A vista is a beautiful or impressive view, especially one you can see from far away through a long, narrow opening. When you reach the top of a mountain trail and suddenly see miles of forest and valleys stretching before you, that sweeping scene is a vista. The word often suggests something expansive that makes you stop and stare.

You might encounter vistas when hiking through a forest where the trees suddenly part to reveal distant mountains, or when driving along a coastal road where the ocean spreads endlessly before you. Architects sometimes design buildings with large windows positioned to frame natural vistas, turning an outdoor scene into something like a living painting.

Not every view is a vista: looking at your neighbor's fence isn't a vista, but standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon certainly is. When photographers talk about capturing a vista, they mean those grand, panoramic scenes that show the majesty of a landscape. A vista rewards you for the effort of getting there, offering a view that makes the journey worthwhile.