SOCIAL MEDIA

Monday, April 20, 2020

Blast From the Past... Our Honeymoon

Good morning friends and happy Monday! Recently my hairdresser, who is a big world traveler, has been posting pictures from her many travels and saying "today in my mind I'm in ________" and it has been such a fun breath of fresh air to see her pictures from her travels and also have a little daydream vacation. 

I was thinking about some of the fun places Devin and I have been and started reminiscing about our honeymoon in Kauai, Hawaii. I thought I would share a few pictures with you in the hopes that maybe we could all take a little daydream vacation somewhere this morning šŸ˜Š. Hey, it sure beats reality which is a constantly messy kitchen and laundry up to our ears.
These views definitely beat my current view of dishes piled up in the sink šŸ˜‰

Before we begin, just a little background info. Devin and I got married on July 13th, 2013 and went on our honeymoon shortly after. We wanted to go to a tropical location and somewhere neither of us had been before, so we settled on Kauai. We were dirt poor when we first got married and partly chose Kauai because my parents had a timeshare there and we could stay for free (thanks mom and dad!). Our condo had a kitchen and we went to Costco on the island and bought a bunch of food so we could make breakfast/lunch and a few dinners while we were there... anything we could do to save money!!

We were in Kauai for a total of 10 days and alternated between relaxing beach days and "active" days (hiking, paddle boarding, etc.)
Ready for takeoff! We flew from Charlotte to Phoenix (5 hours) and then from Phoenix to Lihue in Kauai, which was close to 7 hours. We are used to long flights so it wasn't so bad for us!
We got to the hotel, checked into our villa, and headed to the bar for a drink. Devin loves to try local beers wherever we go and I grabbed a Mai Tai. Fun fact, I hate Mai Tai's yet always grab one when I'm in Hawaii because it feels like "the thing to do". I always think "oh they aren't that bad, maybe you actually do kinda like it?". And then I get one, and remember "Nope!! Don't like it!!" Hahaha does anyone else do this?!? It's so dumb, I know...
One of the first things we did was hop in our rental car and drive around the island to check it out. We found a public beach to stop at and snorkeled for a bit.
We spent several days doing a whole bunch of nothing on the beach and by the pool. This was before I had a Kindle and I think I packed like 4 books with me. That's a lot of extra weight to be bringing along! So thankful for my Kindle now!
Devin being ridiculous and wearing my Lilly hat šŸ˜€
We both are very active people and love hiking so despite being warned that the Hanakapiai Falls hike was "very strenuous" we decided to give it a shot. It was a 2 mile hike to a private beach (pictured above) and then another 2 miles to the waterfall. This hike was definitely strenuous, but 100% worth it!! That being said, if you are ever there, BRING EXTRA WATER! We brought one bottle for each of us and it was not nearly enough. Hindsight is always 20/20, right?!

This was our view for a majority of the hike. As I said, 100% worth it! The Na Pali coast is truly breathtaking.
 One day we drove to the beautiful Waimea Canyon. It is called "the Grand Canyon of the Pacific" and looks very similar to the actual Grand Canyon, but greener.
And then afterwards we hiked to Kalalau Lookout which has to be one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. The views in pictures truly do not do this place justice.
And then we spent more time beaching and paddle boarding back at the hotel. 
 Devin's ridiculous face... I should've known what I was getting myself into šŸ˜œ
 Thanks for coming on a trip down memory lane with me today! I feel like I need to add pineapples to my shopping list this week now. What I won't be adding? Ingredients for a Mai Tai šŸ˜‰

Where did you all go on your honeymoons?! I'd love to hear! Maybe we can all take a little imaginary vacation to your place too šŸ˜€

10 comments :

  1. That's so fun! I love looking at travel photos but now it is all the more special. I am so thankful we had our trip to Hawaii in January. I like seeing your photos of Kauai since we didn't get to that island.
    We went to Rome, Venice, Interlaken Switzerland, and Paris for our honeymoon in 2009. I will have to dig out those photos and look at them now. Thanks for the tip!

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    1. I'd love to see them!! Yes, I am enjoying seeing other people's travel pictures right now too. It is especially nice since we are all stuck in one place!

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  2. Beautiful photos! Looks like y'all had a wonderful time! My husband and I went to Kauai several months after we got married back in 2008. We stayed in a little rental cottage and stocked up on groceries too. I was like 6 months pregnant at the time and thought the flight from TX was long. We live in Charlotte now.. that flight would've been so much longer ha!

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  3. No way!! We live in Charlotte too and I love it. We are in the Foxcroft/Cotswold area :)

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  4. What a fun look back! My husband and I took a Royal Caribbean cruise through the Bahamas, St. Thomas, and St. Marteen. It was wonderful!

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    1. Oh that sounds like a dream!! What I wouldn't give to be (safely) on a cruise right about now!!!

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  5. Love this post! What a great idea! We went to Mexico on our honeymoon 15 years ago. I always thought we'd make it back there for another vacation, but we haven't. Hawaii looks beautiful! It's definitely a place I hope to go one day!

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    1. Well you haven't made it back YET ;) That's what I keep telling myself (and Devin) about Hawaii. I would go back tomorrow if we could!!

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  6. Beautiful photos! I must say the "today in my mind I'm in..." is a brilliant idea! Thinking about past travels is so comforting right now. I've been also reminiscing about my honeymoon lately as well. We went to Australia and loved every minute of it. Happy weekend :)

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    1. Oh I bet that was a wonderful trip!!! I would be reminiscing about that trip too! :)

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