Travel Archives - Page 3 of 15

La Fortuna/Arenal, Costa Rica

Now that I’ve shared my personal must pack list for a trip to Costa Rica, let’s dive into the details of our getaway.

We (me, Vishnu, Vishnu’s brother, my sister, and her husband) spent a total of 6 nights in Costa Rica, including short stints in San Jose on our way in and out. I wasn’t necessarily a huge fan of where we stayed these nights, but they served the purpose and were super cheap! I will say, though, that the fast food in San Jose, namely Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, tasted pretty delicious. Even better than the states!

Ok, so we woke up super early on Thursday to drive (we rented a big SUV) to La Fortuna/Arenal. We were being picked up at our La Fortuna Airbnb around 9 am for our hiking excursion. The drive took a little over 2.5 hours and was scenic and beautiful.

And that was the start to a very fun 2.5 days in La Fortuna/Arenal…

WHERE WE STAYED

I’m very thankful to my sister and Adarsh (my BIL) for doing the majority of the planning behind this trip. They did an amazing job picking great places to stay and the best excursions.

Like I said, we stayed at a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom Airbnb. The whole vibe reminded me a lot of India. We even had a mini farm next door!

In my opinion, the best part about this particular home was the fact that the owner was incredibly gracious and kind. And that it had a washing machine for all our dirty hiking, rapelling, and rafting clothes. I bet everyone else would say they loved the hammock and the location! Ha!

Overall, I think all five of us would recommend this place.

WHERE WE ATE

In terms of meals, we really only had to think about dinner because we ate breakfast at home (in the form of bananas, bars, and PB sandwiches) and lunches were covered as part of the excursions, with the exception of zip lining.

Rainforest Café – We had high hopes for this place as it came recommend by one of our hiking guides. Personally, I felt like the food was a bit Americanized and not as authentic as I wanted. My sister and I shared some yucca fries and nachos, while the guys ordered special plates with a few different items. I did, however, love the fried plantain with cheese on Vishnu’s plate and had a few bites of that.

Don Rufino – This was our more fancy meal while in La Fortuna/Arenal. Overall, I really enjoyed the ambiance and food. There weren’t too many vegetarian options on the menu but what they did have was great. My sister and I shared a cauliflower steak with couscous. However, the butternut squash risotto that came with the chicken dish stole the show. I’m already thinking of how to recreate it at home!

Chill Out Café (lunch) – Because we had a 5 hour drive ahead of us, we wanted to make sure we ate before heading from zip lining to Manuel Antonio. I will say, for what it was, the food at Chill Out Café was pretty decent. I ordered a veggie quesadilla and fries (because duh!) and liked it a lot. Everyone else ordered tacos and said they tasted better than expected.

WHAT WE DID

La Fortuna Extreme Hike – This was a crowd favorite excursion. And I liked it a lot too! I will say that a baseline of fitness is probably something that should be recommended, as certain portions of the hike were very challenging. My favorite parts included seeing all the cool animals and birds, the views of the volcano, the team work our little group displayed as we climbed up and down for eight miles, and our super energetic guide. At the end of the hike, you go to a hot ‘river’ for an hour to relax. Not my favorite as the river was very rocky and the water pressure crazier than expected, but all in all, it was a great way to end the day!

Desafio Combo Canyoning and Rafting – I ended up loving both of these excursions more than I expected. To be fair, my bar was set pretty low to begin with. The waterfall rapelling (crayoning) definitely got our adrenaline up and proved to be a challenge. Essentially, you rapell down four waterfalls and incur two ‘ wet surprises’ along the way. There is a bit of ‘hiking’ involved with this so I highly recommend taking your water shoes with you. After a breakfast break, we headed to the river for the rafting portion of the day. This was a ton of fun, mainly because our guide was awesome. He let us get in the river and float along, and he also let a few of us ‘ride the bull.’ FYI – I didn’t do this! All in all, I would highly recommend this combo package – just remember adventure is the name of the game. Oh and lunch was pretty delicious too!

