What To Do on Maui’s North Shore & UpCountry?!
Today’s post is written by Kilee Johnson. Kilee is one of the two Events by Evonne interns/assistants that I selected for my 2009 wedding season. She grew up on the rainy Oregon Coast. After finishing a degree in Graphic Design from the University of Oregon, she moved to the sunny island of Maui. She spends her free time taking her Yorkie on walks, hanging out at the beach, and cooking delicious meals.
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So, you are lucky enough to have family and friends come with you to Maui to celebrate your big day… now what do you do with them? Give them this list of places to visit while here on the island. I have listed my favorite places and activities for the un-touristy North Shore and Upcountry areas of Maui.
Best Way to Tour the Island: Mauiscape Helicopters
This is the premier helicopter tour company and they offer guests the only “Guaranteed Window Seats” on the island. In 45-60 minutes you can see remote waterfalls, soar into valleys, and fly over the tallest sea cliffs in the world. Their West Maui/Molokai tours are my favorite. Call (808) 877-7272 for info and tell them Kilee sent you!
Best Convenient Waterfall to Hike to: Twin Falls
What would a trip to Maui be without hiking to a waterfall? I like hiking at Twin Falls because it is at the beginning of the famous “road to hana” and the hike doesn’t take that long. When you are headed east on Hana Hwy, continue past the town of Paia and look for mile marker #2. Park just before the bridge and follow the trail for about 1 mile.
Best Beach to Get a Tan & Play in the Waves: H. A. Baldwin Beach Park
This beach is located right before you enter the town of Paia. This is my favorite beach to relax at with a magazine and waterbottle. The waves range from small to large depending on the time of year and there’s a lifegaurd tower, so feel free to jump around in the waves!
Best Shopping: Paia
My favorite place to walk around and do some shopping is in Paia. This colorful town has very cute boutiques, great restaurants, and a gelato shop. Any place where I can walk around outside, find unique clothes, and eat locally produced gelato is at the top of my list. Make sure to pick up an “Alice in Wonderland” souvenir Tee from their shop, and smell the yummy Hawaiian scented bath products at Lilikoi Beauty!
Best Adventure Activity: Piiholo Zipline
A new Zip-Line tour company has opened up in Makawao. It is on Piiholo Ranch. The Zipline Company boasts the longest zipline in the state and they are always booked up, so call ahead to make your reservation today! Also, it can be a bit cooler upcountry, so pack some long sleeves and pants, just in case.
Best Variety of Gluten-Free Products: Mana Foods
I am gluten-intolerant, and although the mainland has a much better selection of gluten-free products, Mana Foods Grocery Store in Paia has a good selection for Maui. I stock up on trail mixes, locally grown organic produce, and my FAVORITE turtles cookies. Look for them in the fresh bakery section. They are made with walnuts, cocoa, sugar, and egg whites. Yumm!
Best Place for a Margarita: Milagros & Pollys
All that sand & surf has you worn out? You need a Maui Margarita. The two best margaritas are at Milagros in Paia, and Polly’s in Makawao. Both have really good Mango Margaritas as well at the standard fare. Milagros is my favorite place to for a drink and dinner. Make sure you go on a Wed-Sat night and my friend, the bartender, Dave will take care of you. Polli’s is great for chips and salsa, drinks, and tons of tv’s with extreme water sports playing non-stop.
Best Place to Watch Surfers and Windsurfers: Hookipa Beach
Maui is known as a world-renown windsurfing mecca. Where do the best of the best surf? Ho’okipa beach park. The is this amazind cliff parking lot overlooking the surfers below. I recommend going around 3-4 and watching the surfers, then coming back to watch the sunset later in the evening, so pretty!
I hope this helps with keeping you and your guests entertained!
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Thanks so much, Kilee for sharing this wonderful post with our readers.
Tags: Maui Activities
July 11th, 2009 at 3:47 am
There exists no other place like Maui, and there is no better way to see Maui’s beauty than with a Maui Helicopter Tour. Most of the island’s sites are isolated and inaccessible because of the rough terrain and thick rainforest. A helicopter flight is the only way to see the volcanoes, lava flows, and tropical rainforest.