This question is still a classic....

Portovenere, Italy is a magical town on the Italian Riviera. It captured my imagination and my heart. I think about it when I need a moment away! Also, any sidewalk cafe in Paris brings happiness to my heart that I've never known before.

The window seat of any airplane landing anywhere is Europe! I'm really there!

topping this magical thread

This is a FEEL GOOD question:- Mine would include<BR>1- Watching the Matterhoen early morning from my balcony and seeing how peaceful the village of zermatt felt.<BR>2- Walking at pebble beach (CA) in winter and having the whole beach to myself<BR>3- Grand Place in Brussels at night all little up and pretty.<BR>4- Sitting on a bench in Luzern and watching the boats go by.<BR>5- On firsting entering the grande canal of Venice. I felt like I was living in a fairytale.

ttt

<BR><BR>Wonderful question to make us ponder..........My most beautiful memories include: <BR>1. An alpine lake above Amsteg, Switzerland that you have to take a tram to. Still my most favorite day.<BR><BR>2. Napili Bay on Maui, especially when I'm the only one in the water at sunset. <BR><BR>3. Lying on an outdoor bed in Ubud, Bali, listening to distant chanting.<BR><BR>4. Dining on the beach at Cervo, Italy with my Italian cousins.<BR><BR>5. Eavesdropping on a Vivaldi concert while standing on a bridge in Venice and watching the gondolas go by.<BR><BR>6. Swimming with manta rays and sharks in Moorea and Bora Bora.<BR><BR>7. Picnicking on the beach at sunset on St Barts and hearing the shells like windchimes while snorkeling.<BR><BR>8. Mariachis and margaritas on any Mexican beach.

The places that come to mind when I think of the word "Magical" are:-<BR><BR>1- Sunset in the Maha resort in Dubai. I loved watching the sandunes change color.<BR><BR>2- The village of Zermatt in Switzerland. I was there in winter and there were sleighs pulled by horses so In a way I felt like I was in santa's hometown.<BR><BR>3- Diving in the Red Sea while vicationing in Sharm ALsheikh in Egypt.<BR><BR>4- The carnival in Venice, I felt like I was going back in time.<BR><BR>5- Watching whales while taking a cruise in Alaska. <BR><BR>6- Seeing the pope give a speech in the Vatican on Christmas.<BR><BR>7- Amalfi coast drive in Italy

I must tell you my numbers 2 and 3 because I will be visiting Italy and Paris for the first time in January and I'm sure that will be my #1.<BR><BR>#2 Tulum in Mexico was a spiritual experience (of couse, being that my husband proposed to me at "the castle" in Tulum makes my memory even sweeter).<BR><BR>#3 Yosemite National Park in California was breathtaking.

Oh, and my #4 was kayaking in Monterey, CA and having a sea otter jump into our kayak and take a nap.

Good to see this keeps going.<BR><BR>1. Monterey Peninsula in California.<BR><BR>2. Bavaria in Germany.<BR><BR>3. Moorea<BR><BR>4. Tuscany

<BR>Been all over Europe and much of Asia and North America, and still my "magic place" is Amsterdam.

#1 - In the town of Rousillion, France in Provence, at sunset, at the top of the village, watching the setting sun reflect off the red cliffs.<BR><BR>#2 - In Luxembourg Gardens in Paris, early in the morning, walking on the west side of the park.<BR><BR>#3 - Hiking through the rain forest outside of Port Douglas, Australia.

#1. Seeing the Grand Canal in Venice for the first time as we came out of the train station. It was a very moving experience. Tears came into my eyes.<BR>#2. While we were staying at a farm stay in Italy at a little vineyard, I woke up really early one morning just as the sun was coming up. When I walked outside the sky was pink and the grapes were all shiny and sparkling on the vines. Heaven...<BR>#3.As evening came upon us in Amsterdam, we were walking down a little street with a canal. The lights on the little bridges came on and there was a sort of a magical twinkle in the air...<BR>Thank you God for blessing me....<BR>

<BR><BR>Venice. The entire city is like a beautiful dream that has come to life.

Sitting on a stone fence in Ireland, looking at scenery that never changes (Thank You, God!)...Ah, Heaven Helen

There is magic -- watching the fireworks over Tivoli Gardens,Copenhagen; seeing all those green, rolling hills as you come in for a landing at Shannon Airport; having the sun shine on you as you sit up front on the Sydney Harbour ferry<BR> <BR> wine,pate and a baguette shared in our hotel room after walking thru Paris;

1. St. Margaret's Chapel, Edinburgh Castle<BR><BR>2. Aztec Ruins National Monument, New Mexico<BR><BR>3. the rooftop view from our hotel in Florence

At the base of the winding, cobblestoned pathways of Gandria, Switzerland overlooking Lake Lugano.

