Winterlake Lodge
Winterlake Lodge sits between the Tordrillo and Alaska Mountain Ranges and is one of two family-owned lodges. Only accessible by seaplane in summer and ski plane in winter, the lodge sits in an extremely sought after destination perfect for any outdoor adventure seeker.
The heart of Winterlake is the main lodge where guests are encouraged to socialise. Five guest cabins spill out into the surrounding gardens, all of which are hand built using locally sourced wood. The Happy River Cabin, the fifth guest cabin, is situated next to the hiking trail to Red Lake and boasts a large artisanal log bed.
Winterlake prides itself on utilising organic, natural and locally sourced cuisine and thanks to Chef Kirsten Dixon's daily cooking classes and cookbook, you can take a little bit of your holiday culinary skills home.
Guests can enjoy curling up with a good book from the library, taking a yoga class in the wellness room or admiring the views over Finger Lake from the outdoor hot tub, glass of wine in hand.
An itinerary of activities (think kayaking, dog sledding, lake swimming, fly fishing...) is provided daily which may be rigorously followed or recklessly abandoned depending on your tastes and interests. For the wilder kind, extra excursions are available and may be organised through the lodge such as helicopter adventures and guided glacier trekking.
Why We Love It
If you're visiting in the winter months the northern lights can be seen from the hot tub out on the deck!
Ultima Thule
Ultima Thule is a rustic lodge passed through three generations of the Claus family that holds adventure close to its heart. Tucked into the hillside amidst 24 million acres of protected Alaskan wilderness, the lodge offers guests the chance to switch off from the real world and enter remote areas untouched by others.
Five private cabins built with local timber adopt a rustic, homely, Alaskan theme by incorporating stained glass windows, cherry writing desks and bearskin rugs.
The dining room at the lodge is graced by the wafting scent of fresh bread and pastries and in the evenings meals featuring fresh Alaskan game and locally caught fish are served to the long banquet table.
The onsite cedar sauna is a great way to warm up after a day facing the elements and, as the lodge accommodates only 12 guests at a time, facilities are never overcrowded.
Guests can enjoy use of the lodge's five private propeller planes (one of which featured in a Charlton Heston film) to go skiing, hiking, fishing or on a flight safari. After, return to the lodge, smell the scent of burning wood in the air and know the fires have been lit and your cosy abode awaits.
Why We Love It
The lodge loves to keep things local and even the water is freshly melted from the glaciers!
Tordrillo Mountain Lodge
Tordrillo Mountain Lodge is located in the heart of the Tordrillo Range and only a 40 minute flight from the bustling city of Anchorage. This multi-sport luxurious lodge has skiing at its heart and guests are in trusty hands as the owners are three long-time ski buddies, including Olympic gold medallist Tommy Moe.
Rustic Alaskan architecture (think log walls), cosy fireplaces and animal artwork feature in the lodge's deluxe guest rooms, family rooms and grand living rooms. Outside three large cedar decks overlook Judd Lake, surrounded by evergreen trees, and the Alaska Range.
Dining at Tordrillo is quite the treat with a menu featuring Alaskan seafood and regional game (think Kachemak bay oysters and grilled elk, complimented by wine from the 200-bottle cellar.
WiFi runs throughout the lodge but with a lakeside, wood-fired, hot tub you'll soon ditch the internet and embrace the great outdoors. After said embracing, enjoy the lodge's professional massage services and sauna to unwind.
Travel during winter to ski or snowboard remote pistes accessible by helicopter, or in summer to get your fill of salmon fishing, paddle boarding, and heli-hiking around nearby Mount McKinley.
Why We Love It
The lodge staff are a tight bunch of close friends and this shows in the service provided and the care they put into catering for each and every guest.