The first stop on this excursion is a visit to the Maui Tropical Plantation, a 60-acre working plantation where you can discover Hawaii’s rich agricultural history. Enjoy a fully-narrated, 40-minute tram ride that takes you through breathtaking scenery and explores where many of the plantation’s crops are cultivated. Along the way there is a stop where you'll learn all about coconuts and witness a coconut husking demonstration. You’ll also see where sugarcane, coffee, Macadamia Nuts, pineapple, papaya, mango, guava and bananas are grown. There are plenty of samples for tasting and a gift shop selling a wide variety of Maui-grown goodies.

No tour of the Maui countryside would be complete without a visit to Iao Needle, the straight up pinnacle at the heart of the Valley Island’s western range. This iconic, green-mantled rock outcropping is one of Maui’s most recognizable landmarks. The Needle is located in the 4,000-acre Iao Valley State Park in Central Maui just west of Wailuku. There is a well-marked, paved pedestrian path leading from the parking lot to view Iao Needle and the ridge-top lookout provides incredible views of the valley.

You will then extend your adventure down to the sea at the Maui Ocean Center (Zagat Survey’s top ranked family attraction) where you will learn more about the underwater world around Maui through The Living Reef, Turtle Lagoon, Hammerhead Harbor and other exhibits.