Sky Trek Zip Lining – I ended up loving this more than I thought I would (a personal theme for the trip!). Don’t get me wrong, it’s frightening if you think too much about what you’re about to do, but if you can get over the height element, it’s amazing! We zip lined across/down seven different paths, all of varying heights and lengths. The guides were awesome and made sure you had a lot of fun along the way. Again, highly recommend this adventure!

Next up, a little bit of adventure and lots of relaxation in Manuel Antonio…

P.S. To be honest, I was very nervous about all of the excursions we signed up for. I kept imaging someone getting seriously injured. I’m happy to share no one in our group got hurt over the course of our 6 day trip. We owe this in large part to our guides and the safety standards they follow. I felt safe and secure at all times. Also, as Vishnu pointed out, the safety regulations in Costa Rica probably surpass those in the US, as tourism is their main industry.

Must Pack List for an Adventure Filled Trip to Costa Rica

written by Parita 2 Comments

I thought I’d start my Costa Rica posts with one about my personal must pack list. Personally, this was a unique trip for me because our days were filled with so many adventures/excursions. Let’s put it this way – you’re not packing for just the beach!

Let me provide some context about our trip. We were in Costa Rica for 6 nights total – mainly in Arenal and Manuel Antonio. Over the course of four of those days, we participated in five different excursions (I’ll share more detail in my other posts). As you can imagine, shopping and packing for this trip was interesting.

With that being said, here is my must pack list for an adventure filled trip to Costa Rica…

1. Water shoes – These bad boys saved my feet/toes multiple times as the hot springs and beaches can be quite rocky. We also wore our water shoes during the waterfall rapelling and white water rafting excursions, and they were the perfect footwear. Highly recommend!

2. Hiking boots – I was super skeptical about this purchase, but looking back, I’m so glad both Vishnu and I splurged on good quality hiking boots. If you’re planning to do any kind of hiking in Costa Rica, I recommend a solid pair of boots. I almost rolled my ankle twice! We also wore our boots in place of sneakers for all other excursions. We bought ours at a local REI. I recommend getting fitted if you’re new to this just like you would for running shoes. The last thing you need on an eight mile hike through the Costa Rican rainforest is an uncomfortable pair of shoes.

3. Rain jacket – Even if you’re travelling during the dry season (which we did), I still highly recommend bringing a good quality rain jacket with you. It drizzled during our zip lining excursion, and while our jackets didn’t necessarily keep us warm, they did keep us dry which was as good as it got at the time!

4. Bug spray – A strong, good quality bug spray is a must! Those Costa Rican mosquitos aren’t messing around. For those of you who follow me on Instagram Stories or have been reading MIS for a while, you know my favorite natural spray is Bug Off by Me and a Tree Skincare. This stuff has travelled with me to India, Panama, Florida, and now Costa Rica. Not only is it safe to use, it really does keep the bugs away. I didn’t get a single mosquito bite during this trip (or any of the others)! And an added bonus – it smells amazing!

5. SPF – Don’t forget a good quality SPF for face and body. Personally, I like using something different on my face because of how sensitive my skin is. I can’t recommend the Drunk Elephant SPF enough. I use the tinted kind and LOVE it.

6. Hat – This may seem like a ‘maybe/maybe not’ kind of item, but it’s a must because that sun isn’t messing around. All five of us wore our hats daily.

7. First aid kit – So technically, we didn’t have to open our first aid kid during this trip. However, I still recommend bringing one, especially if your trip is excursion heavy. I scraped my knee pretty bad during the waterfall rapelling (at the VERY end while we’re walking to lunch…ugh!), and I’m so thankful someone else in our wider excursion group had a water resistant band aid. Rafting would’ve been very painful otherwise.

8. Sunglasses – Be sure to bring a CHEAP pair of sunglasses with you. Keep the good stuff at home!

9. Pants/hiking pants – While it may seem counterintuitive to pack pants for a HOT Costa Rican vacation, hear me out! A good, comfortable pair of pants/hiking pants will protect your legs from scraps, bugs, etc. The boys wore actual hiking pants (I got these for Vishnu, and he raved about them such great fit/quality for the price), while my sister and I got away with workout leggings.

