opaekaa Falls, one of the island's most dazzling cascades.

View the majesty of 80-foot-high Opaekaa Falls and visit the Wailua River Complex, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962. It contains the remains of many significant structures including Poli'ahu Heiau, a sacred and royal temple of worship that was in full and regular use when Captain James Cook landed on Kauai in 1778. Then you'll head to the historic Kilohana Plantation, established in 1864 and managed by Gaylord Wilcox, Kauai's Sugar Plantation Baron. Your adventure begins on the Kauai Plantation Railway with a 40-minute tour of 105 acres of Kilohana Plantation. You'll see fruit tree orchards, sugar cane, pineapple, banana, papaya, and countless other exotic fruit and indigenous trees. And you'll stop to feed the friendly farm animals. Afterwards, you can explore Kauai's largest sugar estate mansion with over 16,000 square feet of boutique shops and galleries before concluding your half-day tour at the pier.

View the majesty of 80-foot-high Opaekaa Falls and visit the Wailua Complex of Heiaus, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962. It contains the remains of many significant structures including Poli'ahu Heiau, a sacred and royal temple of worship that was in full and regular use when Captain James Cook landed on Kauai in 1778. Then you'll head to the historic Kilohana Plantation, established in 1864 and managed by Gaylord Wilcox, Kauai's Sugar Plantation Baron. Your adventure begins on the Kauai Plantation Railway with a 40-minute tour of 105 acres of Kilohana Plantation. You'll see fruit tree orchards, sugar cane, pineapple, banana, papaya, and countless other exotic fruit and indigenous trees. And you'll stop to feed the friendly farm animals. Afterwards, you can explore Kauai's largest sugar estate mansion with over 16,000 square feet of boutique shops and galleries before concluding your half-day tour at the pier.

Kauai's crystal-clear waters teem with colorful marine life and this active half-day excursion dives into the wonders of one of its best snorkeling beaches. Equipped with mask, snorkel, fins and wetsuit, you'll explore a shallow lagoon and protective reef. With the help of your guide, who is well versed in Kauai's marine biology, you'll watch as butterfly fish, tangs, surgeon fish, wrasses, and puffers glide through the waters below. Later. after working up an appetite, your hosts will top off your tour with complimentary beverages and snacks.

Drive past Menehune Fishpond Lookout on your way to Grove Farm, a beautifully preserved 80-acre sugar plantation. Tour the gracious home created by the son of Protestant missionary teachers from the Waioli Mission in Hanalei. Walk through large rooms cooled by breezes from shaded verandas and marvel at the elegant furnishings and Oriental carpets. Then step aboard the Kauai Plantation Railway for a narrow-gauge railway ride through almost 100 acres of orchards and animal pastures. The trip brings the history of Kauai and its sugar plantations to the fore, revealing how the industry shaped the island's multi-ethnic culture. Your conductor will point out the more than 50 fruits and vegetables that are growing on the farm, including exotic varieties of pineapple, papaya, mango, and rambutan. Perhaps the most popular part of this active half-day excursion may be the farmyard where you can feed treats to the friendly animals.

Indulge in the local food and drink of Kauai - a feast for the senses - when you spend an exclusive, half day at Kilohana Plantation, the only remaining sugar estate plantation on the island. A scenic shuttle ride brings you to the 105-acre estate harvesting 50 variations of exotic fruit. Tour the grounds then stroll through the orchards with a guide, tasting the in-season fruit right off the tree! Gather at the demonstration pavilion to learn how to artfully prepare the ultimate fruit cocktail. Continue to the grand Manor House, built in 1935 and now a living museum with shops and galleries. Meet at the MahiKo Lounge and enjoy the antics of the expert mixologist as he crafts the Kilohana Signature Koloa Rum Mai Tai. One mai tai is complimentary, but you may purchase another! And Hawaiian "pupus," savory appetizers, makes the perfect accompaniment. Conclude with free time to visit the shops before returning to port.

Paddle a tandem kayak along a beautiful and historic jungle stream on this active half-day tour. Highlights include the luxuriant Hule'ia National Wildlife Refuge, the dramatic Haupu Mountain Range and its majestic 2,000 foot shield volcano, and the fascinating Alekoko (Menehune) Fishpond. At this living archaeological site, you'll learn about ancient Hawaiian fishing and aquiculture methods and listen to intriguing legends about the supernatural beings that once inhabited the valley. Leaving your kayak behind, you'll follow your guide to a secluded swimming hole and a gorgeous tropical waterfall. Then, rather than paddling up wind, you'll board a double-hulled, powered Hawaiian canoe for the fun return trip to Nawiliwili complete with snacks and cold drinks.

