On Kauai's South Shore, Poipu is maybe Kauai's best known visitor destination with an abundance of rental home and hotel accomodations, with swimming, diving, golf and tennis among other activities to do. A reasonable distance from the Lihue airport it's a convenient gateway to the West Side, though it's an hour or more (probably more) to the North Shore. Much of Poipu is considered a Visitors Designated Area so there are many vacation rentals. Poipu Beach Park with its manned lifeguard tower is popular for swimming and snorkeling, and its summertime surf spots can be great. You won't find the large sandy beaches you'll find elsewhere on Kauai, they're smaller and nestled between rock outcroppings, but you'll often find the clearest water on Kauai. There are some fun and interesting walks and tours on the Maha'ulepu Heritage Trail, at Spouting Horn and the Makawehi Lithified Cliifs, and the National Tropical Botanical, Allerton and McBryde Gardens. The Poipu Bay golf course with its 18 "oean-links style" holes designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr hosted the PGA Grand Slam of Golf from 1994-2006, boasting panoramic views as well as historic cultural sites and the opportunity to see humpback whales and the endangered native Nene Geese. For shopping and dining you'll find a large variety of options at both Poipu Shopping Village and the newer Shops at Kukui'ula located in the heart of Poipu.