So here we are five years later - yes, five! Hard to believe how fast times flies! Although the tan has faded from our anniversary trip this past May, the memories have not. We spent 10 days relaxing in Kauai and it could not have been more perfect!
If you haven't been to Hawaii or the island of Kauai I would highly recommend it. Kauai is also called the Garden Island because it's so lush, making the island exactly what you'd imagine all tropical islands to be. It's a bit more authentic than the other Hawaiian islands, which is one of the many reasons that Adam and I love it. Kauai is best known for the the Na Pali coast - lush, green, jagged mountains that shoot straight out of the ocean. It's simply breathtaking.
It's really hard to believe that our much awaited trip to Hawaii is over but now we get to share our memories with you! So with that, here are some of the highlights...
Dukes:
Absolutely one of our favorite places to eat in Kauai so it was an obvious pick for our first night on the island. We spent the first few days of our vacation staying at the Marriott, which is just a short walk down the beach to Dukes. So before heading to dinner on our first night, Adam and I grabbed drinks at the resort bar overlooking the grounds and the ocean. We sat at the table listening to live island music when all of the sudden Adam pulled a little box from his pocket and opened it...
Now, you may not know this but I have a "thing" for leaf necklaces. I LOVE them! This particular leaf is a Maile leaf which is often used in Hawaiian wedding bouquets. Perfect, right?! I certainly didn't expect an anniversary gift but I couldn't have imagined anything better if I had. Love you babe!
Secret Falls:
Probably our favorite memory from the vacation. Secret Falls is for the determined because it requires a bit of work to find. From what I understand, there are guided tours except on Sundays. So wouldn't you guess, Adam decided that we must go on Sunday. He refused to "share" the falls with a slew of tourists.
Our adventure started at a the Kamokila Hawaiian Village where we rented kayaks - you can't get to Secret Falls without paddling up the river, hence the kayaks. After checking in, the guy at the village gave us directions (if you can call them that) to the falls that went something like this,"Turn down the first arm of the river; paddle to the big tree at the end of the arm; beach the kayak; hike 1/2 mile through the jungle brush following the river; cross the river by holding onto the rope so that you don't fall; hike another 1/2 mile until you come to a stream; turn left at the stream; hike up the hill where you will arrive at the falls."
Ummmm, okay....
I started wondering how many people were still wandering around the "jungle brush," lost from their self-guided tour started earlier that week. But, I trusted my fearless leader, loaded our daypacks into the kayaks and started paddling. I'm so glad I did because we got to the falls without a problem and it was completely worth it! We were at the falls for almost an hour before a few other people showed up. It was like we had our own little piece of paradise all to ourselves. It was perfect!
The North Drive:
The drive up north is a must. Driving along the ocean and through the beautiful lush landscape is simply amazing. I also highly recommend making the drive in some type of convertible - something about the convertible makes the experience a little better!
Once up north, the road ends not far outside of Hanalei. There are many hiking trails should you desire but those were not on our list this time. We grabbed a great lunch in Hanalei and then drove back towards Princeville. We had heard of a place called Queens Bath that is more of a local spot so we wanted to check it out.
Queens Bath is amazing! It's a natural tide pool carved into a lava shelf. When the waves crash against the rock, water spills into the pool keeping it nice and refreshing. It's about the size of several large swimming pools, has many colorful fish and some tall rocks that Adam spent much of the time jumping from. Another must see!
A note of caution - Queen's Bath can be super dangerous during certain times of year so be careful.
The Grand Hyatt Resort and Spa:
I don't really know what to say about the Grand Hyatt in Poipu - there are just too many wonderful things. The Grand Hyatt holds a very special place in our hearts but I'm positive that it's not just sentimental reasons that make this resort one-of-a-kind.
You enter the resort with a view that can only be described as spectacular. The open-air lobby and "frame" that looks out to the ocean are hard to describe. See...
The rooms are all beautiful, including marble bathrooms and large balconies for sunset watching. The grounds are immaculate and closer to a botanical gardens than a resort. And then there's the pools. There are fresh water "river" pools that wind throughout waterfalls and lava rock. There's a salt water lagoon large enough for an island, complete with palm trees and hammock. There are hot tubs tucked under flowering Hawaiian trees for late night dips. Not to mention a beautiful white sand beach leading down to the ocean. It's a water sanctuary!
