Kauai, The Garden Isle

Napili cliffs from Waimea

Napili cliffs from Waimea

Hanalei Bay

Hanalei Bay

Napili

Napili

Sheraton Poipu

Sheraton Poipu

Tunnels Beach

Tunnels Beach

I recently returned from a lovely 10 day vacation to Kauai and although I have been to this Island many times, it is a place to come back to – over and over. Kauai offers you a sense of what Hawaii must have been like when Captain Cook first arrived. With its misty peaks, the Na Pali Cliffs, scenic valley of Hanalei and golden beaches, the views are breathtaking from every angle.

The town of Hanalei is a combination of a hippie heaven combined with surf shops, small boutiques, bars and restaurants. One of our favorite places was Tahiti Nui, a timeless Hawaiian bar featured in the movie “The Descendents” with George Clooney, serves up some of the best Mai Tais you will ever taste.

The North Shore offers a wide variety of accommodation from the luxurious St. Regis Hotel in Princeville to the lesser priced Aston Islander on the beach in the town of Kapaa. There are also a wide variety of condos and houses to rent in the Princeville area, great for families or larger groups of people.

The most popular activity on the north shore of Kauai is a trip along the Na Pali Coast. No matter how you do this, sunset cruise, or inflatable raft, it is a breathtaking adventure not to be missed.

The best time of year to visit the north shore of Kauai is the summer months, mainly because the beaches offer calm waves and great snorkeling. Hae’na (beach at the end of the road), Tunnels Beach, and Hanalei Bay are just some of the beautiful beaches to visit.

On the south side of Kauai, you will find the tourist area of Poipu. This side of the island gets far less rain and in the winter months has calm beaches. One of the best deals on the south shore is the Sheraton Kauai Resort, a great four star resort that is located right on the beach. It’s an easy walk to the small town and restaurants in the area. We spent a wonderful day at the Sheraton enjoying their resort facilities, the beach and pool.

Just up the road from Poipu is old town Koloa filled with small art galleries and Hawaiian stores.

If you are staying on the south shore, then a trip to Waimea Canyon (the Grand Canyon of Hawaii) is a must see. This is where the Na Pali Cliffs meet the dryer side of the island. The canyon is 3,000 ft deep with magnificent views from all directions.

Daytime temperatures range from the mid-70s to mid-80s, slightly warmer in the summer. The northeast trade winds provide refreshing breezes, rain usually falls only during the evening and early morning hours.

 

 

Nancy Kivlen
Director of Marketing and Operations, Carefree Vacations

Contact one of our many Hawaii specialists at Carefree Vacations to plan your next vacation to Kauai.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Other posts by

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Leave a Reply