Beyond the Ordinary

June 19, 2025

Last week, I was in Alaska. Officially, I was there to speak at a conference, but Anchorage in June doubles nicely as a vacation, so I took several extra days to experience the peculiar magic of the land of the midnight sun. Somewhere between the second moose, the third glacier, and the fourth salmon chowder, I found myself wondering: What makes a vacation really great... not just for me, but for anyone? After much pondering—and slurping—I’ve narrowed it down to three essential ingredients: food, motion, and awe.

• Food: Good food is joy you can taste. It doesn’t have to be fancy, but if it’s fresh, local, and thoughtfully prepared, it makes everything else better.

• Motion: Movement gives shape to the days. Whether it’s hiking, biking, ziplining, waterskiing, flying near the summit of Denali, or just getting from place to place, motion makes the story move.

• Awe: This is the spark. Awe can be found through nature, music, art, history, technology, or even just watching a child light up at something new. It’s the feeling we get when connected to something beyond ourselves, beyond the ordinary.

I don't think it's a coincidence that these three ingredients are also nourishing for humans, body and soul. So if you're planning a trip this summer—or even just a Saturday—consider how to nudge up the food, motion, and awe on your agenda. Even if your trip is last-minute, there’s always time to add a little extra flavor, a little extra groove, and a little extra magic. Those spontaneous touches might be what you remember most. (Unless you see a bear up close and personal. Then that's what you'll remember most.)

So go ahead—pack the snacks, lace up your shoes, and aim for awe. The mountains, literal or not, are waiting.

—Deb