Daily Daydream: Hanalei Bay, Hawaii

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.

Caroline joined Boston-based SmarterTravel in 2011 after living in Ireland, London, and Manhattan. She's traveled to all seven continents, jumped out of planes, and bungeed off bridges in the pursuit of a good story. She loves exploring off-the-beaten path destinations, anything outdoorsy, and all things adventure.

Her stories have also appeared online at USA Today, Business Insider, Huffington Post, Yahoo, Boston.com, TripAdvisor, Buzzfeed, Jetsetter, Oyster, Airfarewatchdog, and others.

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E-mail her at cteel@smartertravel.com.

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Average temperatures in Hanaeli Bay, Kauai are in the 70s to 80s all year round. Which means when the rest of the U.S. is buried under five feet of snow, the locals in Kauai are sunning and swimming. On a cold day this January, for example, when the East Coast was experiencing temperatures in the teens, the surf forecast for Hanalei Bay was “sunny with pleasantly warm air temperatures (73 degrees) with similar sea temperatures. Wear boardshorts.”

Of course, Hanalei Bay has much more going for it than just enviable weather. Its two miles of white sand beach are among the most beautiful in Hawaii, especially with the beach’s backdrop of lush green mountains and waterfalls. The warm bay attracts boaters, paddle boarders, surfers, and swimmers. Expect calm water in the summer, and big waves in the winter.

The beach is so beautiful that it took top place on the 2009 list of best beaches in America on Dr. Beach’s yearly round-up.

Where is it? Kaua’i, Hawaii.

Where to stay? Location is key at the Hanalei Inn, which is just a quick walk away from the Bay.

What else should I know? The surf can get high during the winter, but beginners will find calmer water located next to the pier.

Who’s it for? Everyone who’s sick of being cold, surfers, body boarders, paddle boarders.

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