If you are considering a trip to Kauai but aren't sure if it's appropriate for the whole family then guess no more, I have some great tips to share on how your family can have an eventful, stress free vacation. Kauai, known as "The Garden Isle" is not only breath taking in beauty, it also offers endless hands on learning experiences in history, culture, botany and marine biology. Gather the kids, pack light and prepare for a memorable trip of a lifetime.

Family Planning Makes for a Fun Trip

1. Before packing, you want to make your reservations to popular attractions and events as early as two to six months in advance. Making reservations help you to plan a tentative schedule and allows you to get the most current information like closings hours and days of operation, prices and special events. Some activities are only available during certain seasons or are affected by weather conditions.
2. When packing keep in mind that Kauai has an abundance of rental agencies that offer just about any equipment you could possibly need, this allows you to pack light. If you have very small children, they offer car seats, strollers and cribs. If your family is interested in sports whether they be on land or in water, the equipment is available to rent at reasonable prices. A good tip here is to rent everything that you're going to need at once. There is a possibility of a shortage, especially with boogie boards and snorkeling gear.
3. Several families with younger children reported that the best transportation is a rental car. Make sure it's something sturdy for some of the rugged trails and is spacious enough for all your equipment. It is also reported that condo rentals are more beneficial than hotel suites because they usually have a laundry room, kitchen and fridge for meals and snacks and some also come equipped with sporting goods and luxury furniture. It is also beneficial to have separate rooms for nap times and comfortable sleep.
4. The key to a stress free family vacation is good planning, but don't over plan. It is reasonable to schedule some beach time, mealtime, rest time and one tourist attraction per day. Over stimulation and missed nap times makes for unhappy campers. This also holds true when traveling with seniors.
   
5. There are several resorts that offer day camps for children as young as three to the age of twelve in case you want to slip away for a romantic getaway or more of an adventure than the little ones can handle. The day camps are a great form of childcare. They are run by qualified teams of educators and include activities such as snorkeling, lei making, sand castle contests, crafts, kite flying, fishing, garden exploration and lessons in Hawaiian culture. Like all other activities, reservations are required and prices range between sixty and one hundred dollars per child per day and include meals, snacks and the ultimate entertainment experience.

Now that we've gotten through the basics, lets go have some fun! The best way to begin your trip is at the beach. The most frequented beach by families is Poipu Beach. This beach located on the south shore has lifeguards, velvety golden sand, low gentle waves, and tidal pools full of colorful fish, bathrooms, and shaded pavilions. This would be the ideal spot for snorkeling and riding waves on a body board. This beach also receives the least amount of rainfall. On Kauai, the best playground to visit with the kids is the Kamalani Playground. Located on the east shore, this playground is known for its volcano slide, maze of jungle gyms and mosaic artwork, not to mention a resting area in the Japanese garden.

What Hawaiian vacation would be complete without the traditional luau? Located off the Wailua River on the east coast, you can enjoy the experience of Smith's Tropical Paradise Luau. This is known as only luau preformed in a tropical garden accompanied with Hawaiian music, a traditional ceremony, a garden tour, a feast and spectacular performances. This event is only available on Monday Wednesday and Friday from 4:45 to approximately 9 pm. Once again, reservations are required.

Another must-see is Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens located on the north shore. The entire family will enjoy a tour through twelve garden areas featuring ninety bronze sculptures. The children's garden features Jack's pond, with the giant looming sixteen feet overhead, a tropical jungle with bridges, tunnels and slides and kids sized railroad train ride.

Other great attractions include Guava Kai Plantation on the north shore. Here, you can take a short self-guided tour where you can pick your own guava. On the west shore, watch locals make natural sea salt at Salt Pond. Kauai Back Country Tubing offers a unique adventure through a sugar cane plantation near the east shore.

Some other activities your family might be interested in doing while on their visit to Kauai may include: horseback rides, helicopter tours, snorkeling, riding zip lines, guided educational tours, kayaking, hiking, biking, surfing, golfing and fishing and other sports like volleyball, soccer and tennis.

No matter what your choices are, Kauai is the best of the islands for a family to visit due to its family friendly environment, endless adventures, variety of entertainment, and abundance of historical and cultural learning opportunities.

Advice for your trip to Kauai, provided graciously by Alexis Stone, who wants you to enjoy your family trip to Kauai. Not regret it. 

As suggested, keep your sanity and claim some private space during your family trip to Hawaii. Rent a beach house or oceanfront condo in Kauai, to provide Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Missy and Junior with enough space to get away, even when you stay together.