Here are a few more pictures and outfits from my trip to Kauai! And here are some quick travel tips for anyone wanting to visit:
- Kauai is by far the prettiest place I've ever been. An amazing mix of lush, green mountains and white sand beaches (there are 69 beaches on the island!).
- Kauai is small, only about 500 square miles and a population of 65,000, and the one main road takes only 2-3 hours to drive from end to end. Most of the time we were the only people on the beach!
- A huge portion of the island is only accessible by air or boat, including the famous Na Pali Coast and "Jurassic Falls" (waterfall from the movie). We did an air tour and a catamaran tour and that was plenty, everything else was easy to do by car.
- I highly recommend renting a car. There are so many beaches and look out points along the highway, you can easily entertain yourself that way for days on end. I had the most fun finding off-the-beaten path adventures like yesterday's Wailua Falls story, and well-hidden Larsen's Beach.
- Prices are very high. Gas is almost $5 a gallon and milk is $9 a gallon. Some groceries were normal prices - salmon was cheaper than it is in Orlando, and avocados were the same price, so if you make good choices and prepare your own meals you can actually live fairly thrifty!
- I was hesitant about spending so much money on a luau, but it was my favorite experience of the week and totally worth it. Definitely do a luau if you go!
I can't recommend Kauai enough. If you have more travel tips for Kauai or Hawaii, please share them below!
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| Waimea Canyon (right after snorkeling so please excuse my hair) |
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| Waimea Canyon |
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| Hanalei Bay |
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| Catamaran tour of Na Pali Coast |
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| My favorite spot on the North Coast |
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| The North Coast; being goofy on the Gilligan's Island beach |
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| Layover at the Phoenix airport; I was exhausted after sleeping on a plane the night before! |
Did you get that Stoked shirt there? Love it! I want to
ReplyDeleteYou should visit Oahu next time :) the shopping is so fun too :)
ReplyDeleteWe went there on our Honeymoon in July! It was amazing. I was overwhelmed with it all. Did you stay in Princeville?
ReplyDeleteyou look amazing in all these shots - just full of happiness :)
ReplyDeletewould love to visit hawaii but it's very faaaar away from scotland! maybe one day...
♥ ThankFifi
Well said Meghan! :-) Yes, I was in Princeville!
ReplyDeleteI love Kauai! My best tip would be to eat at Costco's food court it's the same prices as the mainland.
ReplyDeleteYes, that was my souvenir shirt! :-) I think the brand is O'Neil. I don't like buying the real souvenir ones that fall apart right away, so I got a regular surf shirt instead. ;-)
ReplyDeleteThere are lots of Caribbean islands you could visit! I highly recommend Roatan, St. Thomas and Dominica! :-)
ReplyDeleteI can't complain having already visited Mexico and Fiji in my time - I am planning a return to visit/stay in Australia too though so hope Hawaii may be more accessible from there.x
ReplyDeleteFiji and Australia would be awesome!!
ReplyDeleteWow! Amazing views! The canyon is beautiful, and your outfits are cute as well!
ReplyDeleteKristine
www.pugglewearsprada.blogspot.com
Totally agree re: souvenir shirts! I usually do a scarf or something in a color that reminds me of the location, but that shirt is perfect!
ReplyDeleteMy best tip is to rent snorkel gear and keep it in your rental car for the duration of your stay. Then, no matter where the road takes you, you'll be prepared! (In the Hawaiian Islands, you can snorkel right off the beach!) Another tip would be to try the macadamia nut ice cream with rainbow shave ice on top... Heaven in a cup!
ReplyDeletethis looks beautiful! and, it looks like you had so much fun!! my parents went to hawaii this summer and said it was the trip of a lifetime. i hope to go soon!
ReplyDeletehttp://ohhhsolovely.blogspot.com/
you look so cute in every picture. this is really making me want to go to Hawaii finally. was this for work or fun? who did you go with?
ReplyDeleteLooks like it was amazing! We went to Oahu (Kailua) a few years back and loved it. Not sure if you felt this way but we thought we could *almost* live there!
ReplyDeletei love Kauai. i live on Oahu. My husband & I just recently visited Kauai & kayaked the Na Pali coast. it was an awesome experience. so beautiful. I highly recommend it!
ReplyDeleteGoing here on my honeymoon great photos!!!!
ReplyDeleteWe go every year just returned in July/Aug it is by far our favorite vacation spot I wish I knew your were going would have suggested some great local spots we have come to know I hope you get to return soon!
ReplyDeleteAustralia is next on our vacation trips can't wait to go and Fiji is on my bucket list your so lucky!
ReplyDeleteJ- you are so dang cute! If your boyfriend doesn't marry you soon, he is stupid! J/K! I want to thank you for your fashion help. I am a new Mom, and after gaining 50 pounds from pregnancy I had completely lost my sense of fashion! Now a year later I've got my body back and am completely inspired to be cute and fashion forward - thanks to you!
