Ke'e Beach is located at the very end of the road, on the North Shore of Kauai. Driving there, somewhere along the way...whether it is when you stop to admire the taro fields at the lookout, or when you cross your fifth one-lane bridge, or when you get teased by a fleeting view of yet another beautiful beach that you have to drive past on the way to Ke'e, you realize that you are headed somewhere special.

Keep driving. Don't stop until the road ends. The road ends because it has to. This is where the Napali Coast begins on the north.

The beach is not as broad as others (such as Tunnels Beach), and certainly not as long as others (such as Hanalea Bay). It has not been in any movies (such as Lumahai "Nurses" Beach). It is even more crowded than other beaches. But you must go to Ke'e.

The beach is protected by a reef and rocks, so the current and waves are gentle. There is even a more protected "lagoon" area where small kids can play and swim.

The wildlife is here alright. If you snorkel to the reef, enjoying your umpteenth sighting of the distinctive Humuhumunukunukuapua'a trigger fish, keep going past where the rocks feel like they could graze you as you glide by, and you will likely encounter feeding Green Hawaiian Sea Turtles. When we went snorkeling here, we saw groups of turtles on the reef....as many as six or seven at a time. Spend time floating there, amongst the turtles, but please don't touch, harrass, or ride them. Not only is that bad for the turtles, it's against the law! Watch them as long as you want, but don't touch.

Now look up, and look around you. Do you see the Napali Coast and unbelievably beautiful cliffs over there to the west? Yes, you can see them from above by helicopter. Yes, you can kayak all day and get closer. Yes, you can get on a snorkeling boat and go there. But here they are in a way you can enjoy, an added plus of Ke'e Beach. You can see for miles. Just take off your goggles and enjoy the view.

It's starting to drizzle a bit. Don't worry, just look back toward the beach. Do you see that? That is not just a full rainbow, it is a full double rainbow. Aaaahhhh. This is the perfect beach day, right?

When you grow tired of watching the wildlife and floating among the fish and turtles, go ahead and swim back to the beach. Be careful not to step on the Hawaiian Monk Seal though. He is taking a well deserved nap on a well deserved bellyful of fish. Take your picture to show the folks back home. But don't poke him. He is also protected by law. And he has teeth! So keep a respectful but admiring distance.

On an island of near perfect beaches, Ke'e Beach stands out.

This is heaven on earth and is possibly the most beautiful beach I have ever seen (and I've been to a fair share of beaches all around the world). It is all the way at the end of the highway on the north shore, so it is a bit of a drive. It is more than worth the drive and I promise you will not be disappointed. It is very calm, perfect for kids and snorkeling, and the view of the Na'Pali coast is breathtaking. The only bad part of this beach is the parking situation. You will literally drive into the parking lot from the highway, as it dead ends at the beach. The dirt/mud parking lot is large but very crowded and it is extremely hard to find a spot. The restrooms are in desperate need of a repair and they offer no privacy for changing your clothes (so I hope your car windows are tinted). Regardless of the parking situation this beach is still something you have to see. It is visually stunning and I promise you will not be disappointed.

Kee Beach is located on the north side of the island of Kauai. It is at the end of Highway 560. To go any farther into the island, you must park your car and hike, or you can just stop and end your journey at the beach.

Kee Beach was featured in the film version of the Australian setting book, The Thornbirds. Kee Beach is also one of the best snorkeling spots on the island. When I snorkeled here, there were plenty of fish, but I found it too shallow to easily swim over the reef to see most of the fish. I was able to see a variety of fish by swimming along the edge of the reef, though.

If you plan to go to Kee Beach and are staying on the south side of the island, as I was, I suggest leaving for the beach around 7am. We left at 8am and arrived by 10am and found the beach nice and empty but took one of the last parking spots, as many hikers had already set out on the trails. By the time we left around 1pm, the beach was crowded and cars were parked in places they should not have been, such as on the beginning of the hiking trails. I also suggest bringing a picnic lunch, as there is no close place to get food or drinks.

Ke'e Beach is the last beach that you can reach by car on the North Shore. This beach is very popular with limited parking so get there early. Unlike most parts of Kauai, this beach offers white sand (not crushed rock), along with a good amount of swimming area without coral. Great place for kids, as well as snorkeling opportunities. There is a reef that forms around the swimming area, which allows for great snorkeling. We saw several different fish at this beach and even swam with schools of fish here. We also got a spotting of a sea turtle feeding on the top of a reef. We loved this beach so much we went back twice. Beware; this is the North Shore, and there is a likelihood that you will encounter showers while venturing to this beach, but they are usually short-lived, so stick it out for awhile. You will notice several wild chicken and roosters roaming this beach. Kauai is well-known for their wild fowl friends; they don't bother you, and you will become accustomed to them eventually!

The North Shore certainly boasts the prettiest beaches. The farthest you can drive to the North is Ke’e Beach. This is where the Na Pali coastline starts, and there are no roads through that part of the island. The beach has a reef just offshore, creating a lagoon with an inlet at the left side. The snorkeling here was the best we experienced on the island. The seas were calm, and inside the lagoon was like a swimming pool. We ventured out the inlet to the other side of the reef, were we saw many turtles, barracuda, and all sorts of marine life. The inlet can have strong currents, and you should only consider leaving the lagoon under calm seas. It is one of the most popular beaches—you’ll have to be there very early if you want it to yourself for a while. Just beyond the dirt parking lot here is the bottom of the Kalalau Trail, which leads up to a glittering view over Ke’e Beach and also the first part of the Na Pali coastline. We heard that extremely serious hikers can follow that trail for 11 miles up to waterfalls and other beaches, which are inaccessible by any other route but hiking and kayaking. At the left side of Ke’e Beach is a very short trail that leads to a small stretch of beach, which is the best spot to watch the sun set.