I've kept my mouth shut...

... my wife still doesn%26#39;t know we are going to Kauai the week of labor day. I%26#39;m quite proud of myself. I posted a month or so back about ideas in Kauai for myself and pregnant wife. I aprpeciate all the suggestions. I thought I%26#39;d post out kind of what I have planned to get any further ideas from people.

Aug 31 - Arrive

Trip to Walmart for any necessities/forgottens

Check in to KCR and hang out that night

Sept 1 - Waimea canyon

Spouting Horn

Dinner at Plantation Gardens

Sept 2 - Breakfast at Kalapaki Beach Hut

McBryde Gardens

Lunch at Keoki%26#39;s

Captain Andy%26#39;s Napali Sunset Dinner (assuming the mrs. feels like she%26#39;d be ok on it)

Sept 3 - Kilauea Lighthouse/Reserve

Limahuli Gardens

Smith Luau

Sept 4 - North Shore snorkeling (Anini, Ke%26#39;e, Makua)

Queens Bath

Lunch at CJ%26#39;s Steakhouse (any opinions?)

Dinner at the Hukilau

Sept 5 - Wailua Falls and puttering around Lihue/Kapaa before catching flight home

If you have any opinions on the restaurants or activities, they are more than welcome.

I've kept my mouth shut...

Sounds like a fun trip. The only thing I might change is lunch on 9/4 at C.J.%26#39;s I guess it is OK, but nothing that you couldn%26#39;t find on any corner at home. Why don%26#39;t you try something in Hanalei. You can get a great fresh fish sandwich at the Hanalei Dolphin or lunch and the Hanalei Gourmet (where they have great crabcakes and a Hanalei Waldorf Salad to die for.)

I've kept my mouth shut...

just did captain andy%26#39;s sunset cruise july 24, was exceptional value, great sight seeing great food great generous drinks,great service, you would have to be dead not to enjoy this

JP - same advice I give everyone about activities:

Begin each day sitting on your lanai drinking island coffee and talking to your spouse about what you plan on ding that day. Listen to the island wake up and drink in all the beauty around you.

End each day watching the best sunsets you will ever see, either from a beach or again on your lanai while talking to your spouse about what you actually did that day, having a tropical drink, maybe some pu pu%26#39;s.

Anything else you do on this trip is just icing on the cake compared to that alone time talking.

Thanks for the suggestions. I am excited to catch some great sunsets and sunrises.

Good news on Captain Andy%26#39;s. We%26#39;re not dead so we ought to enjoy it well enough. I%26#39;m really looking forward to it.

Kimocat -

Good tip on CJs. I saw some decent reviews and was wondering if it was anything unique. Sounds like Hanalei Gourmet would win out for sure.

Aloha from Kaua%26#39;i!

Sounds like a fun trip - nice itinerary, but a couple of suggestions if I may:

';Lunch at CJ%26#39;s Steakhouse'; - this is really just another chain-looking type steakhouse and is in a shopping mall up in Princeville - absolutely no view to speak of. I think you%26#39;d have a nicer experience having lunch in say - Hanalei town at maybe Kalypso%26#39;s for people watching or even in Ha%26#39;ena at Red Hot Mama%26#39;s Burritos - you can grab them for

take-out and park by the beach. Just my opinion!

';Queen%26#39;s Bath'; - I hate to always be the voice of doom about this place, but it is one of the most dangerous places on the whole island - and for a woman who is hapai (pregnant) I think it would be downright foolish (no offense!) and given the fairly steep dirt trail down and the long trek along the very slippery lava rock shelf just to get there... I strongly advise you to reconsider this - it makes me cringe thinking of a pregnant woman doing this.

Your choice though - but please read up on it thoroughly and make sure your wife knows the conditions ahead of time.

';Waimea Canyon'; - Sounds like you are doing this first thing in the a.m. -- always a good plan as it is usually clouded in after 10am, plus the crowds increase big time!

Good luck - I wish you a wonderful and safe trip!

Malama Pono,

Janet

The only thing I%26#39;d suggest is change the first day. Sometimes after spending the day traveling, it%26#39;s fun to just ';chill'; that first day around the pool or beach and soak in the romance of being in Kauai. I think having to get up early to drive the Waimea Canyon is too much right off the bat. Maybe change it with another day of visiting a garden in the afternoon.

When are you going to tell her? On the plane, or when you are packing? You keep a secret better than my husband!!!

Thanks Janet. I didn%26#39;t know Queens bath was so precarious. I wouldn%26#39;t have taken her down it upon seeing it if its as bad as you say. I%26#39;ve also reconsidered the CJ%26#39;s bit. Take out and eat by the beach is a great idea too.

Thanks for the helpful advice.

I know you said your wife is in great shape, but I just want to caution you that the path down to Queen%26#39;s Bath is a little tricky (some steep spots, tree roots across the path, some manuevering around boulders, etc), even when you don%26#39;t have a big baby tum throwing you off balance. Wear shoes with good traction, take your time, and reconsider if it%26#39;s been raining - the mud can be extremely slippery. I would probably move the QB visit to the 3, since you can do it on your way to Limahuli Gardens - chances are she may not be able to get into/out of the Bath since it%26#39;s a rocky cliff edge, so you may just stop in for a few minutes and add it to the list of things to spend more time at on your next visit.

Then you%26#39;ll have more time to spend at the North Shore beaches on the 4th - I%26#39;d head up to Ke%26#39;e first thing, then have lunch in Hanalei as others have suggested - Bubba%26#39;s burgers is good, if overpriced - then backtrack to Anini.

Stop in Hanapepe after Waimea if you have the time/inclination - even if you aren%26#39;t there for Friday Night Art Walk, it%26#39;s still fun to poke into all the galleries and a great way to support local artists. You can actually do Spouting Horn on the the 2nd since it%26#39;s right near McBryde. Be sure to bring LOTS of bug repellent - the mosquitos at McBryde have lots of aloha!

Have a great trip!

CAnavtive -

I%26#39;m holding out as long as I can. If I can get her on the plane, all the better. I%26#39;ll just see how long I can take it. It%26#39;s kind of painful to have to keep something this exciting to myself. I can%26#39;t even tell my kids (how well can a 5 year old really keep a secret?). Thank heavens for this forum.

It all looks great. Only thing is I%26#39;d add some beach time on Sept. 2nd, maybe Poipu Beach and I%26#39;d add some beach time on Sept. 3rd while up in the North Shore.

Don%26#39;t crowd them all in on the 4th. Another nice lunch option for the 4th would be a picnic lunch on the beach so you don%26#39;t loose beach time. Just go to a nearby market or deli and get a delicious lunch together . You%26#39;ll enjoy having it on the beach.

Congrats on the surprise. How wonderful of you to plan this out. It will be a nice treat before the baby comes.