Kauai - Fav 5 {Travel Guide}

Fav 5 Travel Guides are a short list of the best things I've found to do, see, eat, or drink in a particular location. This guide is for the Hawai`ian island of Kaua`i. 

More Hawai`i travel guides are linked here. If you enjoy Figs and Flights content, please follow and support via Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

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 Kauai is Hawaii's fourth largest island and it's nicknamed the garden isle. 

Kauai was the first place my (now) husband and.I ever traveled to together, back in 2009. This was the infamous trip where the Gucci bag got stolen! 

Since I moved back to Oahu last year, I've been lucky to visit Kauai twice.

If you're looking to relax and enjoy a slow, quiet, and beautiful trip to Hawaii, Kauai is the island for you. 

We stayed in Kapa`a, on the East side of the island. Kapa`a is the most populous town on Kauai and is roughly 30 mins away from the Lihue airport. We didn't rent a car but had relatives staying nearby who did.

​Without further adieu, here are my Fav 5 from Kauai.

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1. Live oceanside at The ISO Hotel

The ISO Hotel was just perfect for our visit to Kauai. The rooms were stylish and clean and the entire property was quiet and relaxing. 

Obviously the location directly on the ocean is the best part! The ISO Hotel provides bicycles to borrow and free morning yoga, which we took full advantage of. (The hotel  also offers daily breakfast and a pool, which we never managed to utilize.)

The ISO offers discounts for both Military and kama`aiana (Hawaii residents). For just $10 more per night, splurge for the ocean front room on the ground floor. You can literally open your door and effortlessly walk to the ocean at all times of the day and night! 

The Ocean Front room is so SO close to the water

Wake up to the sun and the ocean just outside your door

Free morning yoga: next to the ocean and under the palm trees!

Kauai in a photo. Pretend you can hear the chickens, palms swaying, and waves crashing.

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2. Bike to breakfast in Kapa`a Town

We rode the bikes from the ISO Hotel to Kapa`a Town every morning! There's a paved path that takes you through neighborhoods and along the beach for easy riding and navigating. I even spotted a FIG TREE along the way, my favorite. 

Once you've reached Kapa`a town, hit up Java Kai for coffee and breakfast. The food and coffee are so good we went back two days in a row!

A nice, flat, oceanside bike path

Found a fig tree!

Java Kai, a must visit

A breakfast burrito and a bagel from Java Kai

The Feta Mo' Betta from Java Kai

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3. Adventure to the Fern Grotto

The Wailua River, on Kauai, is the only navigable river in Hawaii.

Tucked a few miles up the river is the Fern Grotto. It's just what it sounds like, a lava rock grotto covered in ferns. It's beautiful, peaceful, quiet and magically serene. 

You can kayak or a boat tour to the Fern Grotto. We went with Smith's Wailua River Cruise which provided boat transportation, tour guide, and live music! We took the entire family and travelers of all ages enjoyed the field trip. 

This was my absolute favorite part of Kauai, a lush and tropical magical grotto! Often times, like the day we visited, there are musicians playing live at the grotto because of the good acoustics there (mind blown).

Welcome to the Wailua River Cruise

Smith's was such a great way to visit the Fern Grotto

What a magical and serene place, the Fern Grotto

Relaxing with my nephew at the Fern Grotto

Aside from a short walk (boat to grotto) this is fun for all ages

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4. Peruse Hanalei Town

Hanalei is a small town on the North Shore of Kauai. We spent a leisurely afternoon shopping and eating in Hanalei.

Don't miss Kalypso Island Bar & Grill for food and a drink, Pink's for ice cream, and the Crystals & Gems Gallery.

My classic combo: strawberry & mint chocolate chip

Snagged this ring at Crystals and Gems, I wear it every day

Yes, Kalypso was Mr. Figs' favorite

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5. Dine at Oasis on the Beach

The best meal of our trip was a great dinner at Oasis on the Beach. The restaurant does not exaggerate, it's truly beachside dining.

The ambiance is perfection and the food was equally impressive. I will do my best to eat here every time I visit Kauai!

Bryce and another carnivore ordered a sharable meat feast and devoured every bite while I loved the fresh catch. The show stopper, for sure, was the dessert with biscotti and gelato. 

The beach is just behind the stellar photo spot

A sharable feast for two: meat, corn on the cob, green veggies, rice, etc.

Seared catch of the day (ahi) with whipped garlic potatoes and bok choy

Biscotti and gelato for dessert!

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