I’m someone that uses a lot of hyperbole. What can I say? My life is a roller coaster of emotions and as an extroverted, chronic over-sharer I just can’t seem to help myself.

Back in December I wrote about my top 6 worst travel moments… because (a) the disaster stories are usually pretty entertaining after the fact, (b) to show people that even the best laid plans sometimes fall short of the mark, and (c) there just has to be a silver lining to my little tragedies.

But, I think it’s finally time to provide the positive yins to the unfortunate yangs in my travel past with my top 6 favourite travel moments! These were all pinch-me, isthisreallyhappening, I’m SO happy right now moments of pure bliss that I wish I could re-live over and over again!

Walking the Walls of Dubrovnik

I’ve waxed poetic about Dubrovnik, Croatia quite a few times on this blog and for good reason. It is a stunningly gorgeous city. I can even pinpoint the exact moment I knew I was in love and it was while strolling around the old city walls at golden hour. The views were incredibly breathtaking. The lighting was magic. The crowds were sparse. And the temperature was finally comfortable. It was the perfect storm of elements combining to show me once again why I am so obsessed with Europe.

Trekking to Machu Picchu

Doing the Lares Trek in the Andes.

Where to even begin with Peru. Let’s start with the fact that I was slightly terrified of a three day trek in the Andes Mountains. Factor in my lack of physical fitness, abismal hiking record, lifelong struggle with asthma, and high potential for altitude sickness and this could have easily ended up on my worst travel moments list. Instead it was an unforgettable experience, topped off with the most impressive sight I’ve ever laid eyes on. Machu Picchu absolutely lives up to the hype and then some. I will never ever forget the moment when I got my first glimpse of those misty mountain peaks with llamas dotting the horizon. Spellbound.

Getting Upgraded to Business Class

Air travel is one of those necessary evils that most people merely tolerate. I am one of the few people that actually kind of enjoys airplanes (say what?!)…probably because I have short legs and love any excuse to watch movies all day. So when I was boarding my flight from London to Seattle and was MIRACULOUSLY upgraded to business class (on British Airways!!) I was beyond giddy. I can’t even describe how exciting it was to have a fully reclining bed (in a pod!) on an airplane! I got to use real dishes and order from a menu and drink champagne and eat/drink pretty much constantly and sleep and watch movies and And AND!!! It was the BEST and I’m forever ruined because no flight will ever compare.

Paragliding in Lima

I was feeling a bit sad on my last day in Lima, Peru. After a full month of amazing travels in South America, I wasn’t quite ready to return home, find a summer job, and finish off my degree. I needed one last adventure before boarding the plane. Laura and I had been reading flyers about paragliding all over the place and finally called a place that our hostel recommended. But, the company sadly informed us that they weren’t flying that day due to weather concerns. We were disappointed but not deterred so we headed down to the nearby cliffs anyways hoping the winds would change. And as luck would have it, we immediately saw that the skies were full of paragliders so we jumped at the chance to sign our lives away. To this day paragliding is my all-time, favourite extreme sport. It is the perfect mixture of thrilling, exciting, and relaxing. I was able to sit back, take pictures, and enjoy the view while my hot Peruvian guide did all the work. I would do it again in a heart beat.

Skiing in the Swiss Alps

My most memorable Christmas was spent in Frutigen, Switzerland. I awoke in the home of the incredibly generous Schmid family to learn that they had gifted me and my friend Diana with lift tickets. I had met Diana’s family friends just a few days prior but they welcomed me into their home with open arms and made sure my first trip to Switzerland was unforgettable. We had a delicious breakfast of my home-made Swiss Musli (my fave!!), spent the whole day on the slopes, and capped it off with a 3-course family dinner and more presents! If you can’t spend Christmas with your family, I can’t think of a better place than skiing in the Alps.

The Sound of Music Tour

When I decided to spend 3 months living in a little town in Austria about an hour outside of Salzburg I knew that I had to see the birthplace of my all-time favourite movie, The Sound of Music. I was only a couple months into my 8 month European adventure and knew that my budget was going to be tight. But, I never questioned for a second my decision to break the bank on the official Sound of Music tour. I was able to visit many of the filming locations including the famous gazebo (pictured above), the church from the wedding scene, the Mirabell gardens (Do Re Mi), and the exteriors of the mansion. I even got the Trivia question right when no one else knew the answer. Yup, I’m a nerd! It was a perfect day in a country that will always have a very special place in my heart.

What are your favourite travel moments? Leave a comment below.