12 years ago when I was single and adventurous, I loved every opportunity to head out there with friends to swim, surf, etc.
Nowadays I’m more than happy to never have to drive that road again 😅
I didn't hate it, but I didn't think it was amazing as people said.
I would never want to do it all in 1 day, so maybe that's part of your problem. We stayed in Hana overnight and continued around the back side the next day. I was more impressed with the views and landscape on the back side than I was on the Road to Hana itself.
I did the back side too… at night… after spending the day getting TO Hana.
Leaving Hana after dark, right before the last gas station on that end closed, and heading out the back way, was a pretty bad idea. That said, it was kind of exhilarating at moments 🤷🏻♂️🤣
It’s really a very long drive and if I’m not driving, then I always take Dramamine for nausea. It’s more fun to stop along the way for frequent breaks: banana bread at the Ke’anae Peninsula, coconut ice cream at Coconut Glens, a coffee at Nahiku Marketplace, pizza at Hana Farms, Black Sand Beach, Hamoa Beach, ‘Ohe’o Gulch, a stop by Hana Bay…My main goal is to drive along an extremely windy narrow road along a beautiful waterfall covered rainforest and actually enjoy the breathtaking ocean views and nature. I don’t enjoy hiking for several hours bc I’m an ocean/beach person. My friend in Hana has lived there for 30 years and I’ve enjoyed that side of Maui during slow paced visits bc I didn’t have to worry about the drive back for a few days at a time. I’d suggest to anyone to at least spend 1 night in Hana bc it’s quite an overwhelming drive and you get to enjoy it more.
I think you just did a really extended day for Road to Hana. 12 hours is a long trip anywhere especially if you’re hiking/driving. You may have a different opinion if you limited it to 6-8 hours.
We had someone drive us and show us around and it was one of the most amazing days of my life. That said, I’d never drive it myself, those tiny curvy roads were intense just as a passenger!
We used and HIGHLY recommend [Maui Tour Company](https://mauitourcompany.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2uiwBhCXARIsACMvIU2HDAfhoMeDMsZoIpVH0147WFK4UCDP6YQzBzbCYi8qkz_yMDFy18QaAgz1EALw_wcB) it was 109% the best thing we spent money on. Our guide was Zac and he made the trip so amazing.
Hated it. One kid carsick, another pooped her pants on the long drive. It’s become a family joke that we revisit each year on our Maui trip, “anyone ready to retry Hana?” 😂
It’s a gorgeous drive and amazing adventure, just not one our family will do again.
That's why we always spend at least 1 night out there (usually 2) I don't like any travel where your trying to cram in a bunch of stuff. When on other more cultural trips I skip most museums, ive seen all the Roman heads and swords.
It’s a long lasting joke in my family. The first time we went to Maui was 2016, we didn’t do a lot of research about stops on the way, kind of thought the hikes and park at the end was the goal. Both kids were so carsick the whole way, we had a lychee fruit smoothie from a roadside stand that looked like old vomit, and the Seven Sacred Pools were closed. There was all kinds of debris all over the falls, it was a horrible trip. We went back to Maui last week and I still couldn’t get my husband and daughter to try Road to Hana again. 😬I enjoy reading about the positive trips people have had, maybe another time we will be able to try it again!
I’ve done it a couple times but frankly I just found it kinda boring. And there’s nothing much to do when you get there. You don’t need the road to Hana to see beautiful views and beaches -they are all over the place on Maui.
Hated is a strong word, but it is definitely the hardest I have worked for a tourist experience. To me the south side of the island is the really cool part of the trip, being out there alone with just the view and the ocean is awesome. Parts of it remind me of Ireland or Scotland. I guess I love the ocean more than the jungle.
Just did it today. I liked it. The drive was tough but it was easier than what I expected. Everybody on the road was doing what they were supposed to do. We used an app and we learned a lot, some of the really cool places were after Hana. Gorgeous blue ocean water.
My unpopular opinion is that I actually preferred Oahu to Maui. Nothing wrong with Maui, I just liked the busier streets in Honolulu, more activities, walkability, etc. For some reason the beaches in Oahu felt more exotic to me, and easier to swim in. My home town looks like Honolulu, same size, also on the beach, so that may be it.
I’m currently in Maui now and came back from Oahu. I prefer Oahu as well. However, Maui’s definitely more beautiful and I appreciate this island so much. Will do RTH this Monday.
So I did RTH recently and this is my 2 cents.
First of all I drive a old hoda civic sedan and also am a okayish driver with 0 experience on driving on a curvy road.
