From lakeside hikes to fishing expeditions, Alaska is full of new adventures and scenes to explore! But further, it is a magical place for a child's imagination. Read about why Alaska is the perfect getaway for the whole family.
By Susan B. Barnes
For AFAR Magazine and Travel Guide
Many cruises may be on hold, but from train journeys to cycling trips, beautiful lodges to intimate expedition vessels, there are still ample ways to explore the Last Frontier this year.
More than half of Alaska’s visitors typically arrive aboard cruise ships. But this year, that won’t be the case with the majority of Alaska cruising effectively off the table due to the Canadian government’s cruising ban that lasts through February 2022.
For travelers who are eager to make the journey north this summer in search of sweeping mountain views, varied wildlife, and nature-filled serenity, there are still many enriching ways to experience Alaska, including on trains, bicycles, in lodges, and even on smaller cruise ships.
“Alaska is open for business,” Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy enthusiastically declared during a March 22 press conference. Those five words are music to outdoor enthusiasts’ ears, not to mention to the Alaskans who depend upon tourism for their livelihoods, many of whom are eager to welcome visitors back.
Prepandemic, an estimated 2.25 million visitors traveled to Alaska between May and September 2019, but it is likely that Alaska’s visitation numbers will remain drastically lower this year compared to those 2019 figures due to the falloff in cruise visitors and those still staying closer to home because of the pandemic.
That is not to say, however, that interest in traveling to Alaska is waning. It is among the top five states Americans want to visit, according to a February 2021 survey of 4,500 U.S. travelers conducted by travel research firm MMGY Travel Intelligence. (The other four states that topped the list were Hawaii, Florida, California, and Colorado).
Airlines have answered travelers’ renewed interest in Alaska by adding flights to meet the recent uptick in demand. Last month, Delta Air Lines added new flights to Anchorage and Fairbanks from across the United States, and Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, and United Airlines have all followed suit with added service to Alaska as well.
When travel reopened to Alaska last year in the midst of the pandemic, the state required all inbound travelers to either produce a negative COVID-19 test result procured within 72 hours of departure for Alaska or take a test upon arrival and quarantine (at travelers’ expense) until a negative test result was reported. COVID testing is no longer required for entry into Alaska, but a negative test result prior to arrival in Alaska is still strongly encouraged by Alaska state authorities. Travelers should always check with local public health officials for any requirements or recommendations that could be in place at the community level as well.
In addition, the state advises that all visitors follow the CDC’s recommendations for traveling safely, including wearing a mask and practicing social distancing.
For those who are ready to experience Alaska, we have compiled some truly unique ways to do so, with an emphasis on outfits that support local communities and are dedicated to greener travel initiatives.
We know you are ready to travel, and Alaska is patiently waiting...
Stillpoint Lodge is providing more value and meaning to the trip that you have been dreaming about all year. We want to make it easier for you to say "yes" to Alaska with our peace of mind safety policies and flexible terms.
Our goal for our 2021 season is to step up the adventure factor by including more excursions and special one-of-a-kind experiences. By planning ahead and booking your package early, you are guaranteed to have more healing time in nature, more wildlife encounters, more scenic vistas to soak in, and more one-on-one time with our inspiring wilderness guides doing what they love.
Hosted by Linda Cooper, Season Two takes you on an epic journey to the world's most exciting "Bucket List Destinations". The World Awaits... So what's on your bucket list?
Sometimes working remotely means less video conferencing, Skyping and texting and more peace and quiet in secluded places. So Northwest Meetings + Events sought out our region’s most hidden venues. Some take some eff ort getting to; others are right around the corner but seemingly miles away from the hustle and bustle. Here are fi ve you should defi nitely consider when your group is looking for an extraordinary retreat.
STILLPOINT LODGE Halibut Cove, Alaska
Unlike Rome, all roads don’t lead to Stillpoint Lodge—you need to take a boat or plane.
“Stillpoint Lodge is about 6 miles from the mainland. There are no roads to get there,” says General Manager Beka Thoning.
Located in Kachemak Bay and surrounded by Kachemak Bay State Park, Stillpoint Lodge is set within a very mountainous area. “It’s not connected to any road system. It’s a pretty unique spot,” Thoning says.
