Denali National Park hotels vary widely from full service premium hotels such as the Grande Denali Lodge to smaller family owned lodges offering  cabin style accommodations such as the Denali Crow’s Nest Cabins.  Most visitors to the National Park stay in Denali’s “front country” just outside the Park Entrance along a 13 mile stretch of the Parks Highway.  While those seeking a more intimate experience and an extended stay in Denali often combine a stay at the Park entrance with a two night stay deep within Denali National Park’s at Kantishna, also referred to as Denali’s “backcountry” located at the end of the Denali Park Road.  (more…)

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We often get inquiries from folks interested in seeing the Aurora Borealis, locally known in Alaska as the Northern Lights.   During the summer months, it is very unlikely that you would see the Northern Lights due to Alaska’s Midnight Sun.  Alaskans and visitors alike love our Midnight Sun as it provides up to 19 hours of daylight in June (or more depending on your location) and we are often seen enjoying outdoor activities late in the evening.  On rare occasions in fall from Talkeetna to Denali and further North to Fairbanks, we are fortunate enough to have clear skies and atmospheric conditions that result in Aurora sightings.  Lodges such as the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge and Mt. McKinley Princess Lodge provide  “Northern Lights” wake up call service upon request.  So, if you are traveling in the fall, be sure to check with the front desk of the lodges that you are staying at to see if they have such service. If they do, the Front Desk will call your room and wake you up, regardless of the time of night, if they observe the northern lights. (more…)

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One of my favorite areas of Alaska is the Copper River Region. This area lies on the east side of the Chugach Mountain Range that surrounds Anchorage. This lesser visited area of Alaska is about a five hour drive from Anchorage. The Glenn Highway, an American Scenic Byway, passes through beautiful remote country with few populated areas. In preparation for the road trip, I make sure to put together a picnic for my traveling companions to enjoy on one of the various scenic turnouts overlooking the mountain glaciers along the highway. A great place to pick up delicious picnic supplies in Anchorage is the New Sagaya City Market in downtown Anchorage.

The Copper River Princess Lodge is a gracious and comfortable lodge conveniently located close to both Wrangell St Elias National Park and Valdez on the Prince William Sound. The Lodge is situated on a bluff overlooking the Copper River Valley that borders Wrangell-St Elias National Park. There are expansive views of the Copper River and the spectacular mountains of Wrangell St Elias from the lobby of the lodge. On my trips to the Copper River Valley I always make it a point to take time to sit out on the deck and enjoy a glass of wine while taking in the grand views of the mountains in the park. (more…)

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Last weekend my boyfriend and I took a one night trip to Seward for a quick getaway from Anchorage and to see the Kenai Fjords National Park. We decided to get to Seward by driving the scenic route from Anchorage, since it’s an easy 2 ½ hour drive through the mountains and along the coast. We didn’t leave Anchorage until 6:00 pm since we both had to work that day but we had daylight the whole way down. When we got to Seward we had a very quick and easy check in at the Seward Windsong Lodge, and even though we were booked in a deluxe category room, they upgraded us to a suite category room (the suites are bigger and have a Jacuzzi bathtub). (more…)

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The Crow’s Nest Cabins are a great place to stay at Denali National Park. Working long summer hours in tourism my husband and I rarely get a quiet moment to relax together, but the Crow’s Nest Cabins allowed us to do so. For travelers it is a great property to visit as a quiet get away with beautiful views.  the Crow’s Nest is located just outside the entrance to the Park. (more…)

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For a real Alaskan lodge experience while in Seward stay at the Seward Windsong Lodge.  The Seward Windsong Lodge is located just outside the city limits enroute to Exit Glacier. The lodge is set in a wooded setting near the Resurrection River with scenic views.  If you have stayed at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge then you will be delighted to know the lodge is operated by the same company and you will experience the same high quality of service and experience in Seward as well. (more…)

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We live a good distance away from downtown Anchorage so when we have evening functions on weekends we like to stay in town at an Anchorage hotel.  One of our most favorite hotels and probably the one we stay at the most is the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel and Spa.  The Sheraton is 16 stories tall, making it one of the taller buildings in downtown.  The hotel is located at 401 E. 6th Avenue, which is towards the east side of downtown.  (more…)

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When I have family come visit me in Alaska I try to take them to my favorite places in Alaska. A few summer’s ago my aunt came to visit, and I had the opportunity to do a tour I had never done before. My family traveled to Girdwood, Alaska for a day trip from Anchorage.  Girdwood is located about 30 minutes south of Anchorage via the Seward Highway.  The drive is beautiful because the highway follows the Turnagain Arm which is part of the Cook Inlet and is surrounded by the Chugach and Kenai Mountain Ranges.  Girdwood is home to the Alyeska Resort. Our first order of business was to take the Alyeska Tram to the top of Mt. Alyeska for some breathtaking views.  (more…)

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