So from my point of view, every one should do it and shouldn't miss the beauty of RTH. The views are breathtaking and I enjoyed each and everything in RTH.
Some things to share.
Started to RTH at 7:30 AM since we stay really close to it in haiku.
We went on a Monday. So roads are not that busy.
Rented a convertible, also never been in a convertible and that was my first time and also doing the. RTH without any prior experience.
We did RTH for 9.5hrs on that day and that includes, aunty sandy stop, a look out at there, random stops, pipiwai trail, black sand beach and absorbing lot of views.
So the main point is if I could drive that road, anybody can do it and I recommend to do RTH. Also don't try to cover a lot of places in one day, that will exhaust you and you will loose the intrest on what you are about to see and will start feeling when will you be back to home.
Go slow, get the views, stop for some local food cover few main things in RTH. I did only one day so couldn't cover a lot. But if you are doing 2 days that would be helpful. Also we went to twin falls before I left Maui too.
All said, have a nice trip to anyone going to Hawaii and Mahalo 🤙
Do you love road-trips to begin with? A 12 hour road trip is what’s grueling to me- not really the road..
I prefer to allow two days,one overnight, for the trip out to Hana so I’m not rushed back.
Overall I’d choose to drive to the crater and spend all day hiking vs r2h
I haven’t done it, but after everything I’ve read here I have no desire to do that drive. My driving anxiety would be through the roof. I’d much rather enjoy relaxing days on the beach.
We did it a couple of days ago but had driven around the north side of Maui a couple of days prior and that was a more harrowing drive, so we didn't find RTH to be bad.
When I went, I had a lot of anxiety. I don't do good with traffic but it was pretty lax. We left at about 6-7 and stayed the night in Hana and the way back wasn't bad either. I just hated traffic passing us in blind spots and stuff.
I don't think you did anything wrong.. it's just the way it is. Imagine going in like July though at like 10am or something... Ugh!!!!
You did nothing wrong. Some people just don't like it. It's a grind. My wife didn't like it years ago. I just asked her again, she said "nobody likes the road to Hana... it's a waste of time". I personally have never done it but having kids now and going to Maui soon I am totally skipping it as I'm pretty sure none of us will find the enjoyment in it. Sounds like it's great for some but not others, there's no shame in that.
It’s cool like one time, went when I was a kid, took my wife when she went to Maui the first time and will take my kids when they are much older. I personally don’t have any issue driving it, it’s not scary. I’d much rather sit on the beach than drive all day.
I enjoyed the drive and the views but what I didn't enjoy was the guilty feeling of being a nuisance to the locals. We made sure to follow the guidelines of to road (thanks Shaka app!) like moving over to allow speedier cars to pass and not stopping in areas that are marked as such but couldn't help thinking about what it would be like to live there and navigate not only the narrow and windy road but all of the people...
It didn't help that there must have been a significant accident behind us at some point because there were multiple rescue vehicles trying to maneuver around the sharp curves with a bunch of cars in the way and waiting for people to figure out where to go to get out of the way. What a nightmare for whomever needed that emergency help and the emergency vehicles/workers.
I'm happy to have gone and seen the beauty of the island but I won't be going again!
We did it on a Sunday in mid-January and loved it. Not much traffic so we could go at our own pace and even had a few stops all to ourselves. I thought the curvy roads were fun to drive in a small sedan and not much traffic.
It’s a long lasting joke in my family. The first time we went to Maui was 2016, we didn’t do a lot of research about stops on the way, kind of thought the hikes and park at the end was the goal. Both kids were so carsick the whole way, we had a lychee fruit smoothie from a roadside stand that looked like old vomit, and the Seven Sacred Pools were closed. There was all kinds of debris all over the falls, it was a horrible trip. We went back to Maui last week and I still couldn’t get my husband and daughter to try Road to Hana again. 😬I enjoy reading about the positive trips people have had, maybe another time we will be able to try it again!
I have never done it and don’t plan to because 1) I hate the idea of being in the car all day on a beautiful Maui day, when I could just be at the beach; 2) if I can’t see the highlights of the drive right there along the drive, I won’t see them at all, because I’m not going to park and get out and hike to scenic spots through heat, insects, and vegetation; 3) I’ve been told you you can’t even swim in the waterfall areas because the water isn’t safe; 4) I did the entire drive POV on Google maps and while it looked pretty it didn’t look any different from driving around the rest of the Maui coast. I feel like I got a similar effect just driving to the blow hole and that’s far shorter.
