In mid-May I spent a day kayaking in the idyllic Milford Sound - my first day in New Zealand. The water was cool and clean and the fog gave the Sound a mysterious feel. Kayaking offered the opportunity to get up close with some playful fur seal pups, as well as get right up next to a few of the hundreds of spontaneous waterfalls that had cropped up that morning. The guides from Roscoe's Milford Kayaks were knowledgeable and their love for New Zealand's natural beauty was evident; our guide provided a constant narrative of the history of New Zealand and its people. After a grueling day of travel to just arrive in New Zealand, I couldn't have asked for a better start, and it remains the standout memory of my trip.