Had a very nice weekend. We had a guest from the mainland, so we traveled around a bit.
Saturday was a full day, starting with breakfast up at the Kula Lodge. This is a great place upcountry to stop for breakfast. My Sweetie and I love to go for the pancakes with bananas foster, eggs Benedict, and the great view. We usually steer guests towards the lodge. It's on the way up to Haleakala. If you go up to the volcano for the sunrise, the Kula Lodge is a good place to stop on the way down for breakfast. If you decide to drive up to the volcano later in the day, it's a great first stop. This is what we did on Saturday. Woke up, started a leisurely drive, and stopped at the Lodge to eat. They have a beautiful garden in the back and great views from most of the dining room. We always walk around the garden after breakfast. Here are some pictures from my Mom's trip in November.....
The Kula Lodge also includes the Kula Marketplace with some funky international food items. We usually stop in and buy some Indian Tikki Masala or Tandoori Chicken mixes. Yummmm...
After breakfast, we drove up to the top of Haleakala. We had some nice views on the way, but by the time we got to the top, it was mostly socked in with clouds. Our friend Eric asked "Isn't there a crater up here?" while standing at one of the lookout spots. We said "Yes.....it's right in front of you." But we could not see much. Hard to tell when the clouds are enveloping the top of the volcano. But it was a nice drive. On the way down, we headed south to check out Maui's one and only winery.
Tedeschi Vineyards is the only winery on Maui. It is in south Maui, past Keokea on Route 37. It's a cool little spot to visit if you have the time. They have several wines made from the nearby vineyards. And, they also make and sell pineapple wine! They have a couple of these, including a sparkling wine. I prefer the Maui Splash, which is their bestseller. It's light and fairly sweet. I don't think their wines are the end all, be all, of wines. But the pineapple wines are fun to taste, and their red wine is pretty decent. They have a very nice tasting room on beautiful grounds that include lots of grass and picnic tables. The tasting is free - four selections per person for free. This is the second time I have visited the winery. I love just walking around the grounds, listening to the relative silence and enjoying the beauty.
We drove back up (north) the hill and to Makawao. Makawao is an artsy little town with a few shops and art galleries. It doesn't take long to walk around and see the galleries. It is very close to Pa'ia Town, which is the big hippie-like town on the island. Pa'ia is right next to the windy spots on the ocean on the northern shore, so there are lots of surfers and windsurfers hanging out in Pa'ia most of the time.
To end the day, we ate at a new restaurant! Thanks to Eric's suggestion, we stopped at The Flatbread Company in Pa'ia. I had never eaten there before, and we were quite impressed. The salad itself was good enough for me. I would go back just for a salad. But we also munched on the sausage flatbread and pesto flatbread. Very good!
We then waddled home. All in all, a good day for touring Maui!
