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• Trip the light fantastic

What’s the meaning of the phrase ‘Trip the light fantastic’?

To dance, especially in an imaginative or ‘fantastic’ manner.

What’s the origin of the phrase ‘Trip the light fantastic’?

This apparently obscure expression originates from the works of John Milton. In the masque  Comus , 1637, he used the lines:

Come, knit hands, and beat the ground, In a light fantastic round.

By ‘trip’, Milton didn’t mean ‘catch one’s feet and stumble’. The word had long been used to mean ‘dance nimbly’. Chaucer used it that way as early as 1386, in  The Miller’s Tale :

In twenty manere koude he trippe and daunce. (In twenty ways could he trip and dance.)

Clearly, Milton was referring to dancing. He must have liked the imagery, as he used it again in the poem  L’Allegro , 1645:

Sport that wrinkled Care derides, And Laughter holding both his sides. Come, and trip it as you go On the light fantastic toe.

The ‘light fantastic toe’ was the form that was used when the phrase first circulated, as in this extract from  The Times , November 1803:

“A splendid ball was also given; where the CONSUL himself tripped it on the light fantastic toe.”

The history of “Trip the light fantastic” in printed materials

Trend of trip the light fantastic in printed material over time

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The Origin—and Evolution—of the Phrase 'Trip the Light Fantastic'

By v.m. braganza | aug 10, 2022.

Today, thanks to the movie Mary Poppins Returns (2018), the phrase trip a little light fantastic might conjure images of dancing chimney sweeps . But this colloquialism has strayed quite a bit from its semantic origins. While it has always referred to nimble, fleet-footed dancing, the imagery associated with trip the light fantastic is a matter of profound disagreement.

English poet John Milton (1608-1674), best known for his Biblical epic Paradise Lost, popularized the idiom in 1645 when he included it in one of his minor poems, “ L’Allegro ” (“The Happy Man”). In the poem, Milton called upon Euphrosyne , one of a trio of minor classical goddesses known as the three Graces (and fittingly, the goddess of good cheer) to dance—or, as he puts it, to “Come and trip it, as ye go / On the light, fantastic toe.”

In this early instance, the idiom isn’t an idiom at all—it’s literal. “Tripping it on the toe” was a very visual, recurring Renaissance phrase for agile dancing. It appears even earlier than Milton’s poem, in Shakespeare’s The Tempest (1610-11) when the spirit-servant Ariel promises to bring his fellow spirits to his master, Prospero, “Each one, tripping on his toe.” Milton supplies the words light and fantastic , both adjectives modifying toe and which emphasize the image of lithe, elaborate footwork. Milton’s rendering even caught the eye of Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels , who echoed it in one of his own poems in 1735: “See the Belle flutter with the sprightly Beau! / They trip it on the light, fantastic Toe!”

So far, so good … at least until Americans got involved. During this phase of the phrase’s life, the word toe tripped its way right out of Milton’s expression, giving us trip the light fantastic —a version of the idiom that is still familiar today.

It’s hard to determine the precise moment the transformation occurred, but some pinpoint the late-19th century song “The Sidewalks of New York”—whose lyrics included “Boys and Girls together / Me and Mamie O’Rourke / Tripped the light fantastic / On the sidewalks of New York”—as key in popularizing this version of the phrase . From there, it took off, showing up everywhere from a 1907 issue of  The United States Army and Navy Journal to writer Nella Larsen’s 1929 novel Passing (which was adapted into a film for Netflix in 2021): In a room full of Black and white people dancing, Hugh Wentworth remarks to protagonist Irene, “Not having tripped the light with any of the males, I am unable to argue the point.” The phrase frequently crops up in literature, music, and film from the ’20s onward.

But trip the light fantastic was by no means done evolving. By the 1930s , some popular songs and literature had contorted the line even further out of shape with trip the light fandango . In 1967, the British progressive rock group Procul Harum included the phrase in their hit song “A Whiter Shade of Pale”—which American Songwriter says is about a “drunken sexual escapade gone awry”—with the lyrics, “We skipped the light fandango / Turned cartwheels ’cross the floor.”

Then, in 1973’s A Little Night Music , Stephen Sondheim twisted the phrase even more drastically into the lines “trip the light fandango” and “pitch the quick fantastic” in the happy-go-lucky number “The Miller’s Son.” (Sondheim, interestingly, was unaware that Milton coined a version of the phrase he’d used, and it’s unclear whether he knew of the Procul Harum song.) The fandango is a type of lively Spanish dance with roots in the early modern period, so to “skip” or “trip” a fandango simply means to dance the fandango.

Small wonder that linguist Noam Chomsky called trip the light fantastic a “ syntactically ill-formed idiom ”: Its syntax, or sentence structure, has changed again and again, until it’s unclear just what mental picture this phrase was intended to evoke—whether dancing the fandango or, more metaphorically, skipping across a beam of light. One thing is certain: Trip the light fantastic has tripped its way from early modern England to the present day as blithely and fantastically as a nimble dancer.

Trip the Light Fantastic—From Dance Floor to Language

| Danielle McLeod

Danielle McLeod

Danielle McLeod is a highly qualified secondary English Language Arts Instructor who brings a diverse educational background to her classroom. With degrees in science, English, and literacy, she has worked to create cross-curricular materials to bridge learning gaps and help students focus on effective writing and speech techniques. Currently working as a dual credit technical writing instructor at a Career and Technical Education Center, her curriculum development surrounds student focus on effective communication for future career choices.

Trip the light fantastic is an idiom that means to dance in a graceful or lively manner . It’s like saying someone is moving with elegance and joy while dancing.

Idioms like trip the light fantastic are phrases or words with a meaning different from the literal definitions of the individual words. They add color, humor, and depth to the English language, making conversations more interesting and vibrant. Understanding idioms is essential because they help us communicate more effectively and express ideas creatively. 

This article explores the idiom’s meaning, poetic origins, and diverse applications in various contexts. It also includes the idiom’s variations and related terms and phrases for a comprehensive understanding. After reading, challenge your newfound knowledge with a quick quiz. Let’s begin this enlightening journey!

What Does the Idiom Trip the Light Fantastic Mean?

The idiom trip the light fantastic means to dance and usually refers to ballroom dancing. It is also used to help convey a sense of joyous and lively movement.

It carries connotations of joy, freedom, and celebration. It suggests a sense of abandon and blissful movement, evoking imagery of dancers gliding effortlessly across the floor, illuminated by the flickering lights of a dance hall.

This idiom not only describes physical movement but also captures the exhilarating feeling of being lost in the moment, swept away by the music and the rhythm. It embodies the essence of carefree enjoyment and serves as a reminder to embrace life’s pleasures with enthusiasm and vigor.

