With eight national parks bigger than some countries and a vast array of wildlife most people dream of seeing, the great state of Alaska, is really like no other. Home to multiple mountain ranges, and one of the world’s longest coastlines, there is so much to this beautiful state that these luxury travel consultants could spend the entire year exploring it without ever visiting the same place twice. Join us on our five-star vacation to wild and wonderful Alaska.
For the ultimate immersive Alaska experience, we are huge fans of Alaska’s adventure lodges, Winterlake Lodge and Tutka Bay Lodge.
Winterlake Lodge
Found on the western edge of the Alaska Range, Winterlake Lodge is situated on fifteen acres along Mile 198 of the Historic Iditarod Trail. After flying into Anchorage, getting to Winterlake is only accessible via a small bush floatplane from Ted Stevens International Airport or the village of Talkeetna. It consists of five individual guest cabins and a central main lodge where you will enjoy all your meals, play games or sit by the roaring fire…amazingly where you’ll find Wifi as well. The hand built knotty pine guest cabins are the perfect respite after a day filled with outdoor adventure. For the hikers, Wolverine Mountain located behind the lodge, offers quick access to varied hiking trails, and viewpoints of Mt. Denali, migrating birds and wildflowers. At Winterlake Lodge the seasonally inspired activities include the likes of river rafting and kayaking, brown bear viewing, glacier treks (a must), fat tire biking and Iditarod Race viewing. Winterlake Lodge’s all-inclusive pricing includes complimentary massage, yoga classes, daily cooking classes, cheese tastings, and personalized service. Winterlake Lodge is open in the Summer: June 1st to October 1st and in the Winter: January 20th to April 30th. In Alaska, sustainability is of the utmost importance. The founders believe that “Restorative travel is our most important initiative”. Winterlake Lodge’s staff integrates land stewardship through conservation, environmental consciousness, education, and rehabilitation. The off-grid location inspires conservation practices like water and fuel saving techniques, recycling, and gardening.
Tutka Bay Lodge
Tutka Bay Lodge, Winterlake’s sister property, sits along a private cove within a rugged nine mile fjord at the edge of the Kachemak Bay State Park outside of Homer, Alaska. Getting here, you can take a water taxi from Homer or rent a car and drive down the incredibly scenic Seaward Highway from Anchorage (about 5 hours). The Tutka Bay area offers classic coastlines, deep fjords, dramatic mountains, quiet beaches, old growth Sitka spruce forests, and amazing tidal fluctuations. Placed on an eleven-acre property, Tutka Bay is made up of a main lodge, six private guest accommodations, a sauna, hot tub and boat house – all connected by a boardwalk. The large deck offers seating as well as an area for helicopter landing. The warm and cozy main lodge serves as the social center where meals, games and daily tastings featuring Alaskan micro-brewed beers and wines from the U.S. and beyond take place. The all-inclusive pricing includes daily cooking classes, complimentary massage and yoga classes. Plan your adventures around the activities curated to introduce you to the Kachemak Bay marine community. In addition to tide pooling, fishing, kayaking and other marine-based activities, the lodge offers helicopter tours, back country hiking and glacier trekking. We love the Cooking School at Tutka Bay where you can create a three-course meal with acclaimed chefs on a repurposed crabbing boat, The Widgeon II. Tutka Bay Lodge is open May 1st through September 15th. Sustainability is also key at Tutka Bay, as is the preservation of culinary history and the food options. Tutka Bay Lodge “believes buying and foraging locally, helps reduce the company food print and inspires our guests to take home a similar motivation through our educational programs”. Itineraries here often include visiting artists, farmers and local native groups.
Stillpoint Lodge
Just a short boat or float plane trip across the towering mountain fjord of Kachemak Bay, you’ll find Stillpoint Lodge, an exclusive luxury resort lodge in the charming village of Halibut Cove touted as “Alaska's premier destination for the conscious traveler”. The 26 one- and two-bedroom cabins and suites are rustic, yet refined, with upscale luxuries and eco-friendly amenities. At the center of the lodge is the Scandinavian inspired main lodge with cathedral ceilings and an actual indoor creek where you will enjoy all your meals, happy hour and incredible views. Walk the organic gardens, take a sauna or simply enjoy the 22 hours of summer sunlight. Outside is the Kachemak Bay, a critical habitat area with robust biological activity for immersive eco-adventure. Stillpoint Lodge will curate a custom adventure vacation around a huge list of wellness, adventure and leisure options. Start your day with yoga or meditation, then choose sea kayaking, saltwater fishing, birdwatching or an art and culture tour, before returning to the lodge for a craft beer or glass of wine. Stillpoint Lodge was built with the intention of living in harmony with nature. The Lodge features a farm-to-table concept using only locally sourced ingredients including the freshest of Alaska fish, vegetables from their garden, game from the neighboring woodlands or meat from organic farms nearby.
Tikchik Narrows Lodge
Our last stop on the Alaska lodge tour is Tikchik Narrows Lodge, located in the Bristol Bay region of southwest Alaska set in the 1.5-million-acre Wood-Tikchik State Park. This area is only accessible by float plane and is over 300 miles from the nearest connecting roads system. Unlike most other Alaskan lodges, Tikchik Narrows Lodge is totally isolated and solely focused on sportfishing in the Bristol Bay area, often referred to as the “salmon factory of the world”. Tikchik is comprised of 7 shorefront cabins that can sleep one to four guests each and the main lodge where you will enjoy wonderful meals with dramatic views from the deck overlooking the Narrows…you can even fish right in front of the Lodge! Open from June to September, the key to deciding when to visit is to figure out what species of Pacific Salmon floats your boat. Tikchik is for the serious anglers and a typical day starts with breakfast at 6:45am and then airplanes, boats and guides departing for an immersive day of fishing. We love that happy hour is waiting in your room for you upon return around 5pm. The pilots call in your drink orders ahead of time, so they can be in your room upon arrival! In the spirit and necessity of conservation, Tikchik has a strict catch and release policy with freshwater species. Guests are able to keep a few salmon and the lodge will fillet, vacuum pack, freeze your catch and package it for you to take home at no charge. With over 25 years of experience and exclusive access to private waters, Tikchik’s fishing program is a dream come true for both spin and fly anglers at any level.
We hope we’ve been able to highlight some of what makes Alaska so special. With common daily sightings of moose, dall sheep, many species of birds and perhaps a mother bear and her cubs, you will wonder how many stamps need to go on your postcard to send back home. There’s a reason why it’s referred to as ‘The Last Frontier’. Although no passport is necessary, you will feel like you’re very far away from your home in the US, and frankly, isn’t that what being on vacation is all about. From eating fresh fish everyday, to playing tennis outside at midnight in the summer, its warm sun and snow capped mountains will draw you in and change the way you see and appreciate a destination so focused on conservation and maintaining its natural beauty.
WIT has very close relationships with these properties, so we can extend exclusive perks and special amenities to our clients. Typically, you will receive complimentary breakfast for two daily, $100 or more resort credit to be utilized during your stay, room upgrade, either at the time of booking or arrival, and early check-in/late checkout, both subject to availability.
At Well Inspired Travels, we love being luxury travel consultants and creating the ultimate experiences for you. So, pack your digital bags and follow us as we uncover exceptional luxury and wellness focused vacations. Check-in regularly for our top five-star travel ideas and tips, and as always, we continue to stay strong WIT you!
