Travel
high. A helicopter tour, however, is
the ultimate way to get the lay of
the land. It’s definitely a splurgeworthy alternative and one for the
memory books. And as long as you’re
going all out, make it a waterfall
landing excursion. Island Helicopters’
exclusive tour takes you to the
400-foot Manawaiopuna Falls,
which was popularized in the movie,
“Jurassic Park.” The helicopter
sets down in a tropical valley at
the base of the falls, allowing you
to experience the grandeur of this
remote, tropical site. The ride
also includes a narrated tour of
the island with gasp-inducing
views of the Napali Coast and
Waimea Canyon.
Though it’s definitely an adrenaline
junkie’s haven, Kaua’i is also a
destination where you can get
away from it all and find some
much-needed peace. The island
allows many opportunities to slow
down and smell the plumeria. It’s
a place that encourages folks to
focus on themselves by carving
out “me time.” And in our crazed
on-the-go culture, everyone needs
to occasionally press the pause
button and focus on re-balancing,
replenishing and reviving mind, body
and spirit. Whether it’s strolling on
the beach, watching a spectacular
sunset, having a relaxing spa
treatment or enjoying a nature
walk, the point is to give yourself
the chance to work on establishing
a bit of inner harmony.
Several resorts and hotels on the
island actually promote personal
wellness via dedicated programs in
this vein. At the St. Regis Princeville,
for example, meditation and wellness
retreats are offered at specific times
of the year. They include guided
restorative yoga, meditation and
pranayama sessions, spa treatments,
visits to sacred sites and botanical
gardens, farm-to-table communal
dinners and more. The property even
has its own on-site Hawaiian guide
to cultural wellness, Puna Kalama
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