The quiet northeastern shore town of Kilauea is resplendent with lush tropical beauty and a rich history spanning generations. Its charm is most evident in its town center, dotted by numerous historic fieldstone buildings that are used today by local businesses. Visitors also come to see the newly restored 52-foot-tall Daniel K. Inouye Kilauea Point Lighthouse, a red-capped beacon standing guard just along the ragged volcanic coastline. Those hoping for adventure will be pleased to know Kilauea offers opportunities for surfing, snorkeling, kayaking, diving, or hiking, whether your skill level rates as a beginner or as a seasoned enthusiast.

Warm and wet year-round, Kauai’s reputation as a tropical paradise is on full display in the town of Kilauea. Arguably the best months to book vacation rentals here are during the low season in spring — April through June — when the weather is favorable, crowds are sparser, and airfare discounts are common. If you arrive during the winter, be aware this side of the island receives the brunt of the island’s annual precipitation and brings with it a slight dip in temperatures, especially compared to the more arid southern or western sides of Kauai.Regardless of the time of your visit, prepare for the possibility of sudden, intermittent downpours. Pack a light windbreaker, hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen, and you’ll be ready for rain or shine.

Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

It’s impossible to avoid recommending a visit to the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. The gleaming white 1913 lighthouse restored with a 2.5-million candlepower quartz iodine lamp is a sight to behold. Wildlife buffs will be also rewarded here, as several rare and endangered birds and mammals call the refuge home, and green sea turtles and Hawaiian monk seals are regularly spotted popping their heads up offshore.

Na ‘Aina Kai Botanical Gardens and Sculpture Park

If you want a healthy serving of art fortifying your Hawaiian getaway, Na ‘Āina Kai provides numerous bronze sculptures to admire across its 240 acres of carefully landscaped gardens. Alongside formal gardens and horticultural collections, visitors are offered a glimpse of what traditional Hawaiian ahupua’a villages might have looked like generations ago.

Kauapea Beach

Locals call this stretch of sand “Secrets,” likely because this North Shore beach is accessible only by an unmarked steep trail hidden between Kalihiwai Bay and Kilauea Point. Tide pools, waterfalls, and a swimmable lagoon all await below, alongside a level of privacy that has earned Secrets a not-so-secret reputation as somewhere sunbathers seek to enjoy the sun without tanlines.