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Seattle/Maui Vacation

WinstonsGirlWinstonsGirl member
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in Chit Chat
Help me plan!!  We just booked our summer vacation, about 9 days in Maui, then road tripping home through Seattle and maybe Portland.  We've got a week to get home to Alberta.  

We've done the Big Island and Oahu, so we're slowly knocking islands off the list.  Since we're there in the summer, less beach time I think, and more adventuring.  The Road to Hana is on the list, and probably day trips to Molokai and Lanai since they're close.  And we're definitely going to do a dive or two.  We're staying in Kihei.  What else are we missing??

Seattle, I haven't been since I was young and DH has never been.  The usual, I assume, Space Needle, Pike's Market.  What else should we not miss??  

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Re: Seattle/Maui Vacation

  • IrishPirate60IrishPirate60 member
    Seventh Anniversary 250 Love Its 100 Comments Name Dropper
    There's a big Ferris wheel down on the waterfront now. Spectacular views. Hit up the EMP at the foot of the Space Needle. For something totally not on any tourist list, take the bus through the tunnel. Get off at each stop--five, I think-- and explore the artwork. Each stop is different.
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  • WinstonsGirlWinstonsGirl member
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    Cool.  I hadn't heard about the tunnel and art.  DH will like that

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  • madamerwinmadamerwin member
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    In Maui: You should consider doing a sunrise or sunset bike ride down Haleakala; a bus takes you to the top, you watch the sunrise (of sunset), and then bike down. I have never done it, but H did when he was a teenager and said it was really fun. I also really enjoyed just strolling around Lahaina. If you do that, make sure to check out the giant banyan tree - it's really cool.

    In Seattle: Are you or H into music? If so, I recommend the Experience Music Project - it's a museum/music exploratorium right near the Space Needle. The Science Fiction Museum is in the same building.
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  • OliveOilsMomOliveOilsMom member
    Tenth Anniversary 5000 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers

    We stayed in Kihei when H & I were there last January.  Great little town and walkable.  Lots of restaurants and little shops.

    I fully recommend the sunrise or sunset at Haleakala crater.  We were thinking of doing the bike tour down, but they weren't running it in conjunction with the sunrise in January.  Also, make sure you do the sunrise/sunset portion of Haleakala within 2 days of the Road to Hana.  Your admission to the national park will last a few days, so you won't have to pay admission twice.  I also think doing the sunrise on your first full day there, makes it easy to get up really early (1&half before sunrise thereabout).  Then you go home to nap and once you wake up, you are pretty well adjusted to the time change.

    Take a drive around the West Maui mountains, there are some unbelievable views!  The road can be a bit scary since unlike most of the Road to Hana, there is no guard rail!  There are some tight turns and narrow road, but its not nearly as back and forth as the Road to Hana is. 

    And speaking of the Road to Hana, drive all the way around.  Most maps don't show the road as a complete circle, but it is.  Its much better on the passengers to drive all the way around, as getting car sick can very easily done while on the Road to Hana.  Also stop in Paia, its the last big town before the Road to Hana and get a picnic lunch.  There is usually more than enough food in the lunches to last the whole day.

    The beaches at Kannapali are great!  And spend some time in Lahaina.  Its a great little town. 

    Pride of Maui has a great deal on a snorkeling tour and BBQ.  We were very close to booking it, but we had an unexpected expense at our house, so we had to cut back on adventures on our vacation.  :(

    If want to do a luau, I recommend Old Lahaina luau.  You should book this before you even go.  They can book out a few weeks ahead.

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  • madamerwinmadamerwin member
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    OliveOilsMom said:


    And speaking of the Road to Hana, drive all the way around.  Most maps don't show the road as a complete circle, but it is.  Its much better on the passengers to drive all the way around, as getting car sick can very easily done while on the Road to Hana.  Also stop in Paia, its the last big town before the Road to Hana and get a picnic lunch.  There is usually more than enough food in the lunches to last the whole day.


    Definitely check with your rental car agency before driving all the way around - many, including the company we rented from (don't remember which, but it was a common one), had a clause in our contract saying we would be responsible for any damage to the vehicle caused by driving on the southern portion of the highway - I think it was between Kipahulu (just past the Seven Sacred Pools) and Keokea. We had rental insurance, but even so it would not over this portion of the road, because it can be pretty dicey. I really wanted to drive the whole way around, but we did not want to risk it.
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  • glasgowtolondonglasgowtolondon member
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    We went to Seattle for a few days last year and took the ferry over to Bainbridge Island whilst there. It was nice, quite quaint. The view on the way over were what really made it for us.
                 
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  • OliveOilsMomOliveOilsMom member
    Tenth Anniversary 5000 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    madamerwin said:
    OliveOilsMom said:


    And speaking of the Road to Hana, drive all the way around.  Most maps don't show the road as a complete circle, but it is.  Its much better on the passengers to drive all the way around, as getting car sick can very easily done while on the Road to Hana.  Also stop in Paia, its the last big town before the Road to Hana and get a picnic lunch.  There is usually more than enough food in the lunches to last the whole day.


    Definitely check with your rental car agency before driving all the way around - many, including the company we rented from (don't remember which, but it was a common one), had a clause in our contract saying we would be responsible for any damage to the vehicle caused by driving on the southern portion of the highway - I think it was between Kipahulu (just past the Seven Sacred Pools) and Keokea. We had rental insurance, but even so it would not over this portion of the road, because it can be pretty dicey. I really wanted to drive the whole way around, but we did not want to risk it.


