Mother's Day weekend & fun in Hawaii

No, I'm not in Hawaii this weekend (wish I was!), but some of my tips about what to do and where to go with your kids if you happen to be there, are over at Hawaii Discount Blog. Head over there for some great pictures of Hawaii, great tips and more.

Thanks to Elizabeth for including me in her wonderful Mother's Day post! And here's the link again:

• Hawaii Activities for Families

Photographic memories: Maui with kids

It's been a cold, wet day here on Canada's west coast, and I find myself really, really thinking about warm, sandy places. Like Maui for example. Our trip there in 2009 was one of the best trips I've ever gone on, anywhere, and I would love to go back: the sooner the better!

Here are some of my family's photographic memories from that holiday.

Baby Beach, aka Pu'unoa beach, just outside Lahaina. This was a great beach to take the kids, who were then 6 and 2 years old. My daughter also loved gathering fallen coconuts under the palm trees. On a day of low-tide, we could even see exposed coral in the shallows here!

 Maui Ocean Center, Maui's aquarium. A great spot for a family outing with some spectacular underwater displays. The kids really loved to see all the coral and the sharks!

DT Fleming Beach Park was my favorite beach on the trip. Good facilities (bathrooms, picnic tables, and showers), but not overrun by tourists. Lots of sea-life on the rocks and in the water (I swam with a turtle here). Some nice waves too for bigger kids and adults!

A view and a plate at Mala Ocean Tavern, just outside central Lahaina. Spectacular setting, friendly atmosphere, and fantastic food! Out on the deck, you're sitting right above the water: watch out for splashing waves!

Wildlife! We loved snorkelling to meet the tropical fish, like the Picasso fish above. My kids' favorite critter was "Pooda" one of the big snails that crept by in the shade of our condo every morning.

The Iao Valley made for a really nice family outing. An easy, accessible hiking trail climbs up next to the river to a spot where you can take a picture of the Iao Needle. Beautiful landscape here, and also some informative signs about Hawaiian agriculture and history.

The Haleakala summit. Driving up to the top of the volcano was another great family outing, even though the kids didn't quite appreciate it as much as the adults. They felt a little queasy, maybe from the elevation, or maybe just from the winding road up the mountain. Amazing scenery however.

Our condo at Kaanapali Royal. This was a fantastic place to stay, with all the amenities we needed inside, and a nice pool outside. Wouldn't mind going back there!

The Sugarcane Train. This old-school steam train travels the rails between Lahaina and Kaanapali. The ride is a great way to see some island scenery, and the kids really loved it (especially my train-crazy son!).

Fresh fruit. We had a lot of good eats on Maui, but the fresh fruit really stands out. Fresh mango, seen here growing in abundance on the trees, papaya, avocado, and absolutely delicious pineapple. I highly recommend buying the ripe, boxed pineapples at the airport and taking some of Maui home with you.

The Maui Tropical Plantation offers a guided tour aboard an express tram. Our guide on the tour was full of entertaining information about farming, trees, plants, how to wear a Hawaiian flower in your hair, and how to open a coconut, and much more.

Our trip on Reefdancer, a glass-bottom boat, gave the kids a chance to see some underwater life up close and personal. Divers went in and brought up various kinds of sea-life to the windows, but the best moment was when this turtle swam right by us and went under the boat.

Accommodation for traveling kids: Kaanapali Royal, Maui

When my family stayed in Maui two years ago, we rented a two-bedroom condo in the Kaanapali Royal complex in Kaanapali. I found our condo using the VRBO website and was initially a bit worried about renting privately, but it turned out to be a great experience.

The condo was exactly as it had been described in the online ad, and had all the amenities I was looking for to make our lives easier when staying there with two kids (2 and 6 years old at the time):

• It was spacious and clean with comfy furniture throughout and was cleaned every day, plus the grounds outside were beautifully kept and landscaped. There was both air-conditioning and fans to help keep everyone cool. (I usually prefer using the fans rather than the a/c if at all possible.)
• One bedroom in our condo had a king-size bed, the other a double bed, and there was a sofa bed in the living room (which we didn't use). All the beds were comfortable and there were even a couple of nightlights provided: a great thing to have when you've got kids who might get up in the middle of the night.
• The lanai had loungers and patio furniture for us to veg out on.
• The bathrooms were both roomy and clean, one with a bath tub, the other with just a shower.
• The full kitchen had everything we needed for our stay: stove, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, and all the cutlery, plates, glasses, bowls, and other utensils needed. I find it so much easier to have access to a kitchen when you're traveling with kids!
• There was a full-size washer and dryer, and that really helped keep us in clean clothes and towels in spite of a lot of sand and salty ocean water getting all over everything every day.
• The complex had a beautiful pool we often used when the sun got a little too hot, and the waves a little too big for the kids in the afternoons.
• Other amenities included several barbecues available in the pool area, a Jacuzzi, and tennis courts.