The lodge is open from mid-May to midSeptember. There are 10 cabins: four two-bedroom cabins and six one-bedroom options. The main lodge is a shared space with a dining room, an open kitchen and a lounge with a full bar and an intimate sitting area.
Meetings are held in an open space at the lodge. The entire lodge can accommodate up to 60 guests for a seated dinner and up to 100 for a cocktail party. And don’t worry about having to order delivery—catering is provided in-house.
Passionate. That's the word we use to describe our friend and Homer, Alaska local, Susan Houlihan, founder and mastermind behind the locally made Alpenglow Skincare products found throughout our facilities at Stillpoint. If you've already visited our boutique resort lodge, you already know... because you've delighted in washing and rewashing your hands with Susan's Arctic Sun liquid gold hand and body wash, you've taken time for yourself in our self-spa to sample all of her exquisite, highly-concentrated lotions and sumptuous face creams (the rose germanium face cream is our favorite), utilized her Alaska's best insect repellant bug spray out on the trail with our guides, washed body and hair in our warm and luxurious showers with Susan's unforgettable Midnight Sun liquid shampoo... and maybe you even purchased a mini cottonwood balm or bar of local goat milk soap to take home with you.
But it's not just the irresistible scents and attractive labels of Alpenglow Skincare that drew us to feature Susan's products at Stillpoint Lodge... we love that they are all natural, locally made, and hypoallergenic for even the most sensitive guest.... and Susan's personal passion for sustainability makes Alpenglow a perfect match for our guest amenities program. Alpenglow's mission: To create 100% natural, entirely handmade from scratch, superior quality skin and hair care products using organic, wildcrafted and home-grown herbs and flowers. Sign us up!
Clearly, we’ve been a fan of Alpenglow for a while, and we continue to expand our support and utilization of their entire product line. Susan is an expert at growing and harvesting beneficial plants such as Alaskan Rose petals, yarrow flowers, horsetail, nettles, fireweed, and cottonwood buds for their scents and therapeutic properties. She's also a lifelong learner in sourcing cutting edge, earth-friendly and safe packaging.
We've asked Susan Houlihan of Alpenglow Skincare to be a guest on our blog... so let’s all sit back and learn something from this wise woman. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us!
ROOMS WITH A VIEW
Looking for a new meeting space? Change your outlook.
BY ROGER GORDON
WE MAY BE BIASED, but we think the Northwest is one of the most beautiful regions on earth. From coastline and mountains to lakes and glaciers, the scenic wonders are natural eye candy. Want to use some of that picture-postcard setting as a backdrop for your next meeting or event? Here are a few venues to consider.
It's a good idea to be prepared for any vacation, but especially a luxury Alaska vacation filled with daily excursions into nature. Alaska is a state filled with awe-inspiring wilderness and adventure that you'll want to be dressed and prepared for so you won't miss a minute.
That being said, you'll want to bring some of the following essential items before you head off to one of America's most extreme, but extremely wonderful, climates.
A stay at Stillpoint Lodge is all about nature... the boat trip across the bay, the trees, the ocean, the fishing, moutain scenery, flying through fjords, wildlife encounters by kayak, the garden and the flowers and the food... but we happen to have some pretty amazing facilities, too. The unique beauty and stunning architecture of Stillpoint Lodge can only truly be appreciated in person... to see such a sizeable and detailed structure in this remote, boat-in only location is quite remarkable.
But now with new innovative technologies and software rendering capabilities, Glenn Aronwits of GA Panorams of Anchorage, Alaska was able to create an astounding 3D virtual tour. Perhaps it will entice more of our cyber-visitors to come visit in person and experience Stillpoint Lodge for themselves.
The 3D scanning and imaging is done with a special infrared camera placed in various locations throughout each building. It creates an accurate, life-like, interactive image that is unlike traditional “virtual walk-through” technology... this is a fully immersive experience. Navigate the whole lodge and all of our cabins in first-person as if you were walking right through each space, seeing it as it is in real life. Zoom out to see the whole scan at once and get a feel for the layout. View the 3D scans from above to get an accurate feel for the dimensions, layout and floorplan.
