Wait, What is a “Wonderlist?”
An elephant and cattle egrets, who share a symbiotic relationship.
Welcome to the Weekly Wonderlist! Your home for finding beauty, joy, connection, and awe around the corner and around the world.
So, what exactly is a “Wonderlist?” As someone who has had Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle on the wall of every office I have ever had, I feel like the more important question isn’t what, but WHY a Wonderlist?
Everyone talks about their bucketlists. “Oh, yeah, a safari in Botswana is totally on my bucketlist.” “We went all out on dinner for Lily’s 40th, because Noz is on her bucketlist.” My truth: I HATE the idea of a bucketlist. I find it to be dismal and tedious concept.
A Wonderlist, on the other hand, falls at the nexus of dreams and gratitude. It seeks to find awe and profundity in experiences both small/sporadic and epic/planned. It looks at what you encounter on a daily basis, what has impacted you in your past, and what you hope for in the future. It is a deeper look at what brings you joy and fulfillment. It delves into awe and connection. It is about the holistic human experience.
Why a Wonderlist? Because you deserve to see your life and dreams as rich and varied… as more than a sterile checklist of things to do before you kick the bucket.
When I think of my wedding, I think of laughter and joy with the people we love most. Definitely a moment on my Wonderlist.
What to expect from the Weekly Wonderlist
On this weekly(ish) article, you will find ideas to spark awe and dreams including, but not limited to: highlights of beautiful hotels, destinations, food, art, adventure, natural and cultural experiences; as well as prompts and images to inspire your personal Wonderlists.
Who am i?
Hey y’all! I’m Alice, founder of The Wonderlist Company. I am a luxury travel advisor and former librarian. I have devoted the past 15 years to my passion of fostering community, curiosity, and connection (with ourselves, other people, cultures, and experiences). I curate beautiful and joyful bespoke luxury travel experiences for discerning clients. I am happy to provide a wide range of services from simple hotel bookings to beginning-to-end, door-to-door planning. Interested in talking to me about your next getaway? Click the “Get in Touch” buttons at the top or bottom of the page.
Bisa Butler, You’re All I Need, 2023
Artist Bisa Butler’s work is jaw-dropping, in its colors and textures, especially when you discover these are no paintings, they are quilts. They are constructed 100% from fabric. I cannot express how detailed and beautiful they are in person.
So, what is on MY Wonderlist?
Sometimes it is better to show instead of tell. So here is a sneaky peek at small snippet of my personal Wonderlist.
See elephants in the wild, in 2006 and 2018
I had the opportunity to see elephants in their natural habitats in both South Africa and Thailand. Just thinking of these experiences, and the majesty of these creatures, living their lives in their own spaces on their own terms, makes my breath catch in my throat.
Sunrises for birthdays
Every year on my wife’s and my birthdays, we get up for sunrise. At times it has been foggy or rainy (and in one case in Colorado, smoky) to actually see the sun creep over the horizon. But actually viewing it is just a metaphor. We take it as an opportunity to reflect on the past year, and share hopes and dreams for the year ahead, and that is what makes it so very special.
The Raffles at the OWO in London, in 2025
This hotel is not just stunning. And the service is not just amazing. And the location isn’t just great. It is all of those things, plus the most beautifully adept connection to a building’s history that I have ever seen in a hotel. I was completely wow-ed by how Raffles restored this building, which was the War Office during World War II. There are beautifully delicate nods to its history everywhere: from the aptly named Spy Bar, a speakeasy (no photos allowed) open only to hotel guests and their guests, in the hotel’s basement; to the interesting historical facts that are left on pillows at turndown; to the corner suites and Heritage suites, all of which are named after prominent British military and political figures (primarily women) from the 1930’s and 40’s. It could feel stuffy. It could feel heavy-handed. But somehow, it only feels delightful.
Paris
I have felt called to Paris for quite sometime, especially as someone who loves art, history, literature, food and stunning hotels. But the last time I was actually there was just for the day when I was 16. That is changing in April! I will be spending over a week in Paris, some of the time working with travel colleagues, but also 5 days solo just soaking in all things Parisian.
Bisa Butler’s “The World is Yours” Closing Party, in 2023
Bisa Butler, a contemporary artists who makes the most incredible quilted portraits, had a show, The World is Yours, at the Jeffrey Deitch gallery in Soho late spring 2023. The closing party was open to the public, and my wife and I decided to stop by. This is one of the most magical things about living within spitting distance of one of the greatest cities in the world. The closing party was absolutely effervescent. The attendees were as diverse (in every possible meaning of the term) as the city in which it was held. There was music and dancing. Bisa Butler was there, looking splendid in a highlighter yellow suit. And the art. The art is something you have to see, up close and in person, to fully appreciate. Bisa Butler creates quilts. They honor and reflect Black life, both current, and historic. They are 100% fabric and the level of detail is extraordinary. That evening made my Wonderlist not just for the art, but for the moment of a world full of color, music, laughter, joy, and community,
The main staircase at the remarkable Raffles London at the OWO. This hotel is historic and grandiose, but also incredibly fresh and warm. I could not get over how beautifully and thoughtfully the stories of the building were woven into every detail. It was done with such a deft touch.
Fun fact: it is said that Sir Winston Churchill would touch the nose of the alabaster lion at the base of the staircase on his way to his office every morning for good luck. By the by, you can actually sleep in Churchill’s office as it has been turned into an absolutely epic suite.
