Kauai 2003 Trip Report
 

Just returned from a month ( Feb.) on the beautiful island of Kauai. Still suffering withdrawal symptoms! <BR>Traveled from Seattle to Honolulu and then<BR>right on to Kauai. Great trip on Hawaiian Air. Love their new planes. Quite comfortable. <BR>Arrived and checked into Kauai Beach Villas for a week. Stayed there with a timeshare exchange. Wasn't sure I would like it but turned out to be very nice. Had a one bedroom garden level unit close to the ocean and near to the Radisson Hotel pool, which is shared with the Beach Villas. Nice easy walk to the pool each day. Ocean is nice but not swimmable here. Great for walking and sitting, however. My unit was very nice, clean and with tropical decor. Kitchen had everything one would need to cook. Washer/dryer and air conditioning unit in bedroom also. If you stay here aske for a unit in buildings F,G,or H, as these are the ocean front units. Grounds were nice, 2 man made small lakes with fountains. Being able to share the Radisson pools was a big plus, as the Beach Villas pool was very small. Only restaurants nearby were at the Radisson. However, airport is only 10 minutes away, and Kapaa about 10 minutes also, where there are lots of restaurants. Note: no elevators in the buildings so if you get a 3rd floor unit you will have to get your bags up there without help of an elevator, one negative I thought. <BR>Week 2-4 I stayed in Poipu at the Lawai Beach resort, a timeshare ptroperty on the same road as the Spouting Horn. I wn't go into detail about the resort since it is timeshare and most travelers will not stay there. I've had timeshare weeks there since before Iniki. <BR>I have to say we had great weather while I was there in feb. It only rained 2 days but it did pour on those days. Other than that, one or 2 brief showers, mosatly at night or early morning. Temps were about 79-83 most days with trade winds about 15-20. Very pleasnat and perfect beach weaher. I did hear that it was cloudy and rainy some of the time on the north shore( although they had good weather too) but have no more details than that.

Part 2 Trip Report.<BR>I spent alot of down time on Kauai, beaching, reading, eating out, some shopping. I have pretty much done most of the activities, like helicopter, sunset cruise, etc... so kept it pretty low key. Did go on the Tropical Garden Tour at the gardens near Spouting Horn, as I had not been back there for a number of years. The tour was $30 per person, but I though it was worth it. If you love plants and want to see plants you might not see elsewhere, go on the tour. Also get to see some of the stuff from Jurassic Park that was filmed there.We had a great tour guide. Her name was Wendy, and I think she is an old hippie soul from the sixties. She had a long braid cascading down her side and a butterfly pin in it which was cool. Her straw hat had living plants around the brim and it fit her demeanor perfectly. Wendy says she has been on Kasuai for 30 years and you can tell she loves the island and loves what she does. I believe there isn't a plant in the garden she doesn't know. She rattled off the botanical names with no hesitation, and her knowledge of the history of the gardens, called the Allerton Gardens, was amazing. If you go on the tour, do ask for Wendy for your guide. Also, there is a self guided walking tour you can take of the Mcbride Gardens, another section of the gardens that we didn't go to. Not sure of the cost.

Trip Report Part 3.<BR>I ate out at alot of the restaurants on the South and East shores. Didn't eat out on North shore. <BR>Beach House- Still one of my favorites, although a bit pricy. Sunsets here cannot be beat. I had the scallops and they were fantastic, I have to say. Also the shrimp and fish wonton appetizer was one of the best appetizers I have had in awhile. The sauce accompanying the wontons was superb. <BR>Casa D'Amici- ate there on Valentines Day. Busy but service did not suffer too much. Had a great ravioli and shrimp dish. Friends had other entries and everyone seemed pleased with the food. I would definitely go back. Above the average restaurant in my opinion. <BR>Poipu Beach Broiler- Newest restaurant on South shore, located at the old House of Seafod location. I was pleasantly surprised with the food and service. Nothing too fancy, but good food. The highest priced item on the menu was $18. They also have a really decent salad bar, which we enjoyed. There is an additional charge for it but one trip is plenty as the salad plates are full size, not those small ones like at some salad bars. Recommend a visit for a reasonably priced, good meal. <BR>Keoki's- Average food and service and not as good a deal as the Poipu Beach Broiler as keoki's is higher priced. However, their bar menu is a good deal especially their local plates, like cashew stir fry, which comes with rice and salad and is very tasty. Only about $10 and well worth it. The other bar menu items, like burgers and ceasar salad, are also good and I ate there a few times for a quick bite.<BR>Roys- Roys is always great, but I just hate their location in a shopping center. Oh well, it is still worth it for the great food. Friends and I shared 2 appetizers, 2 salads and 2 entries, which gave us a great sampling of the fine dishes prepared here.