I would definitely recommend Kaanapali Royal for families with kids. It was a quiet location, with a nice green-space surrounding the buildings. It's close to the town of Lahaina, the Sugarcane Train is just nearby, and beautiful Kaanapali beach is within walking distance of the complex. (Even though it is walking distance, I personally would recommend families to rent a car for their stay if possible, since there are so many great beaches and places to visit in Maui.)

Just next to Kaanapali Beach is the Whaler's Village mall with a wide selection of stores, including a small grocery store. There are many great restaurants near the beach, including The Hula Grill.

There are several restaurants, both eat in and takeout, just up the street from Kaanapali Royal. We especially loved Roundtable Pizza, and ordered pizza there a few times during our stay.

Beach-time with kids: 9 favorite beaches around the world

This is a list of 9 beaches around the world that I love. Some of them I haven't brought my kids to yet, but I would love to bring them to each and every one. Of course, I've been to many other gorgeous beaches that are not on this list, and there are many, many more fabulous beaches that I have not visited... yet. Something to do in the future, right?

1. Makena Beach State Park, aka Big Beach
This is the most gorgeous beach I know in Maui and that's saying something, considering how many beautiful beaches there are on that island. It's a very long, very soft, very sandy stretch of beach, and it can get some very big waves (depending on the season and time of day). The water was definitely too rough for my kids when we went there on our last Maui visit, but I hope that one day, when the kids are a little older, I'll be able to enjoy the beach and the waves with them.

2. DT Fleming Beach Park
Another fantastic beach on Maui: lots of rocks with sea life to explore in the shallows, turtles and fish swimming by if you're snorkelling, nice waves, good sand, and even some shady trees. Just beautiful.

3. Pu'unoa Beach, aka Baby Beach, Maui
The perfect beach in Maui if you're bringing little kids or even babies. Grass and sand to sit on, a reef protecting the shore from big waves, and a fun place to just relax and hang out without worrying too much about your little ones getting tumbled by rough waves. 

4. Meia Praia, Algarve, Portugal
Many years ago I lived and worked for a while on the Algarve coast and Meia Praia was my favorite beach. It's a loooooong stretch of sand with beautiful water for swimming, boating, and windsurfing. I really hope to bring my kids there in the future: haven't been there for so long and would love to re-visit that stretch of sand! 

5. Playa del Ingles, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands
This beach is very busy and very crowded, especially certain parts of it, and that kind of stuff usually turns me off. But there are some very good reasons why this particular beach is that crowded: it has beautiful sand and great water for swimming and playing in. My kids loved this place and so did I, once I got over the crowds. Just put your beach towel down away from the worst crush of people, or grab some of those rental sun chairs, and enjoy.

6. Third Beach, Vancouver, Canada
My favorite beach in the Vancouver area (though it's a close call: check out my other local favorites here). Great view of the mountains, lots of ships and boats and planes to look at, and lots of sea-life to explore on the rocks and in the sand. Also, the sand is perfect for playing in, and the water is good for swimming (if a little colder than in Maui!).

7. Spanish Banks, Vancouver, Canada
Another beautiful Vancouver beach. It's very long, the water is shallow, and there are stunning views of the North Shore peaks (where you can go skiing in the winter) as well as of downtown Vancouver (bring a camera if you're so inclined!). There's also a nice path for riding bikes or going for a walk along the beach if the weather isn't good enough for just sitting around in the sun and sand.

8. Long Beach, Tofino, Vancouver Island, Canada
This is an absolutely stunning beach. There are lots of hiking trails around it, there's rich ocean life to explore, water sports like kayaking and windsurfing are available, and it's just a wonderful place for beach-combing.

9. Tällön, Burvik, Sweden
This tiny stretch of sand outside my parents' summer house in Sweden is heaven for me and the kids when we visit in the summer. Tiny fish play around the dock, the kids swim and splash in the water (even when it's not that warm), and the sand is great for digging and rooting around in. To me, this is a little bit of paradise.

