Wow, Kauai is a beautiful place!  One of the highlights of our time there was driving to Waimea Canyon State Park.  The Waimea Canyon, located on the west side of Kauai, is also known as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”.  While it is not as big or as old as the Arizona one, we were awestruck by its beauty.  It is 14 miles long, one mile wide and 3,600 feet deep.  The canyon was

The canyon was full of mist

Waipoo Falls

Closer view of Waipoo Falls

Waimea Canyon

Waimea Canyon with helicopter

Waimea Canyon with Waipoo Falls on the right

Waimea Canyon

formed by the collapse of the volcano that created Kauai, as well as erosion caused by the Waimea River arising from extreme rainfall from Mount Wai’ale’ale, one of the wettest places on earth.

This sign point to a nearby peak

Kalalau lookout

Kalepa Ridge from Kalalau Lookout

While viewing the canyon we heard the faint bleating of a mountain goat.  We had to wait awhile but eventually caught a brief glimpse of him before he disappeared.  Amazing how they can keep their footing on the canyon walls!

Another day we drove to Wailua Falls a popular tourist attraction, the falls drop 80 feet into a pool of water.  The falls was used in the opening credits of “Fantasy Island”.

Wailua falls of Kauai

We loved going to restaurants with tropical settings.

Duke’s Restaurant with a tropical interior

Captain Cook landed two ships in Kauai in 1778 and called the islands “Sandwich Islands”.

Replica of statue in Whitby, England of Captain James Cook 1728 – 1779

Our five nights in Kauai came to an end much too soon.  We packed our bags and headed to the airport, but we weren’t ready to fly back to San Diego just yet.  Stay tuned!