Kauai Wrap Up
Yes, it’s true. We are entering the final leg of our time here on Kauai.
We wanted to take a moment to write about a few more of the most note-worthy experiences we’ve had as we prepare to jet back to our home-base, Seattle.
The best bath ever (and a few other things).
In addition to the beaches and hikes we discussed previously, these activities are at the top of our list. Be sure they are on your list too, when/if you make it to Kauai (and you better make it to Kauai).
- Queen’s Bath: This gem of a place – on the north shore – really struck us. It’s basically a large pool on the edge of the ocean created by an inlet. It’s a perfect place to swim in the company of colorful fish that are finding protection from the crashing waves just beyond the lava shelf where the pool sits.
- Okolehao Trail: Also up in our hood on the north shore, this trail offers exquisite views of, oh, about 1/5th of the island. It’s a kinda tough 2 mile slog uphill, but the view is killer. We can laugh about it now but weren’t so jovial when we were nearly busting our tailbones towards the end of the hike.
- Secret Beach: This beach is about the longest and widest that we experienced on Kauai. Definitely worth a mention due to the incredible views and the rush of surfers who provide lots of entertainment.
- Sandstone Hikes: Down on the south side of Kauai – near the awesome Grand Hyatt Kauai – we set off for a hike along the shoreline over to Mahaulepu Beach. Word is that the salt, wind and sand have beaten the cliffs into the colorful, jagged things-of-beauty that they are today. If you want a low-key yet gorgeous hike, this one’s for you.
- Rainbows: Our visit here would not be complete without a shout out to the rainbows that pop up at every turn. We don’t like to throw around the word “magical” – but, OK, we just did.
We’re not budget minded ALL the time.
In a follow-up to our post on food, we wanted to let you know that we do like to splash out every once in a while (and even forget about being mostly vegetarian).
One fussy meal of note was at Oasis. On thanksgiving we decided “what the heck” and gave in to having a fancy-pants meal right on the ocean. After looking over the menu at this Kauai-friendly restaurant (90% of the food is local), we gave in and went with the fixed price option, including wine. The highlight was free range turkey with brown butter and nutmeg stuffing, but the corn soup and pumpkin mousse (with crisp bananas) weren’t bad either. Tough life.
All in all a great find (as recommended by friends/locals) but, as a rule, we’ll stick to cheap eats.
That’s all we got.
Head over to our Kauai photos, where you’ll see we’ve included pics of all the stuff mentioned here. Once we’re back in Seattle, we’ll get into the details of how we did it all without breaking the bank. We think you’ll be surprised.
Hey, while we’re on the topic of splurge meals, why don’t you tell us what kind of meal you love to spend $$$ on.
Great post! Still haven’t made it to Hawaii, but you guys are making me really want to inch it up the list.
As far as splurging on meals, we tend to splurge on fresh fish when in a place near the water. Living in Missouri, we don’t get a chance to eat really good, fresh fish, so when we splurge on a meal, it tends to be seafood.
That Thanksgiving meal sounds fantastic. Glad you were able to celebrate properly. We had to settle for crappy pizza in Bolivia a few years ago for Thanksgiving, and it really made us miss home.
Thanks, Adam. By the way… Pizza is our meal of choice when celebrating in South America.
So sad for you that you have to leave paradise! Booooo!
For me, the big splurge meal is sometimes just the cost of getting there. I would much rather spend my money on airfare to get far, far, away and then eat on the street (like in Thailand) or a local trattoria in Rome than go out to a high-end, in the moment, trendy place here in LA. So I save my pennies at home and then spend them on the road. If I’m in another city known for great restaurants, like San Francisco, then I usually alllow for at least one splash out meal per trip.
I like your strategy, Kristina.
During our last week on Kauai, we had visitors. We went out for another “splash out” meal, and we were silently cringing the entire time. The meal wasn’t that special (except for the company), and it was a FORTUNE. I kept thinking “This could buy so many servings of cheap, delicious coconut curry down the street at Mermaids.”
The Queen’s Bath sounds like a great find. I will definitely keep that in mind when I make it over to Kauai.
I completely agree that you have to splurge every once in a while. On our 6 week trip this year, we were very budget minded, with a few splurges here and there. But at the end of the trip, we went all out and stayed at a really nice hotel with a pool, only $40 in Vietnam, and ate like kings.