Variations of the Idiom

Variations of expressions or idioms often arise due to regional differences, cultural influences, or changes in language over time. Here are some variants of the idiom trip the light fantastic :

• Trip the light fandango
• Skipped the light fandango
• Pitch the quick fantastic
• Trippers of the light fantastic

How Is Trip the Light Fantastic Commonly Used in Context?

The idiom trip the light fantastic evokes imagery of graceful and joyful movement, often associated with dancing. Let’s explore the various ways this idiom is used in everyday language, discover examples of its application, and learn some helpful tips for incorporating it effectively into our conversations and writing.

What Are the Different Ways to Use Trip the Light Fantastic?

Here are several different ways to use the idiom trip the light fantastic in various contexts: 

• Literal dancing: Use the idiom to describe someone dancing gracefully or energetically. “The ballroom was filled with couples tripping the light fantastic to the lively music.”
• Figurative joyous movement: Apply the idiom to describe any kind of joyful or spirited movement, not necessarily limited to dancing. “The leaves on the trees seemed to trip the light fantastic in the gentle breeze.”
• Metaphorical expression: Use the idiom metaphorically to represent a sense of joy, freedom, or celebration. “The festival was a time for people to come together, forget their worries, and trip the light fantastic .”
• Symbolic representation : Employ the idiom to represent a carefree or uninhibited attitude in life. “Octavia embraced every opportunity that came her way, always ready to trip the light fantastic. “
• Literary or poetic usage: Incorporate the idiom in a literary or poetic piece to add a touch of imagery and rhythm. “In the moonlit night, they danced hand in hand, tripping the light fantastic under the starry sky.”

Where Can You Find Examples of the Idiom Trip the Light Fantastic?

Here are a few sources where you can explore examples of the idiom being used:

• Novels and literature 
• Plays and dramatic works
• Song lyrics

Examples of the idiom’s use online can generally be found in reviews and descriptions of dance and dance competitions, like in these two examples:

“Twenty-four brave souls will trip the light fantastic as part of this event, which will raise much-needed funds for the West Limerick Parish’s community centre.” ( The Limerick Post ) “Grimsby’s Strictly Come Dancing stars headed to Blackpool to trip the light fantastic on the famous dancefloor of the world’s most prestigious ballroom.” ( The Grimsby Telegraph )

What Are Some Tips for Using the Idiom Trip the Light Fantastic?

• Context is key: Consider the context in which you are using the idiom. Adapting the idiom to the appropriate context ensures its seamless integration into your message and understanding from your audience.
• Understand the meaning: It refers to dancing or moving lively and gracefully. Being familiar with its usage will help you use it accurately and appropriately.
• Consider tone and style: Reflect on the tone and style of your writing or conversation. It can add a touch of elegance, whimsy, or poetic flair to your language.
• Vary your language: Mix it up with other expressions or synonyms for dancing or joyful movement to keep your language fresh and engaging.
• Metaphorical usage : While it traditionally refers to dancing, you can creatively adapt it to represent other forms of joyous or spirited movement or even metaphorical expressions of freedom and celebration.

What Is the Origin of the Idiom Trip the Light Fantastic?

The idiom trip the light fantastic has its roots in the poem L’Allegro written by John Milton: 

“Come, and trip it as you go / On the light fantastic toe.” 

In this case, the word trip means to dance nimbly, and the word fantastic means extremely fancy. Originally, the phrase light fantastic described the word toe , meaning a person’s footwork. The word toe was eventually dropped from the idiom, leaving only trip the light fantastic .

This phrase was popularized in an American song written at the end of the 1800s by Charles B Lawler, “ The Sidewalks of New York ”:

“Boys and Girls together, Me and Mamie O’Rourke, Tripped the light fantastic, On the sidewalks of New York.”

How Did the Idiom Evolve Over Time?

Over time, the idiom trip the light fantastic has evolved from its poetic origins to become a fanciful phrase referencing dancing.

Today, the phrase is used more broadly to refer to dancing in general, not just a specific type of nimble dance. It’s often employed in a variety of contexts, whether to recall a nostalgic memory of dancing or to describe an epic night of dance. Thus, the phrase has maintained its core significance yet expanded its contextual usage and reach. 

What Are Some Related Terms to Trip the Light Fantastic?

Despite its simple definition, trip the light fantastic is one of the more difficult idioms to understand. Its length can make it hard to integrate into sentences, but learning how to use synonyms and other related terms can help you work on its proper context. 

• Dance the night away
• Glide across the floor
• Whirl and twirl
• Sway with elegance
• Float on air
• Step with grace and joy
• Dance in ecstatic motion
• Stumble clumsily
• Shuffle awkwardly
• Move with two left feet
• Tread heavily
• Bumble and fumble
• Lurch and stagger
• Dance awkwardly

Trip the Light Fantastic: Test Your Knowledge!

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1 . Question

What does the idiom trip the light fantastic mean?

• To dance or move in a lively and graceful manner
• To walk in the dark without stumbling
• To perform a magic trick involving light

2 . Question

Who originally used the idiom trip the light fantastic in their work?

• William Shakespeare
• John Milton
• Oscar Wilde

3 . Question

Which of the following is a synonym for trip the light fantastic ?

4 . Question

Can trip the light fantastic be used metaphorically?

• Yes, it can represent any form of joyful and spirited movement
• No, it is strictly limited to dancing
• Only in formal settings

5 . Question

Which of the following is an antonym for trip the light fantastic ?

• Move with grace and joy

Let’s Review

Trip the light fantastic is an imaginative idiomatic phrase that refers to lively movement.  

It evokes a vivid image of graceful and joyful movement, often associated with dancing. Its origins can be traced back to the poem “L’Allegro” by John Milton, written in 1631. 

Understanding how it is used is the first step in mastering its inclusion in your own material and enhancing your own understanding of various figurative phrases in English. Review the information provided above in relation to its definition, use, and multiple variations to help you better understand where it belongs. 

If you enjoy learning about idiomatic phrases and how you can put them to use, read the many other idiom guides we have on our site and enhance your writing skills.

Check out some others we covered:

• To bite the bullet
• A black sheep
• Blackball meaning
• Blaze a trail definition

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Definition of trip

 (Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

transitive verb

Definition of trip  (Entry 2 of 2)

• peregrination

Examples of trip in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'trip.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Middle English trippen , from Anglo-French treper, triper , of Germanic origin; akin to Old English treppan to tread — more at trap

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 3a

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Phrases Containing trip

• business trip
• lay / put a guilt trip on
• on a power trip
• roll / trip off the tongue
• round - trip ticket
• trip - hammer
• trip the light fantastic

Dictionary Entries Near trip

trioxymethylene

Cite this Entry

“Trip.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trip. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of trip.

Kids Definition of trip  (Entry 2 of 2)

More from Merriam-Webster on trip

Nglish: Translation of trip for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of trip for Arabic Speakers

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Trip the light fantastic

Origin of: trip the light fantastic.

