ALASKAN SUMMER COOL
Alaskan Summer Cool - Luxury Travel Magazine
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Alaskan Summer Cool | |||||
| By: Antonia Maiolo, Issue 47 - Winter 11 | |||||
| (Alaska, Tutka Bay Resort, Winterlake Lodge) | |||||
| Escape the chill this winter and head north, far north, to the wild and mild Alaskan summer. Antonia Maiolo reports on two of the best luxury wilderness properties in the Southcentral region of the largest US state. With a coastline longer than those of all the other US states combined, huge mountains, lots of wildlife and more than three million lakes, the wilderness of Alaska is the state’s major draw-card for international travellers. But while many think of Alaska as being all about snow, ice and glaciers, the Alaskan summer offers travellers great hiking, kayaking, swimming and wildlife viewing over long and comfortably temperate days. Here are two great luxury lodges to host an outdoorsy Alaskan holiday. | |||||
| TUTKA BAY RESORT | |||||
| Tutka Bay Resort is 16.7 kilometres from the seaside town of Homer along the Kachemak Bay. The lodge offers full service lodging, guide services and an array of activities including watching sea otters, whales, sea lions, porpoises and seals, fishing from the lodge dock, learning about Alaska’s history and wildlife, learning to kayak, cooking classes, morning yoga, complimentary massages and once guests have returned from hiking and bush trail walks they can soothe tired muscles in the sauna. There are various out-of-camp adventure opportunities such as berry picking and hiking at Kachemak Bay State Park, a tour of the shoreline by boat, a visit to an oyster farm and opportunities to explore the nearby village of Seldovia. | |||||
| ACCOMMODATION | |||||
| There are eight types of cabins available, and each provides guests with panoramic views of the bay, ocean and mountains. Cabins can accommodate from two to seven guests and include a sitting area, wet bar and large deck/balcony. Three-day/two-night packages start from A$1,999 per person and include water taxi to and from the lodge, all meals, guide service and lodge-based activities. At an additional cost the lodge can arrange transportation to and from Homer from other destinations such as Anchorage. | |||||
| GETTING THERE | |||||
| Once guests arrive at the small town of Homer they catch a water taxi to Tutka Bay Resort which is a 25-minute ride across Kachemak Bay. Transportation to and from the lodge via water taxi is included in accommodation costs and can be arranged prior to arrival. | |||||
| WINTERLAKE LODGE | |||||
| The secluded Winterlake Lodge is set along the historic Iditarod Trail overlooking Winter Lake, 318 kilometres north of Anchorage. Open year round, the property has an outlook onto the Trimble Glacier and Wolverine Mountain. Winterlake Lodge offers both out-of-camp and lodge-based activities for guests. The lodge-based activities include hiking along the Iditarod Sled Dog Trail, hiking Mt McKinley and Red Lake, exploring trails and gardens, bird watching, kayaking and canoeing, swimming in the lake and cooking classes. For out-of-camp activities guests can explore the wildlife and scenery from the lodge’s Robinson R-44 helicopter, as well as go glacier trekking, white-water rafting, sport fishing and panning for gold, all of which the lodge will organise. | |||||
| ACCOMMODATION | |||||
| There are five different types of guest cabins available with the largest cabin accommodating up to seven people. Each cabin has private bedrooms, private bathroom, a living room, porch, lake views and woodstove heating. Three-day/two-night packages start from A$2,451 per person and include air transportation to and from Anchorage International Airport, air transportation to and from activity destinations, lodging, meals, individual guide service and use of lodge equipment. | |||||
| GETTING THERE | |||||
| A small floatplane flies guests from Anchorage to Winterlake Lodge, landing on Winter Lake. Air transportation is included in the accommodation rates and flight reservations, dates and times can be arranged with the lodge staff. | |||||
| adventureworld.com.au | |||||
| WHEN TO GO | |||||
| The short summer period from June to mid-August is a great time to visit Southcentral Alaska as the weather is warmer, but not hot, and on average around 18 degrees Celsius during the day. At this time of year the days are extremely long and the sun shines for up to 19 hours a day. GETTING TO ALASKA V Australia operates flights to LAX daily from Sydney, four times a week from Brisbane and three times a week from Melbourne. Return economy fares start from A$2,584 and return business fares start from A$9,432. The airline code-shares with Alaska Air for daily flights from LAX to Anchorage. Return economy fares start from US$384 (about A$362) and return business from US$1,494 (about A$1,407). Homer can be reached by a 40-minute flight from Anchorage operated by Era Aviation, partners with Alaska Air. Return economy fares start from of US$256 (about A$243) and there are four flights per day. | |||||
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