Kauai- North End

 I had a change of plans for our 2nd full day. I had been watching the weather and decided today we should head to the north end since it was forecasted to be sunny and no rain. After breakfast again watching the sunrise from our balcony, this was a great little condo unit, we packed up the cooler with some sparking waters, diet pepsi and fruit and headed out. (condo had beach chairs, beach umbrella and cooler) 

Sunrise breakfast

We stopped at some view points along the way up the coast.

Enjoyed beautiful scenery along the way while I was reading about what we should see and do!

Taro fields in the distance

Discovered we should see a botanical garden that we needed reservations for, so I made reservations from my phone but could only get last entry at 2:00, mostly because of limited parking. I suggested we go straight there and see if we could get in early. We didn't realize this garden was sooooo far north, so after passing through several one way bridges and winding road we finally arrived, so hoping we could get in because we didn't want to come back! Yes! There was a parking spot open and we were allowed in at around 10:30!

One of many one way bridges

The Limahulia Gardens show the few native plants that grew here as well as all the plants that were brought to the island, so not a showy garden but more of an educational garden.

Mountain (Bali Hai) made famous in South Pacific, but not its actual name.

After wandering through the gardens we drove back to the north end towns stopping at Hanalei (Puff the Magic Dragon) for lunch. Hanalei was a very cute little town. We had delicious tacos from a little almost food truck type place.

Then off the to Pier of Hanalei, which is where the scene from South Pacific is shot when the actress "washes that man right out of my hair"

Hanalei pier

This was actually a great beach but I had wanted to seek out another beach I had read about, and a couple by our pool today me about,  Anini Beach which was just down the road.

Relaxing on Anini Beach

Dave floating at Anini Beach

We enjoyed the peaceful calm water at Anini beach for a while then headed back, stopping at Costco to pick up dinner, a $4.99 roasted chicken along with and a big pack of asparagus which we enjoyed along with a box of couscous I had brought from home.  What a tasty bargain, we made a couple sandwiches out of that roasted chicken over the next 2 days. 

Tasty and peaceful dinner on the lanai