Waterfall & Chocolate Day

Most visitors burn their whole trip in Honolulu and never make it north. Kikos Tours Oahu's Waterfall & Chocolate Day gets you out of the tourist corridor in one shot-seven to eight hours covering the North Shore, with stops that actually show you how different this island gets once you leave town.

The anchor stop is Waimea Valley & Falls, where you can swim beneath a 45-foot waterfall-entrance included, lifejackets supplied and required for the water. Getting there is a 20-minute walk up an incline, though trams and scooters are available for an extra fee if you'd rather skip the climb (tram's about five minutes). After that, the tour rolls through Iolani Palace, the Dole Plantation, a North Shore macadamia nut farm, a local farm coffee tasting, and Haleiwa, the historic plantation town at the heart of the North Shore. Leonard's Malasadas and macadamia nut samples are included. Shave ice, Dole Whip, and lunch are available along the way but come out of your own pocket.

This itinerary makes particular sense once you've ticked off central Honolulu-it's built for the day you're ready to head north and actually mean it. Groups cap at 14, so you're not shuffling through these spots in a crowd. Transportation, snacks, and a guide are included; meals, shopping, and gratuity aren't.

Meeting point is 1325 Ekaha Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96816. Pack swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and a camera. Ages one through 101 are welcome, and infants are accommodated.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before your tour date-the policy applies to both parties. The Waterfall & Chocolate Day experience starts from $657 through Kikos Tours Oahu.