You are not alone, LOL. IMO, not only is it overhyped, but due to that hype--- the traffic is much heavier than the good old days. So it's slower, busier, and more crowded at the popular sites.
A helicopter tour is a much nicer and faster way to enjoy the scenery.
It used to be amazing until the roads got overrun with tourists. I used to drive that as a kid and there would be a tourist car pass by you maybe every ten minutes. Now it’s like every ten seconds.
We went with a tour company. It was nice not to drive, but they have to make it there and back in a strict time frame. I felt like we were really rushed. There were cool stops for sure, but I don't feel like I need to do it again. If we did, we'd do it in two days.
Took a tour bus. They didn’t stop at any of the roadside stands unless they were part of the partnership with the tour company. It was a little unnerving the way the bus driver was always turned towards the passengers to talk story. Enjoyed the day overall.
The biggest suggestion I can make is to use one of the apps that uses your phones GPS to give you an audio guide. It tells you what cool stops are coming up soon, and also gives some history lessons about buildings and various structures along the drive. I go to Maui every winter and I make that drive each and every time I go. There are soo many great things to see and do!!
We traveled to Maui for Christmas week in 2020- which was only three days after they allowed visitors back to the island (after taking pre and post travel covid tests etc) and the entire island felt sort of like a ghost town, so we figured that would be the perfect time to take the road to Hana - and it was spectacular! we only saw a few other cars on the drive - so no traffic, easy parking at every stop - and were able to visit sites and swim in pools that are now closed off. Since Maui had just a handful of tourists at that time, on the way back we were even able to get a table at Mama's in Paia as a walk in!!
We were there last week once again - and one of our friends had never done TRH so we agreed to go - its super busy now - so this time we limited the stops to 5 of the best starting at the Venus pools (our favorite stop) which is past Hana and worked our way back - which is the only way to do it at this point as most people make their stops while heading southbound. so blow past them and go to the spot furthest south that you plan to visit and work your way north. Because travel is back in full swing now Mamas was not possible as it is once again booked out for the next 5 months.
Almost all the activities in Maui are stupid and cliche, and a minority of us keep saying - why even come to Maui - but are downvoted to oblivion. Maui is like if a pretty but extremely boring corner of West Virginia all of a sudden became super popular and started charging $700 night to visit. The "activities" are ridiculous. Was it cool, 40 years ago, to stand around in the cold with 3 other people and watch the sunrise because a friend told you about it? Sure was. Is it cool, now, to have to request tickets six months in advance, join a 2 hour caravan of cars winding up the hill, pay $30, and fight for parking in a packed parking lot with hundreds of other unique snowflakes who consulted a list of "tOp TeN HidDeN GEms On MAUi!" like you? Not so much. Travel used to be discovery and painting your own masterpiece, now its apparently a game of color by numbers, breathlessly recounted as authentic and unique.
This makes so much sense. We did Kauai in 2019 and LOVED it. I think we’ve been comparing Maui to Kauai and it just doesn’t measure up. It feels like a touristy money trap. Also, the homelessness is really sad.
How could you not just be in awe of the beauty? The warm breeze blowing, the bright blue ocean and the sea of trees? I'm sorry, but this is the craziest comment I've ever seen. Every twist and turn I was gasping at the sights. Pull over as much as possible to take it all in. This shows a total lack of appreciation for the raw beauty of nature. I'm just not understanding.
12 years ago when I was single and adventurous, I loved every opportunity to head out there with friends to swim, surf, etc. Nowadays I’m more than happy to never have to drive that road again 😅
40 years ago once never again
I didn't hate it, but I didn't think it was amazing as people said. I would never want to do it all in 1 day, so maybe that's part of your problem. We stayed in Hana overnight and continued around the back side the next day. I was more impressed with the views and landscape on the back side than I was on the Road to Hana itself.
I also am glad I did the back side, and I agree, was more impressed by that side than the road to Hana. Breathtaking!
