Maui – heavenly resting place for anyone weary from the office, worn down from the cold seasons that afflict the northern states, or for anyone looking to just plop down in the sand with a book and enjoy the sun. With just the space of one island, Maui day trips can still manage to be incredibly varied.
Haleakala National Park
Rise as early as your vacation mentality will allow
and head for the Haleakala
National Park. A day trip to Maui spent in Haleakala
is a day spent scaling a 10,000 foot dormant volcano.
Many tourists get up early enough to time their drive
to the top of the volcano with the rising of the sun.
Even if you can’t drag yourself out of bed quite
that early, the drive to the mountain and the views from
the top is well worth the trip. After checking out
the volcano, you can spend the afternoon touring Kula,
Makawao, or Paia, smaller communities you will encounter
on your way back down the mountain. You can even
plan to have dinner in one of these areas.
Kapalua Beach
One of the loveliest beaches on Maui, Kapalua Beach makes for excellent Maui day trips. Maui day trips spent at Kapalua Beach can be enjoyed by simply playing in the water and laying out on the sun or you can divide your time between the beach and the nearby town of Lahaina. If you choose to drive to Lahaina, you’ll want to plan for a meal in the town and allow for some time spent walking around and shopping in the historic downtown area. Head back to beach when you’re finished, or finish out your day in Lahaina with some dinner.
Hana Highway
Maui day tours of the Hana
highway are famous, and for good reason. The
Hana highway is a gorgeous stretch of road where travelers
can spend the entire day checking out the gorgeous scenery
and stopping often to take pictures. Many locals
use the road to travel to work and about the island, so
if you are moving slow be sure to let anyone going faster
than you pass you by. You can take your time along
the Hana highway or spend the morning driving and the
afternoon in the town of Hana itself. Near Hana
travelers will find the Waianapanapa State Park, the Hana
Cultural Center and Museum, and the Hana Coast Gallery.
There are a few places to eat in the small town of Hana,
or you can bring along your own picnic food.
Maui day tours can also be spent simply relaxing. Spend a morning at one of the excellent spas found across the island, and indulge in Maui tours of the luxury shopping stores. Stop for some of the famous Hawaiian coffee somewhere along the way. In the afternoon, head over to the Ulapalakua Ranch. Near the ranch are the Tedeschi Winery and the Maui Ocean Center. After enjoying some wine tasting, you can look at the marine life at the Ocean Center and have dinner nearby to finish out your day trip to Maui.