Snowdonia in Wales, where the dark mountains look like christmas trees dotted with colors(which are actually mountain climbers in their colorful gear)<BR>France, The pont du Gard at dusk when deserted.<BR>The Mont St. Michel from a distance, looking like out of a fairy tale.<BR>My Own Charles River And Provincetown dunes, where their beauty never fades.

Inside Chartres Cathedral, France.<BR>On Mont St. Michel at night after tourists are gone for the day.<BR>Sunset on Frederick Sound in S.E. Alaska on 25 ft motor-sail amid pod of feeding whales and dolphins playing around them. Their music was even better than their water ballet.

The beautiful &amp; stunning wilderness of Patagonia, South America.

Thank you to whoever restarted this great thread. So many of the posts bring back such wonderful memories of places I had not thought about in a long time. Mine, of course, is the Albergo Panorama's terrace in Gerra-Gambarogno on Lago Maggiore (the Swiss part). J.

The Pantheon during a rain storm...full moon rise over San Salute in Venice.

The island of Ortigia at Syracusa,Sicily, where I had an out of body experience, almost remembering being there at another time in another body..my husband did not share this, as he had food poisoning here!<BR><BR>Bechestagaden BAvaria, when young and impressionable, my first view of Mountains..Alps..in summertime, in a thunderstorm, with a violinist playing &quot;Fascination&quot; in the background.<BR><BR>Many years ago, when I was young, after a very rough winter crossing of the Atlantic, when the ship docked off of Cobh Ireland..forty shades of green, sunshine, seagulls, an old man in tweeds and a pipe weeping at the sight, a little boat called The Blarney offloading passengers...

Must be watching the U-bein bridge near Mandalay in Burma by sunset.

amazing postings...brings back many happy memories. A few that are spine tingling places for me:<BR>1. Go Home Bay in Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada - is a place of pure beauty unsurpassed anywhere in the world. <BR>2. The hills overlooking Florence, Italy where you realize you are looking at one of the cradles of modern civilization<BR>3. A rooftop garden overlooking the Mediterranean in Almunecar, Spain on Christmas Day

<BR>Jungle Lodge East side of Costa Rica<BR>Bora-Bora<BR>Venice<BR>South Island of New Zealand<BR>Tasmania<BR>Isle of Capri<BR><BR>

ttt

Places I've found accidentally, the magic is partly in that feeling of discovery, when your eyes widen and you take a breath at something you didn't expect.<BR>-- A walled garden in Venice, somewhere when I got lost. I peeked through a green door that was open a little, and remember the sun and some stone rubble and overgrown grass and flowers. <BR>-- An abandoned Jewish cemetary wedged between loft buildings in NYC. (I think it's been restored since I found it in the mid 1980s.) I believe it's in the West 30s. <BR>-- Staten Island Ferry--a cheap date, very romantic cause you have to cuddle if that breeze is brisk, plus you get one of the best views of NYC and the Statue of Liberty.<BR>-- Monticello, TJ's home in the Blue Ridge of Virginia

Just a few:<BR><BR>Another one for Kalkan, Turkey - sitting in any rooftop bar watching the sunset over the blue Mediterranean – but mostly the people – the one place that brings me to tears every time I have to leave. <BR><BR>Anywhere with a view of Sydney Harbour<BR><BR>Corfe Castle and Durdle Door in Dorset -because I spent my childhood holidays there.<BR><BR>Tanjung Rhu, langkawi, Malaysia – just perfect <BR><BR>The view from Waterloo Bridge most nights on my way home from the office.<BR><BR>Uluru<BR><BR>And…so many more….<BR>

More than three years ago I sent the question to Fodors: &quot;Where is your magic place?&quot;. Then I didn't suppose that this thread will be interesting for many persons. Now I am pleasantly surprised to see such number so wonderful answers. Thank you to all who responded to my question on a magic place. I truly appreciate your replies. <BR> As for myself I found another magic place. It's on Crete. I spent 2 fabulous weeks there. It's small village named Myrtos, where are typical Greek views, the sea, taverns, &quot;black ladies&quot; in front of their houses and the special spirit of this village. <BR> After reading all your recommendations I have decided to visit some of your places. There is so many magic places all over the world! Happy travelling to all of you. Regards, Eva<BR> Please forgive me that my English is not good.

