Spending a week in Maui was just what I needed to recharge! Emin and I headed west for a little Babymoon before Baby V’s arrival. It was the first time either of us had been to Hawaii so we went with zero expectations (especially since I am 6 months pregnant)!

We took it fairly easy on this trip but also saw quite a bit. It was the perfect amount of relaxation and adventure! I wanted to share the places we visited and some suggestions along the way that made the trip seamless!

We stayed at the Fairmont Kea Lani and it was the perfect place for a babymoon! I highly recommend it. The grounds were beautiful and it was right along the water – they offer complimentary beach chairs and umbrellas which we took full advantage of one afternoon. The rooms are all suite style which is great for larger families and the breakfast buffet fed all my preggo cravings and then some. Thank you to the Fairmont Kea Lani for hosting us!

Below is a list of things we did and places we ate that I highly recommend:

BEACH

Wailea Beach – this was our first Maui beach stop and we loved it instantly! There were a fair share of people but not too many, the waves were perfect enough to swim and jump without being too scary or large.

Baby Beach – highly recommend this beach for families and all my preggo mamas out there! It is on Lahaina side of the island. Super quaint, only a handful of people and the water was still as can be for miles! We could have spent hours here.

ACTIVITES

Road To Hana – plan for one full day for the Road to Hana! We used the Gypsy App to guide us, it costs $6 but is totally worth it! You will need an app 100% because there is zero service out there. It was also nice to get some history and information on what we were looking at. There are a ton of stops and visiting each would take you days. We decided to skip the first half of the trip because those are the most congested with tourists and I think the stops get more exciting the further you drive in. Our Road to Hana stops were:

• Paia Bowls – we started in Paia town and made a quick stop for coffee to-go from Paia Bowls. BEST decision because you will need caffeine for the road ahead!
• Ke’anae Peninsula – stop to see black jagged lava rock along the coast. Try to get there early to have Aunty Sandy’s Banana Bread. They ran out right when we got in line but I heard it’s the best on the island!
• Upper Waikani Falls – also known as the “Three Bears Falls” this is a quick stop with not much parking. We took a peak and headed back but you can climb down and take a dip which I heard is amazing!
• Coconut Glen’s – almost every blog post I read included this colorful little truck stop. It had the most delicious vegan coconut ice cream! A perfect refresher for the road.

• Honokalani Black Sand Beach – located in Waianapanapa State Park. It was cool to see black sand caused by the lava! I personally don’t think this is a swimming beach, just something to walk to and dip your feet in! The waves were crazy.
• Nahiku town – we stopped here for lunch midday and it was the best BBQ ever! They also have smoothies, coffee and more. If you haven’t packed a full lunch this is a good point (and possibly the only one) to stop and get some food.
• Wailua Falls – an epic waterfall, again because I was pregnant I didn’t want to risk slipping and falling down so we skipped walking down to the base of the waterfall. Encourage you to do so if you are not pregs!
• Seven Sacred Pools – the last stop and the furthest point that Gypsy App will take you. This was BEAUTIFUL. Again we couldn’t get super close but just watching the water flow from one pool to the next was enough to end the trip on a high note!
• Flatbread Company – at this point I had ate so much fish I was in search of something else! We stopped off at Paia town on our way back for pizza from Flatbread Company and it fulfilled our taste buds and tummies!

Day in Lahaina – If you happen to be staying south like us, it’s nice to venture out to Lahaina which is on the northwest side of the island. You’ll experience more of that authentic Hawaiian feel. Make an afternoon out of it! They have shops, a ton of food/drink places and Baby beach is just a short drive from here.

Helicopter Ride – we weren’t going to do a helicopter ride but I’m SO glad we did! We used Hawaii Helicopters and I cannot recommend them enough. Our pilot Hugo was so entertaining and provided a great ride around West Maui and Molokai. We even landed for some champagne (water for me) and epic views! The helicopter ride gave us a view of Maui we would have never seen.

FOOD

Coconuts Fish Cafe – they have a few locations on the island. This was our first food stop and the fish tacos were INCREDIBLE.

Beach Street – for amazing smoothies, coffee and açaí bowls.

Akamai Coffee – if you want good Hawaiian coffee this is it! We got their house cold brew. Also cute inside!

Paia Fish Market – if you make your way to Lahaina, eat at Paia Fish Market. We both got the plate with rice and it was yummy as can be!

Nalu’s South Shore Grill – if you are sick of eating fish try Nalu’s. Emin found this gem and I had their Apple Bluecheese Burger…IT WAS AMAZING. Also, really great ambiance and live music.

Paia Bowls for Coffee – as mentioned above, we stopped here for coffee before our Road to Hana adventure. They also have açaí bowls which looked great!

Mama’s Fish House – it’s not a trip to Maui without the infamous Mama’s Fish House. Yes, it’s on the pricer side but it is definitely well worth it! We enjoyed a “fancy” meal and the service was incredible!

I hope this travel diary was insightful and I hope it inspires you to take a trip to Maui!