ReplyDeleteYou're making me jealous with these photos!! It looks like you had such a lovely time; I'd love to take a vacation right about now.
ReplyDeletethriftthick.blogspot.com
What kind of jeans are you wearing in the last photo and where did you get them from? Been looking for distressed jeans.
ReplyDeletegorgeous looks here. it looks like you had an awesome time. i am from hawaii but have never been to kauai.
ReplyDeletekw, http://www.ladiesinnavy.com
I was just in Kauai earlier in June and absolutely loved it! I'm glad you had a great time!
ReplyDeleteThose are my favorite American Eagle jeans! I got them a couple years ago. I love the look of distressed denim and these are my favorite because no skin actually shows through (the holes don't actually go all the way through!).
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to have had a small part in you looking and feeling fabulous! :-) And your comment made me LOL - not so sure about the boyfriend or getting married part haha!!! Thank you though!!
ReplyDeleteI would love to hear your favorite spots for next time! Curious to see if I wound up going to any of them myself!
ReplyDeleteYes, I would have no problem living in Hawaii! Florida is still my favorite though. It's gorgeous here too, and the cost of living is about half. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you!! It was just a fun trip, although I can technically do my job from anywhere, so I was working while I was there. I went with a friend who had a 7-night stay that was going to expire!
ReplyDeleteYou're right about the cost! We've been to Sanibel and The Keys and while I'm sure they're both too touristy for locals, we thought they were great places. And you can't beat the warm water!
ReplyDeleteYayyyy I live in Phoenix! I hope Sky Harbor treated you nicely. (:
ReplyDeleteI just *L.O.V.E.* these posts from Destinations where you're able to travel; and then in which you~~so kindly!!~~share with all your readers what you wore/where you went, (i.e., particularly with those of us who~~for a variety of reasons~~can't really travel, but who vicariously *do* travel in our thoughts/minds)!!
ReplyDeleteIn the past, I've been to "luaus"............ but not to ANYTHING like the luau which you described (in your previous post) with the walk in
the botanical gardens; a huge buffet dinner; and a historical Dance Theater Show. How fun-fun-fun-fun-*F.U.N.* that must've been!! And I really like your Turquoise clutch, too, (i.e., c/o KC Malhan, which you carried for the luau occasion)............ the sequins and beading are just soooo *s.t.r.i.k.i.n.g.*!!
Looks like you had a great time! Love your outfits!
ReplyDeleteWe did the Catamaran tour of Na Pali Coast too! But, somehow I missed out on the Canyon! I never knew about that place-Too bad =( Nice picture's, cute clothes!
ReplyDeleteBrooke
beautiful photos!
ReplyDeleteamy
leopard and lillies
You look SO tan! Glad you had a great time. Hawaii is beautiful.
ReplyDelete-AJ
FitTravelerAJ.blogspot.com
Omg! I was there in those exact spots a few months ago. :)
ReplyDeleteMy tip is: Split your trip between the North and South parts of the island. The North is known for its green, lush foliage and mountains. The South is known for it's beautiful beaches.
A second tip: You must take a helicoptor tour! There are places that you can only see from the air. So worth it. Even for people who are afraid of heights like me!
My hubby and I honeymooned in kauai...it was such a beautiful island. We did all of the same stuff as you and loved every minute of it! We found that buying fresh fish was the cheapest way to eat...and soooo yummy, so why not?!?! I'm glad you had a great time!
ReplyDeleteI've been to Oahu, the Big Island, and Maui, but haven't been to Kauai yet. I would love to visit the Kauai Hindu Monastery one day. Looks like a great trip - fashionable as always, J!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
ReplyDeleteDid you see Puff the Magic Dragon in Hanalei Beach?! I did :))
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love Hawaii, Maui & Kauai are definitely my most favorite of the Hawaiian Islands. I can't wait to go back!!!!
I was so hoping to get out and see Phoenix during the layover but I was just way too tired! I got some work done thanks to the free WiFi though! :-)
ReplyDeleteWe did an air tour on a small plane (cheaper than a helicopter). I'm not scared of heights at all... but I spent the whole thing completely terrified and I even blacked out at one point. It was totally lame!!
ReplyDeleteJ, this is amazing!! We were actually thinking about doing Hawaii for our honeymoon, now I'm really leaning toward seeing Kauai. Any thoughts/advice about the island as a possible honeymoon location?
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome Lauren, congrats on your wedding! I would definitely recommend it as a honeymoon location - we were surrounded by honeymooners, and couples celebrating their anniversary. It's a "remote" location that feels very private, and yet there is plenty to do. Perfect mix in my opinion! :-)
ReplyDeleteAhh! You were in my hood! I'm headed to Maui next month, and am just going nuts over what to pack. This helped relax me a bit. Thank you! Love your blog!
ReplyDelete