Before I visited Svalbard, that far north archipelago between mainland Norway and the north pole, I wasn’t sure I’d like the Arctic. It seemed so remote and sparse and, well, cold. But while spending a week sea kayaking while on an expedition cruise with Quark Expeditions, I discovered a love of this quiet region.

If you dream of watching polar bears hunt on ice floes, or sea kayaking close (but not too close) to walruses, I highly recommend this trip. You can read my USA Today Outdoors Wire story about it here.