Do you ever have those days where you wonder what in the world you are doing with your life, how you got here or what were you thinking? I have those days often. More and more lately as I am uncovering the challenges of being a work at home mom with an active 6 month old, an always-growing pile of laundry and dishes, dust bunnies in every corner and goals up the wahzoo but little to no time to accomplish them.

Whenever I have days like this I always think about the day we went on the Road to Hana in Maui, Hawaii. It was a gorgeous drive, don’t get me wrong, it was picturesque and the perfect day- weather-wise to accomplish the task and dominate the drive and enjoy the sites along the way. But it was everything but the perfect day we had hoped it to be. The drive was wrought with challenges along every corner. What were we thinking when we dragged along a three month old? She needed to eat every two hours, we couldn’t go on the hikes we wanted to or make all the stops we wanted, she didn’t nap very well and was grumpy for most of the day but really that was only half of our troubles. Add that along with car sickness, dangerous roads, wrong turns and other crazy happenings- I remember thinking as I pressed my face against the window, how did I get myself here? This is supposed to be the trip of a lifetime and it’s just plain miserable!

But then we stopped at Wainapanapa Black Sand Beach. And it was as if the world stopped. Time stood still. All was right. It was everything I imagined it would or could be. The sand was soft and warm and the water tickled my toes into a frenzy as I quickly ditched my sandals. BabyTravels giggled and cooed for the first time that day. She loved the soft sound the waves created as they crashed gently around us. These sweet and tender moments, even as short as they lasted, had truly made the whole trip worthwhile.

While the trip was not a complete disaster and we did get to see some amazing things along the way- it was a giant headache. So now when I have days where I want to call it quits and jump out of the treehouse and break my arm like I did when I was 8, I think about these simple moments of bliss we had at the black sand beach among a day of hurtful hiccups and it reminds me to find joy in my journey and enjoy the unexpected surprises that happen along the way- even in the smallest and most simplest forms.

The road to Hana is a can’t miss day trip when visiting the island of Maui. It’s lush, beautiful and breathtaking.  There is so much to see and do along the way that you it will take you quite a few hours before you actually reach the quaint city of Hana. There are waterfalls, lava tubes, hikes, black, red, and white sand beaches. But there are so many places that write about the road to Hana that it’s really Hana I want to write about.

We were invited to lunch and a property tour at the Hotel Hana-Maui. I have to say that besides squiggling my toes in the black sand beach this was the highlight of the day. I have constant dreams about this property and hope that I can go back and just spend a week at this delectable location.  Close your eyes for just a moment and imagine in your mind what Hawaii looks like. Open them up. Was it something like this?

There is nothing quite like it. Modern Bride Magazine named Hotel Hana-Maui as being in the top 3 “Ultimate Resorts for Seclusion.” Secluded, private, beautiful, serene and majestic are all words that best describe this hotel. Many of the cottages have private Jacuzzis, the perfect place to enjoy the gorgeous views. These and the spa amenities plus the serenity and enchantment of the area make this a great spot for honeymoons, romantic getaways, and the perfect destination wedding.

If you are looking for a vacation where you don’t want to have to worry about anything and relax, Hotel Hana-Maui is the place you are looking for. Take a horse back ride, enjoy an authentic luau, swim in the pool, get a world class spa treatment, enjoy fine dining all without the nuisance of a clock, TV, internet, or phone tampering your time.

Leave the outside world behind and discover a place where you will fall in love with luxury in it’s simplest and untainted form. This is the place dreams are made of.