Exploring Maui with a Toddler
In March 2021, Carson & I spent ten days in Maui with my parents. It was a much needed escape from the snow and my first babymoon. In this blog I’m going to share fun activities to do with toddlers on the island. I’ll also add our itinerary & some must pack items.
This was my fifth trip to the Hawaiian Islands & my third time visiting Maui. It was, however, my first time visiting with one of my children!
I learned many years ago to only plan one big activity per day when vacationing with kids. This way they can really appreciate the activity and it’s not so hectic. In March 2021, it was almost a year after the covid pandemic began so things were just opening up again. Most places now require reservations in advance, I did my best to plan but the weather is very unpredictable. I recommend bringing rain jackets or ponchos for everyone!
We stayed on the north end of the island at The Westin Nanea Ocean Villas, Ka’anapali. In my opinion, having a full kitchen and washer & dryer is a must when traveling with young children.
Toddler Friendly Activities:
Reef Dancer Semi Submarine Tour - the only boat tour with no age restriction. A great experience for everyone in the family. They stick to the shoreline which helps if anyone gets motion sickness. The guide was very informative. They have scuba divers bring creatures to the windows for the kids to get a better look.
Maui Ocean Center - an absolutely wonderful aquarium experience. It is a great way to spend a rainy day. They have an exhibit on Hawaiian history which I found very interesting. The walk-thru shark tank was a hit for the whole family.
Surfing Goat Dairy Farm - they offer tours of the dairy farm. You can meet the goats & see how they process the cheese. There’s even an optional cheese & truffle tasting. They have an outdoor eating space & a play area for kids right next to the kid pen. If the weather was better we could have spent half of the day enjoying the serene farm.
Leoda’s Pie Shop - right off the main highway this restaurant is a must. Even if you just grab a few pies, it’s worth the stop.
Downtown Lahaina - I’m sad to say Lahaina isn’t as nice as I remember it from my last trip to Maui. But there’s still so much to do that it’s worth a visit. There are lots of stores, art galleries, museums, and restaurants. Paia Fish Market being our absolute favorite - get there early because the line wraps around the building. Don’t forget to explore banyan tree park & try the famous dole whip.
Banyan Tree Park
Sunset at Black Rock - we ate dinner at the Sheraton pool bar, they have a great view of the sunset & cliff jumpers.
Whaler’s Village - restaurants with beautiful ocean views, playground, and beach access. Perfect for dinner with a sunset show.
Whaler’s Village at Sunset
Hiking - Because of the pregnancy and wanting a more relaxing vacation - I opted out of hiking. It is, however, a great option for a free toddler friendly activity.
Luau - you can’t go wrong with an all you can eat buffet & live show. It is the most expensive activity on my list, however, I feel that a luau is a must do activity when visiting Hawaii. We opted out of a luau because I have been to several & didn’t feel C was old enough to appreciate it for how expensive they are.
Hana Highway / The Road to Hana - a thrilling & windy road filled with waterfalls to explore. Another activity I’ve done in the past that was amazing enough to mention. Bring a bathing suit and water shoes so you can really enjoy the waterfalls. There are maps online showing in detail where to stop along the highway.
Haleakalā National Park - this gem is a must see if you’re visiting Maui. I went many years ago so we skipped it this trip. We watched the sunrise and then biked down the mountain back to town. It was a fabulous experience - I don’t know how well young kids would handle the freezing sunrise, but the national park as a whole is kid friendly!
Packing List:
Summer Infant Chair - Carson loves having his own chair, this one is compact for traveling and comes with a tray for meals. It’s a must have for all toddlers, in my opinion.
Small / Umbrella Stroller - it was extremely helpful having a stroller for C, especially for nap time. I highly recommend the Safety First Teeny Stroller because it fits in the overhead bins on the airplane and it’s lightweight with lots of storage space.
Carson taking a snooze in the Safety First Teeny Stroller
Quick meals & non perishable snacks - protein bars, fruit snacks, microwave mac & cheese.. I find the same snacks you’d take hiking tend to travel well.
I wish I brought kid friendly silverware, plates, and cups. Thankfully there is a Walmart next to the airport where we were able to get a really cheap set.
Car Seat - I can’t emphasize how helpful it is to bring your own car seat. It makes the plane ride go so much smoother and there’s no hassle with trying to get a rental on island. You can buy covers with wheels to make transporting it easier. Most airlines will let you check the car seat for free!
It rains often (at least once a day during our trip) - I was glad I packed a few toys from home to keep him entertained in the villa. Rain jackets and/or ponchos are a life saver when traveling to any island. The afternoon showers are short but consistent.
Full body swimsuits or rash guards - Swim Zip makes an incredible long sleeve suit made with UPF 50 material. This way you don’t have to constantly stress about sunscreen and burning.
Sunscreen, sunglasses & sunhats - nothing ruins a vacation faster than a nasty sunburn.
We bought our sand toys at the Walmart on island, it was more practical than bringing ours. Handed them down to another family on our last day.
Carson playing in the sand wearing a Swim Zip long sleeve suit & sunhat.
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1 - landed on the island late afternoon, loaded up the rental car & did a short grocery trip (Walmart is conveniently located next to the airport) We grabbed pizza to go for a quick dinner before everyone crashed.
Day 2 - up VERY early because of the time change, walked around to get acquainted with the property. Found a local park for C to get energy out. Spent the afternoon by the splash pad & pool. Early dinner at Hula Grill in Whalers Village.
The delicious fish tacos from Hula Grill in Whaler’s Village
Day 3 - up and at em early for the Reef Dancer glass bottom boat tour then lunch at Cheeseburger in Paradise. Walked around downtown Lahaina after lunch & peaked in some art galleries while C napped. Spent the afternoon between the ocean and pool.
Day 4 - early morning walk and played on the resort grounds. We took a long afternoon nap to play catch up on sleep. Early dinner at Paia Fish Market in Lahaina then watched a live painting at Wyland Galleries.
Paia Fish Market’s delicious fresh fish!
Day 5 - we woke up to a lot of rain. C played in the mud puddles before lunch in our villa. Dropped off Dad at the airport then spent the afternoon by the pool. We did dinner to-go from the pool bar and it was surprisingly delicious.
Day 6 - morning and afternoon at the beach & C played in the sand. Dinner at the Cliff Dive Grill at the Sheraton. We stayed and watched the sunset and cliff divers at Black Rock.
Day 7 - morning reservation at the Maui Ocean Center (aquarium) then drove around the south side of the island while C napped. Quick stop for incredible mini pies at Leoda’s Pie Shop. We had dinner at Pailolo Bar & Grill at our neighbor resort - Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas.
Day 8 - morning on the beach. Then we grabbed lunch at Safeway - their hot food selection is amazing and much more affordable than a restaurant, especially for sandwiches and chicken fingers. We spent the afternoon exploring and shopping for souvenirs in Lahaina.
Day 9 - spent the morning in Kula at the Surfing Goat Dairy Farm. Then stopped at a highway pullover to whale watch while C napped. Late lunch at the Paia Fish Market in Lahaina, it was so good we went back. After lunch we played at the Lahaina Banyan Tree Park. Afternoon & Evening on the beach at the resort.
Dole Whip from Downtown Lahaina
Day 10 - attempted breakfast at our favorite spot (The Gazebo) however, we arrived too late and the wait/line was already hours long. Decided to have breakfast at the resort restaurant and was pleasantly surprised. Spent time at the pool and then we flew back to Denver that evening. It was a lazy day full of packing and enjoying our last hours on the island.
I hope you enjoy your trip to Maui, I know we did!! If you have any questions drop them here 👇🏼
