Frommers.com Community
After a month of contributions from readers and photographers like you, we've closed the Favorite Travel Moments photo contest. We're going through the thousands of entries now to choose which ones deserve to be finalists and which one should win. In the meantime, enjoy this collection of some of our favorite shots and the stories behind them.
Photo Caption: The Brooklyn Bridge at night, New York City. Photo by red_ize/Frommers.com Community.
The Story:
La Tomatina is a food fight festival held on the last Wednesday of August each year in the town of Buñol in the Valencia region of Spain. Tens of metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets in exactly one hour. Approximately 20,000
The Story:
Our favorite time of year to be in Yellowstone Park is in the winter. You experience the dramatic scenery with no crowds, and are able to be "up close and personal" with the animals. The youngest bison here on the left, was running to try to get out of a deep snow filled dip on the side of the road. He finally caught up with the rest of his herd, and all was good. -- phylvince
The Story:
Of the places in the world that have fascinated me since childhood, Petra, Jordan has remained at the top of the list ever since I first saw a photo of the ochre cliffs and the incredible
The Story:
The Annual Pan Pacific Festival Parade brings together some High School Bands from the mainland to proudly celebrate and strut their stuff. The colorful local traditional Hawaiian Aloha Shirt and shiny polished brass intruments draws my attention to this marching band. -- mirepoix
The Story:
Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi Leh is as beautiful as everyone says with beautiful crystal clear water and fine white sand. If you hire a longboat driver and ask him to take you there before the tour groups arrive, you can have "The Beach" mostly to yourself. This was our favorite beach in all of Thailand. -- tlyiang1
The Story:
Without hesitation, whenever I am asked to name my favorite trip, I say the Antarctic. It is impossible to beat seeing penguins as far as the eye can see, the ear can hear, and the nose can smell! -- Jayne Ilene
The Story:
I had just walked out of the Taj Mahal and was greeted by these women in their colorful saris. I think the colors of the saris with the Taj Mahal as the backdrop is absolutely breathaking. It actually brought tears to my eyes! -- AndiPerullo
The Story:
Dominica is a magical island in the Caribbean that is full of wonders on the island and below the offshore waters. On this trip my friends and I wanted to swim and photograph some of the local population of Sperm whales that live offshore. We obtained a permit from the fisheries department and chartered a boat captained by Andrew Armour, known as the "whale whisperer" for his special relationship with the whales. We located the whales and were able to swim, photograph and play with them on multiple days during that week. This is a photo of my friend Jeff thanking one of the whales for posing with us. Interacting with and making eye contact with these huge gentle intelligent creatures was the most memorable moment of my life. May the whale population of the world flourish. -- pallinson
The Story:
While strolling Westminster I caught sight of this perfect English scene. The red phone booth in the shadow of Big Ben summed up the heart of London for me. -- bryanredding
The Story:
Beyond the hedonism that exists in this traveler's mecca, Vang Vieng offers a magnificent abundance of caves to explore. This photo depicts a reclining Buddha at the entrance to one of the caves which I spent several hours climbing through, and which quickly became pitch black. -- dklazkin
The Story:
On our two week drive around Oregon and Washington, we stayed at the Kalaloch Campground at Olympic National Park in Washington. It is right on the coast. Their shoreline is full of dead trees. The trees that die in the forest, get washed into the river, which floats them out to the ocean. The ocean then washes them up on the beach. Either direction, all you could see on the beach were the trees. -- Minnesota Girl
The Story:
This young man was entertaining the crowd more than the musician on stage by back flipping over a jump rope. The freedom of his movement and the joy it brought to those watching is what Jazz Fest is all about! -- Rebamaria
The Story:
Walking through Il Campo in Siena, Italy on a drizzly March morning, we came upon a group of school girls arranging themselves under their amazingly colorful umbrellas. The scene looked like a rainbow against the ancient burnt Sienna color of the city and the overcast day. What a unique photo opportunity! -- Billy Bob
The Story:
Exploring the salars (salt flats) of the Bolivian altiplano region by car. -- nadjac
The Story:
With about 3-4 million motorbikes in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, crossing the road is a task for those that are not faint of heart. Because you could easily wait for hours before finding a gap to cross the street, doing so is an exercise in trust for your fellow human beings. -- dklazkin
The Story:
Before ascending to the highest point of the trek (15000+ft), I looked back and snapped a photo of where we had come from earlier that morning. -- Jkay
The Story:
My sister painting at the main Piazza in Ravello. -- Dave66
The Story:
This was the local hang out for the young boys in town...it sure beats the tired old street corner where I used to go in my home town! -- Johnny G
The Story:
One of the great joys of traveling is seeing a way of life that is completely different from one's own. This photo was taken in the early morning on the Thu Bon River in Hoi An. -- tliang1
The Story:
Sometimes you don't need to drive far to feel like you're in a faraway place. Thousands of tulips are in bloom each year in Skagit Valley - about an hour north of Seattle - and what an incredible sight to behold. -- traveler_girl
