Kula, HI

A beautiful lavender farm on the slopes of Haleakala at 4000 feet with panoramic views of the ocean, the West Maui Mountains, and the central valley. The self-guided walking tour winds through 45 varieties of lavender and other plants. Kids enjoy the scavenger hunt activity and the gift shop has unique lavender-scented products and lavender-flavored treats. The cooler upcountry air is a pleasant break from the coast. The scenery from the farm is gorgeous and the lavender smells incredible. A relaxing, low-key family stop.

Watching the sunrise from the 10023-foot summit of Haleakala volcano is one of the most extraordinary experiences in Hawaii. The crater landscape looks like Mars and the sunrise above the clouds is genuinely life-changing. Kids are awed by the alien-looking terrain and the cinder cones inside the massive crater. It is very cold at the summit (often below freezing at dawn) so bundle up. Sunrise reservations are required and sell out months in advance. Short rim trails at the summit are accessible for families.

An easy half-mile loop trail through a unique forest of native and non-native trees inside Haleakala National Park at 6800 feet elevation. The shady trail is perfect for families with young kids and the interpretive signs teach about the different tree species planted here as a reforestation experiment in the early 1900s. Native birds including the endangered Hawaiian goose (nene) are often spotted. The adjacent campground is free and a great base for exploring the summit. The cooler mountain air is a refreshing change from the coast.

A mountain forest on the slopes of Haleakala at 6200 feet that feels nothing like tropical Hawaii. Towering redwood, eucalyptus, and pine trees create a cool, misty forest that could be in the Pacific Northwest. The Redwood Trail and Plum Trail are family-friendly loops through these unusual forests. The temperature is 20 to 30 degrees cooler than the coast which surprises kids who expect Hawaii to always be hot. On clear days the views of Maui central valley and the ocean are spectacular. A cabin is available for overnight stays.

A surreal hike into the crater of Haleakala volcano through a landscape of red, orange, and grey cinder cones that looks like the surface of Mars. The trail starts at the summit visitor center at 10023 feet and descends into the crater on soft volcanic sand. Even hiking the first mile in and back out provides incredible scenery. The full trail is long and the altitude makes exertion harder so start slowly. Silversword plants, found nowhere else on Earth, grow along the trail. This is a genuinely otherworldly experience.