Traveling with kids: 10 fun things to do in Maui

Pu'unoa beach, near Lahaina.

I've been thinking a lot about Maui lately, and wishing I was there again. Maybe it's the fact that fall has arrived here on the Wet West Coast with a heavy rainfall warning, drizzle and clouds. I loved our trip to Maui with the kids, and I'm hoping we will all get to do it again sometime in the not too distant future!

Here are a list of 10 of my favorite things to do on Maui:

1. Enjoying the sea life at DT Fleming Beach Park - This was definitely one of my favorite beaches in Maui. I swam with a turtle while snorkeling just off the beach, the kids loved playing in the sand in the shade of the rocks and trees, we saw clams and shells and other sea life on the rocks, and the sand was great for digging and playing in. Some nice waves too, but that also made the water a little too rough for younger kids.
2. Having some lazy, safe beach time with the kids at Pu'unoa Beach, aka Baby Beach - The reef protects the beach from rough water and big waves, and the water is perfect for little kids, even babies. The sandy part of the beach isn't that wide, but there's a lot of room in the grass under the palm trees. Nice place to go with little kids and not have to worry about rough water. Also spectacular when the tide is out because you can see coral and other undersea life exposed!
3. Spending the early mornings at any beach - If you're bringing smaller children, mornings are fantastic at most beaches because the water is generally more placid. By the afternoon, the winds and waves are usually up which is fun for adults and bigger kids.
4. Eating dinner at Mala Ocean Tavern - The food is spectacular and the view just can't be beat: if you're seated on the deck the ocean is right next to you (and might even splash you!). Also, there's a very nice kids menu and very friendly staff.
5. Having lunch at the Sea House Restaurant in Napili Bay - Another place serving fantastic food in a beautiful, ocean-view setting. There's a great kids' menu (my kids especially loved the cheese pizza) and I fell in love with the fish tacos. The nearby beach is great too, though the waves can get rough depending on the time of day and the winds.
6. Visiting the Iao Valley - A beautiful spot that shows a different side of Maui than just the sandy beachfront. It's a nice, easy, kid-friendly hike along the river and then up the stairs and paths to the viewpoint where you can see the Iao Needle. Bring a bottle of water along though: any hiking can make you thirsty in Maui-weather!
7. Eating fresh fruit - The fresh fruit is amazing in Maui. Pineapple, mango, papaya, avocado... it all tastes so much more and so much better than it does anywhere else. Let your kids go fruit-crazy. Bring home some of those pineapples too!
8. Having a barbecue and eating out on the lanai - There is lots of beautiful, yummy produce on Maui. The meat, the Maui onions, the fruit, the sea food: throw some on the barbecue and just enjoy an easy dinner with the kids. Of course, first you have to make sure your accommodation has barbecues!
9. Visiting the Maui Tropical Plantation - Take the guided tour on the train and you get to see a lot of tropical plants, and learn about the many things that grow and thrive in Maui. It's fun and educational, and you get to learn how to properly crack open a coconut!
10. Taking a ride on the Sugarcane Train - This is an honest-to-goodness steam train that runs between Lahaina and Kaanapali. It gives you a good view of some areas you probably would never see otherwise, and if you have kids, a steam train ride is hard to beat for entertainment.

Photographic memory: drive-by turtle, Maui

On our family vacation in Maui, in 2009, we took a trip on the Reef Dancer, a glass-bottom boat that leaves for tours from Lahaina Harbor.

At first, I wasn't too into the idea of the boat tour. In my opinion, the ocean in Hawaii is best seen up close and personal, snorkeling or swimming in that gorgeous, turquoise water. But of course, it isn't always possible for young children (my kids were 2 and 6 at the time) to experience the ocean that way. So off we went.

The glassed-in, lower observation deck on the Reef Dancer was somewhat noisy because of the engines, but the kids were fascinated by the water and the windows as soon as we got down there. Even my son, who usually has a problem with loud, unknown noises, seemed to handle it fine because he loved the view so much.

The boat stopped in a couple of places and the divers on board would jump in and bring different types of sea-creatures up to the windows: sea urchins, shells, starfish and the like. And of course we saw lots of different kinds of fish and coral as well.

And then we saw the sea turtle. Just this graceful, slow-moving apparition in the water. It swam right towards us and underneath the boat, before heading off and disappearing into the deep blue, apparently rather uninterested in us humans and our boat.

