Today marks the completion of a week long series titled, “Top 5’s.” It’s been so much fun that I have decided to make it a regular post. So, starting this Tuesday I am going to do “Top 5 Tuesday.” I’ll do my best to remember to make a top 5 list each Tuesday.

As we conclude the week, I save the best for last, my top 5 places I have been to with my bride! This is going to be a very difficult list to complete because we’ve been to some pretty great places together and we have created quite the list of memories. Some of the places we have been to as a family (read: with kids) and others just as a couple. Instead of doing a pre and post kids individual lists, I’ve made it tougher on myself and had to create the master list!

So, without further ado, the list:

Honorable Mention: Jaipur, India; Disneyland; Flagstaff, AZ; Bed and Breakfast in Port Townsend; and several others I can’t think of right now!

Five: Sunriver, Oregon. This week we have spent in a very nice rental house in Sunriver, OR. My parents gave their three kids and their families this week at Sunriver with them. The house is a five bedroom house with a bonus room. Each couple has a master-mini-suite (except I’d call my parents room the master JUMBO suite). And then the cousins have the other room and a bonus gaming room to share. We’ve had a blast, good weather, great pools and biking and hiking trails galore! My brother brought his Wii, so this entertained for hours!

Four: Copenhagen, Denmark. Around Christmas and New Years in the year 2000 Elisabeth and I led a mission trip to an orphanage in Kota, India. Though the India trip itself is a honorable mention, we did have a nice 20-hour layover in Copenhagen on the way home. I wish we would have had several days there, but to have this time as a couple after a 10 day mission was amazing. The hotel was a cute little villa and we loved our dinner out at an American Diner (after the time in India I honestly felt this burger was one of my best ever). The “date” was concluded the next day when we got to our flight and we got upgrade to Business Class on our 10 hour flight home!

Three: Catalina Island, Avalon, CA. Because I was a Youth Pastor for so many years Elisabeth and I have had a hard time finding the opportunity to do a trip during our anniversary time (July 20). Camps, retreats and missions have prevented us from doing an extended trip, so we decided to do a pseudo-anniversary trip in February 2005 by taking a cruise. We did a quick four-night cruise which included a day at Catalina Island. There is a beauty of Catalina that literally feels like you’re in a different country. We loved our time on the island and my favorite memory was having coffee together off the beaten path at this little cafe at the top of a hill.

Two: Salish Lodge, Snoqualmie Falls. For Elisabeth’s 30th birthday I surprised her with a sweet deal at the Salish Lodge. I couldn’t believe the Internet special I scored which included our night at the lodge, two massages, and a $30 credit at the restaurant. The November night had a perfect late fall, early winter feel. Each room has its own fireplace and a great sunken tub! What a great way to celebrate her 30th!

One: Kaanapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii. We have had the great privilege of being to the Marriott at Kaanapali Beach twice! When we wed in 1996 we spent an entire week at this haven! Then, several years later, with Halle, we got to go back when I was invited to speak at a camp on Maui. We extended our trip by booking a couple nights at the same hotel we had our honeymoon. I can’t wait to go back to this place sometime in the future! There’s something about having the pools, shopping, restaurants and the ocean (not to mention 85º weather) steps away from your beautiful ocean view room.

You have some “top places” you’ve been to? Any suggestions where I can take Elisabeth (and/or my family) to crack the top 5?

I look forward to Top 5 Tuesdays in the future!

Grace,

Brian