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September 9, 2020 | Guest post by: Susan Reach
As a flight attendant, I have had the unique opportunity of being able to travel all around the world both for work and as a vacationer. There are so many incredible places to see, and I truly am blessed to have been able to see so much of this incredible world. There is one place, however, that keeps me coming back again and again. And that is the island of Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands.
I have been to each of the major Hawaiian Islands, and they all have their own characteristics that make them uniquely beautiful and intriguing. But Kauai's characteristics are slightly more unique and slightly more intriguing than those of its neighboring islands. These characteristics are what I dream about, and they are what keep me coming back to Kauai as often as I can. I am going to share with you 5 reasons why Kauai is my favorite place on earth and why you should plan a vacation to the Garden Island. You can check out www.bestthingstodoinkauai.com for some ideas on what to do on your trip.
Kauai has a very laid-back feel. This may seem obvious, and you might think all of the Hawaiian Islands have this same laid-back atmosphere. While some do to some extent, especially when on resort properties, they don't match the relaxed feel that you'll find on Kauai. This may be enshrined in the Kauaian culture, or it may be because Kauai hasn't quite been industrialized to the same extent that some of the other islands have. Whatever the reason, it's a very unique atmosphere and it's one of the things I love most about the island. I adore that no matter where on the island you go, you never feel like you are in a city.
You can easily do a sightseeing tour of the island of Kauai in your car in a single day. Part of this is because the vast majority of the landscape is inaccessible by car, but also because Kauai is a smaller island. This means you can experience the north shore to the south shore and everything in between, with plenty of time for stops and lookout points and beaches, in one day. This is a great thing to do at the beginning of your vacation so you can get ideas of what you'd like to spend more time doing and seeing on the rest of your trip.
You may not know that dozens of big-time movies and tv shows have been filmed on Kauai. Do a Google search for "moves filmed on Kauai", and I think you'll be surprised at the list. There are all sorts of tours you can go on that will take you to different iconic movie spots that are sure to recognize. Some of these tours come by way of helicopter, zipline, ATV, airplane, and kayak. One such iconic movie spot is the actual location of the famous rope swing scene at the beginning of Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark. You can see exactly where Harrison Ford came running through the woods and jumped onto the rope swing. You will have the opportunity to swing on a rope in the exact same spot!
You are not going to find the same level of world-class hotels and dining options on Kauai that you will find on, say, Maui or Oahu. What you will find is a whole bunch of affordable hotels to stay in. Many of these hotels are on the beach or just across the street from the beach. And because Kauai is a smaller island, no matter where you stay, you're never too far from wherever it is you might want to go. And the fact that many of these affordable hotels are on the east coast located approximately halfway between the north shore and the south shore means you can stay halfway between the most popular places on the island.
I mentioned earlier that I've been blessed to be able to travel the globe. There is spectacular scenery on nearly every continent (I can't actually speak for Antarctica). In my estimation, Kauai's scenery is unmatched. Kauai sports truly unbelievable coastlines, breathtaking canyons, hundreds of waterfalls, some thousands of feet tall, and just overall luscious landscapes. I also mentioned that most of the island, some 80% or more, is inaccessible except by helicopter. This means most of the island is completely untouched and untainted. A helicopter ride over the island of Kauai is something that will have your mouth gaping wide open through the entire flight. It is something that is breathtaking, can't be described in words, and may bring tears to your eyes as it does to me every time I go.
Kauai is truly an untainted vacation destination that provides some of the most beautiful scenery this earth has to offer. I don't think this can be overstated when referencing Kauai. There is a reason so many movies and tv shows have been filmed here. Any time I'm asked where I would go if I could travel anywhere on earth, the answer is, without hesitation, the same every time: Kauai. I love the laid-back atmosphere, the affordable options for places to stay, how small and quaint the island feels, and traveling to and seeing the famous spots various movies were filmed. Above all, I love how from virtually anywhere on the island you can look in any direction and see that you are surrounded by stunning landscape.
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We are Jacob and Taylor. Travel is our passion and we love sharing our experiences here at The Travelling Souk. Our hope is that you would be inspired by this little blog to try something new, embrace an adventure, and live life to the fullest.