How often do we realize that all of life–each moment–is a gift.

I think all of us would say not often enough.  Yesterday we shared with you the story of our fall from a 90 foot cliff–on our first date!  Had that night ended differently we would have never had these 9 experiences I’m thankful for these past 9 years, which I also shared earlier this week.

Last night Monica and I went out for a great dinner.  We opened a 1994 Ridge.  It’s a bottle we’ve been holding onto for 5 or 6 years.  And it was so worth it.  Add that to the list of experiences I’m thankful for these past 9 years.

Today I want to share 9 places I’ve loved in 9 years.  Like my 9 experiences list, this isn’t a “Top 9″ list.  Some of the places listed may very well be “Top 9″ for me.  But it’s more a random list of places I am glad to have seen and experienced!

On our way to Corn Island

1. Kauai.  It feels so cliche to start this list with Kauau.  But some places become cliche for a reason.  Kauai is the only of the Hawaiian islands I’ve visited and based upon our experience if we were to go back to Hawaii it’d be hard to go anywhere else!  We went to Kauai not only to relax as a family but also to spend time with a loved one we feared may not have much time left.
2. Ireland.  A few months after we fell off the cliff, Monica moved to Ireland for a year.  I visited her while she was living there and a few years ago we took a family trip to Ireland.   I love Ireland.  Life is slower.  As Monica has said many times, Ireland is the one place you’ll go that looks just like the postcards.  As beautiful as Ireland is, it’s the warmth of the Irish people that makes this place truly special.
3. Disneyland! What a magical place!  From the moment I walk through that gate and under the sign that reads, “Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy,” I really do enter a totally different world.  Last year we had an adults only trip to Disneyland for Monica’s birthday–that was special.  But what makes Disneyland fun for me is experiencing it through the eyes of my kids–and being a kid with them!  Check out some of our posts on Disneyland: The Magic of Disneyland, Escaping to the Magic of Disneyland, and 10 Family Focused Tips for Disneyland and California Adventure.  If you’re looking for a hotel at Disneyland, check out our review of the Hotel Menage.
4. Corn Island, Nicaragua.  Wow.  On my list I go from one end of the spectrum to the other. Disneyland is commercialism and sensory experiences on steroids.  Corn Island is laid back.  It’s slow.  There are no department stores.  You buy your groceries out of someone’s living room.  The most westerly island in the Caribbean, we loved Corn Island.  Check out our post Family Time on Corn Island .  We have several posts on Corn Island but if you just want to get a feel for the place check out our Corn Island Photo Gallery.
5. London.  I’m bouncing around a lot here.  Monica and I didn’t spend a lot of time in London, but the time we did was so special.  My favorite memory.  Walking into the National Gallery in London and heading right for the Help Desk.  We asked the lady, “what should we see?”  She said, “we’re closing in 20 minutes.  Are you sure you don’t want to come back tomorrow?”  Our answer: “we leave tonight!”  She quickly pulled out a map of the museum and said, “Ok, you must see this, and this, and this….”  Over the next 20 minutes Monica and I raced around the museum.  We’d run from one painting to the next and pause for a few minutes.  It was hilarious.
6. Louisville.  Yes, a list that includes Disneyland and Caribbean Islands, London and Ireland…. also includes Louisville.  It’s hard to pinpoint why we loved Louisville so much.  Maybe it was the rest we got–we arrived there about half way into our 6-month cross-country road trip and had just flown across the big pond to Ireland for three weeks and then back to California for a week.  I just remember walking along the Ohio River and looking across the water at Indiana.  I grew up in Indiana.  But Louisville was so different.  I’d say it really is the Gateway to the South.  And the equestrian culture brings a certain class to the city.  Here’s more on our family time in Louisville.
7. New Orleans. I briefly mentioned New Orleans earlier this week because in an under the surface kind of way it’s forever linked to the moment we knew we wanted to live a family travel lifestyle.  Here’s what I remember about New Orleans: we were broke.  Just broke.  Broke, broke, broke.  You can enjoy almost any place if you have money.  The true test of a city is whether you can enjoy with no money.  And we loved New Orleans.  Here’s more on our family time in New Orleans.
8. Carlsbad Caverns.  When we were in Louisville we were staying at the farmhouse of a friend of ours.  They had the Discovery Series Planet Earth.  After adventuring all day, at night when Jackson went to bed, Monica and I would watch this.  Then when we we were in West Texas as part of our trip Monica said, “I think I remember there being some caves in New Mexico not far from here.”  We had randomly watched that Planet Earth series.  Monica randomly remembered it.  And a person within earshot of Monica’s comment said, “yeah, they’re just a few hours from here.  The Carlsbad Caverns were one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. After you take an elevator ride 70 stories below the surface the exploring begins.  The main cave is a mile and a half long.  And that’s just the beginning.  Want to go back again when the kids are older to let them really do some adventuring.
9. Lake Tahoe.  When we’re traveling, if I really love a place there usually comes some point where I say, “I could see us living here.”  I’ve traveled to a lot of places and only once have I actually moved.  Lake Tahoe is now home.  I love the snow.  I’m a Snow Squad Blogger for Vail Resorts at NorthStar and Heavenly.  And Lake Tahoe in summer is a family travel must.  There’s so much to see, do, and explore here.  In the summer the beach is incredible.  But there are so many smaller lakes in the area to explore.  The hiking in the fall is off the charts.  And yes, then there’s the skiing!  Check out Our Family Day trip to Fallen Leaf Lake.

Our time in London and boat ride on the River Thames feels SO LONG AGO! We look SO YOUNG!

That’s 9!  Shoot!  So many places didn’t make the list!