Although the expression is used less and less these days, it was once a popular expression when ballroom was the principal form of dancing. 'Trip the light fantastic' means to dance nimbly and gracefully. Strictly speaking, it represents an adaptation of a poetical concept that was coined by Milton in L’Allegro (1632): "Come, and trip it, as you go, on the light fantastick toe." In Milton's day, 'trip' meant to dance nimbly, almost the complete opposite of what it means today, as in stumble. It was not until the late 19th century, however, when the Miltonic concept was put into its modern form, in a song written by an American, Charles Lawler, in 1894 for the musical comedy 'Sidewalks of New York'. Lawler's lyrics were, "Me and Mamie O'Rourke tripped the light fantastic on the sidewalks of New York."

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Why do we say "To trip the light fantastic"?

Well-known expressions, to trip the light fantastic.

To dance, usually in the context of ballroom dancing

Background:

In these days of Covid-19, to go out ballroom dancing, that is to say "to trip the light fantastic" seems a distant fantasy (but for those of us born with two left feet, it always was a stretch).

The phrase has its origins in a relatively short 1645 poem by John Milton titled L'Allegro ("The Happy Man") about Euphrosyne, the Goddess of Mirth who Milton describes as dancing (triping) with footwork (toe) that is light and fantastic (fantastic has its roots in the Greek phantastikos meaning able to imagine or make visible.) ... Come, and trip it as ye go On the light fantastic toe, And in thy right hand lead with thee, The mountain-nymph, sweet Liberty; And if I give thee honour due, Mirth, admit me of thy crew To live with her, and live with thee, In unreproved pleasures free; ... At some point, toe got dropped leaving us with the expression we know today, which was popularized by vaudeville impressario Tony Pastor around the mid 19th century in The Ballet Girl , the chorus of which goes as follows: While she danced on her light fantastic toe, Round the stage she used to go; Had it not been for a man named Joe, She might have belonged to me. Some years later, in 1894, song writers Charles B. Lawler and James W. Blake released The Sidewalks of New York , the chorus of which goes as follows: East Side, West Side, all around the town The tots sang "ring-a-rosie, " "London Bridge is falling down" Boys and girls together, me and Mamie O'Rourke Tripped the light fantastic on the sidewalks of New York. The expression, tripping the light fandango came later. It was in use during World War II and memorably included in the lyrics of English rock band Procol Harum's 1967 hit, A Whiter Shade of Pale . Incidentally, there is no deep meaning behind the group naming themselves Procol Harum, despite it bearing some similarity to the Latin expression procul his (meaning beyond these things). Instead, they borrowed the name from a friend's Siamese cat.

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trip the light fantastic

Idioms and phrases, related words.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Trip the Light Fantastic

Meaning of idiom ‘trip the light fantastic’.

To  trip the light fantastic  means to dance.

If you use this idiom, chances are, nobody will know what you are talking about. It is only referenced in printed works and not used as a common verbal expression, except, perhaps, in a humorous way.

Examples Of Use

“Maybe after dinner we could trip the light fantastic. Or, if you’d rather, we could just dance.”

This quite opaque idiom may seem completely senseless, but some meaning can be gleaned from the word  trip to mean a light step or form of tripping. The expression originated from John Milton’s  L’Allegro  (1632):

“Come and trip it as ye go, On the light fantastic toe.”

It was later used in the popular song by James W Blake,  The Sidewalks of New York , from 1894:

“Boys and girls together, me and Mamie O’Rourke We tripped the light fantastic on the sidewalks of New York”  1 Ayto, John.  Oxford Dictionary of English Idioms . Oxford: Oxford U, 2010. , 2 Ammer, Christine.  American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms . Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.

The song  Whiter Shade of Pale  (1967) by Procul Harum uses a clever re-rendering of the idiom:

“We skipped the light fandango Turned cartwheels ‘cross the floor”

Here,  fandango  refers to an energetic Spanish couples dance and  skip  is a stand-in for the word trip, meaning to step lightly from one foot to another with a hop or a bounce.

More Idioms Starting with T

• Two Can Play at that Game
• Thankful for Small Mercies, be
• Turkey Shoot
• Thick As Pea Soup, as

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• Shake a Leg
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More  Trip Idioms

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Trip the light fantastic

Q From Lois Culver : To trip the light fantastic . I know what it means, but why the light fantastic part?

A You’re probably that much ahead of some readers, so let me nod in the direction of all those who do know, while telling everyone else that to trip the light fantastic is an extravagant way of referring to dancing, a phrase rather more common years ago than it is now.

Just for once, it is possible to point the finger at the author of a saying. The phrase is from the mind and pen of John Milton and appeared in his lyric poem L’Allegro , published in 1645. The Italian title can be translated as “the cheerful man”, and the poem is directed to the goddess Mirth:

Haste thee, Nymph, and bring with thee Jest, and youthful Jollity, Quips and cranks and wanton wiles, Nods and becks and wreathed smiles Such as hang on Hebe’s cheek, And love to live in dimple sleek; Sport that wrinkled Care derides, And Laughter holding both his sides. Come, and trip it, as you go, On the light fantastic toe; And in thy right hand lead with thee The mountain-nymph, sweet Liberty; And, if I give thee honour due, Mirth, admit me of thy crew, To live with her, and live with thee, In unreproved pleasures free ...

We’ve lost the sense now, because to trip here doesn’t mean to catch one’s foot and stumble or fall, but rather to move lightly and nimbly, to dance. This was what the word meant when it appeared in the language in the fourteenth century. And fantastic (or fantastick , as Milton originally spelled it) has here a sense of something marked by extravagant fancy, perhaps capricious or impulsive.

Milton’s lines were borrowed as an elevated or humorous way to refer to dancing, first as the phrase trip the light fantastic toe . William Makepeace Thackeray included it in one of his lesser-known works, Men’s Wives of 1843: “Mrs. Crump sat in a little bar, profusely ornamented with pictures of the dancers of all ages, from Hillisberg, Rose, Parisot, who plied the light fantastic toe in 1805, down to the Sylphides of our day”. Later it was used in a truncated form without the final word. Losing that — as well as the ancient meaning of the first word and the original sense of fantastic — makes the whole saying more than a little obscure to us moderns.

That it has survived so long, at least in the United States, is probably due to a song of 1894, words by Charles B Lawler, which appeared in a musical comedy called The Sidewalks of New York (a title that was presumably borrowed for that of the recent film starring Ed Burns, as well as two previous ones). The relevant bit goes:

Boys and Girls together, Me and Mamie O'Rourke, Tripped the light fantastic, On the sidewalks of New York.

Just to reinforce how mysterious the phrase now is to some people, one online site renders the relevant line as “We dance life’s fantastics”.

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trip the light fantastic

Alternative forms.