Discover the reason Kauai is known as the "Garden Isle" with a trek into Halele'a Forest Reserve. Stretching out over 15,000 acres, the four-mile hike (round trip) begins with a short drive to Opaeka'a Falls where you can stop for memorable photos. Then, learn island culture at Waimea River, the only navigable river in the Hawaiian Islands. From here, you'll journey into the heart of Halele'a Forest Reserve. Admire the views of the Makaleha Mountains off in the distance as you follow your guide along the trail. Keep your camera at the ready, you may spot a "puaiohi" or small Kauai thrush, a rare species of songbird that's endemic to the island (and if you're extremely lucky, you may find the extremely rare fabulous green sphinx moth, which has a wingspan of four-and-a-half inches!). Once back at the van, you'll travel to Keahua Arboretum for snacks and beverages.

Prepare for some of Kauai's most legendary sights and sounds via river and road. This active full-day excursion with lunch combines geological wonders, lush vegetation, small towns and even Hawaiian music and dance. Your scenic drive takes you all the way to the rim of Waimea Canyon, the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific" according to Mark Twain. And your riverboat cruise is a sentimental journey up the Wailua River to Fern Grotto, with Hawaiian music and dance along the way and a live performance of "The Hawaiian Wedding Song." This comprehensive tour also showcases photo opportunities at magnificent natural wonders like Opaekaa Falls and Spouting Horn to complete your immersion in the beauty and culture of Kauai, "Hawaii's island of discovery."

Explore the extraordinary beauty of one of the world's premier congressionally chartered botanical research organizations on a guided tour of Allerton & McBryde Gardens. Enter the gates of this once-private estate and wind past dramatic cliff-top views of the protected bay below. Stroll through outdoor rooms and see rippling pools, fountains and dramatic sculptures and venture to a secluded waterfall in a part of the gardens most visitors to Kauai do not see. Next, you will travel by vehicle deeper into the upper Lawai Valley and McBryde Garden exploring areas of this beautiful valley that most visitors don't get to experience. McBryde Garden is over 250 acres of conservation research land and home to over 6,000 rare and endangered species of plants collected from throughout the Pacific Basin and the world. After a delightful lunch in a garden gazebo you will have the opportunity to embark on a short leisurely walk on a trail with some of the rarest species of plants found in the garden, to a lush rainforest which has a backdrop of one of the most beautiful waterfalls on Kauai.

Designed to evoke the grandeur of the postcard-perfect splendor of Kauai, this all-day adventure showcases the best that the "Garden Island" has to offer. From the pier, your small group will see splendid sights such as Opaeka'a Falls and Poliahu Heiau. Next, you'll embark on a leisurely boat ride up the Wailua River to Fern Grotto, which offers a natural amphitheater of lava rock and tropical vegetation. Back on the touring van, you'll travel along the North Shore to the Kilauea Lighthouse and the nearby Kilauea National Wildlife Refuge & Bird Sanctuary. An island-style picnic lunch at Anini Beach is a great way to relax before continuing on to the Princeville Resort Area and Hanalei Bay, voted America's best beach in 2009 by Dr. Beach. Return to the ship at the end of the tour with a wealth of island knowledge and the satisfaction of seeing some of Kauai's finest scenery.

Follow in the footsteps of your favorite actors as you discover the stunning places that helped make each of their scenes more memorable. You'll visit Coco Palms where Elvis Presley serenaded his brid on the way to the chapel in Blue Hawaii and Wailua Falls which helped to create everyone's "Fantasy Island." You'll see where Jurassic dinosaurs roamed, where castaways washed up after a "three hour" tour and where The Amazing Race contestants searched for their next clue. And, along the way, you'll learn fascinating facts about each production and get juicy behind-the-scenes details about the stars. This easy full-day excursion with a light lunch travels aboard a custom minibus equipped with a monitor so you can view the locale in real life and then see how it translated to the silver screen. It's a star-struck adventure you'll never forget.

Explore the Na Pali Coast via motorized zodiac on this very active full-day excursion. Learn island history and Hawaiian culture from your experienced captain. Marvel at the necklace of dramatic sea caves and cascading waterfalls along a 15-mile-long coastline completely without development, not even a single road. Exploring by boat is the best possible way for day travelers to grasp the majesty of this wondrous place. And it allows you the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in its beauty. Conditions permitting, your captain will pull into a calm lagoon where a protected reef teems with tropical fish, coral, and possibly, green sea turtles. Everything you could possibly need from fins and snorkel to mask and flotation vest are available right on board. And when it's time for lunch, you'll come back aboard to a deli-style box lunch.

