Kauai Underground Guide (Book & Audio CD, 17th Edition)

Called 'the bible' (Travel & Leisure), this top-rated guide has 'Everything you need to know about Kauai's beaches, activities, restaurants, tours, accommodations, and more!' ( Hawaii Magazine). With more than 200,000 copies sold, the book has earned a loyal following among readers and travel writers for its honest and reliable advice. It has been praised as a "trusted sidekick for the visitor who wants to get to know the island well" (Honolulu Advertiser), and recommended by the San Francisco Chronicle, Vancouver Courier, San Jose Mercury News, TravelAge West, Chicago Sun Times, and Sunset Magazine. According to the Los Angeles Times: "Our vacation became an adventure the day we discovered the Kauai Underground Guide!"

What began 20 years ago as a 16-page typewritten overview of one family's collected ideas for getting the best out of a Kauai vacation has grown into a 200-page tome of personal and practical advice. The Horowitz family has made Kauai their second home, and author Lenore offers the kind of information that prompts readers to write that this book makes them feel "part of the island's family."

A planning section detailing where to stay and what to pack is followed by overviews of activities, adventures, and discoveries--such as useful Hawaiian words, where to watch sunsets, and how to find the best artists and artisans. A chapter on beach adventures offers up-to-date reports on beaches all over the island. This guide covers all the bases to help you make the most of your island time.

On "Hideaways" Beach, for example, the detailed account reads:

At the base of the cliff near the Pali Ke Kua Condominiums in Princeville is a lovely sandy beach set inside a reef, where you can watch the sun sparkle on the waves in near solitude. It is a peaceful spot, secluded and beautiful, actually two beaches connected by a rocky point. Swimming is not the best because of the coral bottom and the offshore rocks, but snorkeling can be very good in calm summer seas. Be cautious. As on all north shore beaches, snorkeling can be risky and is advisable only in a calm ocean; when the surf is up, current can become dangerous.

The restaurant section's useful chart lists phone numbers, prices, and color-map reference numbers, followed by readers' choices of the best places to find fresh fish, ocean views, steaks, etc.

As a bonus gift in this 15th-anniversary edition, you'll find a free CD of Hawaiian music by popular artist Keali'i Reichel. A portion of the proceeds from Kauai Underground Guide go to literacy, arts, and special needs for Kauai's children. --Kathryn True