The Anara Spa is also a must if you ever stay at the Hyatt in Kauai. What makes the Anara Spa so special? Open air lava rock showers, dipping pools, coco mango lotion, and uhh, did you hear me say spa?! You get the idea!
Gaylords:
Gaylord's is located on the grounds of the historic Kilohana Plantation, surrounded by over 100 acres of beautifully manicured grounds and lush landscape. The restaurant is inside a 1935 English tudor style home, which creates a pretty unbelievable setting for dinner. All the tables are in a courtyard allowing for open air dining with a gorgeous view of the mountains. Idealistic is the word that comes to mind. Hence the reason Adam and I visited Gaylord's twice during our stay on Kauai! The food was amazing (like, amazing), the drinks were delicious, the setting was captivating and the company was perfect! A highlight for sure.
Mac Nut and Chocolate Chip Pancakes:
Potentially my new favorite food. Should you ever visit Kauai, please do yourself a favor and grab some pancakes at the Kountry Kitchen in Kapaa.
Waimea Canyon:
Last time Adam and I were in Hawaii we took a helicopter ride around the island, including the Na Pali Coast. This time we decided to drive up the Waimea Canyon and look down the jagged cliffs that make the Na Pali Coast. This is what we saw...
Beautiful right?!
Josselin's Tapas Bar & Grill:
Last but certainly not least. Josselin's.
Josselin's is hands down my favorite restaurant...potentially of all time. It's a tapas bar and grill that my brother and sister-in-law told us about. So glad they did because it was an experience.
Couple of menu favs:
-The Lychee Sangria: luckily Adam figured out how to replicate this superb drink at home!
-Slider Sampler: including peking duck, organic lamb and beef all mixed with various seasonings.
-Duck Wontons: there are no words.
-Roasted Feta Cheese Salad: with charred tomatoes, olives and avocado. Best. Salad. Ever.
-36 Hour Braised Pork Belly: yep, you heard me right.
No judging...we ate at Josselin's three times because it really was that good!
So as you can tell, we had an amazing vacation. We are so blessed to have experiences like these. And the best part? Adam and I grow together so much through these experiences. I am thankful for these times and for my loving husband that enjoys memory making with me!
If you haven't been to Hawaii or the island of Kauai I would highly recommend it. Kauai is also called the Garden Island because it's so lush, making the island exactly what you'd imagine all tropical islands to be. It's a bit more authentic than the other Hawaiian islands, which is one of the many reasons that Adam and I love it. Kauai is best known for the the Na Pali coast - lush, green, jagged mountains that shoot straight out of the ocean. It's simply breathtaking.
It's really hard to believe that our much awaited trip to Hawaii is over but now we get to share our memories with you! So with that, here are some of the highlights...
Dukes:
Absolutely one of our favorite places to eat in Kauai so it was an obvious pick for our first night on the island. We spent the first few days of our vacation staying at the Marriott, which is just a short walk down the beach to Dukes. So before heading to dinner on our first night, Adam and I grabbed drinks at the resort bar overlooking the grounds and the ocean. We sat at the table listening to live island music when all of the sudden Adam pulled a little box from his pocket and opened it...
Now, you may not know this but I have a "thing" for leaf necklaces. I LOVE them! This particular leaf is a Maile leaf which is often used in Hawaiian wedding bouquets. Perfect, right?! I certainly didn't expect an anniversary gift but I couldn't have imagined anything better if I had. Love you babe!
Probably our favorite memory from the vacation. Secret Falls is for the determined because it requires a bit of work to find. From what I understand, there are guided tours except on Sundays. So wouldn't you guess, Adam decided that we must go on Sunday. He refused to "share" the falls with a slew of tourists.
Our adventure started at a the Kamokila Hawaiian Village where we rented kayaks - you can't get to Secret Falls without paddling up the river, hence the kayaks. After checking in, the guy at the village gave us directions (if you can call them that) to the falls that went something like this,"Turn down the first arm of the river; paddle to the big tree at the end of the arm; beach the kayak; hike 1/2 mile through the jungle brush following the river; cross the river by holding onto the rope so that you don't fall; hike another 1/2 mile until you come to a stream; turn left at the stream; hike up the hill where you will arrive at the falls."
