Whenever you image Hawaii what involves thoughts? For me, it was busy seashores and towering resorts.<\/p>\n
Then I visited Kauai, the oldest main island within the Hawaiian chain.<\/p>\n
That age is the important thing. It means Kauai has had the longest period of time to change into essentially the most stunning of the already gorgeous Hawaiian Islands. <\/p>\n
It is generally known as the \u2018Backyard Isle<\/strong>\u2018 for a motive! However that is an understatement. It is not simply stunning; it is uncooked.<\/strong><\/p>\n As an alternative of loopy vacationer buzz, there is a profound quiet. As an alternative of a skyline, there are 4,000-foot cliffs. And sure, I\u2019m a bit of biased now\u2026 however after in the future there, I knew I had discovered it: what felt just like the actual<\/em> Hawaii.<\/p>\n I had the pleasure, no, the privilege, of staying at Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort<\/a><\/strong> proper alongside the Coconut Coast<\/strong> in Kapa\u2019a<\/strong>.<\/p>\n As quickly as I received there, I knew I’d by no means wish to depart. <\/em><\/p>\n As you stroll previous the foyer, you\u2019re greeted with a fantastic pool that provides tropical oasis vibes and a shocking view of the seaside and ocean which can be instantly in entrance of you. Should you didn\u2019t suppose being proper on the seaside was sufficient, then haven’t any worry.<\/p>\n The spectacular formation of the Sleeping Large<\/strong>, or Nounou Mountain<\/strong>, is correct behind you whilst you stand on the seaside. Nounou Mountain is named Sleeping Large as a result of it really seems to be like an individual sleeping on their aspect, however you realize, in big kind.<\/p>\n When you get to paradise, what do you do? Let me inform you a couple of of the issues that I did and why I cherished each second of my time in Kauai.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n To start with, I can\u2019t inform you what a reduction it was having solely quarter-hour from the airport to Sheraton Kauai Coconut Seashore Resort<\/strong>. I LOVE a brief commute from the airport after a protracted day of touring.<\/p>\n And although Hawaii appears like a completely completely different nation with its personal stunning tradition, it\u2019s nonetheless a part of the U.S., which suggests you don\u2019t want a passport<\/strong> and also you don\u2019t must undergo a loopy lengthy customs line whenever you land!<\/p>\n After I arrived on the resort and made my technique to my room, I used to be afraid I wouldn\u2019t wish to depart my room for the remainder of the day. <\/p>\n Positive I used to be drained from my lengthy journey day, and the loopy comfy mattress was calling my title, however the room d\u00e9cor made it really feel like I used to be IN the ocean already. To not point out the unbelievable view of the ocean proper from my personal balcony.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, I wasn\u2019t going to let jet lag and an unimaginable room cease me from exploring this stunning property. I used to be additionally ravenous after my lengthy journey and desperately wished some superb seafood, and I used to be not upset! <\/p>\n Crooked Surf<\/strong> is the resort\u2019s poolside and oceanfront restaurant, and so they had precisely what I wanted: Recent fish tacos<\/strong> that had been so good that I wished to get them organized once more after I went again for dinner later that night time.<\/p>\n Fueling up with fish tacos made me able to make the most of the proper climate. So I grabbed my ebook and headed over to lie by the pool. <\/p>\n Little did I do know, I used to be there on the good time for poolside BINGO<\/strong>. I completely joined in on the enjoyable and performed BINGO whereas I soaked up the Hawaiian solar.<\/p>\n After an ideal poolside afternoon, I met up with my group for dinner at Crooked Surf. Despite the fact that I used to be tempted to get the fish tacos once more, I made a decision to broaden my horizons and take a look at one of many different delicious-looking dishes: the Dynamite Bowl with tofu<\/strong> drizzled in Pineapple Teriyaki \u2014 YUM!<\/p>\n The meals was superb once more, however I’d be remiss if I didn\u2019t inform you to get the Coconut Seashore Mai Tai<\/strong>. That is really the very best Mai Tai on the market<\/strong> and the very best I\u2019ve ever had. You\u2019ll be glad you took my phrase for it whenever you order this drink!