10. Water bottles – Obviously, bottled water is sold everywhere in Costa Rica. But you’ll appreciate having a liter (or more) bottle of your own after a few hours in the sun. I got two of these bottles for me and Vishnu and feel that they served the purpose, not only when we were out and about, but also when we were just hanging out at our Airbnbs. A little tip – instead of buying small individual bottles, buy a (or more!) 6 liter jugs. Life saver!

Obviously, we packed other things like nice dinner outfits, bathing suits, flip flops, etc. But the 10 items above are the ones you really need!

No portion of this post is sponsored. However, affiliate links are included. There is no extra cost to you, but I do receive a small commission on anything you buy through my links. Thank you for reading and supporting My Inner Shakti!

Greetings from Atlanta!

written by Parita 4 Comments

Honey, we’re hoooooooommmmmmmmmmeeeeee! 🙂Kaiden, my dad, and I flew to Atlanta on Saturday afternoon. Thankfully, Kaiden did great on the flight – he slept for the first hour (give or take) and played/creeped on our seat neighbors iPad for the last 50 minutes or so. Also thankful we flew in Saturday and not Sunday. The Atlanta airport experienced a major power outage from about 1 pm onward on Sunday leaving passengers trapped and in the dark…literally. My poor BIL was stuck on the tarmac for over seven hours (he flew home from Mexico). Can you even imagine? I can’t help but think about what that would’ve been like with a baby. Not fun…that’s what! Anyways, Niel is home now, and that’s what matters!

In true weekend recap style, let me share a bit more about what we’ve been up to the past few days…

FRIDAY

First and foremost, Friday included a visit from my friend Vijal. She was in town for work and decided to stop by to see me and meet K.

The day also included MAJOR meal prep for Vishnu. While I know he’s a big boy and can fend for himself, I wanted to ensure our fridge was fully stocked with dinner options for him. His rotation is so unpredictable right now, and the last thing he wants to do when he gets home is prepare a meal (for one at that!). So in true Parita style, I went to town and made three meals – butter chicken, turkey chili, and masala pasta with veggies. Phew!

And finally, I did three loads of laundry and packed my little heart out. Packing for me + K for two whole weeks was quite the feat. Between me and my dad, we ended up with two large suitcases maxed out at 50 pounds each and three carryons. Oy vey!

SATURDAY

Saturday morning included last minute packing and repacking, pumping, giving K a bath, etc. Boy, how things have changed since our pre-baby days!

Vishnu dropped us off at the airport around 1:30, and we were somehow through security and at our gate a little before 2. K and I went through security on our own since I have pre-check and my dad doesn’t. And guess what…we survived! It probably helped that I formed a game plan in my head ahead of time for how to get everything on the belt, including a car seat, caddy, two bags, and breast milk. Kaiden’s cuteness also probably helped distract fellow passengers and make them less annoyed at us!

By the time we got home, it was almost 8 pm. My mom prepared a feast, so as soon as K ate and I pumped, we sat down to eat. So much yum on one plate…what I look forward to (almost) the most when coming home!

Because of the craziness from the day, Kaiden stayed up waaaay past his bedtime, which made for a very eventful night for his mama and grandma. I lost count after a while, but I’m pretty sure he woke up no less than eight times in a seven hour period. I don’t blame him though. It’s hard adjusting to a whole new environment after a long travel day!

SUNDAY

Because of the aforementioned long night, my parents told me to go back to sleep after my morning pump session. And sleep I did…until 11 am!!! MUCH NEEDED!

A couple of hours later, Vishnu’s parents arrived at our house to see their grand baby! The day included lots of playing, pizza, and catching up. At one point, I looked over at Kaiden playing with all four of his grandparents and thought, “How blessed are we?” It really is the most magical time of the year!

Thankfully, we experienced far fewer wake up calls (~4) and a more restful night of sleep.

And that brings us to Monday and the beginning of a fun week – visitors, lots of nani/nana time, my sister and Adarsh arriving on Thursday, Christmas Eve fun, yummy food, etc.

Happy Monday!