Ummmm, okay....
I started wondering how many people were still wandering around the "jungle brush," lost from their self-guided tour started earlier that week. But, I trusted my fearless leader, loaded our daypacks into the kayaks and started paddling. I'm so glad I did because we got to the falls without a problem and it was completely worth it! We were at the falls for almost an hour before a few other people showed up. It was like we had our own little piece of paradise all to ourselves. It was perfect!
The North Drive:
The drive up north is a must. Driving along the ocean and through the beautiful lush landscape is simply amazing. I also highly recommend making the drive in some type of convertible - something about the convertible makes the experience a little better!
Once up north, the road ends not far outside of Hanalei. There are many hiking trails should you desire but those were not on our list this time. We grabbed a great lunch in Hanalei and then drove back towards Princeville. We had heard of a place called Queens Bath that is more of a local spot so we wanted to check it out.
Queens Bath is amazing! It's a natural tide pool carved into a lava shelf. When the waves crash against the rock, water spills into the pool keeping it nice and refreshing. It's about the size of several large swimming pools, has many colorful fish and some tall rocks that Adam spent much of the time jumping from. Another must see!
The Grand Hyatt Resort and Spa:
I don't really know what to say about the Grand Hyatt in Poipu - there are just too many wonderful things. The Grand Hyatt holds a very special place in our hearts but I'm positive that it's not just sentimental reasons that make this resort one-of-a-kind.
You enter the resort with a view that can only be described as spectacular. The open-air lobby and "frame" that looks out to the ocean are hard to describe. See...
The rooms are all beautiful, including marble bathrooms and large balconies for sunset watching. The grounds are immaculate and closer to a botanical gardens than a resort. And then there's the pools. There are fresh water "river" pools that wind throughout waterfalls and lava rock. There's a salt water lagoon large enough for an island, complete with palm trees and hammock. There are hot tubs tucked under flowering Hawaiian trees for late night dips. Not to mention a beautiful white sand beach leading down to the ocean. It's a water sanctuary!
The Anara Spa is also a must if you ever stay at the Hyatt in Kauai. What makes the Anara Spa so special? Open air lava rock showers, dipping pools, coco mango lotion, and uhh, did you hear me say spa?! You get the idea!
Gaylords:
Gaylord's is located on the grounds of the historic Kilohana Plantation, surrounded by over 100 acres of beautifully manicured grounds and lush landscape. The restaurant is inside a 1935 English tudor style home, which creates a pretty unbelievable setting for dinner. All the tables are in a courtyard allowing for open air dining with a gorgeous view of the mountains. Idealistic is the word that comes to mind. Hence the reason Adam and I visited Gaylord's twice during our stay on Kauai! The food was amazing (like, amazing), the drinks were delicious, the setting was captivating and the company was perfect! A highlight for sure.
Mac Nut and Chocolate Chip Pancakes:
Potentially my new favorite food. Should you ever visit Kauai, please do yourself a favor and grab some pancakes at the Kountry Kitchen in Kapaa.
 |
| Big. Freaking. Pancakes. |
Last time Adam and I were in Hawaii we took a helicopter ride around the island, including the Na Pali Coast. This time we decided to drive up the Waimea Canyon and look down the jagged cliffs that make the Na Pali Coast. This is what we saw...
Josselin's Tapas Bar & Grill:
Last but certainly not least. Josselin's.
Josselin's is hands down my favorite restaurant...potentially of all time. It's a tapas bar and grill that my brother and sister-in-law told us about. So glad they did because it was an experience.
Couple of menu favs:
-The Lychee Sangria: luckily Adam figured out how to replicate this superb drink at home!
-Slider Sampler: including peking duck, organic lamb and beef all mixed with various seasonings.
-Duck Wontons: there are no words.
-Roasted Feta Cheese Salad: with charred tomatoes, olives and avocado. Best. Salad. Ever.
-36 Hour Braised Pork Belly: yep, you heard me right.
No judging...we ate at Josselin's three times because it really was that good!
So as you can tell, we had an amazing vacation. We are so blessed to have experiences like these. And the best part? Adam and I grow together so much through these experiences. I am thankful for these times and for my loving husband that enjoys memory making with me!