• trip the light fantastic toe ( obsolete )

trip the light fantastic ( third-person singular simple present trips the light fantastic , present participle tripping the light fantastic , simple past and past participle tripped the light fantastic )

• 1978 May 31, " Movies ", in the St. Petersburg Independent , page 11-B: "Swing Time:" Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers trip the light fantastic in this yarn about a dancer with a yen for gambling.
• 2005 June 1, Kevin Kittredge, “ Royal Ballet ”, in Roanoke Times , retrieved 4 October 2008 : In the fairy tale by the Grimm brothers, they each wear out a pair of dancing shoes nightly, tripping the light fantastic in a magic forest.

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Song Meanings and Facts

Greta Van Fleet

“trip the light fantastic” by greta van fleet.

by Amanda London · April 22, 2021

Concurrent with the release of Greta Van Fleet’s “Trip The Light Fantastic”, the full first names of the four members of Greta Van Fleet are as follows:

• Daniel (aka Danny)
• Jacob (Jake)
• Joshua (Josh)
• Samuel (Sam)

You may recognize all of those names as actually being sourced from the Old Testament. However, this is not a religious musical act. Or more specifically, they aren’t Christian nor apparently adhere to any type of belief system directly associated with the Bible. But yes, their personal beliefs do commonly come through in their lyrics. 

And all things considered, perhaps the easiest way to classify them in that regard is as being New Agers.

Or at least that is how we would usually define musicians in modern times who drop a song based on Hindu mysticism, as with this one. 

“Trip The Light Fantastic”

“Trip the light fantastic” is a phrase you’ve probably heard before. Traditionally it points to the idea of fancy, light-footed dancing. But Josh Kiszka and the boys aren’t utilizing it in such a manner. Rather the “light fantastic” would be more akin to achieving some type of elevated state – traveling the cosmos as a beam of light, so to speak. Or as the vocalist himself puts it, one “comet(ing) across the blistering hue”.

And  under Greta Van Fleet’s estimation , such a state can be achieved via the practice of what is referred to as the  Ah Sri Rmaa Jayam Ram  mantra. 

So such statements featured throughout, i.e. the repeating of the word “ram”, are actually based on the vocalist practicing the related chants. And by extension we can also say he is encouraging the listener to do so also.

So the Song is Religious?

But again, actually calling this song religious would be stretch. It’s more like philosophical than anything else. And it is based on that type of philosophy, which apparently goes by different names, which states that all of nature are related, or that we are actually “the land, the sea and the sky”. 

And the reason the vocalist is putting such forth is not in any type of environmental sense. Instead it is to illustrate that we actually have the ability to harness these powers for our own spiritual edification.

Or something like that. For at the end of the day, it’s almost like lyrics of this nature aren’t even really meant to be understood in detail anyway. After all, how do you logically explain a statement like “we’re tied to all things as one”?

But one thing we do know is this. The singer idealizes being up in the heavens as opposed to down here on earth. And the reason he apparently does is because down below, our world is dealing with a number of disheartening issues. 

So he perceives the practice of this belief system and mantra as a way of presumably sending his spirit up there. Perhaps, considering that this is in fact new ageism, he is alluding to transcendental meditation or astral projection. And at the same time, he is also passing on this discovery to the listener.

Facts about “Trip The Light Fantastic”

As is convention all four of the members of Greta Van Fleet are credited as writers of the track at hand. And they are:

• Danny Wagner
• Jake Kiszka
• Josh Kiszka

Meanwhile the producer of the song is Greg Kurstin, who at the time is one of the top and most widely-utilized musicians in the industry.

This song is from Greta Van Fleet’s full-length second album. The band titled the album “The Battle at Garden’s Gate”. And this project is the product of two labels, Republic Records and a lesser-known entity, Lava Records.

Greta Van Fleet has been around for some time, since 2012. However, it appears they didn’t really get put on until they were signed by the aforementioned Lava Record in 2017. So 2018 is when their first full album, “Anthem of the Peaceful Army”, came out.

And the track we’re dealing with today, again being released as part of their second full-length, was dropped on 16 April 2021. So even if active for nearly a decade, at this point the band are relatively newbies.

However they have still managed to earn a name for themselves. For instance they were nominated for four Grammy Awards in 2019, winning in the Best Rock Album category with their 2017 project “From the Fires” (which was technically an EP). 

Also the aforementioned “Anthem of the Peaceful Army” did its job in terms of helping to put Greta Van Fleet on the map, as it ascended all the way to number 3 on the Billboard 200. 

And even prior to that their debut single, “ Highway Tune “, topped Billboard’s  Mainstream Rock  list. In fact all four of their first singles – “Highway Tune” (2017), “Safari Song” (2017), “When the Curtain Falls” (2018) and “You’re the One” (2018) – managed to accomplish that feat.

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Perhaps being spiritual is more than words or feelings. It is what we aspire to be rather than who we really are. We all fall short and need inspiration from music like they write. God Bless you Josh, Jake, Sam and Danny. You are all great!

I feel a lot of their songs are spiritual. I connect to them in a spiritual way. The lyrics are brilliant… the musical instruments are brilliant.

I found out about Greta Van Fleet late. But after discovering them I have been nothing but entranced. When I read the lyrics to trip the light fantastic I knew exactly what it was. Referencing Ram repeatedly when in India/Hindu it means God. The title itself refers to a poem done in 1637 by John Milton. that’s deep. 😁♥️

The best rock ‘n’ roll I’ve heard in so long. I simply can’t get enough of them. Made me so happy to finally hear some fantastic rock. The mystical part only makes it better.

I believe the song is in reference to the Hindu religion’s concept of Moksha (the goal of rebirth into the creator as opposed to returning back to earth via reincarnation.) Sri Ram Jaya is translated to ‘Victory for Lord Rama” who is a divination of the God Vishnu who is the protector of everything. As a Hindu, we believe that Moksha is the goal of this life, past lives, and future lives.

awesome band . sound so much like led zepplin . outstanding .

fantastic band .

I like their music. That being said, I don’t go to musicians for their brilliance in philosophy.

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16 Fantastic Destinations For An Unforgettable Family Reunion

Posted: July 13, 2024 | Last updated: July 13, 2024

Now more than ever, people are prioritizing extended, multi-generation family travel. A good family reunion is a memorable experience created with those closest to us, so choosing the optimal location is essential. Whether you are taking the family to the beach, the mountains, or the city, below are great options for your next reunion.

Kiawah Island, South Carolina

Located just outside Charleston, Kiawah Island is a unique destination for all ages. The island is well-known for its diverse wildlife, including bobcats, herons, and sea turtles. Families who love outdoor activities can find a peaceful haven here to enjoy biking, golfing, and boating.

London, United Kingdom

London is a fantastic destination for family reunions. It offers a variety of activities to suit all ages and interests. The city has excellent accommodation options and an extensive public transportation network, making it easy to get around. With its rich history, cultural diversity, and vibrant atmosphere, London will surely provide a memorable family reunion experience.