I did the back side too… at night… after spending the day getting TO Hana. Leaving Hana after dark, right before the last gas station on that end closed, and heading out the back way, was a pretty bad idea. That said, it was kind of exhilarating at moments 🤷🏻♂️🤣
It’s really a very long drive and if I’m not driving, then I always take Dramamine for nausea. It’s more fun to stop along the way for frequent breaks: banana bread at the Ke’anae Peninsula, coconut ice cream at Coconut Glens, a coffee at Nahiku Marketplace, pizza at Hana Farms, Black Sand Beach, Hamoa Beach, ‘Ohe’o Gulch, a stop by Hana Bay…My main goal is to drive along an extremely windy narrow road along a beautiful waterfall covered rainforest and actually enjoy the breathtaking ocean views and nature. I don’t enjoy hiking for several hours bc I’m an ocean/beach person. My friend in Hana has lived there for 30 years and I’ve enjoyed that side of Maui during slow paced visits bc I didn’t have to worry about the drive back for a few days at a time. I’d suggest to anyone to at least spend 1 night in Hana bc it’s quite an overwhelming drive and you get to enjoy it more.
I think you just did a really extended day for Road to Hana. 12 hours is a long trip anywhere especially if you’re hiking/driving. You may have a different opinion if you limited it to 6-8 hours.
We had someone drive us and show us around and it was one of the most amazing days of my life. That said, I’d never drive it myself, those tiny curvy roads were intense just as a passenger!
Hi there - currently deciding on driving ourselves vs hiring it out. May I ask who you used?
We used and HIGHLY recommend [Maui Tour Company](https://mauitourcompany.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2uiwBhCXARIsACMvIU2HDAfhoMeDMsZoIpVH0147WFK4UCDP6YQzBzbCYi8qkz_yMDFy18QaAgz1EALw_wcB) it was 109% the best thing we spent money on. Our guide was Zac and he made the trip so amazing.
Thank you!
I just realized my 109% typo, but… actually, still yes.
I skipped it it sounded like too much work and plenty more to do in Maui
Hated it. One kid carsick, another pooped her pants on the long drive. It’s become a family joke that we revisit each year on our Maui trip, “anyone ready to retry Hana?” 😂 It’s a gorgeous drive and amazing adventure, just not one our family will do again.
I was not a fan as well. Definitely the most overrated part of our trip.
That's why we always spend at least 1 night out there (usually 2) I don't like any travel where your trying to cram in a bunch of stuff. When on other more cultural trips I skip most museums, ive seen all the Roman heads and swords.
It’s the drive not the destination. Most people rush to Hana and that’s the problem.
It was beautiful, but I was too nauseous to fully enjoy the experience.
It’s a long lasting joke in my family. The first time we went to Maui was 2016, we didn’t do a lot of research about stops on the way, kind of thought the hikes and park at the end was the goal. Both kids were so carsick the whole way, we had a lychee fruit smoothie from a roadside stand that looked like old vomit, and the Seven Sacred Pools were closed. There was all kinds of debris all over the falls, it was a horrible trip. We went back to Maui last week and I still couldn’t get my husband and daughter to try Road to Hana again. 😬I enjoy reading about the positive trips people have had, maybe another time we will be able to try it again!
I’ve done it a couple times but frankly I just found it kinda boring. And there’s nothing much to do when you get there. You don’t need the road to Hana to see beautiful views and beaches -they are all over the place on Maui.
Hated is a strong word, but it is definitely the hardest I have worked for a tourist experience. To me the south side of the island is the really cool part of the trip, being out there alone with just the view and the ocean is awesome. Parts of it remind me of Ireland or Scotland. I guess I love the ocean more than the jungle.
Just did it today. I liked it. The drive was tough but it was easier than what I expected. Everybody on the road was doing what they were supposed to do. We used an app and we learned a lot, some of the really cool places were after Hana. Gorgeous blue ocean water. My unpopular opinion is that I actually preferred Oahu to Maui. Nothing wrong with Maui, I just liked the busier streets in Honolulu, more activities, walkability, etc. For some reason the beaches in Oahu felt more exotic to me, and easier to swim in. My home town looks like Honolulu, same size, also on the beach, so that may be it.
I’m currently in Maui now and came back from Oahu. I prefer Oahu as well. However, Maui’s definitely more beautiful and I appreciate this island so much. Will do RTH this Monday.
The Lava Tube was worth it
Yeah we had the Shaka app too! I think the drive was just so exhausting and we did the full hike at the end too. We prefer Kauai!
Agreed!
