“I spent four incredible days alone hiking up the volcano, watching the ecosystem change with the altitude. Peter Jackson used this volcano, Mount Ruapehu, for Mount Doom in Lord of the Rings.”

“I was lucky enough to spend days camping and canoeing through the lake systems of Algonquin Park in Canada. It’s a peaceful place. I canoed next to a swimming moose.”

“I’ll take any excuse to spend time in British Columbia. It has the most beautiful forest. There is a nice long day hike up to a glacial lake. It’s worth every step.”

“I filmed a movie called The Fall [in Leh, Ladakh]. The bluest sky I have ever seen, nudist monasteries in the mountains…. It haunts my dreams.”

“Saranac Lake in the Adirondacks is a gorgeous place to camp and hike and canoe, but look out for bears! They will raid your camp.”

“We began filming Foundation in Limerick, Ireland. Not far away is the Wild Atlantic Way, a road that takes you through the very special western coast of Ireland. I shared a memorable conversation while walking through the stunning countryside. The weather changes by the minute.”

“When I was 20 years old, I went backpacking through India. I’ve never been able to forget Kerala: It’s a magical green place. Wild lotus. Palm trees. Naughty monkeys. Incredible food.”

“Conservation International brought me to Kenya and to this incredible place, the Chyulu Hills. These are Hemingway’s green hills of Africa. We hiked into the cloud forest, visited nearby Tsavo National Park, and saw incredible wildlife.”

“Texas is a beautiful state: the vast desert mountains, red cliffs, and a powerful river. Big Bend is a wild spiritual place that I love.”

“I can’t wait to go back to Gros Morne National Park in Canada with proper gear for a long, proper exploration of this place. It’s sublime wilderness.”