The Story:
This was indeed, incredible. We took a day ziplining and then snorkelling in these underwater caves called 'senotes'. An old Mayan native gave us a blessing down in the caves before we entered the still water. It looked very shallow, but was indeed 30 feet deep and had small white fish. The caves had bats in them, so it smelled a little funky, but the experience was one of the best. We swam from cave to cave between very tight walls of stalactite. Super cool!!!!! -- ncavalli
The Story:
Wandering through La Boqueria Market really gives a person a sense of the culture. Fresh local ingredients are at the center of every meal. Not only is it a feast for the stomach, but all the beautiful colors are a feast for the eyes! -- jshepperd
The Story:
This picture took my breath away when I saw it as it so beautifully captured the moment. I was by myself in this church where Jesus was crucified when I glanced around and therewas this beautiful young girl reading her scripture by candlelight.....it could have been a scene from ancient times. -- cynthiafuss
The Story:
My partner and I took a trip to Alaska and we stopped by the Alaska Wildlife Sanctuary outside of Anchorage. This Grizzly Bear had just finished playing in a little pond and was tired so he climbed up on a log and took a nap. It was a great experience.I used a Canon Xs with a 70-300 mm lens. -- Carol Bock
The Story:
The week long celebration of Inti Raymi is a life changing experience and the day time parades are a beautiful display of indigenous pride. -- Gregory Mace
The Story:
The water was cold but my heart turned warm when I looked up and found myself surrounded by so many jack fish. It was amazing! -- psychedelicangel
The Story:
This was taken at my husband's and my first "family" vacation with our daughter. We returned to Anna Maria Island to visit the wonderful place we had been married 4 1/2 years ago, but brought our three-year-old to experience the ocean and this special place for the first time. We love this place, not only for it's beauty, but the memories it holds for us - the place we started our life together. Our daughter was pretty afraid of the ocean, but I caught this perfect moment of her and her daddy, relaxing in a small pool the tide had created in the sand. -- lorioswald
The Story:
While driving from Taroudant to Essouira we saw goats up in the trees and stopped to take a picture. -- Cyntia Greenberg
The Story:
In the north, near the border with China, Halong Bay is one of Vietnam's most engaging destinations--a bay filled with hundreds of limestone outcrops, many covered with vegetation, some even hollow inside. The bay is home to many fishing families, some of whom are called sea gypsies who live on their boats. Here, a couple fisherman cast their nets in the afternoon haze. -- dgurewitz
The Story:
I took this photo while waiting for the cook to finish his work at a stall in the famous Djemma el Fna night market in Marrakech. The largest square in North Africa, the Djemma el Fna is always bustling with frenetic energy, but it is amplified at night. The smoke from the hundreds of stalls hung heavy in the air as we struggled to make our order heard over the din of thousands of conversations. It was one of those pristine travel moments when you realize just how lucky you are to be there. -- happyhusky
Photo Caption: The Brooklyn Bridge at night, New York City. Photo by red_ize/Frommers.com Community.
La Tomatina is a food fight festival held on the last Wednesday of August each year in the town of Buñol in the Valencia region of Spain. Tens of metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets in exactly one hour. Approximately 20,000
Our favorite time of year to be in Yellowstone Park is in the winter. You experience the dramatic scenery with no crowds, and are able to be "up close and personal" with the animals. The youngest bison here on the left, was running to try to get out of a deep snow filled dip on the side of the road. He finally caught up with the rest of his herd, and all was good. -- phylvince
Of the places in the world that have fascinated me since childhood, Petra, Jordan has remained at the top of the list ever since I first saw a photo of the ochre cliffs and the incredible
The Annual Pan Pacific Festival Parade brings together some High School Bands from the mainland to proudly celebrate and strut their stuff. The colorful local traditional Hawaiian Aloha Shirt and shiny polished brass intruments draws my attention to this marching band. -- mirepoix
Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi Leh is as beautiful as everyone says with beautiful crystal clear water and fine white sand. If you hire a longboat driver and ask him to take you there before the tour groups arrive, you can have "The Beach" mostly to yourself. This was our favorite beach in all of Thailand. -- tlyiang1
Without hesitation, whenever I am asked to name my favorite trip, I say the Antarctic. It is impossible to beat seeing penguins as far as the eye can see, the ear can hear, and the nose can smell! -- Jayne Ilene
I had just walked out of the Taj Mahal and was greeted by these women in their colorful saris. I think the colors of the saris with the Taj Mahal as the backdrop is absolutely breathaking. It actually brought tears to my eyes! -- AndiPerullo
Dominica is a magical island in the Caribbean that is full of wonders on the island and below the offshore waters. On this trip my friends and I wanted to swim and photograph some of the local population of Sperm whales that live offshore. We obtained a permit from the fisheries department and chartered a boat captained by Andrew Armour, known as the "whale whisperer" for his special relationship with the whales. We located the whales and were able to swim, photograph and play with them on multiple days during that week. This is a photo of my friend Jeff thanking one of the whales for posing with us. Interacting with and making eye contact with these huge gentle intelligent creatures was the most memorable moment of my life. May the whale population of the world flourish. -- pallinson
