Biking

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There are a couple of great places on Kauai for two-wheeling: the Poipu area, which has wide, flat roads and several dirt-cane roads (especially around Mahaulepu); and the cane road (a dirt road used for hauling sugar cane) between Kealia Beach and Anahola, north of Kapaa.

The following places rent mountain bikes, from a low of $10 a day for cruisers to $15 to $20 a day for mountain bikes (with big discounts for multiple-day rentals): Outfitters Kauai, 2827A Poipu Rd. (look for the small five-shop mall before the road forks to Poipu/Spouting Horn), Poipu (tel. 808/742-9667; www.outfitterskauai.com); and Kauai Cycle and Tour, 1379 Kuhio Hwy., Kapaa (tel. 808/821-2115; www.bikehawaii.com/kauaicycle). For a great selection of high-quality mountain bikes at reasonable prices, it's worth the drive to Pedal [']n Paddle, in Hanalei (tel. 808/826-9069; www.pedalnpaddle.com), which has not only high-grade Kona mountain bikes with Shimano components but also bikes with front-end suspension systems. Rentals start at $10 a day or $30 a week and include helmet, bike lock, and car rack. The shop even has kids' 20-inch BMX bikes. The knowledgeable folks here are more than happy to provide you with free maps and tell you about the best biking spots on the island.

Guided Bike Tours -- Outfitters Kauai (tel. 808/742-9667; www.outfitterskauai.com) offers a fabulous downhill bike ride from Waimea Canyon to the ocean. The 12-mile trip (mostly coasting) begins at 6am, when the van leaves the shop in Poipu and heads up to the canyon. By the time you've eaten the fresh-baked muffins and enjoyed the coffee, you're at the top of the canyon, just as the sun is rising over the rim -- it's a remarkable moment. The tour makes a couple of stops on the way down for short, scenic nature hikes. You'll be back at the shop around 10am. The sunset trip follows the same route. Both tours cost $90 per adult; $70 per child 12 to 14.

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