It didn't beat my all-time favorite sea-turtle rendez-vous, which was when I swam next to a very large, very calm turtle just off-shore near D.T. Fleming Beach Park in Maui, but it was still fantastic. And I was so glad that the kids got to see one of these amazing creatures in its natural habitat. And yes, that one brief moment made the whole outing totally worthwhile.

If you want to find out more about Hawaiian sea-turtles, there is lots of information on the Internet, including The Hawai'i Wildlife Fund's website.

Photos taken by my very talented sister.

Traveling with kids to Maui: visiting the Iao Valley and Haleakala

Maui is heaven for beach-inclined people such as myself. However, on our family vacation we did manage to see some sights that were not beaches, including driving up to the summit of the Haleakala volcano, and into the Iao Valley to see the Iao Needle.

The Iao Needle.

The Iao Valley
A trip to the Iao Valley from south or west Maui can be done in half a day, or a whole day, depending on how early you set out. The drive takes you kind of towards the airport before veering up into the mountains.

The big sight to see here is the Iao Needle, a striking, 370 m (1200 ft) tall peak that was considered sacred to native Hawaiian people.

From the parking lot, you hike up the Lookout Trail on well-tended, paved and gravel paths and several stairs to a nice lookout area where you can take photos of the peak.

My children loved this outing. My son especially loves a good hike, so he had fun even on the steeper parts of the trail.

It's not a tough walk by any means, but it is a lot of walking uphill on the way to the lookout, and bringing a stroller definitely won't work.

If you're traveling with a baby, bring a baby carrier, and if you have a lazy toddler (like I did) they might hitch a ride on your shoulders.

Go early in the day if you can so it's not too hot, and bring a bottle of water! Regardless of the time of day, it can be sweaty work to hike in a tropical rainforest...

The Iao Stream.

The hike to the lookout follows the Iao Stream and the scenery is quite beautiful. Lush rain forest grows everywhere and there is an ethnobotanical loop trail where native plants and farming techniques are on display.

After the Iao Valley, we headed for a drive along the north coast, and had lunch in Paia at Charley's restaurant. By then we were ready for some more beach-time, so we visited HA Baldwin Beach Park.

This is a beautiful beach, though somewhat windy. The best area for the kids was far east end of the beach where the water was calmer and the kids could go in a little easier. Definitely a wonderful day out in Maui!

Haleakala
The scenery at the top of this volcano is truly spectacular, somewhat like looking out over an alien planet with all the swirls of color, jagged rocks, smooth sand dunes, and forbidding heights.

The summit is 3055 m (10,023 ft) above sea level and the drive here will take some time. Estimated driving time from Kahului is 1 1/2 hours. Be aware that the road up the volcano is seriously winding and narrow. For the driver (and any passengers with a fear of heights) this is not really a relaxing drive, though it is scenic.

Two i'iwi birds from the gift shop at the summit!

My children do not usually get car sick, but they did look a little green around the gills after this drive. I also think the altitude at the summit affected them somewhat, because both of them were rather whiny during the time we spent at the summit. Not our best family outing, but that could have just been because the kids had an off day.

If you go, 

• do bring warm clothes, because it can be quite chilly at the of the volcano, and
• watch for signs of motion sickness on the way up, and be prepared that your kids might be feeling the effects of the altitude: even some of the adults in our party were affected. 

Haleakala is definitely worth a visit, and if everyone is feeling ok, there are several trails you can hike in the crater area. Going up to the crater before dawn and watching the sun rise from up there can be a spectacular experience I've been told, but we didn't try that: maybe next time!

If you have older children you could try out one of the special bike tours. The companies offering these tours will usually drive you up to the summit and then you bike downhill all the way to sea level! Quite a rush I would think.

The best Maui souvenir

Tree-ripened mangoes.

I've written about our fantastic family trip to fantastic Maui more than once on this blog. One of the great things about visiting a tropical place like Maui, is the abundance of ripe, sweet, juice, fresh fruit. I have never tasted such amazing papayas, mangoes, or pineapple anywhere else. It just makes such a difference when fruit is allowed to ripen on the plant, in the sunshine.

When we left Maui, we shopped around the airport a bit, mainly to pass the time. And then we spotted the boxes of handpicked Maui pineapple.

