By Claudia Herrera
Many of us have a travel bucket list—those dream destinations that call to us like a siren’s song. Countless magical places and unforgettable experiences are waiting to be discovered, each with its own unique charm.
It often begins with a small spark—a corkscrew someone gave you as a souvenir from their travels or a keychain featuring the name of a far-off place. Documentaries, social media, newspapers, and magazines bombard us with vivid images of these enchanting locations, and we start to grow fond of them, adding them to our travel bucket lists.
I’ve had the opportunity to check off some of those travel bucket list boxes, exploring many of the magical places the world has to offer. Along the way, I discovered that I have a special connection with nature and one of my favorite things to watch are beautiful skies. I also love trying new things, especially food and unique experiences whenever I travel. I have seen many beautiful things, but even so, my desire to keep traveling and discovering new places never seems to end—especially when it comes to one specific place, the #1 on my list.
For me, that place is Alaska. I’ve always been drawn to the Northern Lights. As a nature lover, seeing that spectacular light show in person has been a lifelong dream. I’ve often wondered how far away they are, if they make any sound, and how long the awe of the experience lasts. These unanswered questions have only fueled my desire. While I enjoy traveling with family and friends, this trip was something I wanted to do solo—a chance to reconnect with nature and with myself on a deeper level.
As I became more attached to the idea of seeing the Northern Lights in Alaska, I started planning my trip. I discovered that the Last Frontier has so much more to offer than just the auroras. I became captivated by pictures of its national parks, wildlife, landscapes, and even its weather. Determined to make it my next trip, I decided to keep planning it and keep it a secret until the time was right.
After years of dreaming and planning, I finally purchased my plane ticket. I was filled with excitement to chase the auroras and have the experience of a lifetime. Then, in an instant, the world hit pause because of COVID. My trip was canceled, and my heart felt crushed. What had once been a tangible two-week adventure now seemed like a distant dream. But during that waiting period, I had time to rethink and refine my plans—and serendipitously, let magic happen.
Life went on, and I became busy with personal and professional matters. I had just started a new job, so I put my travel plans on hold for a while. Things were going well at work—I made new friends and met many interesting people. But one person stood out above the rest. We became good friends, and a few months in, I shared my dream destination with him. He didn’t seem particularly interested in Alaska, but I felt in my heart that I wanted to include him, so I asked, “Would you like to go with me?” Surprisingly, he said yes. I wasn’t sure if he was just being playful, but telling him never felt wrong. It felt right to share my dream destination with him, Jared.
One day, he showed me a snow leopard plushie he had. Curious, I asked what its name was. It turned out it didn’t have one—it had been stashed away in a box of old things. I suggested a random name I can’t even remember, but he wasn’t a fan. That’s when I said, “How about Alaska?” and he loved it. My face lit up, and just like that, the little plushie was named. We had so much fun playing around with Alaska that it became a special thing between us.
As time passed and our friendship blossomed, his interest in visiting Alaska began to spark—especially now that we had a plushie with the same name. We spent time watching videos of Alaska trying to figure out the best time to visit, we even bought a 1,500-piece puzzle of the auroras. It wasn’t just my dream anymore—it became ours.
Eventually, I changed jobs, but our friendship remained strong. We continued spending time together, and suddenly, we caught feelings for one another. We shared many adventures, especially weekend hikes in the forest—just the two of us and sometimes our little snow leopard plushie. That’s when the magic happened. None of us were looking to fall in love, but we did; and in our little world, we started to paint our own auroras.
Alaska, both the place and the plushie, transformed into a symbol of our journey. Now, we are a happy couple deeply in love, bonded by a shared dream. There’s nothing in this world that could dethrone Alaska as my #1, especially now that it’s something I share with the person I love. With our adorable snow leopard, Alaska Aurora, by our side, we look forward to the adventure of seeing the Northern Lights all over the Last Frontier—celebrating both the beauty of nature and the love story we continue to write.
Life Lovers Magazine® 