I have memories of https://classic.wowhead.com/npc=5935/ironeye-the-invincible in the Shimmering Flats.
The barrens 24/7
Hillsbrad, going up the hill east of Tarren Mill and then getting into some World PVP in Alterac Mountains
Even though I played Horde for 98% of Vanilla, the most nostalgic places for me is Teldrassil (Gave me a "wow this is awesome" feeling) and Loch Modan. Loch Modan is cozy somehow.
Yea though classic it has to be StV for me, even after multiple expansion. Id add that Nagrand is one of the few expansions 'places' that also gave me this feel, which makes sense considering my first choice.
... I also have a lot of music related memories that always conjure images of that zone in my head. Any time I hear Imogen Heap now I am taken back.
I have this music related memory as well! I was listening to a ton of pop punk and certain songs always trigger memories of leveling in tbc when I started playing. Even just reading the name imogen heal reminded me of the ghost lands
Hillsbrad, going up the hill east of Tarren Mill and then getting into some World PVP in Alterac Mountains
Oh yeah. Tarren Mill on my server was a clusterduck. It would be fun to experience that again.
STVietnam I can do fine without :lol:
Still got nightmares every time I hear the rogue stealth sound.
For Alliance, Elwynn + Westfall + Redridge, The best 1-2-3 in the game. Favorite experience, no matter what alliance class I roll, I now always run over and level here. For me, this is wow leveling peak. If I was to pick only one ally zone, probably Elwynn. But DM for best dungeon. I was a lowly lvl 11 wandering lost in Elwynn, found some 20's in goldshire and they more or less introduced me to the game (After like a week or 2 of not knowning anything.). They hooked me up with some 6 slot bags, showed me the controls because I was too stupid to look at keybindings in settings, and they groups with me, and we ran to westfall and ran DM (Got carried obv.) That night, I got hooked and have been playing ever since.
For Horde, gotta be The Barrens, specifically that initial crossroads content.
Elwynn forest, Eastern Plaguelands and Barrens my guy those are my fav!
I would stay there countless time :DD
So many great places already mentioned above... I think for me it would have to be Elwynn Forest. The tranquility and lively colours are too good to pass up. Plus, there's the Goldshire Inn! I couldn't count the number of times I logged in just to head over to Goldshire and chat with the locals, haha.
I'm hyped to play through Duskwood/other zones I've never done since I mained Horde. Of course, all my friends are still going Horde so we'll see what happens.
Undead starting zone. It was my first area I ever spent time in WoW. I started so many undead characters that I became very fond of it.
Stranglethorn Valley of course. Thrill of the hunt. So many events there, so many wPvP, loving the quests, the feeling, the music, it's so full of memories there...
I'm fond of deserts, sandy beaches, and jungles. Tanaris, Shimmering Flats, STV, Un'Goro. They feel exotic and a bit mysterious, as if I'm on vacation in a foreign place.
I'd say Ashenvale. Why? Because it was the first zone that got me sweaty hands and sending me chills down the spine only by entering it. The general peaceful & mystic atmosphere paired with the fact that you will - for the very first time - encounter players from the opposing fraction, not knowing if your first fight will turn out in your favour, is truly unique and I personaly havn't found such a feeling in any other game yet.
Man, I still remember the first time I went to Ashenvale accidentally. I was way underleveled and didn't even know it. I was maybe a level 14 warlock or something. I was trying to escape from a mob I had aggroed, then in the distance, I saw a red nameplate (or something like that). I watched it for a bit and thought to myself "that enemy npc's movement is so natural", I kept watching for a while and then it eventually dawned on me... "wait, is that another player? Why is he red?" it took me ages to realise he must have been an Alliance dog. I remember my adrenaline pumping at that time and thinking "Is he going to fight me???". In the end, I was too scared to go anywhere near him and just headed back to the Barrens. It was such a cool experience, and one of the things that really hooked me on the game. As you said, I haven't had those kinds of feelings in any other game.