P.S. One of my goals is to be better about taking pictures for the blog! And I’m not waiting until the new year to start. 🙂

Air Travel with an Infant from the Perspective of First Time Parents

written by Parita 6 Comments

From the minute we decided to make the trip to Nashville, I started reading about air travel with an infant. I wanted to be as prepared and knowledgeable as possible because with babies…you just never know! First time parents much?

Did my weeks of prepping and planning pay off? Yes and no.

Let’s me share more…

Travel gear

We didn’t travel light, that’s for sure. If I had to pick a few must haves, I’d say a car seat caddy is a must (both for the airport and your destination), as is a car seat cover (we own this car seat). We gate checked everything with no issues.

I also took both the diaper bags we own. One carried my pump and milk while the other was filled with Kaiden’s stuff.

Airline of choice

We decided to fly Southwest for several reasons. Great cancellation policy. Get to board after group A. Free checked bags. Need I say more?

In fact, we enjoyed our experience so much that I decided to fly with them over the holidays. Fingers crossed all goes well again!

Regardless of the airline you select, don’t forget to bring your baby’s birth certificate with you. You’ll need to obtain his/her boarding document.

Getting through security

Both Vishnu and I have TSA precheck, so getting through security was fairly easy. I carried K with me while Vishnu loaded up all our stuff (bags, car seat, caddy, etc.).

We made sure to let the agent know that one of the bags contained my pump + breast milk. He advised us to take out the breast milk out of the bag and place it on the belt as a standalone item. Another agent tested my milk by putting each bottle in a machine of some sort. It took a bit of time but was relatively simple.

Our seat strategy

On our way to Nashville, Vishnu and I grabbed a middle and aisle seat totally thinking we’d get the row to ourselves. No one would want to sit next to a couple with a baby, right? Well, the plane was 100% full, so…WRONG!

On our way back, we took the window and middle seat thinking we wouldn’t have to get up so what did it matter. Well, Kaiden pooped as we were taking off, so…WRONG! More on that in a minute…

Honestly, with an infant, your strategy doesn’t really matter. Most flights are full these days, so the likelihood of getting a row to yourself is close to zero.

How Kaiden fared

Our 4.5 month old infant did much better than anticipated. In fact, on the flight to Nashville, Kaiden bounced and played a little before passing out. On the way home, he was a bit more antsy and probably a little overtired. But we didn’t experience any major crying fits or anything like that.

A lot of people told us to feed him upon take off and landing to help prevent his ears from popping too much. Great advice. He drank some milk on the flight over but wanted no part in anything of the sort on the flight back. So we resorted to giving him his pacifier, which thankfully did the trick.

Other than that, I made sure to have his teething ‘toys’ in one place (big zip lock bag) in case we needed them. So helpful!

How Par and Vishnu fared

Vishnu and I were definitely ‘those’ first time parents travelling with a baby. We over packed our suitcases and even our diaper bags. And both of us were super nervous about Kaiden potentially crying nonstop (so thankful that didn’t happen!).

While we were ‘those’ parents, I think we did ok! Next time, we’ll probably be a little more judicious with what we pack, and we probably won’t get to the airport so early (we sat the gate for almost 2 hours). Not too bad for first timers.

Travel stories

Story #1 – The lady who sat next to me on the flight over seemed nice enough. She engaged with Kaiden and told me all about her teenager kids. She even went as far as saying she often wished for the days when they were babies.

But then she made a comment that threw us off a bit. It was 100% harmless, and I probably read into it way too much. In fact, I know I am because I’m writing about it right now. Ha! Anyways, she looked at Kaiden, and in a baby voice said, “Don’t cry now, baby, because then no one on the plane will like you.” Umm…ok. Who says that to a baby?! Someone who’s a mom of three at that!

For the record, not only did Kaiden not cry, but he was an angel. And what if he did? HE’S A BABY!

Story #2 – As soon as our flight home took off, Kaiden let our some gas. Not normally a huge deal. I handed him over to Vishnu so I could find his toys. After a few minutes, Vishnu said, “Par, he smells pretty bad. I think he needs a diaper change.” My immediate thought? NOOOOO! My one hope was that we wouldn’t have to step inside a tiny airplane bathroom with K.

