Family Vacation GuideMaui

On the last Thursday of the month, The Baldwin Home Museum puts on a free outdoor concert with local musicians from 6-7:30 pm.

This isn't your typical luau music. It's a celebration of authentic Hawaiian folk music, epitomized by the distinct sound of the slack-key guitar.

With the "wow" factor of Cirque du Soleil, this powerful retelling of Hawaiian history is a blend of dance, music, and acrobatics.

Every Friday from 6-9 pm, the galleries of Lahaina host a free "Art Walk" with featured artists and refreshments.

Maui's capital knows how to party! Join on first Fridays for a street party with craft vendors, food stands, and a beer garden serving local brews.

All the galleries light up until 10 pm and Front Street buzzes with music, food, family activities, and performers from Ulalena.

Maui's cowboy town puts on a street party with locally farmed food, classical Hawaiian music, dancing, and a fire show.

The Keiki/Youth Zone has lots for the little ones, and parents can browse booths set up by local shops.

The decor is funky, really funky. See for yourself! They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner with live jazz. Say hi to Farzad, the super friendly owner.

Cool off in the shade of the banyan tree and see work from local artists. There's also a face painting booth and kid's crafts for the little ones.

The perfect romantic date, it's a beautifully choreographed show with some of the "most fabulous cooking on Maui."

Even teenagers would have a hard time texting through the show. This spectacle blends hula and exciting Samoan fire knife dancing.

It's something out of a movie: walk through fragrant bamboo forests paved with fresh guava (eat one!) and cool off in stunning natural pools fed by waterfalls.

Sounds of the ocean set the mood on this romantic cruise. Enjoy a 3-course meal prepared by Chef Bailey.

Bring the kids along to celebrate the family you built together with a gorgeous sunset in the background.

You might not expect it, but Pacific Whale Foundation has their own sunset cruise. Dine aboard a double-decker catamaran with live music.

This cruise ups the romance by boarding directly from Ka'anapali Beach.

A 30-minute ferry ride takes you to one of Hawaii's smallest inhabited island. Check out the beach at Manale, a playground for spinner dolphins.

It's the "Old Faithful of the Pacific." Watch a plume of sea water shoot 100 feet in the air out of an ancient lava tube. Don't get too close (trust me on this one)!

2,500 species of plants and trees line a landscape of lava rocks, natural streams, and koi ponds. These gardens give you a sense of Hawaii's stunning biodiversity.

Take an easy 2-mile hike to a scenic ridge with panoramic views of central Maui. Ioa Valley was also the site of an epic battle and served as a burial ground in ancient Hawaiian history.

It feels like an alien world in the cinder cone gardens of Mt. Haleakala. Come for the view at sunrise or sunset, heck, come anytime, it's out of this world!

Is pineapple wine any good? Head to Ulupalakua Vineyards for free tastings and find out. Worst case, you get to see a vineyard on a volcano.

Serene wetlands in Maui's central valley make for a great place to watch dozens of exotic bird species. Come in the mornings when the sun is out and wind is less.

If you're a proud astronomy geek and want to meet other proud astronomy geeks, join this Maui astronomy group and find you're posse.

Every night from Black Rock Beach, you can watch a torch lighting ceremony that ends with a 30-foot plunge into the ocean.

Protected from the wind by the mountains, this player-friendly course offers a new view of the island at every hole.

Golfing in a Lord of the Rings-like setting, this challenging PGA course is par 73 at 7,400 yards.

Sister to The Plantation Course, Bay is another challenging gem with its signature hole no. 5 that plays over the ocean.

These 3 world-class courses cater to all types. From the tough Robert Trent, Gold Course to the family-friendly Emerald, and player-friendly Blue.

Not overly long at 6,570 yards, it's a course for shot makers, with smallish greens, dog legs, and elevation changes. Oh and with their Aloha Friday deal you can play for $49, all day.

You could come for just the clubhouse. But if you come for golf, you'll be rewarded with a "pure golf experience" – nothing but nature in all directions.

A gently sloping entrance and sandy bottom means you won't step on coral as you go in. Underwater, you'll find butterflyfish and cool multi-colored sea slugs.

Turtles are everywhere here. It's their safe hideaway with ample resting spots and plenty of green algae to chomp on.

Centuries-old coral colonies grow to a whopping 25-feet in diameter on lava rocks to create a vibrant reef.

For sun worshipers and snorkelers alike, this crescent bay will satisfy everyone in your family.

In Maui's rugged north, you'll find sea turtles, white-spotted puffers, octopuses, unicorn fish, and maybe even a giant manta ray.

Built on the site of Maui's last ruling chief, this museum houses native tools, paintings, and photography that give you a glimpse into the lives of Maui's former Royal Family.

In the highlands is a forest created by a botanist using trees from around the world. You can hike, mountain bike, or even zipline through it.

Lahaina has 40 art galleries with works from Picasso, Rembrandt, Any Warhol, and whole host of local artists inspired by the beauty of the island.

It's a smaller theater showing 3 movies near the wharf in downtown Lahaina.

This mammoth movie complex features 12 screens and the biggest one on the island.

Located at Queen Ka'ahumanu Shopping Center you have 6 movies to choose from.

Purple fields of fragrant lavender cover this magical farm in the Maui highlands.

For something even fresher than a farmers market, stop by this local farm in Maui's Upcountry.

This 1/4-mile trail delivers maximum breathtaking views at minimum effort. It's a good option for families with young kids who still want to see Haleakala.

Hike down into moon-like valleys of dormant cinder cones. You can take on this entire 11-mile odyssey or turn back at any point for a hike of any length.

If you drive by here and blink you might miss it. But if you can find it, this calm, uncrowded beach is really special.

Dine on pork cooked in an underground oven, while the sun sets over the ocean to traditional Hawaiian music and dance. It's an intimate venue great for families.

Relax in the cedar wood sauna, eucalyptus steam room, or get a Lomi Lomi massage. Then cool off in bamboo rainfall showers that run with water from the peaks above.

Pineapple scrub gently exfoliates and the Lomi Lomi and Swedish massage loosen tension. This large spa has 16 individual treatment rooms and 3 private couples rooms.

You can hear the soothing sound of the ocean from the cliffs above Napili Bay, as a delicate Lomi Lomi massage releases tension under the moonlight.

They're known for their hot stone treatments and soothing Himalayan Salt Room. They also have special massages for the mother-to-be.

Lie-down in a shaded beach cabana, and let the masseur to the rest. Then hop in the steam room to finish off.