Picnic on the Mountain

At 20,320 feet, Mt. McKinley (or Denali) is the highest point in North America. But it's actually the tallest mountain on the planet, if you measure from bottom to top (Everest, on the Tibetan Plateau, is like a little kid standing on a chair). Forests grow on glaciers, rock spires twist like unicorn horns. The best way to see the mountain is from a small plane—board in Talkeetna, the town that inspired the TV show Northern Exposure. Or, do like the locals: grab a tent and a seat on the old school bus, and bump out to Wonder Lake Campground, the end of the road in Denali National Park. From there, the mountain looks like a wall across the horizon. Best meal in Alaska: grab some smoked salmon, an Alaskan Amber, and have a picnic facing the mountain.