Page 16) Things to Do in Kauai in 2026 – Tours & Activities

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

fern grotto

Reviewed by: sara926

The employees were very friendly. The Grotto was not all that I expected it to be in my imagination, but it was still very beautiful and I would recommend to check it out

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Attended as:	Families with Young Children
Posted on:	2009/07/11

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

Splendid!

Reviewed by: Jen

The Smith family embraces you with their Hawaiian charm as soon as you meet them! The river trip to the Fern Grotto was a beautiful experience. We were celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary so when the singers sang the Hawaiian Wedding Song it was very special! The Hula dancer on-board was not only beautiful, but very talented as well. Even my husband participated in the learning of the Hula dance - much to my delight! I would do this trip again if ever given the chance. Truly memorable!

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Attended as:	Couples
Posted on:	2009/06/26

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

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Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous

This was a relaxing river ride. Our guides were knowledgable. We enjoyed the singing and dancing on the boat. We rode this tour into the Luau. Overall It was a great 1st day on the island. We would all do it again!

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Attended as:	Families
Posted on:	2009/06/26

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

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Reviewed by: So Cal Beaches

The Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto was enjoyable. I recommend taking the last cruise and then going to the Smith Luau.

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Attended as:	Couples
Posted on:	2009/06/10

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

Pretty good stuff

Reviewed by: Daniel & Christine

The boat is kind of boring, but also very scenic. The grotto does make it worthwhile. I suggest doing the Smiths luau right after this, they are right together, so why not!

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Attended as:	Couples
Posted on:	2009/06/02

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

Smith's Laua

Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous

Better than expected, best laua I've been to. The gardens are beautiful, go early so you can spend some time walking around the beautiful location.

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Attended as:	Families with Young Children
Posted on:	2009/05/28

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

Fern Grotto

Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous

Not what I expected, could have skipped it to spend more time at the Smith's laua.

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Attended as:	Families with Young Children
Posted on:	2009/05/28

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

Good time

Reviewed by: Good Time

We had a good time

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Attended as:	Couples
Posted on:	2009/05/22

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

Unique Experience

Reviewed by: John Osheka

Great experience. Enabled us to see a unique part of the Island which we would have missed. Staff was great and made the experience very enjoyable.

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Attended as:	Couples
Posted on:	2009/05/18

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

Fern Grotto

Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous

Fern Grotto was absolutely beautiful.

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Attended as:	Families with Young Children
Posted on:	2009/04/07

Waimea Canyon Sightseeing Tour & Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto

I love Kauai So much

Reviewed by: Kauai Lover

I and my husband enjoyed a lot. Our guide has very much knowledge about Kauai, and Hawaii's history, too. Even the tour was long, we never got bored!
That was our First trip to Kauai, and we didn't know where should we go. But this tour gave me so much experience in Kauai.
If you go to Kauai First time, you should join this tour!

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Attended as:	Couples
Posted on:	2009/04/04

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

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Reviewed by: don

Very informative, interesting and enjoyable. Would recommend to everyone

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Attended as:	Couples
Posted on:	2009/03/22

Waimea Canyon Sightseeing Tour & Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto

It was cool!

Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous

The tour itself was very informative and the weather great. I enjoyed the island very much.
Thanks!

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Attended as:	Friends
Posted on:	2009/03/05

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

A lovely way to see the river

Reviewed by: HBaxter

We enjoyed this lazy trip down the river and learned a lot about the river on the way from the captain. The fern grotto was beautiful, though not quite as lush as it had once been (so don't expect it to look like the postcards you see! I guess the hurricanes did some damage). The entertainment at the grotto was also lovely - hearing the traditional Hawaiian wedding song (in Hawaiian) with beautiful harmonies was enchanting. I also love that this is a family run business, putting money back into the traditions of Hawaii and the families that reside there. We took our seven year old boy and nine year old girl, and grandma, and everyone enjoyed the trip.

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Attended as:	Families with Young Children
Posted on:	2009/02/22

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

Fern Grotto Trip

Reviewed by: Betty Kaszula

This is the first time we took the boat trip up the river. I was impressed with the family involvement in every aspect of the luau and boat tour. They are very gracious people and must answer the same questions thousands of times yet they show an interest each time to make everyone feel special and not like some

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Attended as:	Families with Young Children
Posted on:	2009/02/14

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

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Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous

We had a great time.This is worth the money.

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Attended as:	Couples
Posted on:	2009/02/10

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

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Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous

Enjoyed very much.If you have never done it you should.

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Attended as:	Couples
Posted on:	2009/02/10

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

Guide

Reviewed by: Aaron

Our guide was excellent. I'm not sure anyone other than a local could have given us a tour as insightful or interesting.

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Attended as:	Couples
Posted on:	2009/01/30

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

fern grotto river cruise

Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous

I don't regret doing this, however, I would not do it again. Decent activity for first timers.

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Attended as:	Families
Posted on:	2009/01/05

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

Relaxing cruise on the Wialua River

Reviewed by: S. Denning

The cruise is vary relaxing, vary beutiful, and the staff is vary informative and the hula dancer was wonderful. But be warned the cave at the Fern Grotto is now closed, but you can still see it and take pictures of it wich is beutuful. recomended to first timers.

