So we just got back from a trip to Hawaii (heck yeah frequent flyer miles!) and I am already dreaming of our next trip to paradise!  Originally we had planned on going to Maui but then after taking a few “Hawaii quizzes,” we decided to take a closer look at Kauai.

Between the beautiful beaches, stunning waterfalls, authentic Hawaiian feel, and opportunity for some adventure, Kauai quickly became the obvious choice for us.  Every we left the hotel I felt like Bilbo Baggins screaming “I’m going on an adventure!”

 When we go on vacation, we want to really explore the culture and way of life.  Kauai felt so relaxed and real compared to the hustle of Oahu or the “upper-class” Maui.  When we spoke to other travelers they confirmed that it was in fact the most authentic of the larger islands as well as one of the friendliest islands.  Another perk was that it was also sparsely populated compared to the other large islands.

 Because it wasn’t as commercialized in Kauai, I did feel like prices were much more reasonable when it came to hotel and food.  As I’m sure most of you have heard, Hawaii is EXPENSIVE.  To save money we went to the grocery and bought things like breakfast bars, high protein snacks, nibble food for the hotel room, and the fixins for lunch (bread, lunchmeat, cheese, and chips).  This meant we only had to go out for dinner which saved us a ton of money in the long run.  If you like to drink beverages besides water (soda or beer) I would also suggest stocking that in your room fridge because otherwise…it adds up very quickly!  For the sake of convenience we purchased our sunscreen in Hawaii so we didn’t have to worry about wasting space in our luggage (we only travel carry-on).

I do plan on writing a more in-depth article about what we did while on the island, but here are a few categories to get you started!  While there are gorgeous beaches to be lounged on in Kauai, that isn’t the main reason we choose it.  So much of the island screamed for exploration and we intended to do just that.  For sure pack your hiking gear and a camelback bag, this place has got some gorgeous trails and jungles.  While we were exploring the jungle and hunting for waterfalls I half expected Indiana Jones to come charging out of the foliage or a dinosaur to poke it’s head through the massive trees and leaves.  Speaking of dinosaurs…the massive valleys, mountains and Na Pali Coastline seemed a bit…Jurassic (see what I did there?).

 

Of course we must talk about those beaches.  Since it is a smaller island, if you go on a weekday you will most likely not have to fight someone for a patch of sand.  The beautiful beaches and crystal water made famous in the classic movie South Pacific can be found all around the island.  Soak up the general laid back atmosphere and genuine Hawaiiness.

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I would definitely recommend going on some sort of excursion, whether it’s taking a helicopter ride, kayaking, paddle boarding, ziplining, diving, biking, or 4-wheeling.  Do SOMETHING adventurous!  As I’ve already said, Hawaii is expensive and Hawaiian excursions are no different  So to not stretch the budget, we decided to settle on one paid excursion and fill in the rest of the time with hiking, beach days, and general exploration.  Only having one excursion paid for also gave us TONS of freedom to change up the itinerary depending on what the weather was doing or how we were feeling that day.  One thing is for sure, a trip to Kauai is for relaxation, reflection, and a whole lot of fun!