No doubt you have seen Jurassic Park, if you haven’t, I’ll wait. If you are a fan, why not visit the island where it was filmed?

Here are the top FIVE things you need to do if you are able to visit Kauai, Hawaii’s most northern island:

1) Take a helicopter tour with Jack Harter Helicopter Tours. This is by far the best way to see the island because the vast majority of land is protected, undeveloped and, thus, inaccessible. Remember the waterfall canyon helicopter landing scene in Jurassic Park? For a little extra, you can have the same experience. Even if you don’t spring for the Jurassic Park Tour, the most jaw-dropping aspects of the flight are along the Ne Pali Coast. Balls of steel sold separately. If possible, be sure to ask for Cliff. He can’t sell you your balls of steel but he’s an expert pilot and a top-quality human being. It was my very first helicopter ride and now I am wondering how I might be able to make helicopter trips more of a regular thing… you know, for science.

2) Take an ATV Tour. OMG. Do the one with the rope swing into the river that Harrison Ford jumped into when they filmed Indiana Jones (‘member? racing to the sea plane in the river to escape the savages?). You should sign up for the tour that we did through Kipu Ranch Adventures for top quality tour guides and a top quality time. Expect clothes to be destroyed by red dirt.. same goes for any unprotected gear. You have been warned.

3) Take surf lessons! There are, literally, tons of really cool spots that we could have chosen from but we were thrilled that we went with the surf instructors here. Bring the GoPro along and ride some mellow waves on a longboard with a professional. It’s totally mental and I completely miss it now that I am thinking about it again. Ugh.

4) Hike the Kalalau Trail along the Na Pali Coast. Get to the parking areas early in the morning to beat traffic and ensure a good spot so you aren’t having to hike a long way down the road after an already long and fairly strenuous hike. Make sure you pack a suit for when you get back from your hike; it’s a popular snorkeling spot. Just remember, the snorkeling is for when you get back from your hike because the private beach that you reach before turning around *gulp* kills a bunch of people on a seemingly regular basis. There is a running death tally displayed on an old, weathered wooden sign en route to the beach to warn you of all the people that underestimated the intensity of the rip currents. No joke.

5) Go stargazing. If you happen to visit when the moon is less than full, look up at night and you’ll be amazed how clear the Milky Way is. Check out my post on the best camera gear equipment for shooting in low-light situations in case you are planning to travel with a DSLR! I just really like the night sky 🙂