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Attended as:	Families with Young Children
Posted on:	2008/11/22

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

A very pleasant experience!

Reviewed by: Mary

This cruise is great for older people who are not able to walk very well - the staff is very friendly, the entertainment is fun and relaxing, the river is beautiful, and the walk to the Fern Grotto was very nice also. We did this before going to the luau at Smith's. It was a wonderful combination!

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Attended as:	Families with Young Children
Posted on:	2008/11/15

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

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Reviewed by: rom de guzman

THIS TRIP EXCEEDED MY EXPECTATIONS.

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Attended as:	Families
Posted on:	2008/10/30

Waimea Canyon Sightseeing Tour & Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto

Great to get a feel of the Kauai

Reviewed by: Unikiam

If you want to get a feel of the island, this is a great tour, although it made a really long day and would not be recommended for children. The bus driver, Auntie Alicia, is what really made it work. The pickup time was different than on the confirmation and lunch differed from what was posted; but Auntie Alicia's knowledge and cheeriness made up for those discrepancies.

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Attended as:	Couples
Posted on:	2008/10/21

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

Amazing Fern Grotto

Reviewed by: Rich

This was an amazing Cruise down the Wialua River to the Fern Grotto. The staff was great and told of the history of the river and the grotto. The return trip included hawaiian music and hula lessons. I would really recommend this trip to everyone.

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Attended as:	Couples
Posted on:	2008/10/18

Waimea Canyon Sightseeing Tour & Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto

Aunty

Reviewed by: Laurie

Lovely tour with Aunty behind the wheel. The day passed quickly with a reasonable lunch (we bought our own) at Joe's on the golf course.

Aunty's humor and knowledge made the day memorable. Thoroughly enjoyed the stops at the Fern Grotto and Wiamea canyon.

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Attended as:	Families with Young Children
Posted on:	2008/08/30

Waimea Canyon Sightseeing Tour & Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto

The Garden Island

Reviewed by: Mr. Anonymous

I had a great time on this tour. We only stayed for two days so it was good that we did this tour on our first day to learn about the island. We just went back to the sights and beyond on the next day to explore more on our own. Kauai is such an beautiful, mellow, country island. People were very nice, and you can still feel that old Hawaiian way of living. I loved the Fern Grotto. The little dancing and singing on the boat was fun.

Mahalo!

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Rating:
Attended as:	Couples
Posted on:	2008/07/11

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

Fern Grotto River Ride

Reviewed by: Barbara

We loved this tour. The ride up the river was informative and absolutely beautiful. Walking the Grotto was amazing. So many types of plants. You will be amazed. Be sure to walk through slowly. Look at every flower and in between leaves so you don't miss the giant bumble bees or the beautiful birds. Some people walked too quickly and missed these wonders of nature.

The ride back was pleasant with the staff playing music and dancing. They were great guides and great people. One of the guides walked slowly with us and told us all about the different plants and what the natives used these plants for. Super informative. I felt sorry for those who didn't take the time to listen to his wealth of knowledge.

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Attended as:	Families with Young Children
Posted on:	2008/05/22

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

Handicap Access

Reviewed by: Mrs. Harless

The trip was listed as a short, rugged walk, but is handicap accessible. I would have liked this information ahead of time, as walking on concrete is very painful for me, and I would have taken my scooter if I had known there was a paved walk way. I would like to go again sometime, when the ferns have recovered from the damage of the 2006 Hurricane. Cruise was informative, entertaining and fun!

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Rating:
Attended as:	Couples
Posted on:	2008/05/12

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

Smith's River Cruise

Reviewed by: Linn A

Smith's River Cruise was well done. Unfortunately the Fern Grotto sust
ained damage which no longer allows people to go inside.

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Attended as:	Families with Young Children
Posted on:	2008/05/01

Waimea Canyon Sightseeing Tour & Wailua River Cruise to Fern Grotto

Best of the Island

Reviewed by: Kauai Fan

The bus took us all over the island and we got to see everything up close. I was thankful I did not have to do any driving and could enjoy the scenery. Everything was so beautiful. I came away thinking Kauai was my favorite island. It was worth every penny I paid and I think the best of all the circle island tours. I took one Circle Island Tour on each island and Kauai was the best. The guide was very informative and I learned things about Kauai that I otherwise would not have known being out on my own. The only thing I would suggest is to plan on being really tired the next day, and just to relax the next day because you do and see so much that it tires you out.

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Attended as:	Friends
Posted on:	2008/04/19

Things to Do in Kauai in 2026 – Tours & Activities | HawaiiActivities.com

All Reviews for Fern Grotto & Wailua River Cruise in Kauai

Overall Rating

Reviews

fern grotto

Splendid!

Untitled

Untitled

Pretty good stuff

Smith's Laua

Fern Grotto

Good time

Unique Experience

Fern Grotto

I love Kauai So much

Untitled

It was cool!

A lovely way to see the river

Fern Grotto Trip

Untitled

Untitled

Guide

fern grotto river cruise

Relaxing cruise on the Wialua River

A very pleasant experience!

Untitled

Great to get a feel of the Kauai

Amazing Fern Grotto

Aunty

The Garden Island

Fern Grotto River Ride

Handicap Access

Smith's River Cruise

Best of the Island

Hawaiian Islands

Kauai Categories