Every trip has those “Wow Moments”: vivid, transformative experiences that you carry with you the rest of your life. Those gauzy memories are the best kind of souvenir; they sustain you through hard times, they put you back in a happy place when you most need one, and they tide you over to the next trip.
I’ve been thinking recently about how, exactly, we create — or find — those “Wow Moments” in our travels. Often, they come at the most unexpected moments, in places and situations you’d never imagine.
During the pandemic — with two full years of no travel — we all had plenty of time to think back on our favorite memories. One thing that struck me was this: When I’m on the road, I spend a significant percentage of my time going to museums, cathedrals, castles, and other big-name sights. But when I was stuck at home, absolutely none of those experiences were the ones that I found myself missing and reliving. Instead, it was the quiet moments in between the “tentpoles” of my itinerary.
Not that museums don’t have an important place on an itinerary. Now that I’m back traveling again, I’m finding that I enjoy those big sights with a renewed appreciation. There’s something magic about standing so close to a painting that you can see the brushstrokes and smell the lacquer…a feeling that you’re in close physical proximity to greatness.
On a recent trip to Poland, some of my favorite sightseeing experiences were standing in a darkened (and empty) room in front of Leonardo da Vinci’s Lady with an Ermine; touring the new Stanisław Wyspiański Museum and getting up very, very close to the Art Nouveau master’s pastels of his family; picking out details on the movie-screen-sized canvases of the great historical painter Jan Matejko; and admiring the ornately detailed, gilded reliefs decorating the Main Town Hall in Gdańsk.
And history museums, when done well, are all the more powerful because you’re in an actual location of historical consequence; certain places feel charged with that momentous energy. There are many ways to learn about the story of Lech Wałęsa, the 1980 shipyard strikes in Gdańsk, the creation of Solidarity, and the gradual dismantling of Polish communism. But it’s deeply moving to learn that story at the European Solidarity Center, standing amidst the very shipyards that hosted that first strike.
And there’s no doubt that some famous “sights” are wipe-a-tear beautiful. On my first visit to Barcelona in the 1990s, Gaudí’s masterpiece church, the Sagrada Família, was a construction zone of giant cranes surrounding a few partial towers and big stacks of building blocks — as if some gigantic toddler had gotten bored with his little project halfway through. On a visit two decades later, it was stunning to step inside what had, in the interim, become a complete church. (And they’re still working!)
So, certainly, “sightseeing” can have a powerful place in creating vivid memories. But, if we’re being honest, are those usually the very best memories — those transformative “Wow Moments”?
Maybe I’m an oddball. But for me, the big attractions are mostly “honorable mentions” when I mentally recap a trip’s Wow Moments. In my recent travels, here are some of the memories that stick with me:
Last summer in Scotland, I enjoyed the mighty castles and the famous lochs. But my most cherished memories are the time I pulled over to get a close look at a herd of shaggy Highland cattle (“hairy coos”) by the roadside…the time I followed the Water of Leith through beautiful parks and quirky neighborhoods of Edinburgh…the time I dropped in on a music pub in Inverness and watched an increasingly red-faced young musician fiddle and stomp his feet simultaneously.
On last month’s visit to Budapest, I went to every last one of the big sights…and I enjoyed them. But now that I’m home, I barely remember them. Instead, etched into my mind was the afternoon I strolled along the Buda embankment just as giant, black clouds gathered above the Hungarian Parliament — creating a stunning image moments before the skies opened up above my head.
In the Swiss Alps last summer, I must admit, having a sunny day to ride the lifts around the Matterhorn was an utter delight. But in a way, I think I actually preferred the low-impact, nearly crowd-free day I enjoyed exploring the Upper Engadine region…with a rustic beauty and a distinct alpine culture all its own. Sailing up a chairlift with this view, I forgot all about the Matterhorn.
In Dubrovnik last fall, I walked around the top of the City Walls and rode the cable car up to Mount Srđ for a stunning view over the coastline. But my favorite moment, which happened to be on my birthday, was when I sat with local friends at an al fresco table, sipping bela kavas, catching up on each other’s lives, sharing snippets of wisdom, and watching tourists and cruise passengers wander past on the main drag.
I made it to several spots in Italy last year, including Rome, Siena, and Florence, and everywhere I went, I toured all the big-name sights. But those barely made a dent in my memories. Instead, what stands out was joyriding around the bucolic vineyards of Piedmont with my wife, basically killing time with grand scenery between memorable meals.
Again, maybe I’m not a “typical” traveler in finding such great joy and beauty in such small moments. But as you gear up for 2023 travels, maybe this is a good time to pause, take a deep breath, and prime yourself to be open to these Wow Moments wherever they occur.
