I haven't really done anything more adventurous than a short, touristy stay in an arctic resort in Lapland with a couple of friends. But even that time was enchanted. I'm from the Northeast. From the snow to the flora and fauna and sun, a lot of things felt at once familiar as well as surreal and almost alien.

We get longer summer days and winter nights in the Northeast. But it's much more extreme there, with the polar day and polar night. Lots of berries, reindeer and fish. We tried to catch the Northern Lights but didn't manage to.

I'd love to spend some more time up there, and maybe see some things off the beaten track, though.