My week-long family vacation had some serious ups and downs, but I stacked the deck towards the ups with one of Peak Extracts’ chocolate bars. It’s helpful to know Peak Extracts has all strain-specific bars, from Bright Indica Blue Dream to Heavy Indica Purple Kush and Bright Sativa J1. They also carry a non-psychoactive High CBD version for those looking to relax without risking a head high. I had a borderline perfect day after eating only one square of the Blue Dream variety. The chocolate itself is rich and bittersweet, with sophisticated, top-shelf texture and flavor. The packaging promises activation in 60 minutes, but I snacked this bad boy on an empty stomach and was feeling the wind beneath my wings in half that. The buzz delivered precisely what the wrapper implied: a bright high that was at once relaxing, joyful, and functional.

The head high was calm and cool, arriving like an ocean breeze behind my eyes. The body high was a notable balance of velvety relaxation and zippy enthusiasm. I was equally content to sink into a couch or stroll through a historic landmark. Nothing about the high was overwhelming; in fact, I felt jolly and serene. I felt like an oil painting of a rich aristocrat. I felt like a spoiled housecat. I felt Matthew McConaughey levels of alright, alright, alright.

Let me frame this out with some insight on what constitutes a perfect vacation day for me and how each activity was enhanced by only one 5mg serving of this Blue Dream chocolate:

— A long shower was spent in meditative peace, my chatty, nervous internal monologue comfortably paused.

“Everything was fascinating, even people-watching at a grocery store.”

— The hour or more it took to herd the squad for brunch might have had me annoyed half to death, but instead, I happily played my brother-in-law’s Xbox, which is definitely out of character for me.

— Brunch itself was a rollicking good time. I was giggly and cheerful for the entire meal despite the dearth of mimosas, bloody marys, or palatable coffee.

— A scenic drive had me literally hanging out of the car window gasping, oohing, and ahhing over literally anything of interest. Everything was fascinating, even people-watching at a grocery store was riveting.

— Sightseeing at a handful of historical monuments should have had me deep in my feelings about America's gruesome past and heartbreaking present, but instead I was content to compliment architecture and fawn over colonial landscaping. If you know me, you know how wild that is.

There was, however, a downside to this edible. The come-down put me right to sleep. It cared not where I was or what I was doing, it snatched my eyelids right down and proclaimed my day was over. If I had anticipated the sudden downturn in wakefulness I would have planned my day around it, maybe eating the chocolate a bit later in the afternoon so the resolution would coincide with my actual bedtime. I'm not big into afternoon naps, so having one forced upon me was a pretty serious drag. I know I am a minority in that sentiment, so if your perfect day involves video games, brunch, long, laugh-filled drives with your favorite peeps, and an afternoon nap, then whoo-hoo, you are going to love this.