New Paltz, New York

The Hudson Valley is a charming destination for families, especially Mohonk Mountain House. Depending on the season, they offer a range of activities, such as swimming, hiking, and horseback riding during the warmer months and ice skating and skiing in the winter. Additionally, they have a kids club for children aged 2 to 12.

Tuscany, Italy

Despite being a world-famous wine region, Tuscany is a beautiful option for an international family reunion. You could rent a villa for a few days and rent a car to explore the area, including cities like Florence and Siena. In addition, all generations can enjoy a pasta-making class together.

Big Sky, Montana

For a more colder reunion destination, head north to Montana. The town of Big Sky is home to a variety of ski resorts. Accommodations like Big Sky Resort have activities geared toward families and even offer ski lessons for kids. Adults can enjoy spa treatments and world-class dining. Yellowstone is around the corner, making for the perfect family day trip.

The Caribbean island of St. Lucia offers something for everyone. Grandparents, parents, and children can enjoy its sandy beaches, which extend into turquoise waters. Many family-friendly resorts around the island are waiting to create the perfect reunion for you and your family, with activities for all ages.

Scottsdale, Arizona

Grab the whole family and escape this desert oasis for a week of enjoyment. With nearly 300 days of sun per year, Scottsdale will keep spirits high and stress levels low. Families can explore the desert, head to a Minor League Baseball game, or battle the heat by the pool at their accommodation.

Riviera Maya, Mexico

With modern amenities and ancient influence, this region south of Cancun is an ideal getaway for all family members. It draws a much calmer crowd, and resorts tend to be smaller. From Playa del Carmen to Tulum, your family can enjoy beach and water activities, resort events, and even tour Mayan ruins.

Orlando, Florida

Orlando, the home of Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, is famously fun for families. You can spend hours in attractions like Epcot and Harry Potter World (where those of age can drink!) and explore its other attractions. The whole family can even head east for a day to go to the beach and tour the JFK Space Center.

Guanacaste, Costa Rica

The Guanacaste Peninsula is an idyllic escape on the Pacific coast, home to lush jungles and abundant wildlife. Adults and children will love exploring nature up close, seeing toucans, monkeys, and sloths. The province has many family-centered amenities to keep the whole family entertained.

Lake Tahoe, California

With outdoor activities available year-round, there is no wrong time for a family reunion on Lake Tahoe. You will all enjoy trying snowshoeing in the winter and kayaking in the summer. The area has many accommodation options, including camping vacation rentals and luxury resorts.

Oahu, Hawaii

Hawaii is a top destination for family travel, with the island of Oahu being a favorite. Home to the capital city of Honolulu, Oahu truly has everything, from historical museums to fantastic food and pristine beaches. Like most family-oriented locations, there are plenty of resorts where you can experience a magical reunion with your extended family.

Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Staying in cozy mountain lodges or cabins in the Canadian Rockies will allow you to make unforgettable memories with your family. Together, you can explore crystal-clear lakes and majestic mountains through guided tours. Winter reunions are perfect for snowboarding and sharing stories by the fireplace, while the local towns offer charming shops and restaurants for an evening out.

The Cotswolds, England

The Cotswolds offers a picturesque English countryside experience with family-friendly cottages available for rent. Stroll through charming villages dotted with thatched-roof homes and visit local pubs where you can share crazy stories. It's a relaxing retreat to explore England's heritage and beauty, ideal for family bike rides or arranging picnics.

San Diego, California, USA

San Diego is perfect for a family reunion with its beautiful beaches, parks, and attractions like the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld. The mild climate makes it even better. Families can have beach picnics, explore Balboa Park’s museums, and take a fun harbor cruise together, creating unforgettable memories.

Lyon, France

Lyon is famous for its amazing food, earning it the title of France's culinary capital. The city’s food scene is buzzing with top-notch restaurants and lively markets that cater to every taste. But there’s more to Lyon than just food. The city is packed with stunning Renaissance architecture, rich history, beautiful riverside views, and cultural attractions, making Lyon a fantastic spot for a family reunion.

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This article was first published at Rbitaliablog .

The post 16 Fantastic Destinations For An Unforgettable Family Reunion appeared first on RB Italia Blog .

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Mischief and Peril of Faerie Magic

No good comes from dealing with the faeries. Certainly, many of the Fair Folk intend no harm to the mortals they encounter and all they do they do in the spirit of good fun. But faeries have nothing to fear from time, sickness, or infirmity. They live forever and often overlook the fact that their membership in the society of immortals is unlimited and that mortals must ever contend with their own finitude. As a result, many actions faeries undertake lead to mortal suffering, hardship, and loss—thus ever should people tread with care when traveling through the lands of the fae. In  Trip the Light Fantastic,  the characters become enamored by a charming tune and find themselves caught in dance from which there might not be an escape.

Trips That Transform

Here at Oprah Daily, we believe that travel—whether a day trip to a state park or a trip-of-a-lifetime safari to Africa—might be the ultimate catalyst for change, clarity, and growth. Here, a collection of stories that changed the lives of our favorite travel muses forever.

We recently asked our Oprah Daily community what their greatest act of self-care would be if time and resources weren’t a barrier. All responses resoundingly—and unequivocally—involved some form of travel. But beyond the usual bucket-list suspects (African safari, Taj Mahal, the Galápagos), we were pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming desire for experiences that facilitate personal transformation: the kinds of mind-expanding, soul-feeding, relationship-deepening journeys—both solo and with loved ones—that remind them of what really matters. We heard a lot about the desire to do walking trips as a way to connect with nature and invite a spiritual awakening; the urge to retrace one’s ancestry, however painful the journey, in some cases; and a growing sense of urgency to gather friends, children, and grandchildren in one place, even if only for a few days. We understood that in a moment of intense polarization around the globe, so many of us yearn for experiences that remind us of our shared humanity. As Maya Angelou once said, “Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all people cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.”

If you’ve been following along with Oprah these past few years, you’ve likely been living vicariously through her travels around the world. But even beyond the dreamy destinations—from her cradle-of-civilization pilgrimage to Petra to her first visit to Japan to see the cherry blossoms to her girls’ spa week in Italy—what strikes us most about these trips isn’t so much the where (although each voyage is more dazzling than the last) or even the how , so much as the with whom . And, of course, the why . “Because life is better when you share it, I believe,” says Oprah. As we’ve witnessed, when the world reopened post-pandemic, she was ready to be in it again, but pretty much only if she could be with a handful of her besties.