Can't decide whether you want to hike, swim or soar above the trees on a zipline ride? This action-packed full-day excursion lets you do it all as you spend the day hiking, exploring, swimming and soaring at Kipu cattle ranch. Lunch served next to a waterfall is also included. Enjoy the views from high above the canopy on four exciting ziplines, three of which are over 1,000 feet each and are side-by-side lines so you can enjoy the excitement with a partner. Participate in nature walks totaling up to three miles and travel from trailhead to trailhead by covered farm wagon or van. Give into the urge to swing on ropes tied to tree branches for a refreshing plunge into a mountain pool. Or simply kick back and enjoy the quiet beauty. Throughout this very active full-day excursion you'll be surrounded by nature. Keep an eye out for wild boar, peacocks and other exotic birds. And listen to exciting stories and local legends about days gone by to complete an unforgettable day on the Garden Isle of Kauai.

Explore the south coast of Kauai on a half-day horseback tour (approximately 1½ hour of riding) set amidst one of the island's most treasured regions. Maha'ulepu is a living museum - a research site and habitat for rare and endangered plants and animals. And it is a sacred place to Native Hawaiians, many of whom are connected to the area by ancestral ties and by continuing cultural uses including fishing and gathering. In a rapidly urbanizing region, Maha'ulepu remains an important place for the contemplation and enjoyment of nature. Gaze at sand-dune cliffs, Kiawe trees, limestone formations and rocky inlets that are an occasional safe haven for marine life. You'll experience a variety of scenery and terrain; from pasture ranch land and farm crops to coastal and mountain vistas. You'll cross over a sand bar and stream and travel past beaches and bays.

Drive your ATV Mudbug through thick vegetation passing cane fields, crossing hills and streams and enjoying an exhilarating sense of off-road freedom. Venture through a 1/2-mile long cane haul tunnel straight through a mountain and down switchback trails. Brief stops highlight famous movies filmed locally like Jurassic Park. And there are plenty of photo opportunities and historic outposts along the way. Your destination is a sparkling waterfall that tumbles off the peaks of Mount Kahili, winds its way down jungle-clad slopes and pools invitingly at your feet. The best possible way for you to immerse yourself in the surrounding beauty is to jump right in for a refreshing swim. Then to satisfy your hunger and thirst, you'll be treated to locally made snacks and beverages. Kick back and enjoy before your return drive and van ride back to your ship at the pier.

If ever there were a place to climb aboard a helicopter for a thrilling aerial expedition, this is the place. Kauai is blessed with some of the most spectacular scenery in the world with rugged terrain that ranges from deep canyons and soaring mountains, to stunning beaches and lush tropical rainforest. This exhilarating half-day excursion lets you see it all, weather permitting, and still leaves enough time in your day for other adventures. Soar over one unbelievable natural wonder after another from the Hanapepe Valley, and the Menehune Fishpond, to Waimea Canyon, Wailua Falls, the Waialeale Crater and the Na Pali Coast. And along the way, your expert captain will provide fascinating commentary on each individual site.

If ever there were a place to climb aboard a helicopter for a thrilling aerial expedition, this is the place. Kauai is blessed with some of the most spectacular scenery in the world with rugged terrain that ranges from deep canyons and soaring mountains, to stunning beaches and lush tropical rainforest. This exhilarating half-day excursion lets you see it all, weather permitting, and still leaves enough time in your day for other adventures. Soar over one unbelievable natural wonder after another from the Hanapepe Valley, and the Menehune Fishpond, to Waimea Canyon, Wailua Falls, the Waialeale Crater and the Na Pali Coast. And along the way, your expert captain will provide fascinating commentary on each individual site.

Tour historic Kilauea Lighthouse, stroll down Hanalei Pier, a scenic backdrop featured in the classic musical "South Pacific," and enjoy a picnic lunch at Anini Beach State Park, adjacent to the property used for the movie "Honeymoon in Las Vegas." Upon arrival at the helicopter terminal, receive a warm aloha check-in followed by your safety briefing. Following the safety presentation, board an air conditioned jet helicopter to begin a spectacular flight above Kauai. Accompanying the awesome scenery is music and narration on the culture, history and myths of the island. Soar through the heavens for a bird's-eye view of magnificent waterfalls, majestic canyons and inaccessible beaches. Pass the 3,400-foot Mt. Namolokama Waterfalls, Waimea Canyon, "the Grand Canyon of the Pacific," the Na Pali Coast, Hanalei Valley and, weather permitting, Mt. Wai'ale'ale. This active full-day excursion combines adventures for a thrilling Kauai experience.