Summer is officially here and families across the U.S. are packing up to head out on their next big family vacation. Many families enjoy vacations because it lets them spend time together. But if you're not careful, your dream vacation can quickly turn into a nightmare.
The state of Alaska has a lot to offer. In fact, Alaska has more than 75 parks, preserves, monuments, refuges, national forests, and historical sites.
It's no wonder that Alaska welcomed almost 2 million visitors in only five months during 2016. Vacationers can relax and enjoy the great outdoors like nowhere else.
If there's one thing Alaska is known for, it's the state's beautiful wildlife in the form of national parks, preserves, and forests. In fact, more than half (52%) of Alaska's acreage is made up of wilderness.
It's for this reason that Alaska is the hot spot destination for those looking for the ultimate nature vacations the U.S. has to offer. But what exactly can you do to explore the local wildlife while on an authentic Alaska vacation?
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.
Alaskans are passionate about all things 'wild Alaska salmon'. And we hold a special place in our hearts for wild Alaska salmon skin. We dream about it. We feature it in our art, fashion and food. We use it out of utility. We write songs about it.
So why does the average person not love salmon skin? Also, what can we do to prevent our sacred, wild Alaska salmon skin from ending up in the landfill?
This is our favorite salmon cake recipe with a twist!
Instead of canned salmon, start with a whole filet of raw, wild Alaska sockeye salmon. Plus... use the skin of the salmon in the mix for added binding power, moisture and delicious flavor! Enjoy.
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.
Alaskan Lodge Shifts Focus from Retreats to Adventure
Stillpoint Lodge is Alaska's perfect escape; a unique combination of adventure, leisure and culture on the edge of a serene wilderness. Just a short trip across breathtaking Kachemak Bay, past towering mountain fjords, you’ll find this rustic yet refined boutique resort lodge nestled by the sea. A quick getaway from Homer and easily accessible from anywhere in the world, the majestic, fairytale-like village of Halibut Cove is Alaska's premier destination for small group events and incentives of up to 27 guests. If your group is searching for the raw and unspoiled theater of the wild, yet still wishes for the luxuries of civilization, Halibut Cove is the place for you.
Join Mark Edward Harris and special guest Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Nick Ut for the ultimate Alaska photography workshop hosted by Midnight Son Tours and Stillpoint Lodge.
This Destination Alaska workshop explores how to create fine art travel photography – images that go far beyond the “I was here” photograph. Photographers will learn how to create beautiful landscape and wildlife images, as well as powerful environmental portraits and photo essays – pictures that tell a story – in America’s 49th state.
Kachemak Bay is home to many amazing, energetic and ambitious people, and the multi-talented Michael and Maddie O'Laire are no exception. Michael has helped build Stillpoint and is a commercial salmon fisherman in the summer. Maddie's delicious salmon blog has captured attention all over the world as she distributes Mike's wild-caught, healthy, sustainable salmon from Alaska.
It’s a pleasure to have Maddie guest posting on our blog. Be sure to check out Maddie's recipe for Spicy Wild Alaska Salmon Poke
Special thanks to our friends, Mike and Maddie, at Smart Source Seafood for sharing this recipe!
Smart Source Seafood's sockeye salmon is flash frozen at very low temperatures, and shipped in freezer boxes all the way to your door, making it perfectly safe to enjoy raw.
Pokē is raw fish salad served as an appetizer in Hawaiian cuisine. Pokē is commonly made with yellowfin tuna (Ahi Pokē) and it works well with Wild Alaska Salmon.
"The trip of a lifetime!"- that's how many of our guests describe this day of adventure. For most, the trip is perfectly timed get back to their cabin for a quick hot shower and still make it to happy hour... which everyone soon learns is a not-to-be-missed daily event... and they can't wait to tell the other guests and staff about their amazing day.
Some places are simply magical. Stillpoint Lodge, situated on a cosy private peninsula in Halibut Cove, Alaska is just that. Magical. Combine unspoiled surroundings, a remote location, intense vistas and glow-in-the-dark waters with snuggly warm staff and that great Alaskan charm, and you’ve got a place so nice that you’ll never want to leave.
Words by Marco Barneveld
Photography by René Koster
See the full story and beautiful fall photos in Code Magazine.
Our chunky, chewy Orange Cranberry Cookiesare packed with walnuts and can be made vegan or gluten free to please everyone this holiday season.
This is one of our most requested recipes... and an easy cookie to have on-hand in the freezer. Our native cranberries, or lingonberries, get ripe late in the season, just in time for the first California oranges to start showing up in Alaska.
These little beauties hold up well in a packed lunch, too, making for a energy-packed trail food for our guides. Our cuisine features low sugar recipes that avoid highly refined ingredients.
"Crazy busy" is the status quo for just about everyone these days, making the occasional time-out a necessary (if luxurious) break. Need some guidance setting your intention? These 10 wellness retreats will help you find out what you're looking for-- and no Pokémon allowed.
