Southern Comforts: Seeing the Sights

As you can discern from the title, this is the first part of a multipart posting series that focuses on the Southern Shore of Kauai. For this section, I am going to map out all of the sightseeing hotspots on the southern tip of the island. So grab out your notebook and start charging your camera...

First up is the geological wonder/souvenir exchange known as Spouting Horn. Located only a couple miles from Poipu, this landmark is known for the signature blow hole that rockets up the inbound waves and serves as a surprising haven for the area's abundant turtle population. Before you reach nature's wonder, you must first traverse the line of vendors that offer souvenirs that range from keychains to hand-carved wooden statues. Spouting Horn is one of the most photographed locations on the Island but that may reflect the numerous attempts that are required to get the picture below. Usually, I was stuck with twenty pictures of the lava rock and ocean waves with just a hint of the previous spurt of water. Missed it by that much. To those attempting to capture Spouting Horn in it's glory, use a camcorder and for those willing to erase the numerous "almost" photos- may the odds be ever in your favor.

A successful Spouting Horn photo

Photo of one of the rows of vendors near Spouting Horn 

Allerton Botanical Gardens

Located near Spouting Horn at 4425 Lawai Road in Poipu, the Allerton Botanical Garden offers both guided ($35 per person) and unguided tours around their vast property. If you are interested in booking a tour of the botanical gardens, it is recommended that you book online or via telephone and arrive at the location 30 minutes in advance.