Honeymoon Suggestions for Maui & Napa from Actual Newlyweds

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Following their luxurious wedding ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio, Eilish Waters and Joseph Khouri traveled to the Hawaiian island of Maui for a magical honeymoon adopted by visits to wine nation and coastal cities in Northern California earlier than heading again residence.

Vacation spot: Maui, Hawaii

After a number of relations had visited Hawaii for his or her honeymoons and “satisfied us it was a magical place,” Joseph shares, he and Eilish selected to rejoice their first days as newlyweds on the island of Maui. The primary six nights had been spent at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua, which affords a “beautiful, enjoyable, and quiet” setting, affirms Eilish, including that the tranquil property was the proper place to unwind following the marriage. To be able to expertise a number of areas of the island, the honeymooners additionally stayed on the vigorous Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort for 4 nights earlier than flying again to the mainland. 

Photograph courtesy of Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort

Whereas visiting Maui, Eilish and Joseph jumped proper into journey with an array of thrilling excursions. From scenic helicopter excursions, to country-, treetop-, and ocean-view ziplining experiences with NorthShore Zipline Co., to an “unforgettable expertise” snorkeling within the Molokini Island Protect with Sail Maui, the couple certainly made essentially the most of their go to. In addition they booked a dawn tour of Haleakalā National Park by way of their first lodge, which grew to become a spotlight and included a scenic drive by way of the up-country Kula District, an “completely breathtaking” dawn, and a farm-to-table breakfast at Café O’Lei at the Mill House in Kumu Farms Country Market. 

From informal eateries to fine-dining institutions, Eilish and Joseph had been thrilled with the number of cuisines they skilled on the island. “We dined at so many distinctive eating places,” exclaims Joseph. A few of the pair’s favorites embrace seafood at Mama’s Fish House within the laid-back city of Paia, Mexican fare with gorgeous sundown ocean views at Frida’s Beach House, farm-to-table delicacies on the oceanfront Merriman’s Kapalua, Asian-inspired dishes on the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea’s Spago, poke and bulgogi pork tacos at Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman, and plant-based Maui Ono Donuts in Kihei on Maui’s sunny southwest shore.

Photograph courtesy of Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort

HIGHLIGHTS

Watching the dawn at Haleakalā. “It was such a surreal expertise being above the clouds in full darkness and watching the solar slowly rise and produce the sky to life.”

Seeing Maui by helicopter. “The helicopter tour by Air Maui gave us a hen’s eye view of varied waterfalls and hidden valleys which can be inaccessible by land.”

Attending a luau. “Throughout our keep at Andaz we attended the luau, which was carried out exterior with the solar setting behind the dancers. It was so entertaining and lovely!”

Photograph courtesy of Eilish and Joseph Khouri

Vacation spot: Napa & Sausalito, California

To interrupt up the journey from Hawaii to Ohio, Eilish and Joseph stopped in San Francisco for serene stays in each Napa and Sausalito. “Fortunately, we now have mates who stay within the metropolis, in order that they confirmed us a good time with a number of the best vineyards and wineries, together with Artesa, Duckhorn, Tamber Bey, Orin Swift, Peju, Stags’ Leap, and Merryvale,” confirms Joseph. Sunny days spent wine tasting had been adopted by evenings unwinding at Calistoga Spa Hot Springs, a “enjoyable spa retreat in a peaceable setting proper within the coronary heart of wine nation,” notes Eilish of their pretty lodging. 

After all, the newlyweds additionally made positive to take pleasure in quite a lot of eating places whereas in Napa Valley. Notable stops included breakfast at Boon Fly Café at Carneros Resort and Spa on the way in which as much as wine nation, alfresco or hearth Italian fare at Bistro Don Giovanni, tasty burgers between wineries at Gott’s Roadside, French dip sandwiches at Rutherford Grill, contemporary and seasonal fare at Auberge du Soleil, and world-class baked items from the famed Model Bakery. 

Photograph by Drew Kelly

For the ultimate leg of their journey, Eilish and Joseph stayed in Sausalito. “It was my first time there, and I cherished the allure of the city. It jogged my memory of a Hallmark film,” smiles Eilish. The seaside vacation spot allowed the pair easy accessibility to San Francisco’s bustling vacationer websites by day and comfy waterfront dates at Sausalito’s Bar Bocce and Taste of Rome by evening. The Inn Above Tide, which affords panoramic views of San Francisco Bay from personal decks in every of the visitor rooms, was their residence away from residence for the final three nights of the memorable journey. “We’d undoubtedly advocate it to different {couples} searching for a comfy and enjoyable expertise,” says Joseph. “It ended up being the proper place to wrap up our honeymoon.”

Photograph by Felipe Passalacqua

HIGHLIGHTS

Wine tasting in Napa. “Stags’ Leap is essential for anybody searching for the quintessential Napa expertise with a number of the best reds.”

Strolling Bridgeway Promenade. “Take time to stroll and store for a day! We went into the Christmas store and picked out an decoration to at all times keep in mind our honeymoon.”

Exploring San Francisco. “We walked round Fisherman’s Wharf, took a tour of Alcatraz, and tried the signature Irish espresso at The Buena Vista Café.”

Photograph by Aubrey Decide

Maui & Napa Journey Suggestions from Micaela & Curtis:

“If you’ll do the dawn at Haleakala, pack a jacket as a result of it is rather chilly on the high of the mountain… This jacket was additionally helpful in San Francisco on chilly days and whereas taking the ferry to Alcatraz.” 

“Safe reservations in Maui properly prematurely for eating places in addition to excursions as a result of they ebook up quick!” 

“Some folks advisable bringing our personal snorkeling gear. We packed our personal and ended up utilizing the gear offered by the lodge and the Sail Maui tour. In hindsight, we’d keep away from the additional packing.” 

“Be certain that to hire a automotive in Maui. Most excursions and eating places are far other than one another all through the island, and it makes it a lot simpler to discover the island.” 

“In Napa, plan forward and schedule your wine tastings. If you’re driving your self, decide wineries which can be shut to one another as a result of they are often very unfold out all through wine nation. Undoubtedly plan a meals cease in between visits.”

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This story was initially revealed as a Journey Diaries characteristic within the Fall 2022 subject of Inside Weddings journal. To order a duplicate of the Fall 2022 issue, go to our library of Inside Weddings back issues obtainable for buy.