Because for those of us like Oprah who love adventure as much as we love the homes and people we get to return to, the stakes for a good trip are even higher. “My forever life mantra is aligned with Dorothy’s from The Wizard of Oz : ‘There’s no place like home.’ I have purposely created beautiful spaces because I’m, at heart, a homebody,” Oprah says. “So when I do venture beyond my own backyard, I like traveling with a purpose.” For her, and so many of us who are always on the go, the perennial question is: What is worth the time, energy, and expense of leaving the hard-won sanctuary of one’s own home? Even though travel is by definition a luxury, it also comes with the pressure to narrow the universe of possibilities and choose that one perfect trip guaranteed to make memories, create a much-needed shift in perspective, and maybe even change our lives.

For guidance, we turn to some of our favorite in-the-know friends, contributors, and travel muses—people whose pivotal travel memories inspire us to identify what really makes us tick and to stretch beyond our comfort zones, and whose recommendations we squirrel away for when we are ready. For us, beyond the magic of the locales, travel is all about the ways in which our eyes, ears, and souls get imprinted forever after, and turn into stories that we’ll tell for years to come. “I love to combine work and play, so whenever I’m invited to speak across the globe, I book a few days before so I can explore, meet people, and enjoy whatever food they’re offering,” Oprah says. “And then I incorporate those encounters or anecdotes into my conversations. —Pilar Guzmán, editoral director, Oprah Daily

Gayle King, editor at large, Oprah Daily

“In early 2000, I got to see the big five (lion, rhino, buffalo, leopard, elephant) in South Africa and all the other smaller animals (hyenas, gazelles, impalas) roaming free in their own habitat. I never felt the same about going to the zoo! It suddenly seemed cruel and inhumane to keep these majestic animals locked up in cages just so we could gawk. It changed my relationship to animals forever after.”

Yolanda Edwards, founder, Yolo Journal

“We were invited last-minute to join friends traveling on the Nile with Nour el Nil—a fleet of traditional dahabiyas that strike just the right balance of bohemian luxury and cultural immersion as they make their way from Luxor to Aswan. There was this one moment when we were led through the village of Aswan when the guide encouraged us not to stop as locals swarmed us. I have often struggled with the discomfort of steeling myself—and become momentarily hardened—when faced with so much poverty and need. While most of the crowd had fallen off as we made our way to the desert, a few kids kept following us. One young boy, who was 5 years old and accompanied by his 3-year-old brother, asked my name. I asked for theirs in return. They giggled and beamed at me with the sweetest smiles you can imagine. As we left town and walked through the sand dunes, the kids kept following us, scaling the high rocks and calling my name from ever-greater distances. At one point, they appeared atop a super-high rock across the desert, and the boys raised their hands and yelled, “Yolaaaanda!” I had tears in my eyes and called back to them, our voices echoing in tandem across the lunar landscape. I felt seen—and saw—in a way that other sorts of prescriptive bucket-list travel and our busy, busy lives don’t allow for. I realized in that moment just how desensitized I’d become despite myself. Of all the travel I do for a living, this was a personal highlight. I was so happy that I let down my guard and was able to experience the purity of human connection across cultural and linguistic barriers.”

Sheila Bridges, principal, Sheila Bridges Design

“I first went to Iceland with a group of friends for my 50th. For me, it was instantly transformative. There was something about the country that kept calling me back. So much so that the following year, I ended up buying a home there. It’s definitely not for everyone—though it’s much easier to get there than people realize and an easy stopover on my frequent trips to Europe. As a creative person, so much of it had to do with the light. The landscape, nature, and people that never stop feeding my curiosity. And the horses. The geothermal waters are truly healing. It’s the place where I feel instant escape. My true happy place.”

Athena Calderone, designer, author, and founder, EyeSwoon

“The first time we visited the Aeolian Islands as a family in 2014 completely shifted how we saw the world and engaged with one another. My husband, Victor, is Sicilian, so first and foremost, it was incredible to be in the motherland for 10 days together. I can just remember how everything slowed down. It tends to do that in Italy anyway, but in the remote Aeolian Islands, it truly feels like a different world. Being so far removed from reality and our day-to-day routines made us connect more, laugh more, adventure more, dream more, and open our hearts up more. [Our son] Jivan was at such a pivotal age. I can distinctly remember Victor speaking in his native Sicilian dialect on the island of Salina and witnessing the pure joy and awe on Jivan’s face at seeing this different version of his dad.

Each day, we would rent a small boat from a Sicilian local, hop in, and set off for hours, sometimes all day. No captain here, just the three of us on adventures across the deep-blue crystalline sea, visiting different islands. I can still hear the laughter and feel the joy as we sped across the expansive sea with the salty water spraying Jivan’s small body as he sat at the front of the boat, his long hair tousled. I will never forget steering into this cove with big black lava stones and diving into the deep turquoise water, or the time we approached the island of Stromboli and watched the smoke from the active volcano. I vividly recall Jivan’s excitement at seeing the rich black sand, the lava stone, and just the sheer magnitude of his surroundings that felt so far removed from his life in the city.

When we weren’t on the water, we were whipping around the winding roads on a moped, inhaling the salt air and soaking up the red sky as the sun slid into the sea. Afterward, we’d sit together on the back deck overlooking Stromboli for dinner, exhausted and exhilarated, as we recounted the day’s events with such enthusiasm. We played ‘I spy with my little eye’ (usually spying lemon or fig trees or cacti), and everything felt so perfect, so present, so precious. I remember wanting to bottle up the purity of the moment! There was such a deep level of connection. There’s nothing like being on an adventure in a place that forces you to slow down and allows you to connect with your family more. It really puts everything into perspective.”

Adam Glassman, creative director, Oprah Daily

“When I do go on vacation, I like to go in with a sense of purpose. After hearing about it for years, I finally went to the famous Vivamayr in Austria, a luxury medical detox and wellness resort that focuses on prevention and is set in the most gorgeous part of the Austrian Alps. Detoxification is at the heart of this program, with a big emphasis on rest and a cleansing of the digestive system. The philosophy being that health and the immune system originate in the gut and that the combination of detoxifying treatments, the reduction of inflammation, and holistic therapies can help reset it. I got a big reeducation on exercise and eating habits—I was encouraged, for example, to chew my food 40 to 60 times per bite to ensure proper digestion, even when eating soup (!) and learned about all the ways in which digestion impacts everything from weight and circulation to skin and headaches. But after a week of truly unplugging, hiking in the mountains in between treatments, the greatest takeaway was the importance of rest.

Each guest is assigned to a doctor and gets thorough diagnostics and an individualized program, which includes medical appointments, IV drips, foot baths, mud wraps, nasal reflexology, Watsu water therapy, Pilates, myofascial therapy, breathwork, osteopathy, salt scrubs, cryotherapy, sessions with oxygen tanks, and flushing of the liver and stomach with Epsom salts—all of which are designed to help release energy blockages and emotional buildups.

