Travel Letters

Every Hawaiian island has its unique characteristics. I visited Oahu and Kauai for the first time 5 years ago. Oahu was busy and lively with a little bit of everything from great shopping, food, and hiking. Kauai was a lush and quiet oasis that felt off the beaten track from bustling Oahu. Having recently visited Maui this year, I can say it felt like a blend between Oahu and Kauai. This post will mainly be split into West Maui and Northeast Maui where we spent the majority of our time. West Maui We stayed in a rental condo in Lahaina, where most of the tourists are. It is about an hour's drive from Maui airport. Before heading to Lahaina, I recommend stopping by Costco Food Truck Park, only a five-minute drive from the airport to grab a bite of Geste Shrimp Truck. Honorable mentions for food include: Tamura's Fine Wine & Liquors for the freshest poke you will ever find in Maui, Leoda's Kitchen Pie Shop for the lightest coconut pie you will ever taste period, and Lahain...

After this trip, I now understand why everyone visits Lake Tahoe year after year. The lake is a worthy and beautiful sight any season but the decision to visit during the snowy winter was intriguing for a SoCal girl who is accustomed to sunshine. We stumbled upon Eagle Lakes trailhead by accident and luckily we did because that was one of the most intense, cold, windy, snowy, and beautiful hikes I have ever done. After 2 hours of slipping through snow and navigating a snowed-in trail, we reached Eagle Lake. It was completely frozen and windy as we took in the view and ate lunch. Later in the evening, we caught the most beautiful sunsets at Lakeside Beach. The clouds and colors blended perfectly to create a sweet and blazing sunset.  Cheers, Kimberly " As it lay there with the shadows of the mountains brilliantly photographed upon its still surface, I thought it must surely be the fairest picture the whole earth affords.” - Mark Twain