I completely agree with Bath in England, but I would also choose Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, specially the old town and, of course, the sunset in Alhambra, Granada, both of them in Spain.

My first biggest WOW in my life was the Candian Rockies. Then the next was the most brilliant sunset from the top of an Aegean island in Greece,(Hydra) Next WOW experience was at Notre Dame in Paris; we unexpectedly entered the cathederal during their Sunday service; the choir and the magic of the place have lingered with us still. Last, but not least, at 50 years of age, last June, I finally made it to the Grand Canyon. As I stepped out of the car at El Tovar parking lot and walked the few feet to the rim, I honestly did not know what to expect. When I looked over the rim and saw the canyon for the first time, my breath was totally sucked out of me; it could not be controlled. That was my most WOW experience, never to be forgotten.

I went to Egypt and Israel last year...Haifa is Israel is beautiful..there is hill that you look out onto the city that is covered by a magnificent garden,,,deffinite WOW...also the Karnak Temple is WOW in Luxor,EGYPT....

I have been to many wonderful places in the world, but Paris and Istanbul both stand out as big WOW's. I can't just pick one site from each city, because they are both cities saturated in Wow.

The terra cotta soldier army in Xi'An China was my biggest wow. That was closely followed by walking on the Great Wall.

Here's another vote for New Zealand...particularly, the spectacular view of Aoraki (Mt. Cook) and Mt. Sefton from my balcony at the Hermitage.

1. Angkor Wat
2. Great Wall of China
3. Grand Canyon
4. Chadni Chowk Market in Delhi
5. Taj Mahal
6. Cesky Krumlov
7. Hermitage Museum
8. Acropolis
9. "David" in Accademia
10. Sintra, Portugal

A couple WOWS come to mind.
Driving thru the Alps and stopping on the side of the road in Switzerland because of the sheer beauty of the snow covered Alps.
Driving a winding road down to Lake Como, Italy and coming around a bend and suddenly seeing the lake with the sun gleaming down on it. WOW!

Inishmore, Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. Wow. And then some.

So far, the Great Barrier Reef... hoping to be WOWED! by Italy and Switzerland next year.

usnr:
thank you for your service and welcome home!
sunrise on Kilamanjaro, wow

Crossing a range of low hills to the north of Marakesh, the city lies spread out before you in the heat haze, with its minarets and palm trees... As you look longer, your eye resolves a thin line of cloud high in the sky to the south into what it actually is; snow on the peaks of impossibly high mountains that you now realise are the backdrop to what you see, but can hardly believe...

Sunrise of the Mekong River

got another wow, looking into the Halemaumau crater as the lava boiled below, WOW!

I am an American living in Southern California (from MN). I have been to over 35 countries and the biggest WOW I have experienced is Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. After my first trip I was a different person with utter patience and kindness. The food here is fabulous, the scenery second to none and the people - the most friendly, kind and giving individuals anywhere.

the biggest WOW would have to be India. It is absolutely shocking to all of your senses. You will probably hate on your first day there, as all your senses are assulted, but give it a few days and something magical happens. Biggest wow for sure. Couldn't speak when I saw the Taj Mahal it was so beautiful. Also loved Fez, morocco and santorini, greece

A few more sights that are WOW memories - the approach to Mont St.Michel, then seeing it lit up at night, Carcassone lit up at night from across the river, and Dubrovnik at dawn!

I've been to a number of the places listed, but can now add Catherine's Palace outside St. Petersburg to my list of "Wows". The sheer scale of it, the intense blue color against white on a sunny day, and the gilded gates took my breath away. And that's just the outside. The splendor of the rooms, with the crowning glory being the recreated Amber Room, deserves a place on the list.

When I was 19 my first sight of Michelangelo's David. I spent six hours there in 1969. Just couldn't tear myself away.

In my fifties - God's Window - South Africa. So untouched. Better than Victoria Falls although they are amazing too.

I'm sure there is more to come.

j

USNR---your post brought tears to my eyes as well. My husband returned 3 months ago from 6 months in Iraq--he is a flight surgeon and spend months near fallujah....it's been 3 months since his return and I still can't hear the national anthem without tearing up.

My "wow" place....in the US: New York City. I'll never forget being 11 years old and looking up at the hugest buildings i've ever seen. Sure it's not the "prettiest" place, but it made such a lasting impression.
Europe: Sleahead--Dingle Peninsula, Ireland. Hoping to add lots from our trip coming up to Switzerland, Sweden, Italy and Austria!
--CO