Ultimately the program purges the body of toxins, and as the week went on, I felt euphoric. By the end, I left feeling rested and full of energy—and with real learnings to take back to the real world. Both a physical and emotional detox, my time there was life-changing. It reminded me of the importance of taking care of myself, giving myself permission to rest and take an actual vacation a few times a year, to enjoy life, and to do the kind of exercise that is actually fun (walking with friends outdoors), not punishing.”

I like treating friends to beautiful spas, with a specific goal in mind. Even if that goal is just blissing out. Spa-ing is always, for me, restorative. My first spa was Rancho La Puerta at age 24. The first real vacation I’d saved up for. And there I met Ann Getty, who was celebrating her birthday and treating all her friends. That’s where the idea for me was born to do the same. I like adventures that allow for new experiences everyone can share. —Oprah

David Prior, cofounder and CEO, Prior

“Syria was the place to travel. It was where the souks were still real, and riads were mixing more modern design with a patina of history and cool Syrian style. Damascus was supposed to be the ‘next Marrakech.’ Levantine food was having a moment with the flavors of fragrant rosewater, piquant sumac, and sweet pomegranate molasses in our kitchens (thanks, Ottolenghi!). The history and majesty of Damascus felt matched only by Rome, and with its dense, exquisite beauty, Aleppo was like Florence. The Axis of Evil was a thing of the past now. Then, suddenly, it was not. I traveled to Syria not as a war-zone correspondent but as a travel writer covering the next exciting cosmopolitan travel destination right before the civil war broke out. In the years since, Aleppo has been destroyed and Damascus emptied of the friends I made. Now when I look at the destruction of conflict anywhere around the world, I think about our shared cultural richness that is gone forever and of the people whose lives made those exquisite buildings, bold food, and moving traditions come to life. It gave a face and place to war, and it is a lesson that is hard to forget.”

Bevy Smith, author, TV/radio host, and actress

“Every trip I ever take transforms me in one way or another. But when I think back to the one that solidified a change in my life’s work, it was when I did my sepia version of Eat Pray Love after quitting my job at Rolling Stone in February 2005. First stop was South Africa. I was traveling alone as a single Black woman. It seemed like an easy entry point since it’s English-speaking and pretty Westernized. While incredibly beautiful, Cape Town was much more European than I expected. I expected to see many more Black people in the center of things rather than in the townships. Johannesburg, on the other hand, was more like Atlanta—like Black suburbia, where Black people were doing well. There is a middle class and an upper class, but still not Africa as I’d imagined it. My parents grew up in Jim Crow South. Even post-apartheid, South Africa felt like Jim Crow South to me. It doesn’t matter if you are the president of a bank; it’s still segregated. This was the political part of my trip, and I was searching for freedom and for a vision for my life to gel. I went on to the nature part of the trip, to Zambia and Victoria Falls, which was great, but then I came home for a week and went to Brazil—and that’s when the journey really began. I’ve never felt so firmly connected to my African roots as I did in Salvador de Bahia, which has the largest African population outside Africa.

Culturally, they have retained so much of their Africanness, which really resonated and was so transformational for me. My experience in Bahia inspired me and gave me permission to lead with the culture at all times, which I fight tooth and nail for. I show up on TV as a Black woman on GMA and BET and bring this sense of culture to my dinner-party business—like the one I’m doing in Brasília in 2025 in the middle of all these important buildings by Niemeyer, which will look like a scene from Gattaca. For me, travel is about tracing my cultural roots. It’s a grounding. It’s in the soil of a place. Like when I went to the Cape of Good Hope, I felt the slave history. I felt the intensity of the transatlantic slave trade when I went to Ghana in 2019, the year of the return and a reckoning of sorts. I usually go places where there is a slavery connection. I did a walking tour with African Lisbon, which gives the history of the slave trade in Lisbon. It shows up in so many ways. Even in beautiful Amsterdam, “Black Peter”—a Moorish servant who accompanies Saint Nicholas at Christmastime—shows up in blackface in department stores. Like, what the fuck is this? I’m a global traveler, and there are always traces of Black bodies being seen as a commodity around the world. There is always that connective tissue you can’t forget.”

Pia Baroncini, founder, LPA and Baroncini Import & Co.

“We have an unusual living situation, by American standards anyway, in that our little family of three—my husband, my daughter, Carmela, and I—moved in with my mother right after my father died. We were at my parents’ house on Sunday night for dinner when my father dropped dead. It was shortly thereafter that we made the decision to buy the house and have my mother live with us. And it all really works. My husband and mother get along. We both get to have a mom who sort of takes care of us as we build our business, and my daughter gets her grandmother all the time.

But it wasn’t until we all went to Sicily together, where my husband is from, that my mother really fully understood him—and Italian culture. I think people don’t really know the real Italy, what it’s like to live there, outside the tourist cities. It is the number one place people romanticize, but real neighborhoods can be very tricky. I’d been there a couple of times before and I’d seen the underbelly and day-to-day life, which made me understand how my husband operates on a core level. When his mom was dying, we went back to be with her. I remember when we started dating, there were things that bothered Davide, where he felt very misunderstood by Americans.

I had been there before with just him; it’s where we got engaged. But this time, when the three of us got to see him there for the first time all together and meet his family, I realized my mother was able to contextualize him. I watched her observe him in his environment and how he is with his family and friends, how affectionate he is with his barber, his priest, his postman. There were things before this trip she used to bristle at, like why he didn’t want her to walk across the street by herself—in his small town, women don’t do things like that, and he sees it as his duty to protect her. Whereas in the U.S., she would react to that feeling of being controlled, here it made sense, and she leaned into it. And even though he was the one whose arms she cried in when my dad died, she didn’t fully get him and things like why he was so bothered when she would eat lunch standing up. When she saw where he came from and the rituals around food, which isn’t taken for granted in the poorer parts of Sicily where he’s from, she understood the respect around meals—respect that you actually have a meal to eat—and why they always lay a tablecloth.

I realized it was the first time I’ve seen her being really quiet. She loves to tell a story. But in Sicily she was in observation mode, experiencing him in his natural habitat of amazing family and friends and appreciating the way he treats people. Multiple times on the trip, she would spontaneously go over to hug and kiss him. She would say things like, ‘I’m so happy you are the father of my granddaughter.’ It was really life-changing and cemented our bond as a family unit.”

Nate Berkus, interior designer and author

“Every trip has changed me in some way, but perhaps the most impactful was a two-week trip through the central highlands of Mexico, in a rented car and with one small carry-on. I went from the beach to the mountains, from a tree house to the Hacienda de San Antonio, and will always remember the family in the elevator with me at Sanborns in Morelia. It was the only building with an elevator, and the family was nervous. It reset something for me.”