<\/p>\n Since my inside clock was nonetheless anticipating East Coast time, I used to be prepared to start out the following day shiny and early with a dawn run on the seaside, adopted by hitting the health club (gotta keep able to eat all of the native meals, am I proper?). <\/p>\n Truthfully, what a improbable technique to begin the day! I\u2019ve been identified to secretly choose a resort or resort by their health club, and I\u2019m completely satisfied to report that Sheraton Kauai Coconut Seashore Resort didn\u2019t let me down. <\/p>\n They’ve an incredible number of health club gear<\/strong>, and I used to be in a position to get a full exercise in earlier than our group biked to downtown Kapa\u2019a<\/strong> for breakfast at Java Kai<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n This espresso store is so well-known for being the very best that I had a number of family and friends telling me to go to Java Kai and the way jealous they had been that I used to be there. <\/p>\n In truth, it was so good that we went again the following morning<\/strong> to attempt their pineapple French toast on Hawaiian bread<\/strong> and get extra Chai Anu<\/strong> (which was principally like a chai icee and it was SO GOOD).<\/p>\n Fueled up with caffeine and good meals, we had been prepared to walk across the tremendous cute city of Kapa\u2019a and get some buying in on the market. And oh boy did we! <\/p>\n We shopped and shopped and shopped some extra! There have been so many cute native shops to sift via, together with a store the place you possibly can design your individual hat<\/strong>! I\u2019m a sucker for these sorts of shops and ended up spending a very good portion of the day having fun with Kapa\u2019a.<\/p>\n In any case that buying, we wanted to gasoline up once more at one of many recent fruit stands<\/strong>. We tried a number of distinctive Hawaiian fruits, tiny little bananas that had been so tasty, and naturally recent pineapple! So principally I ate my weight in fruit. What higher technique to wash all of it down than with recent coconut water straight from a coconut<\/strong>?!<\/p>\n I assumed I couldn\u2019t eat anymore, however then we discovered a chocolate store that does free chocolate tastings<\/strong> the place you possibly can attempt the very best native chocolate. Simply after I thought I couldn\u2019t get any fuller, that\u2019s after we discovered the macadamia nut retailer<\/strong> simply down the road. Guess what, additionally they have free tastings<\/strong>! Hawaii is known for its macadamia nuts, so in fact I couldn\u2019t say no to that both. They had been so good that I purchased some to carry house for my household.<\/p>\n The ethical of the story is: be ready to buy until you drop and are available hungry to Kapa\u2019a!<\/strong><\/p>\n The bike experience to and from downtown Kapa\u2019a<\/strong> and Sheraton Kauai Coconut Seashore Resort is not like any bike path I\u2019ve ever seen. A lot of the quick experience is correct alongside the coast and the view of the ocean seems to be fully unreal. The water seemed so recent on the way in which again that I jumped off my bike and ran proper in. (The present will be robust although, so watch out the place you swim!<\/strong>*)<\/p>\n I spent the remainder of the afternoon ingesting tropical drinks and studying by the pool once more. The resort even has free shaved ice by the pool from 1:00 \u2013 3:00 pm<\/strong>. I dare you to call a extra good day.<\/p>\n What\u2019s one of the best ways to finish an ideal day in Hawaii? An genuine Hawaiian Luau! We attended Luau Ka Hikina<\/strong> proper on the resort\u2019s open-air pavilion and the ocean proper behind us. Earlier than our Hawaiian feast formally began, we had a hula lesson from the well-known Leilani Rivera Low<\/strong>!<\/p>\n The remainder of the night was spent consuming an unimaginable Hawaiian feast with all the normal favorites \u2014I even tried poi! (For many who don\u2019t know what that’s, it\u2019s a paste from the taro plant \u2014 very Hawaiian) Whereas we ate, Leilani and her faculty of proficient hula dancers carried out with dwell island music. <\/p>\n This was one among my favourite experiences thus far since you actually felt the soul and fervour behind this stunning tradition that\u2019s been handed down for a lot of, many generations.