Maui Gold. Extra Sweet. How could we resist? We bought two boxes: one as a present for out cat-sitter. And out of all the souvenirs we brought back: t-shirts, leis, macadamia nuts and jewelry, this was definitely the prize winner. That pineapple was so delicious, I wished we'd gotten another box for ourselves.

If you go to Maui, pick some pineapple up when you head home. Your kids will enjoy it, and so will you. As an additional fun thing to do, for kids and adults, you can plant the top of the pineapple and grow your very own pineapple plant. I planted the tops from both of our pineapples, but only one took root. It's not really thriving, but it is alive and maybe some day it'll grow big enough to produce a pineapple. Or so I dream.

There are various directions on how to plant the tops, but I followed the directions provided here. Kids can have a lot of fun planting the pineapple and taking care of it afterward.

5 places I wish I was at with my kids right now

Later this year, I'll be doing quite a bit of traveling with my children. There's another trip to Sweden coming up this summer most likely, maybe one for next Christmas too, and before that there's Spring Break to take care of. But right now, we're pretty much not going anywhere but school, preschool, and the rec centers.

Today, the Wet Coast winter weather was teasing me with some sunshine in the morning, then dumped rain on my head, before howling a cold wind through my jacket, and finally hammering some more rain on my window tonight.

Like the Terminator, I was definitely thinking that I need a vacation. So where would I rather be with my kids right now? Here are five spots that sound pretty good to me right now.

Maui, July 2009.

1. Maui
Yes, this is definitely my top-rated destination. Just plunk me down on a beach on this island with my kids, some sunscreen, a bottle of water and a nice beach towel and I'm all set.

2. Australia
I've never been down-under, but this country is definitely on my bucket list. Flying there with the kids would certainly be something of an endurance test, but heck, I think we've practiced enough to pull it off! Beaches, Uluru, coral, outback, marsupials: I want to see it all. 

3. Thailand
So, I'm a self-confessed beach potato. And I've heard enough travel stories and seen enough gorgeous pictures to figure that Thailand is a place I'd love to visit with my kids. Giving them a chance to eat fresh mango and ride elephants doesn't sound too bad either, and the Thai cuisine would be another definite plus.

4. The Algarve
Once upon a time, a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I spent a lot of time on the Algarve in Portugal. February might not be the warmest time to go there, but I'd take it. Meia Praia in Lagos is not a bad place to hang out, the kids would love it, and the almond trees should be in bloom already, or at least pretty soon. Wouldn't mind a trip to Sagres either. I think the kids would enjoy seeing o fim do mundo "the end of the world".

5. Greece
It's been a very, very long time since I traveled to Greece. So long that it kind of makes me feel old just thinking about it. I backpacked there as a teenager, and would dearly love to go back with my kids for some train-travel and island-hopping. Crete is high on my list of places to visit, and I'd want to take the kids to Acropolis as well. I'd also love to take them to Corfu, or Kerkyra, where I spent a couple of weeks on that backpacking trip, aeons ago.

Five destinations, and all five are beach destinations. Am I surprised? Nope. The beach is the place to be. Wherever the beach happens to be.

Traveling with children to Maui: tips and things to make your vacation even better

On the path from the Iao Needle.

After writing about our family trip to Maui yesterday, I've been dreaming about that island. It's just one of those places you want to return to, or stay forever as the case may be.

Here is a short-list of four things I think are necessities when you're traveling with your children to Maui, or any other hot, sunny, sandy holiday destination

Sunscreen
Bring some with you, buy some there, and apply it all the time. You can't have too much sunscreen, and for the children, as well as yourself, make sure it's waterproof and preferably sweat-proof too. I used creams, lotions and sprays. I like to put on the creams and lotions before heading out in the morning, and then use the sprays as "top ups" when out and about.

My favorite type of sunscreen sprays are the clear, continuous spray, no-rub kind. These are great, especially when you're on the beach, because you can just spray them on without having to rub them into skin that is probably already really, really sandy. For the kids, I used 50-70 SPF consistently and they didn't burn, even though they are very fair-skinned.

Beach-wear with more coverage
Skimpy bathing suits can be cute, but for sun and sand protection, the full-body, zip-up suits or rash shirts are hard to beat. If your kids are wearing these types of outfits, you don't have to worry about sunburn on their backs and shoulders as much. And if your kids play a lot in the sand and water, suits that cover more skin offer protection from "sand burn" as well as sunburn.

For a beach destination like Maui, bring at least two suits for your kids so you can have one in the wash, and a clean and dry one to bring to the beach.