In 1978, while in medical school in India, I impulsively traveled alone to Goa from Madras over the holidays. A small shoulder bag with a change of clothes and a compact medical textbook also served as a pillow. I found a cheap lodge on the beach, with delicious food and drink to be had all around. I was enveloped in a cocoon of solitude, digesting the year that had passed. After a few days, I felt restored. It is the sort of escape I have sought often since. The destination has mattered little. The company—being with yourself fully—is what matters. —Abraham Verghese, author of the 101st Oprah’s Book Club pick, “ The Covenant of Water”

Andrea Gentl, photographer

“The first time I left home was to study in Italy when I was 20 years old. Until then, I had only traveled on a plane to Southern California with a high school friend. I landed in Rome bleary-eyed and hungry. In the Roma Termini en route to Siena that cold January morning, I ate the first of many train station sandwiches I would eat over the course of a lifetime. In fact, I ate two. Neither was better than the other; they were pretty standard but satisfied my hunger the same way eating anything after a long swim does. I was deeply sated but also remember feeling a little wave of sadness, having nothing to do with the actual quality of the sandwich. One was made of paper-thin mortadella with slightly thicker pieces of provolone wedged between two salty pieces of focaccia, the crust soaked in olive oil. The other was a simple frittata tucked between the same salty focaccia. I’ve known from early on that Italy changed me in many ways, but it was those first humble train station sandwiches that set me on a course of searching for both familiar and new flavors. It wasn’t their unfamiliarity that jolted me that morning; it was their utter familiarity, as though I had accessed the very smell and taste of my deepest memories—a taste that immediately made me feel that twinge of melancholy.

In that moment, I thought about my grandfather, the youngest of his siblings. He was born in New York City, while his brothers were born in Rome. My grandfather loved paper-thin mortadella about as much as he loved provolone. When I was a kid, I used to ask him to tell me about his childhood. He mostly waved me off with a laugh, but once, he told me about a cheese shop called Alleva that he walked to as a boy from his family’s railroad flat on Second Avenue to pick up cheese. He was 6 or 7 at the time. Little did I know then that I would move just a scant few blocks from this shop some 20 years later. I was so excited when I saw it and called him immediately. The shop that he went to was still right there on Grand Street—that is, until it lost its lease last year after 130 years. Large rounds of provolone bound in waxed rope hung in the window, much like, I imagine, when he was a boy. The cheesemaker’s name, a deep red, bled into the surface of the cheese. I thought about those large rounds making the journey from Italy to New York, much like my family had. I sometimes stop and imagine my grandfather walking up that street as a boy. I would give anything to see him there, just once. I think about him often and wonder if I sometimes walk the same paths as he did. Do I step in his small footsteps from almost a century ago? When I bit into those sandwiches that first morning in Rome, I felt closer and farther away from home than ever. I now understand that what I felt that day was an ancestral food memory. Memory drives much of my curiosity and curation of food. That first trip to Italy opened a portal for me. I became a traveler. As a photographer, many of my photographs start with a memory, a taste, a smell, or a feeling. Memory is what I try to get at as a photographer, and it’s what I access when I cook; it’s when a thousand tiny pieces come together to make something new.”

Paula Froelich, senior story editor and entertainment correspondent, NewsNation

“It was 2017 and kind of a bad year. I wasn’t really working, and I had quit smoking, which added even more stress. I got an offer to go on a Walk Japan trip along the Kumano Kodo trail, which I knew nothing about. I just wanted to escape my life for a minute. I’d never really hiked, and I’d smoked for decades, and here I was having to hike for sometimes six hours at a time. The trip ticked every box: physical activity—I didn’t know how strenuous it would be—and also intellectual and aesthetic stimulation. It was stunningly beautiful. It also got me to a spiritual place, thinking of dead relatives (‘Thank you, Grandma!’) in a land that reveres ancestors and history as it relates to mortality. I came home with a clear mindset and was mentally and physically stronger than I’ve ever felt. I think of it every day. If I have a hard day, I go back to it. I do the walk in my mind. One foot in front of the other. It was a lesson in slow living and a constant reminder that I can do hard things and that my lungs actually work. I rebuilt them and myself on that trip.”

J.J. Martin, founder, La DoubleJ

Jill Kargman, author and actress

“My skiing-addicted husband booked a family trip to the middle of nowhere. Nestled on the Austria-Italy border, tucked between two mountains worthy of The Lord of the Rings or The Sound of Music, depending on the season, Forestis was my dream family ski/spa hotel. The five of us marveled immediately at the sleek James Bond–villain-esque vibes juxtaposed with the old-school local signage, the German black-letter fonts creeping us out a little, as we wound our way up the hilly pass. The rooms seem hella spartan at first, but then you realize it’s meant to make the actual star—the view—shine brighter. The enormous floor-to-ceiling windows are perched atop the most insane panorama of snow-capped ranges I’ve ever woken up to. It’s almost too breathtaking to look at, and it never gets old. The massages and facials were next-level heavenly, with treatment rooms all smashed into the mountain and heated tables overlooking the blizzard outside. I have truly never felt more unplugged or pummeled to perfection. Forget a sandy beach; Forestis was my personal slice of paradise.”

Pilar Guzmán is the Editorial Director of Oprah Daily, overseeing content strategy across the brand’s platforms.

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2 couples depart for mystery travel, why the unknown destination trend is taking off

"GMA" surprised two couples with separate trips and itineraries.

Mystery travel is the latest trend taking off and jet-setters are letting outside companies take the wheel, curating everything in advance up to the moment they arrive at the airport, all packed for an unknown destination.

Once travelers fill out a survey of their interests, as well as their set budget and travel dates, companies like Journee, Magical Mystery Tours and Pack Up and Go do all the planning for you, from flights and hotels to restaurants and activities.

"It's a really fun way to explore destinations that might not have occurred to you as a vacation destination, but you might fall in love with," Lillian Rafson, the founder of Pack Up and Go told "GMA."

At Pack Up and Go for example, a three-night trip for two starts at $2,300 and they send customers pointers on what to pack, which airport to go to and when to be there. Plus, there's a surprise trip envelope with the destination inside that's not to be opened until you are at the airport.

With more than 40,000 travelers who have already taken to the skies with the company that plans out the surprise trip, "Good Morning America" found two couples ready for a mystery getaway to test out the trend firsthand.

Anne and Doug Harris took their first mystery trip in 2015 while they were dating. Now, the married couple will jet-set as a family of three with their infant daughter Betsy, so they asked for somewhere family-friendly with good running spots as Anne trains for a marathon.

The couple opened their envelope live on "GMA" and found out they are bound for Portland, Maine.

With their suitcases packed and ready to go celebrate their two year anniversary, Jared Loftin and Alex Leyva are also ready for an unknown adventure.

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"I think that taking a trip at all is a thrill, but there is just an extra layer of thrill not knowing where it is," Loftin told "GMA."

Upon opening their own envelope, the pair found out they are headed to the Golden State for food tours and trendy restaurants already reserved in San Francisco, California.

Both groups headed straight to the airport from Times Square and will share more details with "GMA" after their excursions.

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