"Discovering the magic of Kauai"

My husband and I took our two oldest children (ages 8 and 9), and I must say the highlight of the trip for them was the hours we spent at the Embassy Suites' pool and at the beaches. They were as brown as coconuts before we left!

Speaking of coconuts, one day I was on my way back to our suite when I saw two of the hotel groundskeepers eating a fresh one that they had just knocked out of the tree. They gladly shared with me. I was amazed at how mellow it tasted. . . and the texture was almost like custard! After that, I tried every tropical fruit I could! The papaya salsa on my eggs in the morning was mindblowing! Oh, and the fresh fish at the restaurants was incredible. I'm not much of a fish eater, but wow!

A memorable moment was driving down the highway in a red convertible with the top down. What an awesome experience to feel the ocean breezes and to smell the tropical air while driving past rows of coffee plantations while listening to the Beach Boys, only to be doused by a sudden warm rain, and to not even care!

Quick Tips:

We found the best opportunity by accident. We couldn't find the Fern Grotto because we didn't realize that the only way to get there was by boat. By the time we finally figured it out, the canoe rental companies wouldn't rent to us because it was after 2pm. One of the workers told us about a tourist"village" along the river on hwy 580 that was on the way there. By the time we started out, everyone else was heading back. We missed all the tour groups at Wailua Falls, and by the time we got to the Fern Grotto, we were the only ones there! It was one of the best parts of the trip.

If you want to do extra "touristy" stuff, like the helicopter tours, horseback tours, scuba boat expeditions, etc., be sure to bring a lot of money, because those things cost well over /person. There are still plenty of things to do on a shoestring budget, though. You can rent snorkel gear for /week at Snorkel Bob's, then any beach can be your snorkeling destination, and there are plenty! I even found three sea turtles on one "guide-less" trip!

Best Way To Get Around:

Definitely rent a car! There are only about 8 highways on the whole island, the two main ones, and then 5-6 "feeder" routes. You just about can't get lost, and even if you do, the people are very friendly, and there's always something else to see or do. You may find a hidden (to the tourists, anyway) delight! Don't worry about missing anything -- the speed limit is 40mph, and there are plenty of places to turn off and gawk at the view (you will).

Best Things Nearby:
Snorkeling, surfing, boogie boarding, golf, tennis, Brenneke's restaurant.

Best Things About the Resort:
The ocean front view was incredible. The staff were helpful and friendly, and there was a great program of daily activities for the kids. The concierge was able to give us discounts (2 for 1) on nearly every activity we booked there.

Resort Experience:
Embassy Suites, Kauai, is located on a little peninsula which borders Shipwreck Bay. We had an ocean front room overlooking Kamala Point, and the sunrises were spectacular. Just a few hundred yards out our window was a rocky cliff area which used to be a sacred fishing ground of the ancient Hawaiians. We saw several sea turtles up close there. In the winter (December - April), the whales are so close to shore that you can hear them spout without having to leave your room.

The pool is a good size, with a lagoon-like feel, and there are two hot tubs (one adults only) and a poolside bar/grill. There are also several BBQ grills throughout the grounds for guest use.

The landscaping is beautiful, although the current room decor colors are very muted (cream, sand, and tan, with a smattering of blues, teal, and greens). Still, it was very comfortable and the full-size kitchen was put to use more than once - so were the in-room washer and dryer! We thoroughly enjoyed our stay, and definitely plan to go back.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Very Good
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

Duke's restaurant is open on two sides, the low end to the beach, the high end to the walkway to the hotel shops, while down the middle is an indoor waterfall and koi pond. Torches are lit at sunset. The ambiance alone is worth the effort to find the place.

The food is fabulous, no matter what you order (the kids ate chicken quesadillas, we had fresh local fish encrusted with macadamia nuts covered with a wine sauce). The fruit drinks are also a must try! They have plenty of non-alcoholic smoothies to choose from, so even the kids can drink something other than soda. They run about $4.95, but they're worth it. There is also a full bar. To top it all off, order the Hula Pie. At $5, it looks too pricey on the menu, but this giant slice of pie can easily feed six.