Beach bags
Pick some up at your destination, or bring some nice, big beach bags of your own when going on a family trip. These make your life on the beach easier, as you can stuff them full of toys, towels, snacks, water bottles, and sunscreen. They'll probably take a beating from all the sun and sand, so don't bring anything too fancy!

Hats
Caps are good, hats with brims are better. The hats with neck-flaps are awesome, especially for small children, because they cover the neck, ears and a bit of the back and give great protection from the sun. The sun can be so strong in Maui that it will burn your scalp, through your hair, if you're not wearing a hat.

4 bonus tips for family travel to Maui:

• Dresses are a lot easier to put on a damp, salty, sandy child than shorts. Score one for the girls!
• Bring lots of water to the beach. Dehydration is no joke, especially for kids who might not realize they need to drink because they're too busy playing.
• Stay off the beaches at midday. Seriously: it gets hot. We usually took a midday break for lunch, some TV and naps, maybe some pool-time. Mornings and afternoons are better for beach bums!
• For women: bring or buy a couple of easy-wash, easy-wear dresses. I basically lived in two loose, empire-waist, black cotton dresses from Old Navy when we were in Maui and I never wear dresses at home. When it's hot, when you're sweaty, and you're a little sunburned, it's just easier to throw on a dress rather than wear something with a waistband. I could definitely see the appeal of a muumuu!

Finally: it's the little things that count
When you're traveling with children, they always manage to find unexpected sights to see in unexpected places. In the case of our Maui trip, it was the snails that crawled by in the shade of our condo every morning.

My daughter called these huge snails "Pooda", and the children would watch them every morning from the lanai.

Read more about traveling to Maui here.

Traveling with children to Maui: places to go and things to do

I've traveled to Maui twice, once in the mid 1990s before having kids, and once in 2009 on a family trip with the kids (they were 2 and 6 years old at the time). Both times I've enjoyed my time there immensely, and I count Maui as one of the best family holiday destinations I've ever traveled too. It is definitely a great place to vacation with your children.

The flight
Flying with children to Maui from Vancouver is not too strenuous a trip, especially if you're used to long-haul flights to Europe like my family is. Last time, we flew out of Sea-Tac airport after flying down there from Vancouver the night before. We stayed in a motel near the airport, and it was an ok arrangement. I would have preferred to fly directly out of Vancouver, but the deal was just a lot better when flying from the United States.

The accommodation

The view from our place in Kaanapali Royal.

Maui is a beautiful island. It has a small-town feel wherever you go, and a very relaxed atmosphere. Lots of beaches, lots of little shops and restaurants, lots of gorgeous scenery. For our vacation there in 2009, we stayed in Kaanapali on the west-side of the island (the touristy side), and I really liked that area. We were a fair way from the beach, and if I could pick without considering price, I'd definitely want to stay closer to the ocean. However, the rates for accommodation are definitely more affordable if you're a little distance away from the sand.

We stayed in an apartment at Kaanapali Royal, rented privately through the VRBO network. We had no trouble with the rental, everything was exactly as it had been presented online, and we loved our stay there. The apartment had everything I consider essential when you're traveling with kids: TV, kitchen, and also a washer and dryer.

The beaches
There are lots of amazing beaches in Maui, and I've picked three of my favorites for a family vacation. One tip for all beaches on West Maui: the ocean is a lot calmer in the mornings than later in the day. If your children are young, that can be a very good thing, because when the surf's up the waves and currents can be hard to handle even for adults.

Baby Beach.

1. Baby Beach, aka Pu'unoa Beach
For the kids, the best beach was definitely Baby Beach near Lahaina. At Baby Beach, I saw families with toddlers, preschoolers and infants: kids all ages really. It's protected by a reef, has shallow water, and  palm trees along the beach for shade. The actual sandy part of the beach is quite narrow, but there are grassy areas that make for good relaxation too. There is coral growing in the shallows in some areas, so the kids got a nice up close view of that without even needing to snorkel!

When the winds pick up in the afternoons, most beaches on the west-side of Maui get fair-sized waves, but Baby Beach was still ok even for the 2 year old to go in and splash around. My son loved to play in the waves, and usually just rolled around with the waves and swell. Baby Beach was the beach where I felt most relaxed with the kids. On the other beaches we visited, I felt a little more tense when the kids went in the water because of the waves and the currents.

