If you follow me on social, you might have seen that I was over on Maui for a press trip a couple weeks back. We got to experience so many wonderful Maui activities and restaurants, FOR SURE! That said, some of my very favorite stuff we did was what might be considered Maui off-the-beaten path. Of course the popular must-dos like Road to Hana, Mama’s Fish House and whale watching in Maui are wonderful — there’s a reason people rave! But, there are also some wonderful hidden gems that are worth exploring, too. Let’s dive in…
5 Off-The-Beaten Path Maui Gems To Visit
Surfing Goat Dairy – I had been here on a previous trip to Maui, but I didn’t remember so many goats! You can drive in, park and check out the goats for free, but I highly recommend booking the tour and tasting. You get to feed the goats and then taste some of the delicious goat cheese varietals.
O’o Coffee Farm (and gourmet farm to table meals!) – This might be my new favorite place on Maui! It’s a sprawling, working farm in Upcountry Maui that offers tours and tastings throughout the week. We checked it out as a breakfast tour, which was awesome, because we arrived ready to drink morning coffee, it wasn’t blazing hot yet while walking around the gardens and learning about the crops, and then we got to enjoy a delicious breakfast meal in the shade. I highly recommend this one, just be sure to make a reservation.
Donut Dynamite – Okay so this one might not technically be “off-the-beaten-path”, but meeting Madame Donut and sampling her brioche donuts is a MUST, so ARRIVE EARLY since she sells out. Not only is the head donut master herself usually behind the counter, her love of color, flavor pairings and true knowledge of her craft is majorly impressive. I recommend the Vanilla Bean, Goat Cheese and Lilikoi donut flavors, but you really can’t go wrong with any of them!
Maui Cultural Lands – If you’re visiting Maui, why not take some time to volunteer and give back to the beautiful land you are enjoying? This is something that would not have been on my radar, so I was really grateful to be introduced and spend some time in the Honokowai Valley. We learned about the cultural significance of the land, how it is maintained and even got to clear out a space and plant some new trees. You can learn more about volunteer days and see if it will fit into your schedule while you are on island!
Maui Tropical Plantation – First things first – have lunch at The Millhouse since they are all in the same area. Do not miss the Taro Leaf Risotto or beet salad — both are divine. When you’ve had your fill, dive right into the Maui Tropical Plantation, which offers a train tour around the plantation and talks about many of the plants and flowers that call Hawaii home. Mid-way through there is a coconut demonstration and lots of yummy cold pineapple at the end to eat. It’s a good activity for kids! Before you leave, grab an iced coffee from the little coffeehouse right near the end of the train ride 🙂 I ordered an iced chai latte and it was SO TASTY!
Have you been to Maui? What was your favorite part? If you liked this post, you might also enjoy The Best Coffee On Maui or Our Stay At Hotel Wailea.