Well, we survived! I thank my lucky stars I talked to my friend Purvi the Thursday before we left. She told me all about their first flight experiences, which included a diaper change. The conversation gave me a boost of confidence (a very small boost!) as I changed this very dirty diaper.

So no true horror stories, but we definitely got a few good laughs in on this trip!

If you have any specific questions about our experience, please leave a comment or email me (myinnershakti@gmail.com). I’m more than happy to be someone else’s Purvi! 🙂

Nashville + A Doozy of a Week + Thanksgiving Fun

written by Parita 4 Comments

I definitely didn’t intend to take a week long blogging break. But after a doozy of a week, something had to give! More on that in a minute.

NASHVILLE

Vishnu, Kaiden, and I flew to Nashville last Friday for a 48 hour whirlwind of a trip. A group of our friends planned a get together, and because Vishnu won’t get to go home (Atlanta) this year, we decided to join the fun. We also wanted Kaiden to meet everyone!

All 14 adults + 4 babies stayed in one big house and made the most of our time together – went out to eat, played lots of games, and laughed/talked nonstop!

I shared Kacy’s Nashville recap post with the group, which led to us trying both Avo and Chauhan Ale & Masala House. I highly recommend these restaurants, especially CA&MH. The unique twist on Southern + Indian cuisine was a huge hit with everyone! Thanks, Kacy!

All in all, it was a great trip. Kaiden did really well on the flight over and pretty well on the fight back (ha!). I plan to share more about our first experience flying with K because we learned a lot of lessons and have a few stories to tell!

We obviously don’t regret going to Nashville at all, BUT it feels like we left with one baby and came home with a different one. Which leads me to our…

…DOOZY OF A WEEK

While in Nashville, Kaiden was not his usually happy self. He was generally fine during the day, but when it came to his nighttime sleeping, he’d wake up several times in a row screaming his head off. We attributed this to being in a new environment with new people and figured he’d return to his normal self a few days after being back home. Ummmm…not the case!

This past week was rough for all of us, especially K. His entire sense of being was off. Not only was he fussier, but he was also clingier than he’s ever been. Wanting to be constantly held is not usually his thing, but man, the minute I’d try to put him down, the screaming would start. He’d literally be fast asleep in my arms (or Vishnu’s), but the minute we’d even attempt to put him down, he’d wake up and start crying. Not only that, but his naps were pretty much nonexistent and his feeding schedule was all over the place.

We now think/know he’s teething. He’s showing all the classic symptoms, specifically putting his hands in his mouth and gnawing on them all day long. Poor baby! Thankfully, he hasn’t spiked a fever. We’re also very thankful he still sleeps through the night (knocking on all the wood I can find!).

While we feel terrible for him, the extra snuggles we’re getting are quite nice! I especially love when he burrows his head into my shoulder and puts his arms around my neck. And that’s when I whisper, “Please don’t ever grow up, Kaiden!!!” 🙂

To top it all off, I’ve also been feeling under the weather this past week. I’m not sure if it’s just exhaustion or if I have a cold or something. Hopefully it all passes very very soon!

THANKSGIVING FUN

With Kaiden not feeling his best, it was SO nice having extra pairs of hands around for a few days over the Thanksgiving holiday. Vishnu’s brother Niel flew in on Wednesday night, and his parents flew in on Thursday afternoon. I’m so thankful for their visit because not only did it inject some fun into Thanksgiving 2017, but it also kept me from going crazy! Thankfully, Kaiden doesn’t discriminate when it comes to who’s holding him. He just wants to be held! And his grandparents and uncle kindly obliged.

Other than hanging out at home and eating lots of delicious food (Thanksgiving feast, IP lentil tortilla soup, homemade pizza, and Seoul Taco), we didn’t do too much. Unfortunate because the temperature hit close to 60 on Friday. #stayawaywinterweather

My in-laws’ visit made me super excited about our trip home in December. I can’t wait for Kaiden to spend some time in the A!

After a crazy week, I’m hoping the upcoming one is as routine/normal/boring as they come!

