Kauai- Waimea Canyon

Getting lost was becoming the theme of our trip. We woke up early to
hike the Napali Coastline. Instead, we found ourselves on the opposite side of the island and stumbled upon the magnificent Waimea Canyon (aka the Grand Canyon of the Pacific).

This, my friends, is Kauai. No matter where you drive you are constantly slamming on the breaks to appreciate the stunning views. This small island offers a true feast for your eyes. 

We stopped at a small lodge that served up a hearty breakfast before our hike. Yes, at this point we were still thinking we were heading in the right direction. The workers (at the lodge) eased our worries and advised that it would be about 5 miles north to our destination. 

Once we arrived we realized that we were at the wrong trail... on the opposite side of the island. We decided to hike a short distance on our newly discovered trail (Swamp Trail). 

The views were masked by thick cloud cover. 

The clouds would break every so often and give you a sneak peak of what you had been missing. If you blinked, you would miss it. 

Having had our fill we decided to head back to the hotel. That is, until Jer, had the brilliant idea of hiking the Canyon Trail for a better view of the canyon.

It was a hike. I was hot, sweaty, and a bit terrified. In my old age I have become scared of heights. Like, really scared of heights. My heart starts beating really fast, my hands start sweating, and I think I may faint. Jer would test my limits (and patience) by leaning off the edge and I would scream bloody murder. He thought it was hilarious. Me, not so much.

If you are not into hiking, the views from the road are just as dramatic. You can save your energy and time. 

Once you come back down the Waimea Canyon Road to head back to Poipu, you will run into the Shrimp Station. Stop and eat. Banging shrimp.

We got the Cajun Shrimp and it was finger licking good. Even the fluffy rice was on point. 

After your done consuming your banging shrimp, turn right and head to Jo Jo's Shave Ice. This will turn non-shave ice lovers into believers. We got the Rainbow with macadamia nut ice cream at the bottom. Since we were sharing, I tried to distract the hubs with other things as I quickly sneaked extra spoonfuls.  

We headed back to the resort to rest our sore muscles by the pool.