At 11 a.m. we take a boat from Smith's to the Fern Grotto on the Wailua River ($20 per person). Along the way, we pass a replica of a Hawaiian village from the early settlers. In the movie "Outbreak," this village was blown up as an infected African village. A nearby field also served as a film location for a movie with Harrison Ford. The Fern Grotto is a lava tube where ferns grow from top to bottom. After a famous American actress had her wedding here, it became a mecca for mainland Americans wanting to tie the knot. More than 60,000 weddings have taken place here.

www.smithskauai.com offers garden luaus, tropical excursions on their grounds, and weddings. Phone: 808-821-6892

Today we get to enjoy a spectacular helicopter scenic flight over Kauai — on our second attempt — with Island Helicopters. For $183 we experience an incredible trip over Kauai. Island Helicopters has permission to land at the waterfall that served as the backdrop for "Jurassic Park" (a separate and pricier tour), and clearly has more freedom when it comes to low-altitude flying — absolutely a must-do!

To wrap things up, we relax one last time at Lydgate Beach Park near Wailua.

We end the evening with a lovely dinner and say goodbye to a fantastic trip. We can absolutely recommend the Waipouli Deli & Restaurant. Not exactly cheap, but outstanding service, first-class food, and beautifully decorated:

Waipouli Deli & Restaurant
4-771 Kuhio Highway
Kapaa, HI 96746, United States
(808) 822-9311