Hannah Agran

Jeff Epping’s mature gravel garden fills his front yard in Madison, Wisconsin. Credit: Bob Stefko Jeff Epping is the first to admit that gravel gardens have a branding problem. “They sound harsh, dry, and colorless,” he says, “but the name doesn’t do them justice. Gravel gardens are as beautiful as any garden out there.

Historic buildings in downtown Northfield. Credit: Courtesy of Friends of Downtown Northfield For many Midwest families, a road trip to Northfield, Minnesota, is a high school rite of passage. Just 45 minutes south of Minneapolis, the town of roughly 20,000 is home to two liberal arts colleges, Carleton and St. Olaf—a campus tour doubleheader. When my 16-year-old and I drove up from Iowa last October, both schools were hosting football games.

Dr. Kimberly Galvez talking to guests on board Viking Octantis. Hannah Agran Most scientists conducting marine research don’t have a sushi bar or swimming pool on the same vessel as their lab—but then again, most science labs aren’t on cruises. When Viking launched its expedition fleet in 2022 with sister ships Octantis and Polaris, one of the buzziest talking points was the onboard wet and dry laboratory. These hardworking spaces aren’t “toy” laboratories to entertain guests.