It was totally worth it. Nice to see you guys enjoyed your Thanksgiving!
We ended up going to Queen’s Bath one more time before we left. We couldn’t resist – really a cool place.
BTW – It’s official! We want to go to Vietnam.
Yeah, sometimes you do have to throw that word ‘magical’ in, despite what the purist travel writers would say, because there just isn’t any other word that quite describes how you yourself perceived it.
Loved this post.
The rainbows at every turn really were magical, so we’re gonna stand behind that word.
We’re on a permanent budget but the best meal ever (not in Turkey, for a change!) was at Rick Stein’s seafood restaurant in Padstow, Cornwall in the UK. Proper splash out…but worth every Sterling penny!
Speaking of great meals. The title of your latest post sounds delicious… mushroom risotto.
It all sounds great to me. Glad you’ve had such a cool experience there. So are you going to tell us where to find Secret Beach?
It’s not so Secret! You’ll find it on any map of Kauai. I think “Secret” may come from the fact that it is said to be a nude beach. Not our experience though…
I would like to buy a several hundred dollar bottle of wine, just to see if it really makes a difference in taste. I mean, how much better can it be from a $30 bottle?
Ben – Please conduct that experiment with two bottles of wine in one night. “Live tweet” the details (with pictures). Now THAT would be a great adventure with Ben.
Sounds like you guys had a fantastic time! John and I like to splash out sometimes too – you just have to.
sounds amazing guys! for me, especially queens bath & oasis. i love to swim with the fishies and eat slow, local sustainable gourmet meals. in fact- at home we spend the big bucks on a regular basis on food- it’s our biggest expense- since our culinary skills can’t keep up with our palates
on the road that’s a whole other story! we don’t even budget for booze when we travel and usually eat super low-budg. so we can go farther, longer. for the RTW, i’m thinking that should change a bit though. your way sounds like a much better way! great post
Thanks for your thoughts, Lorna. We’re doing our budget wrap up and “splash out” meals are a killer, especially when the meal doesn’t deliver (as I was saying to Kristina, above). Don’t even get us started on the price of booze. Ayayay.
Dining is all about love! Love your family, love your friends, and for them I always splash out. I have always bought wine when family and friends’ children are born. Then when they are 18 years we have a big party, drinking good old wine. It’s a precious experience that money can’t buy.
Oh, wow – what a great idea, John!
Before I left I was mostly vegetarian too but that went out the window. Would love to see another awesome food edition:)
And did you go to a Luau, did they have a pig?
Yes, they always have a pig at a luau. We got food poisoning (just kidding – see other post).
Insert here!
Cheers guys!
You must be sad to leave such a great destination. Will you return? As for spluring out: I’d rather spend money on a good hotel room than on food (that has to do with the fact that I’m constanly on a diet because I hate to be fat).
We will return, Inka! That was confirmed on our last day when we took a helicopter tour of the island. Beautiful.
Mostly vegetarian is something I can relate to. Not me, but my other half – K. I have been working on corrupting her vegetarianism for some years now – she happily chomps away on Spanish ham and, more recently, fish. I’m working on seafood. Some might call me manipulative….
Kauai sounds great!
We find it really tough to stick to vegetarianism on the road. We do pretty well though. Spanish ham? We’d eat that!
I haven’t been to Kaui but this post makes me want to go – it’s filled with some of my favorite things!
After a month, we thought we’d have exhausted the island. Not true. So much left to do. Return visit required.
Lovely – this island is one of the most beautiful islands, where one can find paradise at every corner. So happy you enjoyed this islands precious landscape.
Glad to see that you enjoyed your trip to Kauai. Chanced on your website in comments on Trains on the Brain. I met Jools on BlogChat (Twitter chat) tonight. Fun small world.
Thanks for stopping by, Linda! We’ll check out your blog too.
Looks like you guys have had an amazing journey. I spent 6 months travelling around the States back in 2004 but never made it to Hawaii. Its one of the top destinations on my travel wish list now.
I absolutely love Kauai! We swam in a cave there and at a couple of waterfalls, as well as jumped off of one of the waterfalls there. Such a beautiful place!