2026 Photo Contest Winners
Meet our 2026 photo contest winners—and enjoy their wonderful photographs!
This year’s contest was open to everyone who participated in our 30 trips in 2025. Each traveler could enter one or two photos that best represented their personal experience during their trip; they were also asked to provide a few sentences about their photo and why the experience was meaningful to them. If a traveler joined us for more than one trip, they could submit up to two photos from each trip. We had 110 entries this year.
Our daughter Kelly Wood managed the contest again this year, and the two of us (Kathy and Charley) were the judges. We also had input from Drew Fedorka, who manages our Instagram. We judged “blind” and didn’t know who submitted any of the photos.
As always, a wide variety of photos were submitted, representing many different aspects of our European Experiences trips: spectacular scenery, specific experiences, memorable meals, local people, other group members, and more. In choosing our winners, we selected a mix of photos from a variety of trips and locations and tried to choose photos different from photos recognized in recent years and different from each other. This year there were some especially amazing night-time photos and also several mouth-watering food photos. We had several hours of vigorous discussion to make our selections.
Every photo and its description represents a unique memory from the traveler’s personal experience. We appreciate the time everyone took to share their memories, and we’re sending everyone who entered a special gift.
We’re highlighting 15 photographs that reflect the broad scope of a European Experiences trip, considering first the photo and then also the description. Under our contest rules, we could recognize only one photo from each person, which required us to adjust a few of our choices. (We had several travelers who joined us last year on two or three trips and submitted more than two photos!)
And The Winners Are…
Congratulations to Sarah Hays of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, our 2026 grand prize winner! (She’s pictured here in 2024 in Chianti.)
Sarah’s photo from one of our newest trips, The Portugal Experience, features the spectacular Douro River valley, with terraced vineyards rising up from the river below. Sarah is one of our two most-frequent travelers and has joined us for 14 trips since 2014. She received special recognition in our 2023 and 2018 photo contests.
Sarah’s grand prize is a $500 credit on a future European Experiences trip, so she’ll claim it this year when she’s with us for Inside Bordeaux and Inside Paris this fall… trips #15 and 16!
We also selected four runners-up, who each received a $250 credit on a future Experience trip. Ten other photographs were selected for special recognition. These travelers won a $50 Amazon gift certificate (or a $50 credit on a 2026 or 2027 trip). Everyone who entered the contest will receive a special gift.
See all 15 winning photos below, along with what each traveler had to say about the experience represented in their photo. The Runners-Up and Special Recognition winners are listed in alphabetical order by first name.
Congratulations to all our 2026 photo contest winners! Thanks so much to everyone who participated! And special thanks to Kelly Wood for her excellent leadership of this year’s contest.
Grand Prize Winner
The Portugal Experience (September 2025)
Sarah from Missouri, USA
Our group had the opportunity to observe the unique landscape of the Douro River Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its Port production, first from a boat on the river and then from the scenic overlook shown here. This panoramic view gave us a completely different vantage point from which to see the river and the steeply terraced vineyards.
Runner-Up
The Morocco Experience (February 2025)
Lynn from Ontario, Canada
Sunlight filtered through olive and palm trees, spilling across a mosaic of vibrant tiles in one of the colourful courtyards of Bahia Palace in Marrakech. I indulged in the tranquility as we explored and learned about the fascinating history of this royal estate. The intricate patterns, delicately carved arches, and a central fountain created a calm setting tucked behind the bustling streets of Marrakech. Absorbing the history, while immersed in it, was truly an exhilarating experience.
Runner-Up
The Luberon Experience (September 2025)
Marguerite from California, USA
This beautiful spot is the Chateau la Canorgue, a wine estate which I’ve dreamed of seeing for a long time. My dream finally came true. This was such a beautiful day and such an amazing experience for me. Chateau la Canorgue will forever hold a special place in my heart.
Runner-Up
The Cotswolds Gardens Experience (June 2025)
Mindy from Massachusetts, USA
“A Daydream Of Delphiniums”
Although this was my third visit to Kiftsgate Court Gardens, I never tire of its beauty. Visiting a month earlier in the year allowed me to notice the change in colors and how each flower and plant reveals itself in its own time. I’ve always had a fondness for blue. The moment I saw these stunning delphiniums, their varied shades of blue stopped me in my tracks. The pop of yellow roses, set against surrounding reds and greens, made the scene even more beautiful. The flowers appeared to be reaching upward, striving to catch the sun.
