As some of you guys know, Ben and I were married four short, amazing years ago at the incredibly gorgeous St. Regis Deer Valley in my hometown of Park City, Utah. We couldn't have selected a better venue to say 'I do,' and walk into our future hand-in-hand. Just look how picturesque everything turned out at our wedding, and it was all largely in part thanks to the hands-on St. Regis team. Trust me, without them, things would have certainly gone awry (from our wedding trio never showing up for the ceremony to having to quickly move the ceremony indoors as it started pouring rain shortly before) - the St. Regis took care of absolutely everything... and no one was the wiser.

Needless to say, Ben and I have become loyal St. Regis fans. Ben surprised me for our first wedding anniversary by driving me up to the beautiful St. Regis in Monarch Beach a few days before we took the Bar Exam... it was the perfect getaway and way to celebrate our first year of marriage. Since then, we have made it a tradition to visit a St. Regis on our anniversary each year (you can click to view our second anniversary and third anniversary). How lucky we are. But I couldn't imagine a better way to celebrate and feel surrounded by love than to be in a beautiful setting with your loved one while being pampered and showered in romance.

So this year, we chose to celebrate our fourth anniversary at the stunning St. Regis Princeville Resort in Kauai.

From the moment we arrived we knew we were heading into paradise. As you enter Princeville you are greeted with hibiscus lined roads and oceanfront views. The St. Regis staff was there to welcome us with traditional lei's and make us feel right at home by showing us around and helping us to our insanely awesome ocean view suite. My favorite part? Their incredible Butler service even unpacked us and neatly folded and hung everything while Ben and I toasted with their complimentary champagne, opened the expansive windows and took in the moment.

Those windows soon became one of my favorite parts about our room. We loved leaving them open to breathe in the salty ocean air and hear the waves crash below (and on a few occasions, see a gorgeous rainbow). It was the perfect spot to enjoy room service and their complimentary pressed coffee each morning.

Each day, we loved discovering a new beach or heading out for an adventure. You can read about my top five favorite beaches here and my recommended things to do in kauai here. But we always loved coming back to the St. Regis Princeville Resort to unwind, enjoy a delicious meal at one of their four delicious restaurants or watch the sun set over the ocean (the St. Regis is the best place to watch the sun go down on the Island).

Everything you could ever want in Kauai is right at your fingertips at the St. Regis Princeville Resort. But if you are looking to explore, I thought I might share with you our favorite spots we discovered while visiting (a big shout out to the St. Regis Princeville Butlers for sharing their local insight with us)!

 

WHERE TO EAT:

The Dolphin:
dinner
Located in Hanalei, a short five minute drive from the St. Regis Princeville Resort, is The Dolphin. They have everything from yummy sushi to a New York Strip. We loved dining here next to the banks of the Hanalei River.

Postcards Café:
dinner
Postcards is super romantic and great for fish lovers! Admittedly I am just starting to get into fish, but if you are like me and sometimes prefer other options, I absolutely loved their 'Sombrero,' a vegan dish filled with delicious vegetables, corn, beans and tortillas. It was seriously so good! And I love how they leave you with a sweet momento... a postcard!

Bar Acuda:
dinner
A tapas style restaurant, Bar Acuda brings seasonal ingredients to their fun creations, and their menu is always changing! But they make some savory dishes that are great for sharing!

Kauai Grill:
dinner
Located at the St. Regis Princeville Resort, you can't go wrong with this delicious restaurant. I highly recommend their Ahi Tuna Poké Parfait or their yummy Pan Seared Scallops.

Wishing Well:
lunch
Located in a cute little truck as you enter Hanalei, Wishing Well Shave Ice has the most absolutely delicious acaí bowls you will ever have! And if you are going to eat acaí, it better be in Hawaii!

Bubba's Burgers:
lunch
Bubba's has a few locations on Kauai, but if you're looking for a quick lunch, they have really great burgers.

Hanalei Gourmet:
lunch
In the heart of Hanalei is Hanalei Gourmet, a cute little café perfect for grabbing a quick bite.

Chicken in a Barrel:
lunch
If you are a fan of BBQ, this is a great spot. They too have several locations, but I recommend getting their chicken tacos. They were really good.

St. Regis Bar:
lunch
If you are looking to enjoy a quiet lunch on property or take a gourmet lunch to go, I recommend chatting with the St. Regis Bar about their afternoon tea service. You have to make a reservation, but it is so worth it. We took ours to go on the way to the airport and it was so good!

Makana Terrace:
breakfast and dinner
Located at the St. Regis Princeville Resort, the Makana Terrace was our daily morning go-to for a yummy breakfast with a view. Their buffet will give you every option to try, but I loved their french toast with coconut syrup!

Hanalei Wake Up Café:
breakfast
A cute little spot in Hanalei, the Wake Up Café had the most delicious macadamia nut cinnamon roll that you have to try!

 

WHERE TO GET COFFEE:

Java Kai:
If you are heading back south, stop in Old Kapaa Town for some of the best coffee on the island at Java Kai!

Hanalei Coffee Roasters:
This place is so cute and their coffee is really good. I loved their getting their iced vanilla chai dirty (double).

Ha Coffee Bar:
If you are heading back to Lihue, definitely grab a coffee at Ha Coffee Bar.

 

WHERE TO SHOP:

Shipwrecked Boutique:
Located in Old Kappa Town next to Java Kai Coffee (mentioned above), this boutique is so darling and sells the cutest swimsuits (for gals and guys) and I promise you, my little fashionistas, will love it!

I Heart Hanalei Beach Boutique:
From Spell Designs (my fave) to Jen's Pirate Booty and Mara Hoffman, this little beach boutique carries the cutest stuff! Definitely check them out!

As you guys can see, we absolutely fell in love with Kauai and can't wait to go back. But in the meantime, we will have to relive our anniversary through these photos. I hope you guys enjoyed them and learning a bit more about our favorite spots in Kauai.

Have you guys ever visited? If you are planning a destination wedding, honeymoon, anniversary or looking for a romantic getaway, I can't stress how highly I recommend the St. Regis Princeville Resort. Seriously. It's heaven!

Thanks for stopping by. And don't forget to check out my favorite beaches in Kauai and my favorite adventures and things to do on the Island.