Kauai: It's Heaven on Earth
Written: Jun 20 '00 (Updated Jan 25 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Beautiful, tranquil island. Spectacular scenery. Reasonable prices for Hawaii.
Cons: It might be too quiet for some.
The Bottom Line: The sheer beauty of craggy mountains, crashing blue ocean waters, and abundant flowers and greenery make Kauai one of the most beautiful, tranquil places on Earth.
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| diverpam's Full Review: Kauai |
Breathtaking beauty abounds on this magnificent island. My husband and I first visited Kauai five years ago and we returned this past February. In fact, we spent Valentine's Day soaring over the mountains and valleys of Kauai in an open helicopter. It was truly incredible!
Perfect Weather
We had a wonderful vacation from the time we landed. The weather was perfect even though it was "rainy season" for Kauai. We had only one brief sprinkle on the way to the airport.
Gorgeous Scenery
Kauai has beautiful mountains, crashing oceans, and fragrant flowers everywhere. It's the closest thing to paradise I've ever witnessed. You'll recognize much of the scenery from the many movies that have been filmed there. Blue Hawaii featured Fern Grotto and the magnificent craggy mountains were made famous in Jurassic Park.
Well Worth Exploring
I think we explored every inch of the island. You definitely have to rent a car to see everything. I think we circled the island at least twice while we were there. It's so beautiful and peaceful and everyone we encountered was friendly. No crazy hustle and bustle like they have in Honolulu.)
We stayed at the Outrigger Hotel where we had a great view of the ocean. We never thought we'd be able to sit on our lanai and watch whales. (We didn't even think about it being whale watching season when we went.) Thank goodness we packed the binoculars!
Recommendations
I recommend Inter-Island helicopters - they're the only company with open doors. What an incredible experience flying over the island with the wind brushing your face. It's the best way to really see this beautiful island.
I also recommend the Na Pali Coast boat tour. We took an all day tour with Captain Andy. This was a very nice boat with freshly grilled hamburgers on board. We spotted untold numbers of whales and once had to stop dead in the water when a calf approached the boat. It was uncanny to stand and watch the mother whale trying to coax her curious baby back away from us.
The crew was terrific and tried to give us maximum whale watching opportunities, while at the same time getting us to the Na Pali and back on time. (The cruise was actually to see the Na Pali coastline - the whale watching was a bonus.)
Souvenirs
We made a couple of trips to Hilo Hattie's for souvenirs and macadamia nuts. Next time I'm going to bring back at least a case of them! That's the best price I've ever found on them.
Don't worry if you forget to pack something, there's a Super Wal-Mart on the island... I think we hit it every day.
We stumbled across something called "Killer Guacamole" and it was awesome. I know why they call it killer. Don't pass up this treat!
Other Points of Interest
Be sure to take a tour around Kilohana, a plantation estate, and make dinner reservations at Gaylord's (the restaurant there) one evening. The food is excellent and service top notch.
My husband played golf at Poipu Bay - where I gladly paid $25 for the privilege of riding in the golf cart. It offered incredible ocean views and, once again, opportunities for whale watching. I had both the video and still cameras going at the same time. I knew I couldn't pay attention to a golf ball with all that beauty surrounding me.
Next time I'll probably play, just so I can say I did, but it will sure be hard to focus on the game!
Conclusion
Kauai is a perfect place to relax and unwind, while enjoying some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. The whale watching is incredible!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
diverpam
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Member: Pam
Location: Collierville, TN
Reviews written: 263
Trusted by: 347 members
About Me:
~~~~So many oceans...so little time!~~~~
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