<\/p>\n As if everybody there wasn\u2019t already totally amazed by the expertise of those dancers and musicians, they introduced out the insanely spectacular Samoan Fireplace Knife Chief<\/strong>. <\/p>\n This was completely one of many coolest and most extraordinary issues I\u2019ve ever seen.<\/p>\n The expertise, talent and bravado that goes into hearth knife dancing is unfathomable. A number of of us had been fairly presumably fan-girling over the fireplace chief and Leilani after the performances.<\/p>\n Even after a fun-filled conventional Hawaiian night time, I needed to make the most of the dawn with the dawn breakfast menu (together with recent fruit and an acai bowl). How may you not with the solar rising over the ocean instantly in entrance of your resort?!<\/p>\n Sheraton Kauai Coconut Seashore Resort provides beachside morning yoga<\/strong> that I clearly needed to make the most of after watching the dawn. I really like the thought of seaside yoga, however typically the sand turns into an excessive amount of of a trouble for me. <\/p>\n However the yoga really happened on the garden proper subsequent to the seaside<\/strong>. So you continue to had the ocean proper subsequent to you and all of the beachside vibes with out worrying about getting sand in your eyes throughout downward canine.<\/p>\n A simple, peaceable morning with a very good stretch meant that we had been prepared for our subsequent massive journey. One of many biggest adventures on the market to be precise! Mountain tubing with Kauai Backcountry Adventures<\/a><\/strong> the place you float down canals from an outdated sugar plantation and tunnels main underneath the mountain. <\/p>\n With inexperienced tropical crops surrounding you and Mt. Wai\u2019ale\u2019ale looming over you it feels such as you\u2019re floating via Jurassic Park. It actually felt like a dinosaur may run out from the bushes at any time on the market.<\/p>\n The superb journey would have been price it by itself, nevertheless it was made that a lot better by the very best tour information on the market. Noah was superb and you must completely request him as your tour information<\/strong> whenever you ebook your journey!<\/p>\n After the whole lot I\u2019ve already talked about, would you consider that I haven\u2019t even instructed you my favourite factor of all the journey? You might be shocked after I inform you it was our Ukulele lesson with the resort\u2019s Kumu, Maka Herrod<\/strong>. <\/p>\n One of many issues which can be an absolute should after I come again to Kauai is having one other lesson with Maka.<\/strong> We had a lot enjoyable studying the way to play the Ukulele, and we even sounded fairly respectable ultimately! Maka is without doubt one of the kindest and sweetest individuals I\u2019ve ever met and I can\u2019t think about there\u2019s a greater Ukulele instructor on the market.<\/p>\n A day filled with journey and studying meant we had been very excited for our goodbye dinner on the resort\u2019s upscale restaurant, Moa Moa<\/strong>. The strawberry moon over the ocean was the backdrop for our dinner, making it the proper setting. <\/p>\n As soon as once more, I ate approach an excessive amount of as a result of the whole lot was so scrumptious! The Hawaiian caprese salad was tasty and refreshing and I cherished the tropical twist to the normal caprese salad. For my most important course, I had the\u00a0macadamia-crusted Mahi-Mahi,\u00a0and it was phenomenal! <\/p>\n To prime all of it off, we tried a number of of their scrumptious desserts and severely regretted not saving extra room for dessert. They had been so good that I wished to eat each final chew \u2013 particularly the molten lava cake<\/strong>!<\/p>\n I hate to confess it, however I type of lied to you earlier. My favourite factor from all the journey was undoubtedly the Ukulele lesson with Maka, UNTIL an impromptu hike to the highest of the Sleeping Large<\/strong> the morning of my flight. <\/p>\n The Nounou East Path Head<\/strong> was solely a couple of 5-minute drive from Sheraton Kauai Coconut Seashore Resort<\/strong> and I couldn\u2019t resist seeing the views from the highest that I\u2019d heard a lot about. <\/p>\n So I woke as much as watch the dawn on the seaside one final time after which headed to the trailhead to start out my trek to the highest. I wasn\u2019t even 5 minutes into my hike, and it was already price it. With the lava rocks, crops, and bushes, this was undoubtedly essentially the most stunning I\u2019d ever taken.