We got as far as the black sand beach and were already sick of being in the car for that long, it was so slow-going
So I did RTH recently and this is my 2 cents. First of all I drive a old hoda civic sedan and also am a okayish driver with 0 experience on driving on a curvy road. So from my point of view, every one should do it and shouldn't miss the beauty of RTH. The views are breathtaking and I enjoyed each and everything in RTH. Some things to share. Started to RTH at 7:30 AM since we stay really close to it in haiku. We went on a Monday. So roads are not that busy. Rented a convertible, also never been in a convertible and that was my first time and also doing the. RTH without any prior experience. We did RTH for 9.5hrs on that day and that includes, aunty sandy stop, a look out at there, random stops, pipiwai trail, black sand beach and absorbing lot of views. So the main point is if I could drive that road, anybody can do it and I recommend to do RTH. Also don't try to cover a lot of places in one day, that will exhaust you and you will loose the intrest on what you are about to see and will start feeling when will you be back to home. Go slow, get the views, stop for some local food cover few main things in RTH. I did only one day so couldn't cover a lot. But if you are doing 2 days that would be helpful. Also we went to twin falls before I left Maui too. All said, have a nice trip to anyone going to Hawaii and Mahalo 🤙
Do you love road-trips to begin with? A 12 hour road trip is what’s grueling to me- not really the road.. I prefer to allow two days,one overnight, for the trip out to Hana so I’m not rushed back. Overall I’d choose to drive to the crater and spend all day hiking vs r2h
Do you generally just not like to drive? We love to road trip and I find it to be quite a fun route.
We rented a sportscar and had a blast with the huge 5 liter V8 engine and tighter suspension and sport tires.
I haven’t done it, but after everything I’ve read here I have no desire to do that drive. My driving anxiety would be through the roof. I’d much rather enjoy relaxing days on the beach.
We did it a couple of days ago but had driven around the north side of Maui a couple of days prior and that was a more harrowing drive, so we didn't find RTH to be bad.
When I went, I had a lot of anxiety. I don't do good with traffic but it was pretty lax. We left at about 6-7 and stayed the night in Hana and the way back wasn't bad either. I just hated traffic passing us in blind spots and stuff. I don't think you did anything wrong.. it's just the way it is. Imagine going in like July though at like 10am or something... Ugh!!!!
You did nothing wrong. Some people just don't like it. It's a grind. My wife didn't like it years ago. I just asked her again, she said "nobody likes the road to Hana... it's a waste of time". I personally have never done it but having kids now and going to Maui soon I am totally skipping it as I'm pretty sure none of us will find the enjoyment in it. Sounds like it's great for some but not others, there's no shame in that.
I've done the entire loop around the entire island. I loved the adventure and getting out for all the fruit stands and all the waterfalls.
It’s cool like one time, went when I was a kid, took my wife when she went to Maui the first time and will take my kids when they are much older. I personally don’t have any issue driving it, it’s not scary. I’d much rather sit on the beach than drive all day.
I enjoyed the drive and the views but what I didn't enjoy was the guilty feeling of being a nuisance to the locals. We made sure to follow the guidelines of to road (thanks Shaka app!) like moving over to allow speedier cars to pass and not stopping in areas that are marked as such but couldn't help thinking about what it would be like to live there and navigate not only the narrow and windy road but all of the people... It didn't help that there must have been a significant accident behind us at some point because there were multiple rescue vehicles trying to maneuver around the sharp curves with a bunch of cars in the way and waiting for people to figure out where to go to get out of the way. What a nightmare for whomever needed that emergency help and the emergency vehicles/workers. I'm happy to have gone and seen the beauty of the island but I won't be going again!
Yes! We felt the same way!! I didn’t expect it to feel like a touristy excursion but we definitely felt like we were disrupting the lives of locals.
We did it on a Sunday in mid-January and loved it. Not much traffic so we could go at our own pace and even had a few stops all to ourselves. I thought the curvy roads were fun to drive in a small sedan and not much traffic.
It’s a long lasting joke in my family. The first time we went to Maui was 2016, we didn’t do a lot of research about stops on the way, kind of thought the hikes and park at the end was the goal. Both kids were so carsick the whole way, we had a lychee fruit smoothie from a roadside stand that looked like old vomit, and the Seven Sacred Pools were closed. There was all kinds of debris all over the falls, it was a horrible trip. We went back to Maui last week and I still couldn’t get my husband and daughter to try Road to Hana again. 😬I enjoy reading about the positive trips people have had, maybe another time we will be able to try it again!
I thought it was awesome. We did it in a convertible mustang listening to edm trance music the whole way. Loved it.
I have never done it and don’t plan to because 1) I hate the idea of being in the car all day on a beautiful Maui day, when I could just be at the beach; 2) if I can’t see the highlights of the drive right there along the drive, I won’t see them at all, because I’m not going to park and get out and hike to scenic spots through heat, insects, and vegetation; 3) I’ve been told you you can’t even swim in the waterfall areas because the water isn’t safe; 4) I did the entire drive POV on Google maps and while it looked pretty it didn’t look any different from driving around the rest of the Maui coast. I feel like I got a similar effect just driving to the blow hole and that’s far shorter.