1. Agincourt Reef, off of Port Jackson, Australia -- amazing snorkelling or diving (only about 25 feet deep) -- just like a Peter Max poster come to life -- water an electric shade of blue not seen elsewhere on earth and visible from space -- teeming with every form of life in every color and shape imaginable -- while having my hand held by my Japanese dive master -- my first ever dive and one that can never be surpassed -- imagine giant 3 foot wide, 3 feet tall clams over 100 years old with interior flesh of bright dayglow purple and tiny donuts of dayglow green that you can stroke with your fingers, the clam shell clenches slightly, it feels like the inside of your mouth, thousands of fish white and flat as dinner plates, gnawing on your dive vest, over 50 different schools of fish and perfect clarity.... <BR>2. The view from the top of the Little Matterhorn just as you come out of the cable car from the Swiss side, facing south into Italy, with over 100 Alpine peaks gleaming in the sun, wind blowing madly in your face and schussing down across the border lickety-split on my skis, down down down 8 km in a single glorious, sun drenched run to the bottom.<BR>3. The Maryland countryside drenched in an April sunset as viewed while hanging from a parachute after my first skydive, the little white church steeple far below, the farms neatly laid out and freshly plowed, the intense greeness, feeling as a spirit and no longer attached to a body, completed disconnected from any earthly edifice and hanging along in space, and then, then, the overpowering sensation in those last seconds before you land, you glance down and see our green Earth racing up to meet you, you understand for the first time ever that our planet is a ball suspended in space with an amazing pull of gravity, and then, then, landing! and being born again, being connected to the earth again, having lived for a moment as a bird and as a bodiless entity to rejoin the earth and then, then, the crying, the laughing, the shouting to know that you are alive, human, on the earth and with all the time there is still ahead of you........

Turkey: Inside the Blue Mosque at night<BR><BR>South Africa: Watching the Elephants drink at the watering hole at sunrise.<BR><BR>Italy: Watching a bicycle race in Florence.<BR><BR>Switzerland: Hiking the mountains in Grindelwald.<BR><BR>India: Jaipur, The most incredible lunch we've ever had and only $6.<BR><BR>Nepal: View from Nargarkote.<BR><BR>Thailand: Night bazaar in Chiang Mai.<BR><BR>Hawaii: Pulled pork sandwiches in Hanalei.<BR><BR>Hong Kong: Sending email from top of Victoria Peak.<BR><BR>Nepal: Watching red robed monks drinking bottles of Coca Cola outside a temple.<BR><BR>France: Strolling through Annecy.<BR><BR>Italy: Meandering through the back canals of Venice in the evening.<BR><BR>Italy: Having free access to wine barrels at rented villa in Umbria.<BR><BR>Egypt: Ducks asking for baksheesh at restaurant table in Luxor.

I can't pick just one place, they are all special to me for various reasons.<BR><BR>-Isle of Skye, Scotland. The landscapes are stunning and the people are wonderful.<BR>-San Miniato al Monte, Florence. The view from this Oltrarno church is outstanding and it is a perfect place to get lost in your own thoughts.<BR>-Monteriggioni, Italy. This town feels like a secret.<BR>-Regent's Park/Primrose Hill, London.<BR>-Adirondack Mountains, New York State.<BR>-Bodnath Stupa, Nepal.<BR><BR>

There are many.....1) St. Marks Square Venice in the evening...2) Big Sur Calif....3)Volterre......4)Half Moon Bay...5)Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe...and Italy Italy Italy

I must add one more...Gameday Saturday in Norman, Oklahoma...Boomer Sooner

HOME....anytime day or night,

Looking for ideas and came up with mine.

1. Corfu: Kassiopi beach, Glyfada beach and Old Town. The only place I sobbed on the airplane when I left. Could cry now just thinking about it.

2. USA: Murphey's California, Tuscaloosa, Alabama on game night.

3. Hall outside Innsbruck, Austria one of my best memories.

3.

Capri - at night with the light of the ships moored below

Positano - any time of day but especially at the feast of the assumption in August

Big Sur - in the evening as the sun sets

Bali - in the rice fields

Paris - anywhere!

Grand Canyon - at sunrise on the northern edge

Capetown - the top of table mountain

Tuscany - having a glass of wine in the evening time watching the sun go down over the sunflowers

Strolling down the deserted streets in Venice

Sienna during the Palio