<\/em><\/p>\n And that doesn\u2019t even embody the views but. About \u00bc of the way in which up the mountain, I got here throughout a patch of daylight from a break within the bushes. That\u2019s after I rotated and actually gasped out loud. I used to be undoubtedly not anticipating a full view of the city under me and the wide-open ocean past it. <\/p>\n There was no approach the view from the highest was obligatory if this view was already right here, not even midway up the mountain, proper? Improper! After I lastly made it to the highest, the path become a singular rocky terrain. I climbed the rocks and once more had my breath taken away. This was completely essentially the most stunning and satisfying hike I\u2019ve ever executed<\/strong>. <\/p>\n On the prime of the Sleeping Large, you get a panoramic view of the island and an unobstructed view of the ocean that was getting an increasing number of blue because the morning solar rose increased into the sky. That is undoubtedly one of the stunning sights on the market. I can\u2019t start to inform you how completely satisfied I used to be that I made a decision last-minute to make this hike occur. It was greater than price it!<\/p>\n Should you like having a path virtually fully to your self, then you must begin climbing proper after dawn<\/strong>. That\u2019s what I did, and I felt like I had all the mountain to myself. I didn\u2019t see a single individual till later as I hiked down the mountain and other people began climbing up. Plus, it wasn\u2019t as scorching earlier within the morning<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The unofficial theme of this journey was journey, then eat. That\u2019s precisely what I did after my hike. I needed to match one final native favourite meals spot in earlier than my flight out \u2013 Holey Grail Donuts<\/a><\/strong>. <\/p>\n To be fully trustworthy, donuts are by no means one among my favourite issues, however these \u201cHawaiian grown\u201d donuts are unimaginable!<\/strong> They use distinctive Hawaiian flavors from native farms and these donuts are so a lot better than anything on the market. These donuts had been the proper send-off deal with.<\/p>\n I really miss Kauai a lot already. This was one place that I\u2019ve been actually unhappy to go away behind. I can\u2019t wait to come back again to discover extra of this attractive island and expertise extra of the attractive Hawaiian tradition.<\/p>\n **Journey Off Path was a visitor of Sheraton Kauai Coconut Seashore Resort,\u00a0who helped with the creation of this itinerary by internet hosting a few of our lodging and sights. Our opinions, suggestions, and solutions stay our personal.**<\/sub><\/p>\n The Journey Off Path Benefit: Your Journey Toolkit<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Subscribe To Our Newest Posts<\/p>\n Enter your electronic mail handle to subscribe to Journey Off Path’s newest breaking journey information, straight to your inbox.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \t\t\t<\/div>\n![\"Liz](\"https:\/\/www.traveloffpath.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Liz-Fox-sitting-at-the-top-of-the-Sleeping-Giant-in-Kauai-Hawaii.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\nParadise Discovered: Sheraton Kauai Coconut Seashore Resort<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\nGetting Settled In<\/h3>\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\nA Good Poolside Afternoon<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/a><\/figure>\nExploring Kapa\u2019a City<\/h3>\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\nCoastal Rides and Tropical Treats<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\nAn Genuine Hawaiian Luau<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/a><\/figure>\nConscious Mornings and Mountain Adventures<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/a><\/figure>\nUnforgettable Experiences<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/a><\/figure>\nA Breathtaking Farewell Hike<\/h3>\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\nThe Good Sendoff<\/h3>\n