South Shore

We started our trip spending three days in Poipu Beach on the South Shore of Kauai. It was warm and sunny there almost always, with the occasional afternoon rainstorm that's typical on the Island. This was a great way to start the vacation, because you are basically immersed in a tropical climate and environment from the moment you come into town. We had a great condo that was a 2 minute walk from Poipu Beach, and it was a great location to explore from. There are a number of great restaurants in the area as well; everything from hole-in-the-wall taco joints to upscale fusion cuisine. We tried a little of everything and didn't come away disappointed once. This is also where I discovered my favorite food product of the islands - Shave Ice. If you're not familiar with it, you take a big block of ice, shave it with a really sharp blade to get this fine, almost powdery ice. Pile that up in a cup (scoop of ice cream at the bottom optional), then pour one or more of usually dozens of flavors over it, then grab a spoon and dig in. What a great way to cool off in the afternoon!