Our family trip to Maui in August certainly involved plenty of beach and pool time, but we also explored different parts of the island, too. Our older daughter, Sarah, and her husband and two boys had never visited the island before, so we encouraged them to drive up to Haleakalā to take in the views and the otherworldly landscapes and flora. They also had a great time on a guided snorkeling excursion and did a little snorkeling on their own as well. Meanwhile, those of us who had been to Maui twice before (and who had two little girls to entertain who weren’t ready to snorkel yet) did a little meandering to spots we thought would be fun to revisit.

One morning we made our way to Maui’s Upcountry on the slopes of Haleakalā and the Kula region. Our first stop was at Surfing Goat Dairy, Maui’s largest commercial dairy, producing a range of goat cheeses as well as some wonderful gourmet truffles made with goat milk. They’ve expanded their operations since we visited three years ago, but one of the big draws for our granddaughters hasn’t changed: the goats. We immediately purchased a small bucket of feed (hay) and squared off with a string of goats lined up along the fence, eager for a handout. I thought Josie, the two-and-a-half-year-old, might be a bit intimidated by the pushy critters, but she joined her sister in doling out the treat. When the bucket was empty, both girls continued to scrounge for wisps of straw that had fallen by the wayside, happy to continue their interaction.

We decided not to take the guided tour, opting instead to view the pens of the babies and their mamas on our own and then purchase a sampling of the cheeses made here. We settled on the shaded patio, surrounded by tropical greenery and flowers, and dug into the variety of flavored chèvres, feta and crackers. We enjoyed everything and also sampled a few of the many chocolate truffles they make on site.

Next, we continued on up the mountain to Kula Country Farms, seeking to purchase some farm-grown veggies and fruits for meals for the next few days. The farmstand and surrounding gardens offer views far down to the western and southern shores of Maui, some 4,000 feet or so below. This elevation and the surrounding rich soil allow for year-round production of strawberries and all kinds of vegetables, as well as beautiful flowers. The well-tended, whimsical gardens surrounding the store offered a few surprises along with the floral displays. We discovered the friendly resident tortoise (a youngster less than 20 years old but sizable, nonetheless), several colorful chickens and one of the largest Little Free Libraries we’ve ever encountered. We enjoyed poking through the store, discovering handcrafted items along with preserves, baked goods and even seeds to take back home to plant, and finally left with some wonderful fresh fruit and lettuce and beans.

The next afternoon we all made our way to a quiet, gold-sand beach in Wailea for a family photo shoot with a professional photographer, Saray Sharvit. She specializes in family photography, especially on the beach. She timed our session for just before sunset, and the weather fully cooperated, providing us with some clouds to provide perfect lighting. Saray took a whole portfolio of really lovely photos, and I think her greatest feats were getting shy Josie to open up and give us some genuine smiles and getting my rascally grandsons to stop making goofy faces long enough to produce some really sweet shots of them. While she worked with one small group or another, I snapped a few of my own photos to capture the beautiful afternoon. I think the setting really had us all enthralled with the beauty and serenity of the spot, allowing for a really calm session. Well, that and the inducement we offered the kids of ice cream afterwards, if they cooperated!

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor