A Romantic Weekend Getaway to Hawai'i - Kona

Experiences (All at the Four Seasons):

Pickleball - book the court for an hour and play 1:1 or get them to do a lesson with you if you need it.

Hualalai Trading Company - if you want to grab an ice cream after Pickleball, stop in here. You can grab some local hot sauce to bring home and remind you of your time on the island.

Spa at the Four Seasons - outdoor bungalow couples massage.

Adults-only pool - we liked to go there in the afternoon for happy hour and sit at the bar (while in the water) and relax.

Check out the swimmable aquarium that is on the opposite side of the resort from the adults pool. It is stocked with more than 1,000 tropical fish and a spotted eagle ray.

Sunrise - set your alarm for fifteen minutes before sunrise. Wrap yourself in your Four Seasons kimono-style robe and walk out to the beach to see the most beautiful of sunrises. Lay down in one of the beach chairs and take it all in. I went out there all three mornings and on two of them I didn’t see anyone else.

Play Golf - the course is beautiful. We weren’t rushed and played 18 holes in about 3 hours. A golf cart shows up anytime you need a beer, and it’s a lovely way (if you’re playing well) to start the day.

Note: we were there in August and the ocean isn’t totally ‘swimmable’. There’s a small reefed area where you can chill and go under to get refreshed, but there’s no body surfing or catching waves.

Shipwreck Bar at Rosewood - we walked over there just before sunset and watched it from the bar. It’s a low-key barefoot vibe on a real boat on the beach with the most incredible (and strong!) Mai-Tais. It’s rumored that Jim Morrison once drank 21 of them, but I’m hoping that was over the course of a week.

The Kahuwai Cookhouse - such an interesting, smoky wood-fired menu. It’s a must try. They had live music out at a bar on the way to it.

Ulu Ocean Grill- we sat overlooking the water and looking at the stars — this was our most romantic dinner with the most eclectic menu options. This is where breakfast is each day — do yourself a (big) favor and get the pog juice and the macadamia nut cinnamon roll for the table.

Beach Tree Restaurant - the beach tree in front of this restaurant is the center of the property and is beautiful day and night. It’s also where live music sets up around sunset. Dinner here was really good.

Resident’s Beach House - this is where the local residents eat, and it was by far the most chill. Lunch here was perfection and we both opted for the fish+chips and longboard ales.