Kauai definitely has the paradise beaches you might be expecting in Hawaii. But the “garden island” has so much more to offer that it would be a shame not to make the most of it. After things to do in Oahu, here are ideas for Kauai.
After living in France and travelling through Asia together, the new chapter of our lives includes marriage and settling in Texas but first, long visa procedures… We had been engaged for over 2 years and we were planning on getting married in Texas so we decided that I should get a K1 or fiance visa. Although it leads to a green card application, the K1 visa is considered a non-immigrant visa and allows you to get married within 90 days after entering the US.
It had been a rather nice winter in Texas but I am now back in France for a few weeks and it has been all about winter coats and scarves again. I get very nostalgic when I think that exactly one year ago, we were in Hawaii, enjoying hikes and beach time on Oahu and Kauai islands.
After several months on the road, going back to a sedentary life can be a relief as much as a challenge. Although I’m getting used to it, the sudden change of rhythm from being out all day to being more stationary has been a little rough. I want to keep travelling as one of our priorities and it started with a weekend away to Fredericksburg, Texas with friends.
During our long trip, we were lucky enough to be able to spend six weeks in Hawaii and discover two islands, Oahu and Kauai. Although they are both absolutely beautiful, I think I preferred Kauai for its beaches as well as its lush greenery. It is not called the “garden island” for nothing and the best way to make the most of its stunning landscapes is hiking.
Las Vegas is full of things to do and see, but as much as I love it, such a busy city can be a bit stressful and you can feel like escaping all the hustle and bustle. Vegas being in the middle of a desert, you can already see all the beautiful mountains surrounding it without leaving. Nature lovers like me will find it very easy to drive to a quieter place.
I’m more of an outdoor person and I don’t usually like big cities and crowded places, so Las Vegas never appeared to me as an obvious destination. I didn’t think I would enjoy all the noise, lights, sparkles and superficiality I imagined. When we first visited Simon’s sister who has settled there though, I loved it. To be honest, being with an insider helped a lot and we would definitely have had a different experience and not as much fun without Heidi.
Hawaii is the most expensive destination we’ve been to. Even Japan didn’t seem that expensive to us after spending six weeks in Hawaii! But we were determined to make it work on a budget and we did. We ended up spending $60 per day and per person which is pretty good for a state like Hawaii. Here is how we did it.
Spending six weeks in Hawaii was a great opportunity and a great experience. In addition to exploring the wonders of Oahu and Kauai, we got to meet other tourists as well as locals since we mostly stayed at people’s houses, and we were able to catch a glimpse of what life is really like in paradise.