    Yes, this is common on pretty much all rental policies on Maui, which is why the maps rental companies provide do not show the road as being a complete circle. (Thanks for pointing that out Madamerwin, I usually bring that up on my Maui assessment and forgot to mention it this time.) 

    The road all the way around has actually been greatly improved since the time before that I drove it.  I have driven the Road to Hana twice and I feel that driving back the way you came, when you are on the outside of the many cliffs and ledges is more dicey than what you face driving the whole circle.  A few miles past Lindberg's grave (which is where most rental companies show the map ends, I believe) has some more coastline driving, but then you move more inland and its no longer a cliff side road.

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  • madamerwinmadamerwin member
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    OliveOilsMom said:
    madamerwin said:
    OliveOilsMom said:


    And speaking of the Road to Hana, drive all the way around.  Most maps don't show the road as a complete circle, but it is.  Its much better on the passengers to drive all the way around, as getting car sick can very easily done while on the Road to Hana.  Also stop in Paia, its the last big town before the Road to Hana and get a picnic lunch.  There is usually more than enough food in the lunches to last the whole day.


    Definitely check with your rental car agency before driving all the way around - many, including the company we rented from (don't remember which, but it was a common one), had a clause in our contract saying we would be responsible for any damage to the vehicle caused by driving on the southern portion of the highway - I think it was between Kipahulu (just past the Seven Sacred Pools) and Keokea. We had rental insurance, but even so it would not over this portion of the road, because it can be pretty dicey. I really wanted to drive the whole way around, but we did not want to risk it.


    Yes, this is common on pretty much all rental policies on Maui, which is why the maps rental companies provide do not show the road as being a complete circle. (Thanks for pointing that out Madamerwin, I usually bring that up on my Maui assessment and forgot to mention it this time.) 

    The road all the way around has actually been greatly improved since the time before that I drove it.  I have driven the Road to Hana twice and I feel that driving back the way you came, when you are on the outside of the many cliffs and ledges is more dicey than what you face driving the whole circle.  A few miles past Lindberg's grave (which is where most rental companies show the map ends, I believe) has some more coastline driving, but then you move more inland and its no longer a cliff side road.

    Ugh, I agree with this so much. I've never driven the whole circle, but the way back from Hana is really not fun. One of the first fights H and I got in to (we had only been dating a few months) had to do with what I considered his reckless driving on the drive back from Hana. I felt like we were going to fly off the cliff. In retrospect, he was not driving that recklessly, but it was stressful.
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  • WinstonsGirlWinstonsGirl member
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    Thanks for the input ladies.  

    DH wants to drive the full circle, but we have heard that many rental companies don't allow it, so we're not sure what will work till we get there I guess.  

    We hadn't thought too much about the crater, so I'll add that to our list.  

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  • sunset30sunset30 member
    Third Anniversary 25 Love Its 10 Comments Name Dropper
    I second OliveOils post. Doing the full loop around Hana is totally worth it; we thought the way back was the best part of the drive. While there was a portion of the road that was not so good; we just drove slowly on those parts. A good portion of the road back was actually pretty freshly paved and in way better condition than the drive there. 

    We also did the North West Maui drive which is scary but spectacular. That was our favorite "drive". The way back from Hana was our second, and the road to Hana was actually third. 

    We also hiked into the crater which was kind of fun. We went in about an hour down and an hour (well more because it was uphill) back. It is pretty strenous since it's so high and its like hiking a mountain so if you do it, bring sun protection and plenty of water. 

    Diving in Maui is great. Doing a catamaran to the Molokini crater is cool too; just so long as you try to avoid doing it at a super crowded time. 

    Enjoy!
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  • WinstonsGirlWinstonsGirl member
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    Does anyone have any suggestions for which rental companies will allow you to do the full drive around Hana??

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  • OliveOilsMomOliveOilsMom member
    Tenth Anniversary 5000 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers

    I would be surprised if any rental company allowed it actually.  I think the biggest issue with that part of the island is that its just so remote, in parts, and if something happened, it could take the better part of an hour just to get someone out there to help you.  There are a lot of cattle ranchers out that side of the island, so there is just lots of open space.

    The person who first told me to drive around the whole loop did that exact drive in a mini-van, 12 years ago.  When my friend and I did the drive, we did have a Jeep and it was no big deal.  I can't imagine doing that drive in the mini-van, but it worked for them.  As I said before, we were there last January and did the same drive, we rented a Jeep again and the road paving has been greatly improved.

    Also, it has been ranked as one of the top restaurants in America by Trip Advisor, but check out Mama's Fish House.  You can get a reservation (recommended) on Open Table.  Try to eat during sunset, it is a spectacular view.  It is pricey though.

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  • WinstonsGirlWinstonsGirl member
    Knottie Warrior 2500 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    Yes, I know about Mama's Fish House.  It was a very popular recommendation on the Hawaii board for receptions for the Maui brides.  

    We picked up the Lonely Planet from SIL, so we'll start flipping through that this weekend

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  • ernursejernursej member
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    I love Maui! I would recommend taking a helicopter ride around Maui and then a fixed wing flight from Maui around the island and then over to the Big Island to see the volcano. Expensive but by far my favourite things we did. I loved Sale Pepe in Lahaina. Fabulous Italian food and they allow take out which is great as sometimes it is hard to get a table. I would recommend getting Maui Revealed guide book - it is by far THE BEST guide book for the area. Especially if you are deciding between different vendors for an activity.
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