While strolling Westminster I caught sight of this perfect English scene. The red phone booth in the shadow of Big Ben summed up the heart of London for me. -- bryanredding
Beyond the hedonism that exists in this traveler's mecca, Vang Vieng offers a magnificent abundance of caves to explore. This photo depicts a reclining Buddha at the entrance to one of the caves which I spent several hours climbing through, and which quickly became pitch black. -- dklazkin
On our two week drive around Oregon and Washington, we stayed at the Kalaloch Campground at Olympic National Park in Washington. It is right on the coast. Their shoreline is full of dead trees. The trees that die in the forest, get washed into the river, which floats them out to the ocean. The ocean then washes them up on the beach. Either direction, all you could see on the beach were the trees. -- Minnesota Girl
This young man was entertaining the crowd more than the musician on stage by back flipping over a jump rope. The freedom of his movement and the joy it brought to those watching is what Jazz Fest is all about! -- Rebamaria
Walking through Il Campo in Siena, Italy on a drizzly March morning, we came upon a group of school girls arranging themselves under their amazingly colorful umbrellas. The scene looked like a rainbow against the ancient burnt Sienna color of the city and the overcast day. What a unique photo opportunity! -- Billy Bob
Exploring the salars (salt flats) of the Bolivian altiplano region by car. -- nadjac
With about 3-4 million motorbikes in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, crossing the road is a task for those that are not faint of heart. Because you could easily wait for hours before finding a gap to cross the street, doing so is an exercise in trust for your fellow human beings. -- dklazkin
Before ascending to the highest point of the trek (15000+ft), I looked back and snapped a photo of where we had come from earlier that morning. -- Jkay
My sister painting at the main Piazza in Ravello. -- Dave66
This was the local hang out for the young boys in town...it sure beats the tired old street corner where I used to go in my home town! -- Johnny G
One of the great joys of traveling is seeing a way of life that is completely different from one's own. This photo was taken in the early morning on the Thu Bon River in Hoi An. -- tliang1
Sometimes you don't need to drive far to feel like you're in a faraway place. Thousands of tulips are in bloom each year in Skagit Valley - about an hour north of Seattle - and what an incredible sight to behold. -- traveler_girl
This was indeed, incredible. We took a day ziplining and then snorkelling in these underwater caves called 'senotes'. An old Mayan native gave us a blessing down in the caves before we entered the still water. It looked very shallow, but was indeed 30 feet deep and had small white fish. The caves had bats in them, so it smelled a little funky, but the experience was one of the best. We swam from cave to cave between very tight walls of stalactite. Super cool!!!!! -- ncavalli
Wandering through La Boqueria Market really gives a person a sense of the culture. Fresh local ingredients are at the center of every meal. Not only is it a feast for the stomach, but all the beautiful colors are a feast for the eyes! -- jshepperd
This picture took my breath away when I saw it as it so beautifully captured the moment. I was by myself in this church where Jesus was crucified when I glanced around and therewas this beautiful young girl reading her scripture by candlelight.....it could have been a scene from ancient times. -- cynthiafuss
My partner and I took a trip to Alaska and we stopped by the Alaska Wildlife Sanctuary outside of Anchorage. This Grizzly Bear had just finished playing in a little pond and was tired so he climbed up on a log and took a nap. It was a great experience.I used a Canon Xs with a 70-300 mm lens. -- Carol Bock
The week long celebration of Inti Raymi is a life changing experience and the day time parades are a beautiful display of indigenous pride. -- Gregory Mace
The water was cold but my heart turned warm when I looked up and found myself surrounded by so many jack fish. It was amazing! -- psychedelicangel
This was taken at my husband's and my first "family" vacation with our daughter. We returned to Anna Maria Island to visit the wonderful place we had been married 4 1/2 years ago, but brought our three-year-old to experience the ocean and this special place for the first time. We love this place, not only for it's beauty, but the memories it holds for us - the place we started our life together. Our daughter was pretty afraid of the ocean, but I caught this perfect moment of her and her daddy, relaxing in a small pool the tide had created in the sand. -- lorioswald
While driving from Taroudant to Essouira we saw goats up in the trees and stopped to take a picture. -- Cyntia Greenberg
In the north, near the border with China, Halong Bay is one of Vietnam's most engaging destinations--a bay filled with hundreds of limestone outcrops, many covered with vegetation, some even hollow inside. The bay is home to many fishing families, some of whom are called sea gypsies who live on their boats. Here, a couple fisherman cast their nets in the afternoon haze. -- dgurewitz
I took this photo while waiting for the cook to finish his work at a stall in the famous Djemma el Fna night market in Marrakech. The largest square in North Africa, the Djemma el Fna is always bustling with frenetic energy, but it is amplified at night. The smoke from the hundreds of stalls hung heavy in the air as we struggled to make our order heard over the din of thousands of conversations. It was one of those pristine travel moments when you realize just how lucky you are to be there. -- happyhusky