Trip Report Part 4.<BR>Other restauranst I tried:<BR>Brennecke's- Ate lunch there twice. Great views and their burgers are really good, ground sirloin. Good cocktails too.<BR>Joe's On The Green- best place on th South Shore for breakfast. Ate breakfast there 3 or 4 times and lunch twice. Good food and located in the clubhouse at the Kiahuna Golf Course. <BR>Brick Oven Pizza in Kalaheo- BEST PIZZA EVER. Ate here 3 times and had their special pizza. A friend and I could o9nlt get through a small pizza but it was fant5astic. They will briush the cruast with garlic butter if you want and do try that. Great. I have had lots of pizza in lots of places in my life and I still think this is some of the best pizza I have ever eaten. I don't think I am alone in this either. Lots of prople rave about it. <BR>Pomedoro in Kalaheo- This small family run italian reataurent is across the street from Brick Oven Pizza. I had ther best Chicken Caccatoire I have ever had one night. Best ever. Do NOT order the greens with dressing do 5.95. What a rip off. Betwen 4 of us we figured we spent over 20 dollars alone on a bunch of salad greens with no personality, However, do Not let thet deter you from the restaurant. The food was great. Just don't get the salad. <BR>Camp House Grill also in Kalaheo- I have always liked this place although the building is really old and could use a good cleaning and re-do. However, they have super breakfasts, lunches, and pies. The buscuits at breakfast are homemade, large and wonderful. The burgers and seasoned fries cannot be beat. And the pies, eiher by slice or by the whole pie are great. We bought a whole pie one night for dessert at home and it did not disappoint. <BR>Wrangler Steak House in Waimea- Good steaks, fair small salad bar, so-so cocktails, over-priced in my opinion.<BR><BR>There are probaby a few places I have forgotten, but if anyone has any questions I wiull be happy to try to help. Kauai.....I miss you already!!!!!

Thanks for taking the trouble to report. I'm green with envy as our next trip won't be for a while .. unemployment sucks !<BR>Cheers

Viv, Excellent! A great post to start off my Monday!<BR><BR>I can smell the Coppertone, taste a <BR>Brick Oven whole wheat pizza w/ garlic buttered crust and a Joe's Omlette w/ taro leaves and jalapenos while looking at tiny rainbows back up in the mountain valleys.<BR><BR>299 mo' days!<BR>Kal<BR>ps..Paul...sometimes employment sucks too! Either way, I guess that's why they made Whaler's Rum! ;^)

Kal, <BR>I know how much you love Kauai, as I have read your many postings about the island. I, too, share your love for the island and am happy that I can report it is still one of the most <BR>beautiful and fantastic places to experience. My withdrawal symptoms won't go away for a few days, I fear, but what lovely memories linger........Aloha.

Viv,<BR><BR>If the Wrangler Steakhouse is a brown building with vines around it, then we ate lunch there a couple weeks ago. They have great fat calzones and thick sandwiches, we thought it was pretty good for the price as compared to some other places. However, we did not go there for dinner or steaks.<BR><BR>Speaking of salads: we stayed at the Radisson and had dinner there one evening, and their all you can eat salad bar is just fine.<BR>I think if we had try to stay more than a week, we wouldn't have come back. :&gt;)<BR>

Viv, Thanks for the trip report..We leave next week and I don't know if I can wait that long or not...Will only be there 2 weeks though..