One Week Adventure

If you can't stand the thought of just lazing around the beach all day, and your idea of the perfect vacation is to be up, active, and trying new adventures, then Maui is the place for you. This itinerary covers all the basics of what to see on Maui, with added adventures that active people like you will love.

Day 1: Arrive in Maui & Head for the Beach

Your first stop after you get off the plane should be Snorkel Bob's to pick up snorkel gear (they'll even show you how to use it). Check in to your hotel and then head for the beach. Great snorkeling spots in west Maui include D. T. Fleming Beach Park, Black Rock on Kaanapali Beach, Kapalua Beach, and Wahikuli County Wayside Park. In south Maui wonderful snorkeling beaches include the north end of Oneloa (Big) Beach in Makena (by the cinder cone), Ulua and Wailea Beach in Wailea, and Kamaole III Beach in Kihei. Don't overdo the sun on your first day. If you just can't get enough of the underwater world, take a trip on Atlantis Submarine.

Day 2: Up a 10,000-Foot Dormant Volcano & Down Again

You'll wake up early on your first day in Hawaii, so take advantage of it and head up to the 10,000-foot (dormant) volcano, Haleakala. Plan to either hike in the crater, speed down the mountain on a bicycle, see the crater on horseback with Pony Express Tours, or just wander about Haleakala National Park. You don't have to be at the top for sunrise, but I have to tell you: Watching the sky slowly light up is a near-religious experience you'll never forget. On your way back down, stop and take the Skyline Eco-Adventures Zipline Haleakala Tour -- not for the faint of heart.

Day 3: Hana Highway

Pack a lunch and spend the entire day driving the scenic Hana Highway. Pull over often, get out to take photos, smell the flowers, and jump in the mountain-stream pools. Wave to everyone, move off the road for those speeding by, and breathe in Hawaii. Plan to spend at least 2 nights in Hana.

Day 4: A Day in Heavenly Hana

An entire day in paradise, so many things to do. Take an early-morning hike along the black sands of Waianapanapa State Park and explore the Piilanihale Heiau in the Kahanu Garden. Call Hana-Maui Sea Sports and go kayaking with them. Or set up a spelunking tour with Maui Cave Adventures. Get a picnic lunch and drive out to the Kipihulu end of Haleakala National Park at Oheo Gulch. Hike to the waterfalls, swim in the pools, take lots of photos. While you're out there, book a horseback tour with Maui Stables.

Day 5: Try Something New & Exciting

Check to see if the road beyond Hana, toward Kaupo, is open (it was temporarily closed after the Oct 2006 earthquake). If it is, continue driving around the island, past Kaupo and up to the Ulupalakua Ranch and the Tedeschi Winery. Stop at Grandma's Coffee House for a cup of java and head down the mountain. Plan to do something you have never tried before like learning how to surf with Rivers to the Sea, ocean rafting with Capt. Steve's Rafting Excursions, or windsurfing. If the road past Hana is closed, go back along the Hana Highway the way you came, stopping for lunch at Haliimaile General Store, then follow the rest of the itinerary from there.

Day 6: Sailing to Lanai

Trilogy runs the best sailing/snorkeling trip in Hawaii, so don't miss it. You'll spend the day (breakfast and lunch included) sailing to the island of Lanai, snorkeling, touring the island, and sailing back to Lahaina. The really adventurous can also try scuba diving.

Day 7: Your Last Chance at Adventure

It's your last chance to do something out of the ordinary. My first pick would be to book a helicopter ride on Blue Hawaiian Helicopters to discover what Maui looks like from above. Or if you are a fan of the underwater world, sign up for a sailing/snorkel tour of Molokini. Even a guided hike into Maui's rainforest will remain etched in your memory.