This is especially important for 2023, because we’re already getting reports from our European friends that things are extraordinarily crowded this year. It’s becoming difficult to get entry tickets for some of the most famous sights (book ahead!) — and, once inside, those sights are so crowded that it’s challenging to fully enjoy them.
So consider this approach: Sure, tick off a few “bucket list” sights. But be flexible in your insistence to check every single box. You can spend a week in London or Paris or Rome, zooming around the city to hit as many biggies as possible. But, in retrospect, you’ll probably look back most fondly on some of the little serendipities that happened in between.
On a trip to London last year, I had a great time touring all of those world-class museums, sure. But what I really remember was that time I scored a front-row seat, upstairs on a double-decker bus, and felt like I was flying over those congested city streets for a few minutes.
Or the time I rode the Tube out to Richmond (of Ted Lasso fame) and simply sat on a bench on the village green…watching dogs chasing tennis balls in the sun.
In Rome, head to the little square in the heart of the Monti neighborhood, grab a slice of takeaway pizza, and eat it leaning against the fountain — a magnet for Romans winding down after work.
In Paris, spend a sunny Sunday strolling along the traffic-free Seine embankments. Wander slowly across the Pont des Arts, looking for actual artists.
I realize this is a hard sell. But as the “difficulty level” of touring the big sights increases, there’s no better time to shift focus to those smaller moments. Instead of swimming against the current, consider finding a peaceful eddy, tucked away from the crowds, to simply experience Europe. Find your own bliss.
What are some of your favorite “Wow Moments” — whether at big sights, or off the beaten path?
I’ve already been to Europe and back this spring, updating our Rick Steves guidebooks in Hungary and Poland. In the coming months, I’ll be heading to Ireland, Iceland, and Norway, too. If you’d like to virtually hop in my rucksack and travel along with me, be sure to follow me on Facebook and on Instagram.
And if you’d like to read more about my philosophy of slowing down and listening to the church bells, check out my travel memoir, The Temporary European. Written during those long, drab pandemic months, it’s a love letter to exactly the kinds of Wow Moments I’m describing here.
Your comments ring so true. We visit the UK at least once a year and try to hit a couple of big sites on every visit. On our last visit we purposely took a long bus trip from one end of London to another instead of the quicker train. We changed buses 3 times. 2 of the buses were double deckers where my 4 year old sat with us on the top deck right in front. It felt like we were floating through the air. What fond memories of our daughter squealing with delight.
Sometimes serendipity provides the Wow. We travelled to Italy in March one year. We ended our trip in Vernazza. We were so focused on our travel that we lost sight of the calendar until we wandered out to the port for sunset. All of a sudden, a priest appears leading a parade of people waving palms down through the town and into the church. It was Saturday evening before Palm Sunday! And, it was a sight I’ll never forget!
On a Scotland Rick Steves tour in 2014, my back was hurting so I sat on a pew in the church in Iona where The book of Kells was written. Another lady was leafing thru a hymnal and wanted to sing How Great thou art. I told her, I know that song. We 2 sang it acapello and it became my favorite memory.
My wow was when we were in London went to St Paul’s and it was closing so no more tourists but the door person let us in only if we wanted to go upstairs and sit with the choir while they practiced. It was a scene I will never forget my highlight from my trip to England, Scotland and Paris. Truely wonderful.
So true. Last Fall, we did a 2week trip to the Yorkshire Dales. Rented a little 200 yo cottage in a small village, got a rental car, & just got out the map, & every day explored a new village, or hiking path, waterfall or tea room. To me… tromping across a verdant field, with cows and sheep within touching distance, under sunny September skies in that unspoiled area was a WOW 2weeks!
My favorite “Wow!” Was waking up in the middle of the night in the parador in Bielsa, Spain and looking out the window. The night was so clear that the stars seemed close enough to reach out and touch. They were bright enough to cause a glow on the snow-capped Pyrenees. What a magical moment!
Wows can happen anywhere. Like a McDonald’s in a Hawaiian Walmart, where a 6’5″ Polynesian man bought ice creams for his daughters after their hula lesson – and demonstrated the difficult parts to help them learn their new dance. We sat quietly in our corner, mesmerized over our Diet Cokes.
On a trip to Ireland, we spent a night on Inis Mór in the Aran Islands. It wasn’t planned, but we happened to be there on the eve of the feast of St. John the Baptist. The residents on the island save their combustibles all year for their annual bonfire competition. We walked the island that evening and visited 3 of the bonfires, where we were invited to share a beer and throw a few pieces on the fire. What a sweet memory!
