flumin' kauai style

welcome to the newly instituted saturday travel post! i know i haven't been very attentive to this section of the blog lately but check in every weekend to discover off the beaten path ideas for your next getaway.

you may have heard that flumin' da ditch on the big island had to shut down for safety reasons after the earthquake last year. there are no definite plans to repair the canals which sustained damage in october's quake, so if you are looking for an alternative you'll have to go to kauai to go flumin' the old school way. 

kauai backcountry adventures (who also operates a zipline) has a mountain tubing adventure which is more like local kids did it back in the day or so my fella (who grew up surrounded by sugar cane fields) tells me (aka city mouse).

if you go that means you'll hop on your very own tube to float down the irrigation canals of the lihue plantation. the three hour tour (i kid you not, gilligan) promises ocean and mountain views and a picnic lunch when you arrive at a quaint sounding swimming hole. keep in mind that this a low key & family friendly adventure so don't expect an adrenaline rush from raging waters.

check out tripadvisor for reviews from travelers who have been there & done that.

clear blue hawaii

molokini kayak

okay, i'm not the most sporty girl but i love to kayak. most anyone can do it and you can explore areas untouched by land locked humans like a calm lagoon or enjoy an ocean ride without a surfboard. the only downside is that you never really get to see what's going on down below unless a dolphin swims by or a flying fish jumps in front of you.

then clear blue hawaii introduced their molokini kayak which has racked up kudos for its innovative transparent design. yep, now you can peek beneath the ocean waves at the underwater world beneath you without jumping in the water. the molokini is built for two and you can even add an outrigger system if you prefer a smooth ride.

blue sun solar backpack

clear blue hawaii also makes inflatable & folding kayaks plus neat travel gear that utilize solar power. the blue sun solar backpack would be super handy when you're on the road and need to keep your cell phone, lap top, ipod, etc. charged no matter where life takes you.

most of their gear is available at clear blue hawaii's website, via hammacher schlemmer, or if you're the touchy-feely type click here to find a dealer near you.

shark dive maui

the following adventure is for those of you who were not scarred for life by watching jaws as an impressionable youngster. and you also need to be a certified scuba diver (15 years + up). if you meet those requirements and have always wanted to swim with the sharks (by choice, not chance), you will definitely want to add a visit to the maui ocean center to your "to do" list.

$199 gets you into the shark tank so you can check out the sharks up close and personal. the price may sound steep but, on the flip side, you are practically guaranteed to get out of the tank in one piece. a nice bonus, don't you think?

shark dive maui is only available on mondays, wednesdays & fridays and is limited to 4 divers per day. and you can't just walk in with your scuba gear so don't forget to make a reservation before you arrive.

kayaking up the na'pali coast

here's something fun to add to your "things to do before i die" list: a kayak tour up the na'pali coast. of course, fun can be a subjective thing so just make sure you can endure the 17 mile trek before signing up at napali kayak.

the payoff is well worth it since you'll get to explore sea caves and waterfalls while marveling at the magnificent na'pali coastline. guided day tours can be booked from april to october and napali kayak also offers all-inclusive luxury multi-day tours for those who long for a more extended and plush adventure.

zip zip & away

if you're a fan of the amazing race, the photo above needs no explanation except to say that you don't need to leave hawaii to enjoy the thrill of ziplining! in the past year, we have friends who have gone on the original canopy tour in costa rica & puerto vallarta and each couple had rave reviews of their adventures flying through the trees.

even though heights are not my friend, i must admit that it looks pretty exhilarating on tv and now that i know people who have lived to tell their tale (and have the photos to prove it) perhaps a zipline tour by kauai backcountry adventures will be in order next time we're on the garden isle. in addition to the zipline, kauai backcountry also offers a tubing tour similar to flumin' da ditch just in case you prefer your adventures closer to the ground.