Runner Up
The Cornwall Experience (April 2025)
Stephanie from Tennessee, USA
We visited Lanyon Quoit on a brilliant day as part of the Cornwall Experience. This Neolithic structure, worn by time and weather on the sweeping Penwith Moor, was believed to have served as a burial chamber and is one of many such UNESCO World Heritage ancient sites in the region. You can additionally see one of the area’s many tin mine stacks in the distance. Visiting the ancient, elemental sites of Cornwall were a big reason why we booked the trip, and did not disappoint.
Special Recognition
The Cornwall Experience (April 2025)
Alan from California, USA
As part of our Cornwall adventure, we ferried from Penzance to the beautiful Isles of Scilly, enjoying its dawn, then sun-filled days, and finally sunset, as the Earth’s rotation punctuated its daily cycle with a final flash of brilliant sunset glory.
Special Recognition
The Puglia Experience (October 2025)
Betsy from Illinois, USA
After visiting a number of ceramic shops in the town of Grottaglie, we ran across this bench outside of one of the shops we had visited. The aged beauty of the bench had clearly invited many visitors over the years to pause and enjoy the beauty of the surroundings. The sign in the top left reads “CERAMICHE COLORE E CALORE”—“Ceramics, Color and Warmth”— a perfect description of our visit to Grottaglie.
Special Recognition
The Luberon Experience (May 2025)
Bob from New Brunswick, Canada
You never know what quiet enchantment awaits as you wander the dusky streets of Bonnieux. One evening, under a sky awash in velvety blues and deep violets, the ‘New Church’ came into view — its name a gentle irony for a structure that has stood since 1870. Just steps from our hotel, this graceful sentinel welcomed us home each night, its silhouette etched against the twilight like a whispered promise of serenity.
Special Recognition
The Mediterranean Provence Experience (June 2025)
Charlene from Florida, USA
There are many superb views along the Mediterranean coast, but this is my favorite. We are at the top of Cap Canaille, looking out over the Calanques and it is breathtakingly gorgeous.
Special Recognition
The Luberon Experience (May 2025)
Jacqueline from Idaho, USA
A day trip to Saignon during the Luberon Experience gave the opportunity for an easy hike up to an amazing vantage point from which you could get a 360° view of the Vaucluse. Such a nice jaunt to enjoy the company of our guide, Christian, as well as the frequent pause to capture a beautiful vista here and there. This is my favorite, highlighting the blooming wildflowers and ancient architecture overlooking the quilted fields then stretching out to a wonderful and expansive sky.
Special Recognition
The Alsace Experience (June 2025)
Janis from New York, USA
We were able to tour the excellent Ecomusée d’Alsace which is an “open air” museum representing the rural village life and associated buildings of the past found in the Alsatian region. The highlight was the unexpected parade (a small representation shown here) to celebrate the Pentecost. With a variety of authentic clothing, people of all ages along with their farm animals and equipment “paraded” to music throughout the village to everyone’s delight. What a great experience! Plus, I can’t forget the storks in their huge nests surveying the varied scenes. It was extra fun to try to spot them throughout the Alsace tour.
Special Recognition
The Périgord Experience (June 2025)
Kathy from Georgia, USA
What could be better than kayaking down the Dordogne River on a beautiful summer day?! Seeing the chateaus from this viewpoint was a true memory maker!
Special Recognition
The Riviera Hillsides Experience (May 2024)
Lisa from Queensland, Australia
Our visit to Grasse was a fragrant indulgence, creating a rose perfume that captured a sense of beauty to take home as a lasting memory. Wandering through the streets, the soft, rose, pink umbrellas overhead highlighted the artistry and charm of the village of Grasse.
Special Recognition
Inside Lyon (May 2025)
Patti from Tennessee, USA
This colorful, delicious photo was taken in Les Halles de Lyon Paul Bocuse, a food market first opened in 1971 and built on the site of early Lyon food markets. Lyon is is known as the gastronomical capital of the world. The restaurants we visited, all the food and its presentation, and this extraordinary market echo this title. Paul Bocuse was a world class famous chef from Lyon and the market offerings of gastronomical delights reflect his influence and culinary excellence. The visit to the market was a totally immersive sensual treat.
Special Recognition
Inside Lyon (May 2025)
Susie from Texas, USA
Lyon is a beautiful city in many ways.This photo shows the Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourviere on the hill on the other side of the river. I enjoyed that Lyon is a walking city and especially enjoyed walking along the river at night to/from our evening activities. The basilica itself is incredibly beautiful both from a distance and close up.