Mine was in the Inish Mor in the Aran Islands also. I spent a few nights there and one morning I arose early and walked up the hill to Dun Aengus. There was no one else there and I sat on the cliff alone on the edge of the sea and contemplated the ruins behind me. Who built them? Why and when? It was magical!
I arrived at my B&B in a pony and trap. The B&B has a thatch roof and I toured the island on a bicycle. I will never forget it.
On a trip to Madrid we stopped in a local bookstore to get an English to Spanish dictionary. A young woman came up to us and said she needed to practice her English. She toured us around Madrid for the day and took us to a local restaurant for an authentic meal!
I’m in Paris now and have many non touristy moments but the one I will remember is getting ‘lost’ on a beautiful afternoon and wandering down interesting alleys and pathways to discover amazing doors and courtyards. I always remember to ‘look up’ to see absolute wonders of architecture.
While in Ireland, we visited Inis Oir, the smallest of the Aran Isles. We chose it because it was closest to the mainland and we were a bit pressed for time. It was a rainy day, not the best for walking the island, so we ducked into a little tea shop. I admired an anchor made of shells on the wall. The owner saw me and told me it dated from the 1840s, the time of the Famine. I asked about the room which was very homey, just a few tables, each with a flowered tablecloth, family photos on the walls, a fireplace with a green painted mantel. He said he grew up in the house and when he was young National Geographic did a piece on the island inhabitants and his family was featured. Those were the photos on the wall taken in the same room almost 50 years ago. He was fascinating to talk to and very friendly, happy to share his stories. And the food was delicious! We stayed a while then we walked around the island in the rain which had let up a bit and took some amazing photos. The rain hardly mattered. Sheep, stone walls, a horse drinking from a puddle on the wall, a cow munching grass as the rain poured down, a ruined stone cottage from long ago, a beautiful deserted beach with amazingly blue water. I drew a shamrock in the sand. As we arrived back on the mainland and were driving back in our car a herd of cows came up the road led by a very wet man and woman. We stopped and made room for them as they passed us.The woman gave us a big smile and waved at us. The cows followed and surrounded our car on both sides.We couldn’t help smiling. What a day! Totally unplanned, imperfect weather, but so very memorable. And Irish!
At 6am Sunday in Paris, our first morning, our son got me up. We rented electric pedal mopeds, with an app he found, and rode around the Eiffel Tower in nearly empty streets.
Staying in Monterosso, I was up late one night after my partner went to bed. I sat out on the (very small) balcony of our hotel room to have a beer and read. Suddenly I heard music from up the street, and over the next few minutes watched a procession carry a statute of the Virgin Mary down the narrow lanes to the church for midnight Mass. I don’t know what the significance of the date was–we weren’t there on any major holiday–but it felt like a moment where I got to see something that only people who live in town knew was even happening.
Our “moment” came last year on a 1-day stop in Rome prior to our cruise to Istanbul, Athens and Ephesus. We stayed at the Hotel Tiber, literally a few steps from where the Tiber River joins the Mediterranean. Dozens of fishing boats were tied at the long docks, their nets piled alongside. It was a Sunday and all afternoon we joined families walking arm-in-arm alongside the boats and small restaurants. It was a beautiful experience and one we won’t forget. And it happened in Fiumicino, where Rome’s giant international airport is located.
Notre Dame in Paris, a Sunday in 2018. A service was being held, with us tourists being fairly respectful. The parishioners and the choir began singing and many of the tourists stopped and joined in. It was stunning and moving. I’m not sure I’ve ever appreciated the power of faith until that moment.
Where I find “wow” moments is unpredictable, but I’ll describe my most recent find — in Honduras, last February (2023). I’m not much of a nature person; historic cities and towns tend to be my preferred scene. But on this trip, my more outdoorsy companions lured me into a kayak trip, and it was well worth it And as we paddled down the narrow river that runs past the village of Los Naranjos, and entered the beautiful, mountain-rimmed Lake Yojoa, the “wow” moment occurred.
In 1996 we visited Athens, and also the Greek Island of Rhodes. We had a Rick Steves guidebook that was directing us to a certain viewpoint on Rhodes. As we were driving, I was reading a passage out loud that said we might encounter an older woman selling oranges at the approach, sort of like an “admission.” And just as I was reading the passage we rounded the corner and there she was! We gladly bought oranges and the view was spectacular.
