A Kauai Getaway
This month Mom came to visit! It had been about a year and a half since her last visit so we were excited to have her come and show her many of the places that we've come to love since then. Thanks to a four day holiday weekend Will, Mom, and I got to do some island hopping! We knew Mom would fall in love with Kauai and we hadn't spent too much time exploring there ourselves, so we didn't think twice about booking our weekend on Kauai.
Mom came to Honolulu on Wednesday afternoon, and we took a couple nights to settle her in and get re-packed and ready for Kauai. We left early Friday morning so we would still have most of the day to explore.
By the time we got out of the airport, into our rental car, and down to Poipu on the south side, it was lunch time. We took Mom to one of our favorite spots with a beautiful view, the Beach House Restaurant. A storm had just passed the day before and that day so it was a little gloomy, but the good news was that that cleared up by the next day!
After lunch Will drove us to Old Koloa Town to do a little shopping while he went to go check out a potential planting location. Mom and I had fun poking around in the cute little shop and even found a couple things.
When planning our trip, both Mom and I did some research. Mom was looking at some of the more adventurous activities, and after eliminating kayaking due to winter surf conditions and busy rivers/waterfalls, we decided on a bike ride through Waimea Canyon. The website advertised that minimal bike riding experience was needed and that it was an easy downhill ride. We were all set and ready to go, feeling good about things, until we starting driving up the hill we would soon be riding down. Turns out it was definitely mountain, not hill, and very windy steep in many places! Mom, and especially I, weren't feeling too excited about the impending bike ride anymore, but of course Will was as excited as could be!
We checked in to the outfitters in Koloa. From there we piled in a van with a trailer behind carrying the bikes. They drove us up to a high point in Waimea Canyon, we enjoyed the overlook and took a little bike test on the beach cruisers. Yes, beach cruisers for mountain biking!
As nervous as ever, we saddled up and started our ride down. The van that brought us up drove behind us, blocking cars from passing around us.
As most of the group sped off ahead, I white knuckled it heavy on my brakes most of the way. Mom and Will followed behind. Thank goodness there were two girls who were more hesitant than I was and trailed even further behind!
Finally we were at our first rest spot for a scenic overlook.
We were back on the saddle and I was feeling a little better about things. I even took my hands off the brakes a couple times! Almost before I knew it we were at our next stopping point. From here we could see over to Ni`ihau.
After 12 steep, windy, mountainous miles, we were at the finish line! It was time to load up the bikes and head back to the outfitters. On our way back we got a flat tire! So we all piled out of the van and cheered on the tour guides as they put on the spare.
Here, across the street, was a coffee farm so took some time to enjoy the beautiful flowers.
We made it safely back to the outfitters just in time to go into Lihue for dinner. We went to the Kauai Beer Company for some beer and good food.
We still had an hour drive up north to Princeville to our vacation condo and we still had to stop at Foodland for some groceries, too! We were tired after a long day and slept peacefully in our luxurious condo.
Mom came to Honolulu on Wednesday afternoon, and we took a couple nights to settle her in and get re-packed and ready for Kauai. We left early Friday morning so we would still have most of the day to explore.
By the time we got out of the airport, into our rental car, and down to Poipu on the south side, it was lunch time. We took Mom to one of our favorite spots with a beautiful view, the Beach House Restaurant. A storm had just passed the day before and that day so it was a little gloomy, but the good news was that that cleared up by the next day!
After lunch Will drove us to Old Koloa Town to do a little shopping while he went to go check out a potential planting location. Mom and I had fun poking around in the cute little shop and even found a couple things.
When planning our trip, both Mom and I did some research. Mom was looking at some of the more adventurous activities, and after eliminating kayaking due to winter surf conditions and busy rivers/waterfalls, we decided on a bike ride through Waimea Canyon. The website advertised that minimal bike riding experience was needed and that it was an easy downhill ride. We were all set and ready to go, feeling good about things, until we starting driving up the hill we would soon be riding down. Turns out it was definitely mountain, not hill, and very windy steep in many places! Mom, and especially I, weren't feeling too excited about the impending bike ride anymore, but of course Will was as excited as could be!
We checked in to the outfitters in Koloa. From there we piled in a van with a trailer behind carrying the bikes. They drove us up to a high point in Waimea Canyon, we enjoyed the overlook and took a little bike test on the beach cruisers. Yes, beach cruisers for mountain biking!
As nervous as ever, we saddled up and started our ride down. The van that brought us up drove behind us, blocking cars from passing around us.
As most of the group sped off ahead, I white knuckled it heavy on my brakes most of the way. Mom and Will followed behind. Thank goodness there were two girls who were more hesitant than I was and trailed even further behind!
Finally we were at our first rest spot for a scenic overlook.
We were back on the saddle and I was feeling a little better about things. I even took my hands off the brakes a couple times! Almost before I knew it we were at our next stopping point. From here we could see over to Ni`ihau.
After 12 steep, windy, mountainous miles, we were at the finish line! It was time to load up the bikes and head back to the outfitters. On our way back we got a flat tire! So we all piled out of the van and cheered on the tour guides as they put on the spare.
Here, across the street, was a coffee farm so took some time to enjoy the beautiful flowers.
We made it safely back to the outfitters just in time to go into Lihue for dinner. We went to the Kauai Beer Company for some beer and good food.
We still had an hour drive up north to Princeville to our vacation condo and we still had to stop at Foodland for some groceries, too! We were tired after a long day and slept peacefully in our luxurious condo.
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