Last Updated on September 28, 2025
The Hawaiian Island of Maui is full of well-known sites luring travelers time and again.
Known as the Valley Isle, Maui is famous for its stunning natural beauty, dramatic landscapes, cultural richness, and a perfect blend of relaxation and adventure. Visitors should not miss its most popular locales on a first-time visit. These include sunrise or sunset at Haleakala National Park, home to the world’s largest volcano, or traveling the Road to Hana, one of the most scenic drives on Earth, filled with waterfalls, black sand beaches, and jungle hikes.
However, on repeat visits, or during the island’s dry season – as my most recent of numerous visits to Maui in September of 2025 occurred – don’t miss the other treasures Maui has to offer.
Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm
On one of my family’s previous adventures to witness the splendor of Haleakala at sunrise, we stopped for breakfast, then headed to a place recommended by a local.
The 13-acre farm in Kula, Upcountry Maui sits at almost 4,000 feet elevation on the slope of Haleakala. The grounds boast 55,000 lavender plants and 45 different lavender varieties. The scent is intoxicating.
Walking paths wind through the farm offering places to sit, relax, and take in the incredible views over Central Maui, the valleys, and all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Guests who haven’t had enough of the lavender smell can purchase soaps, lotions, essential oils, culinary lavender and food items the include scones and teas.
Admission is only $3 per person with children 12 and under free.
Īao Valley State Park
We didn’t see this picturesque part of the island on our first visit to Maui, but we certainly scouted it out on a follow-on trip. The Īao Valley in Central Maui is a lush region with towering peaks and an impressive cultural history. Considered one of the most beautiful and sacred places on Maui, the valley includes the ʻĪao Needle, a dramatic stone pillar once used as a lookout and the ʻĪao Stream, a freshwater body of water running through the valley.
This is a great place for hiking due to its lush rain forest and paved walking paths leading to stunning overlooks. The area offers easy, family-friendly walks and is extremely photogenic.
Kula Botanical Garden
Another iconic garden on the slopes of Haleakala, Kula was established in 1971 as a peaceful, lush, tropical paradise in Upcountry Maui.
Initially started as a display garden for the McCord family’s landscape-architecture business, the garden expanded to house nearly 2,000 plant varieties, including native Hawaiian species, proteas, orchids, bromeliads, koa, kukui and more.
Features include a koi pond, waterfalls, a covered bridge, rock formations, an aviary with native birds, a carved tiki exhibit, and labeled plants with their common and botanical names and country of origin.
Maui Ocean Center
Though it’s relatively small compared to other mainland aquariums, Maui Ocean Center is extremely well-done. The living reef exhibit has an impressive collection of fish found throughout the Hawaiian Islands.
Located in Ma‘alaea, the marine aquarium and oceanography center sits on approximately three acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
One of the biggest draws is a 750,000-gallon tank with sharks, rays and other species of sea life. Visitors walk through an acrylic tunnel making them feel surrounded by sea life. The Turtle Lagoon houses Hawaiian green sea turtles (honu), cared for as part of conservation efforts. In addition to touch pools and a Humpbacks of Hawai’i Sphere Exhibit, cultural and botanical elements integrate Hawaiian history, stories of the sea, fishing traditions, and connections to the ocean.
Napili Beach
This stretch of sand is a real gem, recessed into the shoreline blocking much of the afternoon wind. Located on the northwest coast between Kapalua and Ka’anapali, Napili Bay is more relaxed and much less commercial than other popular island beaches.
The scenery is stunning with its white, crescent shape, turquoise waters, clear visibility, and views of the islands of Molokaʻi and Lānaʻi. Because the bay is protected, it’s great for swimming and snorkeling and a reef filled with colorful reef fish and Hawaiian honu.
Town of Pai’a
This is my favorite small town on Maui and here’s why: it’s located in the direction of the Road to Hana, so it’s a nice stop on the way there, or on the way back.
The odd and bizarre here only add more character to this hippy-ish surfing village, once a plantation town with a sugar mill. The architectural vibe is fascinating with rustic, old-plantation style wood buildings, often painted in bright pastels and small storefronts and boutiques celebrating the bohemian, artsy culture.
Ho’okipa Beach Park, just a five-minute drive away, is famous for windsurfing and kite surfing, especially in winter when the waves are big. This is also a great place to view the green sea turtles.
Nakalele Blowhole
This natural geological phenomenon is located near the village of Honokohau, in West Maui. The blowhole is formed by waves crashing into and under a lava shelf in an underwater sea cave, creating a natural geyser.
The best time to see the blowhole show its stuff is at high tide, so it’s important to time your visit as such. Under good surf and tide conditions, the sea water spurts up to 70 feet in the air.
Visitors have two choices on viewing the blowhole, from a vantage point above at a parking area or by taking a short but rocky, uneven trail down toward the coastline.
It’s one incredible site!
Surfing Goat Dairy
This working goat dairy farm in Kula, Maui covers almost 42 acres of pasture where visitors can interact with goats, watch cheese making and taste truffles. The farm nurtures a herd of more than 120 milking goats against a backdrop of the island’s lush landscape.
Surfing Goat offers casual walking tours where you can feed the goats and even try your hand at the milking process. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see and pet some adorable kid goats in the nursery.