Last spring my husband and I were visiting a totally congested Verona (because of a concert the night before in the colosseum) We got up very early and had the streets all to ourselves for a long walk in the fresh morning air. We picked out fossils on the sidewalks, lingered to admire many beautiful window dressings and enjoyed our first morning in Italy. We walked hand in hand back to our hotel for a delicious, long awaited coffee. An especially lovely memory in Romeo and Juliet’s city.
I’ve done a few guided road cycling tours in Europe, and many of my favorite moments were in smaller towns I had never heard of before and which I would’ve never seen if I were on my own just hitting the main sights. Great experiences.
Altho we no longer go with bikes ( wife’s bad knee plus age ), that is my favorite way to travel. I get my fix by watching youtube videos ( primarily by German cyclists as it helps my language skills ) and by journals in a couple of cycyletouring websites.
We stayed for 6 nights in the town of Onzain in the Loire Valley. We found a nice restaurant where we could eat in an hour or so, not the 2 1/2 hours our first meal in another restauarant took. After eating there 3 nights, we stopped and waited outside after a long day’s bike ride. It was a bar during the day and didn’t open as a restaurant until 7:00 pm. At 7:00 the owner came out and changed the sign to closed! On a Friday ! He took a look at us and waved us inside where they fixed dinner just for us !
My most treasured WOW memories are those when I quietly took in the views: sunrise over the white Trulli buildings from my balcony in Alberobello, the Old Town of Matera carved into the tufa cliffs softly glowing at dusk, eating my pasta dinner on a hotel patio under a full moon high above a seaside harbor in Sicily, gazing at a ruined tower in misty Irish rain and more!
We were on a a river cruise a couple of years ago in December and stopped in Rudesheim one evening. While heading back to the ship my husband started to chat with a local and she mentioned that we should check out the outdoors concert that was happening. It was cold and it was a long walk, but SO worth it! It was a pop up party in the shadows of a lit castle. There was wine, beer and dancing to the most incredible R&B live music. I will never forget it.
Meeting locals at a bar in the Temple Bar area of Dublin who turned out to be a minor film director and actor. The actor and I shared pics of our great grandkids over drinks that they treated us to.
Also meeting a local at the Opera in Sydney who invited my daughter and I to go snorkeling the following morning at Manley Beach complete with ferry instructions. Topped off the morning with a drink and chips at a waterfront restaurant.
My wow! has to be the little local pub in London that my son and I stumbled upon while walking around in a residential area, therefore no tourists. We ate at that pub most nights. When I went to London several years later with my daughter we also went there on most nights. The creaky door, the fireplace roaring, delicious food, one of my absolutely favorite places.
Joanna,
Could you please share the name and location of the little local pub in London? It sounds wonderful. Do you think that the pub is still there?
My favorite memory in European travels was staying at a friend’s old farm house in Normandy. Being first up in the first morning, I made a cup of coffee, wandered outdoors, coming to a fenced pasture with a small herd of cows.
I said “Hello, beautiful cows!” They ignored me completely. I thought “Oh duh, they’re French.” Digging up my high school French, I called “Bonjour Les Vaches! Vous êtes belle, vous êtes très très belle!” All 12 cows walked to me at the fence and let me pet their French noses. A never to be forgotten moment.
Last winter my husband and I visited Paris for what was his first time. He was not thrilled as his father had not given him a good impression of French people after having fought there during the Second World War. We decided to take a side trip to where his dad saw especially heavy fighting on the eastern border in Alsace in a town called Bitche, his 100th Army Division having become known as the Sons of Bitche after liberating that town from the Germans in the winter of 1944-1945. We met up with Michel Klein, head of a wonderful museum there called the Memory Space, who spent the entire day showing us all around the area saying it was the least he could do for us after what my husband’s dad did for France. It was definitely a wow day that we will never forget and my husband surely found out that the French are indeed nice people! (You can visit the museum on Facebook – Mémoire locale Bitche – 1944)
Some of our most memorable European travel moments have been made while doing laundry, yet another reason to pack light. We met a friendly couple from New Zealand in Beaune, France, and had a great conversation with a local girl and her father in Brussels while sipping a Belgian beer from the beer cafe next door. In Munich, a local woman insisted on helping my wife figure out how to load coins and start the machine despite the significant language barrier. Now on each new trip we look forward to doing laundry as well as seeing the big sights.
I just returned from Paris in 7 days and it was wonderful. Our guide ROLINKA was fabulous and she made the trip fun. My WOW moment, having been to Paris before, was the virtual reality 3-D experience at Notre Dame. It was incredibly realistic and insightful. I felt like I was right there experiencing the building and rebuilding of this beautiful historic and spiritual building. I will NEVER forget it and I would do it again in a heartbeat.