There are no showers or other facilities on Baby Beach, but I highly recommend this beach for anyone with small children. Locals come here too with their kids, and it's a nice place to relax under the coconut palms.

The northern end of D.T. Fleming Beach Park.

2. D.T. Fleming Beach Park
This out-of-the-way beach is located at the northern end of West Maui. It's not as little-kid friendly as Baby Beach, but still good. There are lots of things to look at on the beach and in the water, especially if you head down towards the cliffs and rocks at the ends of the bay.

The kids looked at mussels and clams on the rocks near the northern most point, made sand castles, played in the shade of the tree at the beach's edge. There are showers, picnic tables, bathrooms and change-rooms. As usual in Hawaii though there are no concession stands, or other places to eat on the beach. This means you should bring snacks and drinks with you, but also means that the beaches are not so busy and commercialized.

There is nice snorkeling here too if you head out a bit, and I did get to swim with a turtle. Lots of fish and coral to see too. In the afternoon it got windy and the waves got pretty big. Not so great for little kids, but potential fun for bigger kids and adults.

Underwater resident.

3. Kaanapali Beach
Kaanapali Beach was the closest beach to the apartment we were staying in, and it's a beauty. At the northern end is Black Rock, which is great for snorkeling. There are lots of hotels and stores and restaurants just off the beach and there are all sorts of activities available.

This beach is a looooong stretch of golden, soft sand but does get very hot near midday. By the afternoon, the waves are big, but if you get there early in the morning, the kids can go in if they're not too small. This is a very beautiful and easily accessible beach, and it's a nice destination in the evenings too when you can have a meal or a drink while listening to the ocean.

Restaurants

There are lots of great restaurants in Maui. These are a few of the places we enjoyed eating at that also had excellent kids' menus.

1. Sea House Restaurant
This restaurant is located next to Napili Bay, and the first time we went there we ended up there completely by fluke because we got a flat tire and were waiting for our roadside assistance. It's a beautiful, airy restaurant with great service, gorgeous views and tasty food. The kids loved the cheese pizza, served in the shape of a fish, and I loved the fish tacos. Reasonable prices, and it is really, really close to a nice beach as well.

2. Penne Pasta Cafe
This small restaurant is located in Lahaina and serves all kinds of pasta for pretty good prices. It's not fancy, but the food is really good and the portions are large. You get your own food at the counter, but it's definitely not cafeteria food.

The view from Mala Ocean Tavern.

3. Mala Ocean Tavern
This is a fine dining place located in a tiny little building on what looks like a nothing and nobody street near Mala Wharf outside central Lahaina. The restaurant isn't exactly fancy-looking inside. It's nice and cozy, if a little on the small side, but the food is spectacular, and if you get to sit on the oceanfront lanai, you are basically sitting perched just above the waves. On one of our visits, we saw the surf actually splashing up where people were sitting! They have a good kids' menu and friendly atmosphere. It's not cheap, but worth it if you want a special meal.

Another good place is the Hula Grill in Kaanapali with some of the tables sitting in the sand. I'd also recommend the Kobe Japanese Steak House in Lahaina where chefs cook your food at the table. The food is alright, but the big attraction is the dramatic cooking, onion ring volcanoes included.

Things to do
If you want a break from the beach, there are other things to see and do in Maui.

• The volcano: head up to the top of Haleakala, but be ready for a winding, long, steep drive that can make some people rather car sick. It's a spectacular place to see, and well worth it in my opinion.
• The Maui Tropical Plantation: you can take a guided tour of the plantation on board a gas-powered train that drives through the entire place. Educational and fun even for adults.
• The Maui Ocean Center: this aquarium located in Maalea is definitely worth a visit. It has beautiful coral reef displays and some very cool exhibits that appeal to kids.
• The Sugar Cane Train: hop on the steam train at the stations in Lahaina or Kaanapali and ride this guided rail-tour.
• Reefdancer, the glass-bottom boat: a good way for kids to get to see some of the underwater creatures. It's pretty noisy on board, but you do get to see lots of ocean life, some of it brought right up to the observation windows by the accompanying scuba divers.

At the Maui Ocean Center

Finally: if you go, eat the local fruit. The pineapple, the mangoes, the avocado, the papaya are all so darn sweet, juicy and delicious that it feels like you've never eaten those fruits before. And at the airport, do buy those boxes of ripe pineapple. It was the best thing we brought home with us from our visit.

Read more about traveling to Maui here!