Austria—forever linked to The Sound of Music, and trust me, they haven’t forgotten it for a second.

Towering mountains and cold winter days made for a memorable trip. Salzburg was charming in all the right ways: small cobblestone streets, a fortress perched high above the city, and a calm, storybook feel. The people were kind, the city spotless, and the overall vibe welcoming and easy.

One snowy morning, I hopped on a train to Hallstatt—a tiny alpine village tucked beside a pristine lake about two hours from Salzburg. Watching the snow fall outside the train window, it dawned on me that I didn’t own snow boots. Questionable planning, at best. But luck was on my side. The skies cleared the moment I arrived, and I was able to photograph the first snow of the season in Hallstatt.

That quiet beauty—the light, the snow, the stillness—is something I’ll never forget.