An Island never felt so big.

It is the second largest of the Hawaiian Islands! Less urban, less densely populated, ringed by a 120-mile lei of soft, sandy shoreline. Ideal for sand castles, sunning, and swimming, Maui’s beaches are consistently rated among the best in the world, and not to be missed. The same is true of Maui’s signature golf courses. Emerald fairways compete for your attention with sweeping ocean vistas and soaring mountain peaks. No account of Maui’s superlatives would be complete without a mention of its larger than life visitors. About 3,000 whales make an annual pilgrimage to winter in Maui’s waters, making it one of the best places on the planet for watching these magnificent creatures.

The beach, however, is just the beginning. Less well known but no less stunning are the untrammeled and under-explored small towns scattered across the island. Wailuku, where Mark Twain once strode past wooden storefronts housing family businesses that are still thriving today. Upcountry Maui, with its ranches, lavender farm, vineyard, and the town of Makawao, home to Hawaiian cowboys and voted one of the “Top 25 Arts Destinations in the U.S.” Hana, secreted away on the far eastern side of the island, which keeps its old Hawaii feel alive. There are also welcoming festivals, tropical gardens, and fascinating museums, too numerous to mention. Come once, and you will be compelled to return again and again.