It's no secret that the winter season brings out the blues in many people. The shorter days and chilly weather will not only keep you from your daily dose of vitamin D but also your social calendar.

The good news is you can beat these winter blues vacation-style with an all-inclusive trip to Alaska. Don't believe us? Here's how Alaska can give you the midwinter mood boost you need to make it to spring.

Culinary travel isn't new, but in recent years it's been kicking up in popularity. Travelers are looking to experience the local culture through their palette. And trying new foods is a great way to make the most of your vacation.

So how do you go about trying new foods while you're out and about on your trip? It's easier than you think. Here's how you can eat like a local on your next vacation.

10 Stunning Eco-Friendly Hotels

Each of these hotels merges modern design with sustainable materials and baller amenities that go easy on the planet

In Part 1 of our benefits of nature vacations series, we talked about nature vacations can improve your attention span, creativity, and sense of awe. But these aren't the only benefits that nature vacations can offer.

Here, in Part 2, we'll dive deeper into the physical and mental benefits that extended periods of time spent in nature can have on the body.

Vacations are crucial for stress relief and clear-headedness. But if you're looking to really boost your health and reduce stress, a nature vacation is the type of trip you want to take.

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!

The holiday season is right around the corner, which means right about now a vacation could be just what you need to save you from stress.

But before you start looking up the best flights for a tropical resort, remember that it may not be the best idea to vacation someplace hot.

Here are a few reasons why vacationing on the beach during the winter season may not be an optimal choice this holiday season.

The holiday season is nearly here, which means it's almost time to unwind with your friends and family and enjoy each other's company.

But why spend time with your loved one's cooped up at home?

Don't let the winter season get you down during the most wonderful time of the year. Here are some of the top reasons why you and your family ought to travel this holiday season.

Where adventure meets luxury

For the nature enthusiast looking for a peaceful getaway, Stillpoint lodge is Alaska at its finest.

Like any other vacation, you want your fishing trip to go as smooth as possible. Whether you're looking to spend time on the water with your family or friends (or both!), you want your experience to be one you'll remember forever and not for all the wrong reasons.
 

If you're a frequent traveler, you've probably stayed in your fair share of hotels, only to find that most of them look just about the same. All too often, hotels provide little in the way of intrigue for seasoned travelers. Sure, if you haven't gone on too many vacations, staying in a hotel could be exciting, but once you've seen one, you've seen most of them. Looking for a way to spice up your next trip? Try one of these three unique accommodations for your next vacation.

Vacations are one of the things families love to do together most, but going on vacation with your little ones can be a major struggle. In fact, you might find yourself asking if it'd be more relaxing to let your kids hang out with their grandparents so you can actually relax. 

But vacationing with the kids doesn't have to be as challenging as it sounds. Here are some of the ways you can make your break feel like an actual vacation even with a little craziness in tow.

With stunning views and incredible wildlife, Alaska is unlike any other wedding destination you could ask for. Nicknamed "The Last Frontier," up to 52% of Alaska's acreage is wilderness, making it an incredible spot for your wedding's backdrop.

Fall is just around the corner and while many Americans think vacation season is over, for some it's just begun. Autumn is one of the best times of the year to travel and not just because flights are cheaper during traveling's off-season.

Summer is drawing to a close, but that doesn't mean you've run out of time for that fishing trip you've been dreaming of. In fact, Alaska is one of the best places in the U.S. to visit in the month of August. Approximately 11% of visitors in 2016 came to Alaska specifically to fish. Here's why anglers love Alaskan waters during the end of the summer season.

Vacations are crucial when it comes to your health and happiness. Not only have vacations proven to boost work productivity, but they also reduce stress and lower blood pressure.

As our reliance on technology continues to grow, you may feel constantly attached to your devices. While we may need these gadgets to do our work and stay in touch with loved ones, our online activities can often be detrimental to our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. According to 2017 data from the American Psychological Association, nearly one-fifth of Americans identify the use of technology as a very or somewhat significant source of stress. But that same report found that around 65% of Americans somewhat or strongly agree that taking a digital detox or periodically unplugging from technology is important for their mental health.

It's no secret that people are addicted to their digital devices. According to Pew Research Center, as smartphones and other mobile devices have become more widespread, 26% of American adults now report that they go online “almost constantly,” up from 21% in 2015. And a report published by the Center for the Digital Future at USC Annenberg says the average American spends a whopping 23.6 hours online each week.

In response, a number of travel companies are trying to help guests reclaim their lives outside of their devices by offering innovative ways to escape the digital rat race. 

"Ironically, as connected as we are in the social media age, we are completely disconnected," says travel guru Jack Ezon, managing partner at Embark, a new luxury lifestyle and travel planning business that he's about to launch.

Ezon calls this one of the big trends of 2018 in his annual trend report, pointing out that travel presents an opportunity for people to put their fast-paced “connected” world behind them and build true, deep connections that you just can’t get from a Facebook feed or Instagram Live videos. Ezon says there's a new yearning for disconnecting, including "a desire for road trips and trips that offer a real connection to the land."

The travel agency Protravel International also says that disconnecting is one of the five emerging trends in luxury travel. “I’m seeing more and more clients looking to travel to disconnect from technology and the news cycle," says Marvelys Capote, an agent with Protravel International New York.

Recently, Capote sent four women to Holbox Island in Mexico, so that they could "get off the grid and connect with nature." Holbox is a remote island two hours northwest of Cancun with limited Wi-Fi. "My clients stayed at CasaSandra, a boutique hotel without televisions, went bird-watching, fishing, swimming with whale sharks, ate great seafood and came back rejuvenated.”

The Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) has done research into the topic of reconnecting by disconnecting, too. According to a 2017 report, physical and mental health are key motivators for travelers seeking adventure travel experiences — and, according to the ATTA, travelers are increasingly prioritizing this when making travel-related decisions by seeking out wellness trips, as well as opportunities to unplug.

"Almost everyone I know knows someone who is on a device too much," says Casey Hanisko, president of the Adventure Travel Trade Association. "People are craving the idea of reconnecting. Remarkably, adventure experiences can awaken something in us all and remind us that making memories doesn't always happen with a phone in your hand."

Looking to take your own digital detox? From charming cottages to wellness retreats to urban getaways, here are 10 ways to unplug on your next vacation.

Vacation opportunities can present themselves at unexpected times. This is especially true when you thought you wouldn't be able to swing a vacation this summer.

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.