Happy Monday…make it a good one.

Our Babymoon in Scottsdale, Arizona

written by Parita 10 Comments

We’re back from our babymoon in Scottsdale, Arizona, and to be honest, I wish we could do it all over again! Our 5ish day/4 night stay went far too quickly for my liking. But we accomplished what we set out to do and that was to relax and spend uninterrupted time together.

In true MIS travel post fashion, I’m going to break down our trip by where we stayed, what we did, and where we ate. If you’re in the process of planning a babymoon/trip to Scottsdale, please don’t hesitate to contact me. More than happy to answer any questions you may have!

Before we delve into the details of our trip, I want to clarify what a babymoon is (to us anyways) and why we chose Scottsdale.

Vishnu and I are really enjoy travelling together, and I must say we’re pretty good at it because we never want to come home! However, a babymoon is classified as a whole different kind of trip altogether. Our last vacation before baby (even though the baby was very much with us as Vishnu reminded me). And to us, the whole point of our babymoon was to relax and spend time together in a way that we really can’t at home.

We chose Scottsdale because Spain was not an option at this point. Just kidding…kind of! When we first started discussing a babymoon (right after our trip to Hawaii), I mentioned I would love to go to Spain. I figured we should go big or go home. Vishnu disagreed, especially after seeing how tired I could get while travelling. He wanted us to go on a trip where relaxation was the centerpiece and not being on our feet all day running around from city to city. After a bit of back and forth, I agreed and threw out the idea of Scottsdale. The weather would be great, we both love Arizona, and the resorts are made for relaxing and treating yourself. Vishnu agreed and started planning our trip. And that is how we ended up in Scottsdale, Arizona!

Where we stayed

We stayed at the Omni Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Montelucia in Paradise Valley. Our friends Erin and Shahan stayed here a few years ago and raved about their experience. After pricing out a few different options, Vishnu ultimately decided on the Omni. We even got a buy three nights get one free deal with a $150 resort credit. While it definitely wasn’t cheap by any means, I don’t feel like we broke the bank on this one either.

The Omni has everything you would want/need – beautiful guest rooms, a family-friendly pool + an adults only pool, an absolutely gorgeous spa with all the services you could imagine, a few onsite restaurants serving truly delicious food, a fully equipped gym, and stunning views of Camelback. Plus, it’s a quick Lyft ride from Phoenix International Airport.

We would highly recommend the Omni resort to anyone visiting Scottsdale. In fact, after posting a picture on Instagram, I learned that a few of my friends have in fact stayed here (and loved their experienced!).

What we did

We napped! Vishnu and I aren’t big nappers, but there was something about being on vacation with virtually zero plans that made the afternoon nap that much more fun and desirable. And again, what would a relaxing vacation be without a nap or two or three?!

We spent the afternoon at the pool. I wish we could have done more of this, but the weather turned on us a little. People said it was super hot (in the 100s) the week before we arrived, and we saw that it’s supposed to be in the upper 80s and 90s after we left. But the few days we spent in Scottsdale were a little cooler than usual and not necessarily pool friendly. Oh well, at least it didn’t rain! I did very much enjoy the one afternoon we got to lounge poolside!

We got a couples’ massage at the spa, and it was glorious! I obviously went with the expectant mother option while Vishnu got a regular massage. You should’ve seen us afterwards. We were the most relaxed we’ve been in months! I can totally see why this particular spa receives such high accolades – the facilities were clean and beautiful and the massage therapists truly knew what they were doing. If money and time weren’t issues, I would totally make massages a weekly thing!

We walked around Old Town Scottsdale after lunch one afternoon. It reminded me of an old western movie. So many quaint shops selling everything from jewelry to wooden furniture to cowboy boots. If you’re in the area, definitely spend some time strolling the streets, but I wouldn’t necessarily go out of my way to visit this part of town.

We worked out three times…because why not!

We visited Tucson. As some of you may recall, I lived in Tucson for eight months after graduating from business school. In fact, it’s where MIS was conceived!

