As travelers increasingly choose their destinations based on how they want to feel and what they want to experience, our new docuseries, Beyond Awestruck: The Scientific Search for Connection, showcases research conducted during the summer of 2025 on the beneficial effects of wonder.
Just two minutes spent admiring a spectacular panorama can increase feelings of wonder by up to 70% and boost overall well-being by 37%, proving that even brief encounters with the landscapes of Lake Tahoe can leave a lasting impression.
To conduct this groundbreaking study, Dr. Paul Piff, a social psychologist at the University of California, Irvine, and his team carried out seven studies involving more than 1,000 participants.
Several experiments took place at iconic locations across the region, including aboard the Heavenly Gondola, at Inspiration Point overlooking Emerald Bay, on the lake’s crystal-clear waters, and along the Van Sickle Trail.
The researchers examined the influence of wonder on happiness, gratitude, human relationships, openness to dialogue, and the desire to protect nature.
Comprising three episodes, the series invites viewers to discover how the vast landscapes of Lake Tahoe can strengthen our connection to others, to ourselves, and to the Lake Tahoe environment.
Contact: Visit Lake Tahoe, Juraj Sojka, Email: juraj@visitlaketahoe.com
