Princeville

For an adventurous, action-packed day trip, Princeville Ranch is the place: their team of locals can lead you through everything from ziplining to horseback riding. There's also swimming, guided tours through the rainforest (where you’ll encounter challenges like scaling down a 10-foot wall of rock and crossing a waterfall—pro-level assistance and safety gear included), and hikes up to Kalihiwai Falls; theirs is the only tour with access to the peak of Pu’u O’ Henui, with a panoramic view of the North Shore.

Tucked away in a secluded beach cove a few miles from Hanalei, the St. Regis at Princeville is Kauai’s preeminent luxury resort. Boasting everything from pools and a spa to a kid’s club, this is a popular destination for those with a generous budget—but it’s still got the quiet, relaxed atmosphere you’d want for your Hawaiian getaway. The rooms here offer jaw-droppingly gorgeous, unobstructed ocean or mountain views, and their restaurant’s curated menu focuses on local delicacies, meaning you can enjoy an extravagant yet quintessentially Hawaiian experience in their staff’s very capable hands.