My aunt, uncle, and cousin live in Phoenix, and we originally planned to grab dinner with them on Sunday night. But when my aunt suggested taking a day trip to Tucson, Vishnu and I happily agreed. In fact, it was nice to break up our unplanned days with a little bit of sightseeing action. While in Tucson, we visited the Pima Air & Space Museum and Mount Lemmon. We also ate the most delicious Mexican meal at Guadalajara Grille, an old favorite of mine! In fact, Vishnu said it was the best Mexican meal he’s ever had!

What we wanted to do but didn’t

It may sound a little crazy at almost eight months pregnant, but Vishnu and I wanted to go on a couple of easy hikes while in Scottsdale. He even found a few close ones to the resort. But for one reason or another, it just didn’t happen. Looking back, it’s probably a good thing because my legs (and lungs!) have started to tire out more and more quickly as the days go by. Better safe than sorry!

Where we ate

Centro (at the Omni) – We ate here for lunch and really enjoyed our meal. There’s a great selection of various appetizers, salads, flatbreads, and sandwiches.

Prado (at the Omni) – We ate breakfast here three of the four mornings and really enjoyed the food. The menu includes all kind of egg dishes, as well as some lighter fare options such as a fruit and yogurt parfait, oatmeal, etc.

Crave (at the Omni) – We stopped here after a morning workout and got a couple of fresh-pressed juices (both of which were delicious). This little café also offers coffee, baked goods, gelato, and other smaller meals.

Flower Child – We had dinner at this ‘healthy meets tasty’ restaurant and loved the salads we chose as well as the vegan cookie we picked up as a treat. While it’s not super fancy by any means, you won’t leave this place feeling heavy or overly full.

Postino Wine Café – We had dinner at this cute little café type restaurant and really loved the food we tried. According to a friend of Vishnu’s who went to medical school in the area, Postino’s is known for its bruschetta (so many different kinds to choose from), so that’s what we opted for along with a bowl of assorted olives as an appetizer and a chocolate bouchon dessert with vanilla bean ice cream for dessert. Yum!

The Mission – We had lunch here on our last full day, and I’m so glad we did because the food (especially the table side guacamole) was some of the most flavorful of the trip. Our mini tacos (butternut squash for me and pork + pineapple for Vishnu), while small, packed a powerful punch.

Zinburger – This was our last dinner outing of the trip! After going back and forth, we decided burgers just sounded like the best idea! My veggie burger was one of the better ones I’ve had in a while, and Vishnu said his burger was perfectly cooked and seasoned. I only wish we saved room for one of their epic shakes…the chocolate hazelnut had my name written all over it!

Overall, this was one of the best vacations we’ve taken to date. It wasn’t extravagant by any means, but it provided us with lots of time to connect, be more mindful with each other, relax, and just be. And hopefully it’s just what we needed to gear up for our big upcoming move. Oh and our upcoming baby!!! 🙂

Hawaii 2016 – Kauai

written by Parita 8 Comments

Kauai was the next and final stop on our Hawaiian adventure (Maui being first). We chose Kauai as our second island for a number of reasons – the #1 being it was the most recommended by friends and family. And they were right, everything about it was absolutely breathtaking!

Kauai, the Garden Isle, is lush, tropical, and stunning. It’s also the oldest in the chain of Hawaiian islands, making it that much more mesmerizing. At one point during our boat ride along the Napali Coast, I looked at Vishnu and said, “God really knew what he was doing, huh?” Basically, imagine being plopped into the middle of Jurassic Park. That’s Kauai! I loved how untouched it felt (only 20% of the island is accessible by car) compared to more commercial Maui. Vishnu and I decided Kauai is worth a second visit and that we’ll be back to see more it in a few years.

In true Parita fashion, I’m going to share where we stayed, what we did, and what we ate. And as always, if you have any questions, feel free to email me!

Note – Vishnu and I are behind in life and haven’t downloaded the pictures on our SLR yet. What you see in this post are pics from my iPhone! I didn’t want to delay this post any further, so for now, this is what you get!

