Hey Clever Girls!
As you might know, I recently got back from a vacay in Kauai. This was my fourth trip to the Garden Island and with each visit, I’ve found new things to fall in love with. Keep reading for a quick review of some of my favorite spots!
If you’ve never been to Kauai before, it’s worth noting that while it’s a small island, the north and south sides have very different vibes. The north side gets more rain and has the mountains in its backyard so everything is extremely lush. The south side is known to be sunnier and also has easier access to town life. This trip, I spent the beginning few days on the north end in Princeville and finished up the trip more south near Lihue. But I would suggest to all of you, definitely rent a car so you can explore as much as possible, which is exactly what we did!
All seven of my family members and myself shuttled around Kauai for two weeks visiting endless beaches and scenic points and I still didn’t get to see everything I wanted to, so don’t let the small island thing fool you. Where we started in Princeville is near Hanalei Bay and the Napali Coast. Unfortunately, the low grounds were flooded this spring, which closed access to my favorite beach Ke’e and the Kalalau trail that my sister was dying to hike. Word on the street is this whole area will be closed until November at the earliest (https://kalalautrail.com/). Definitely worth checking out if it’s open when you go!
Instead, we did two smaller hikes near the St. Regis (If you’re not staying, go for lunch to check out their views!); Hideaways Beach and Queen’s Bath. Both were short, but steep, muddy and totally worth it. Leave extra time to relax and enjoy Hideaways Beach if you go. The water is crystal clear and very calm the day we went in July. However, it’s totally secluded with no restrooms on site. You can also take a dip in some of the smaller pools at Queen’s Bath, but stay alert. There were signs everywhere about the strong currents and multiple deaths. We did see a woman with a baby in a carrier, but she looked to be struggling across some of the slippery rocks. If you can make it, it’s pretty cool to see the rock formations, waterfalls, and sea turtles.
Most of our time on both sides of the island consisted of beach hopping, so there were a bit too many to go into detail in this post. I have a separate post breaking them down here if you’re interested.
On our way to the southern side of Kauai, we stopped by the Kilauea Lighthouse. It had nice views of the water, like most places on the island, but it overlooked these little caves that made me think Captain Hook could pop out at any moment. This area is also a bird sanctuary and makes for a nice stop on the drive down when you have time to kill between check out and check in. Also before check in, we ventured out to Spouting Horn and Wailua Falls, which is a must-see for sure. I’m a little bummed we didn’t try out the make-shift path down to the waterfront. I’m not sure if this is even legal though and it looked pretty muddy. For another trip!
Now on the south side, we continued beach hopping. We had a wonderful family photo session with Alexandra Masihy just outside of the Hyatt and I’d recommend her to anyone wanting a few beautifully shot memories from their vacation. David and I stayed at this resort our last trip, before the birth of blingsling, and it’s one of my all time favorite hotels. The grounds, pools, and restaurants are all insanely gorgeous and the hospitality is warm and friendly. This trip, we just had dinner here, but had a delicious time.
Besides a few more beaches, we wanted to get a couple of excursions under our belt. And by we, I mean my sister, the hiker. Near the absolutely breathtaking Kalalau lookout, we conquered the Kalepa Ridge Trail. It’s definitely for the adventurous, or anyone like me trying to, I guess, conquer a fear of heights? I have a separate post here on our hike. The lookout is for EVERYone though and wow, is it stunning! It’s a great place for a picnic with waterfall-gazing. We caught a few more waterfalls on our drive back down to Waimea Canyon. Each lookout had an equally awesome vantage point that pictures just can’t seem to fully capture. It really is like the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.
I think I could go on forever about my love for Hawaii, especially Kauai, but I have to leave room for you to explore! If you’re traveling to Kauai or have traveled before, leave your comments and questions below. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Mahalo!
Love. Inspire. Grow. Enjoy.
Jordan
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Kristin
September 21, 2018
Thanks for the shoutouts! Great recap and LOVE the photos!!! I need more Kauai in my life