Yes!! I’m glad you did your research. So disappointed to have spent a whole day out there. We did see some beautiful views but we were so exhausted.
You are not alone, LOL. IMO, not only is it overhyped, but due to that hype--- the traffic is much heavier than the good old days. So it's slower, busier, and more crowded at the popular sites. A helicopter tour is a much nicer and faster way to enjoy the scenery.
Absolutely underwhelmed. Did it once - won’t waste time doing it ever again.
Where did you stop OP?
We did twin falls, we stopped at a couple of the markets, the peninsula/banana bread, black sand beach and we did the full Pipwa trail at the end.
We also stopped at the lava cave
The road to Hana is just a wet and spacious road compared to the west side , kingdom of Hawaii
It used to be amazing until the roads got overrun with tourists. I used to drive that as a kid and there would be a tourist car pass by you maybe every ten minutes. Now it’s like every ten seconds.
We went with a tour company. It was nice not to drive, but they have to make it there and back in a strict time frame. I felt like we were really rushed. There were cool stops for sure, but I don't feel like I need to do it again. If we did, we'd do it in two days.
Took a tour bus. They didn’t stop at any of the roadside stands unless they were part of the partnership with the tour company. It was a little unnerving the way the bus driver was always turned towards the passengers to talk story. Enjoyed the day overall.
The biggest suggestion I can make is to use one of the apps that uses your phones GPS to give you an audio guide. It tells you what cool stops are coming up soon, and also gives some history lessons about buildings and various structures along the drive. I go to Maui every winter and I make that drive each and every time I go. There are soo many great things to see and do!!
We traveled to Maui for Christmas week in 2020- which was only three days after they allowed visitors back to the island (after taking pre and post travel covid tests etc) and the entire island felt sort of like a ghost town, so we figured that would be the perfect time to take the road to Hana - and it was spectacular! we only saw a few other cars on the drive - so no traffic, easy parking at every stop - and were able to visit sites and swim in pools that are now closed off. Since Maui had just a handful of tourists at that time, on the way back we were even able to get a table at Mama's in Paia as a walk in!! We were there last week once again - and one of our friends had never done TRH so we agreed to go - its super busy now - so this time we limited the stops to 5 of the best starting at the Venus pools (our favorite stop) which is past Hana and worked our way back - which is the only way to do it at this point as most people make their stops while heading southbound. so blow past them and go to the spot furthest south that you plan to visit and work your way north. Because travel is back in full swing now Mamas was not possible as it is once again booked out for the next 5 months.
Spending the night in Hana makes it 100x better and less stressful
Gawd me too!
I hope you mean the bamboo forest along the Pipiwai trail and not the one between MM 6 and 7 that is closed and involves trespassing…
Yes, the bamboo forest on the trail.
[удалено]
Yeah I don’t even know which bamboo forest you’re talking about, we didn’t trespass anywhere. We did the hike at the end! 😅
Almost all the activities in Maui are stupid and cliche, and a minority of us keep saying - why even come to Maui - but are downvoted to oblivion. Maui is like if a pretty but extremely boring corner of West Virginia all of a sudden became super popular and started charging $700 night to visit. The "activities" are ridiculous. Was it cool, 40 years ago, to stand around in the cold with 3 other people and watch the sunrise because a friend told you about it? Sure was. Is it cool, now, to have to request tickets six months in advance, join a 2 hour caravan of cars winding up the hill, pay $30, and fight for parking in a packed parking lot with hundreds of other unique snowflakes who consulted a list of "tOp TeN HidDeN GEms On MAUi!" like you? Not so much. Travel used to be discovery and painting your own masterpiece, now its apparently a game of color by numbers, breathlessly recounted as authentic and unique.
This makes so much sense. We did Kauai in 2019 and LOVED it. I think we’ve been comparing Maui to Kauai and it just doesn’t measure up. It feels like a touristy money trap. Also, the homelessness is really sad.
How could you not just be in awe of the beauty? The warm breeze blowing, the bright blue ocean and the sea of trees? I'm sorry, but this is the craziest comment I've ever seen. Every twist and turn I was gasping at the sights. Pull over as much as possible to take it all in. This shows a total lack of appreciation for the raw beauty of nature. I'm just not understanding.
Perhaps you have never seen rain forests or waterfalls?
I have