WHERE WE STAYED

We stayed at the Koloa Landing Beach Resort in Kauai, and you guys, this place was incredible and HUGE. Honestly, upon entering and checking out our new digs, I felt like it was way too much space. But nothing we could do at that point but enjoy it.

The villas are spacious, beautifully decorated, and equipped with the best appliances. Luxurious to say the very least.

In terms of location, this was much better than where we stayed in Maui…probably because the island is smaller. The shorter drives were much appreciated.

The only drawback to this resort was that a lot of the property was under construction during our stay. Fortunately, we didn’t experience any noise issues. It just took away from that resort-like feel.

WHAT WE DID

Captain Andy’s Napali Coast Dinner Cruise

This was our first adventure in Kauai, and I loved it for so many reasons. First, I got us the best seats on the boat (the very front), so we felt each and every swell! Second, the Napali coast is GORGEOUS. Seriously, there are no words. It’s one of those places that you have to see to believe and appreciate. And third, we saw a mama hump back whale come up and out of the water! That was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen, and it happened about 100 feet in front of us. AH-MAZING!

The dinner portion of the cruise was good (nothing to write home about though). They cater to vegetarians, so they’re winners in my book regardless!

Jurassic Falls Helicopter Landing Adventure

So here’s the thing. These helicopter tours are expensive….VERY expensive. But Vishnu (and my cousin) convinced me that it would be well worth our hard earned money. And they were right! This was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life (second only to sky diving!). This special tour lands in front of Jurassic Falls, made famous by the movie. Again, this is something you can’t really explain in words. It was such a special experience, especially because there are so many parts of Kauai we didn’t have access to by car. HIGHLY recommend this if you can/are willing to dish out some $$$.

Kauai Coffee Estate

Since our helicopter tour was early in the morning, we had all afternoon to explore. Vishnu’s mom’s family manages coffee estates in India, so we thought it would be fun to visit one in Kauai. While it was a real adventure, we liked trying different kinds of coffee, tour the estate, and eating coffee ice cream. This certainly isn’t a must visit place, but if you have time and want to do something relaxing, this is it.

Kauai’s Hindu Monastery

This was our last stop before heading to airport, and what a special way to end our trip. We made it just in time to sit through a short religious event and receive blessings from the priest. For those who follow the Hindu religion, I highly recommend making time to visit this monastery. The grounds are absolutely beautiful, and there’s a special energy that surrounds this place…so peaceful!

WHERE WE ATE

The Juice Bar at Living Foods – The fruit in Hawaii is just a tad bit sweeter than it is in the on the mainland, so when we saw a juice bar close to our hotel, we had to stop. Again, my FIL’s smoothie was the winner! If I remember correctly, it was called the Tropical Delight. YUM!

Pietro’s Pizza – If you’re looking for true Italian pizza, this place is it. Vishnu LOVED Pietro’s while I found it to be so-so. I like my pizza smothered in sauce and evenly covered in cheese, while Vishnu appreciates unique ingredients in smaller quantities. Depending on what kind of pizza you prefer, this place could be right up your alley.

Tortilla Republic – We went here for lunch and found it to be pretty decent though nothing special. The menu has several options that cater to different tastes, preferences, and diets. My vegetarian tacos were tasty, while Vishnu’s quesadilla wasn’t flavorful enough.

Keoki’s Paradise – If Mama’s Fish House was a winner in Maui, Keoki’s Paradise was the clear winner in Kauai. The fish everyone (but me) ordered as their main dishes was apparently perfection. My FIL said the way they prepared it was very tasty and special! Although the highlight of the meal was Hula Pie – Oreo cookie crust, macadamia nut ice cream, hot fudge, and macadamia nuts. This place definitely got a thumbs up from our clan!

Kauai Beer Company – We ate here for lunch on our last day in Kauai, and surprisingly, everyone loved what they ordered. Personally, my roasted veggie sandwich on French sourdough was filling and delicious. Even Vishnu’s jalapeno turkey sandwich looked really good!

And that, my friends, was our adventure in Kauai!

Overall, Hawaii was a super fun escape from freezing Chicago, and I can’t wait to return and see even more!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

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Hawaii 2016 – Kauai

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