Alaska is so vast that even lifelong Alaskans have not come close to seeing it all. One of the best ways for small groups to experience a unique slice of Alaska is to savor its secluded, exotic getaways.
The remote Aleutian Islands are about as far west as you can go in North America, and for a true distraction-free venue, few places can match the 112-room Grand Aleutian Hotel (907.581.7155; www.grandaleutian.com) in the island city of Unalaska/Port of Dutch Harbor. Located three hours by air from Anchorage, this bayside resort is perfect for incentives and retreats, with sportfishing and the area’s World War II history as additional draws.
Closer in, Kodiak Island (907.486.4782; www.kodiak.org) and the Kenai Peninsula (907.283.1991; www.visitkenai.com) make for fine extensions of mainland visits, complete with bear viewing, wilderness treks and historical tours.
Stretching roughly 470 miles from Fairbanks in the interior to Seward in the south, tours aboard the Alaska Railroad (907.265.2494; www.alaskarailroad.com) are a perfect way to appreciate Alaska’s sweeping scale and grandeur. In addition to different luxury and adventure packages, the railroad has announced a partnership with the U.S. Forest Service to offer Whistle Stop service on its Glacier Discovery Train, with stops in the backcountry of the Chugach National Forest and the scenic northern Kenai Peninsula.
Once one of the most productive salmon canneries in the state, the historic Waterfall Resort (907.225.9461; www.waterfallresort.com) in Ketchikan is a corporate favorite for fly-in sportfishing, offering a one-to-one staff-guest ratio, expert guides and prodigious salmon and halibut runs each year.
Another fine choice is Riversong Lodge (907.350.2392; www.riversonglodge.com), a storied property in Anchorage with excellent fishing and fly-in accessibility for corporate retreats.
In Juneau, the scenic Pearson’s Pond Luxury Inn and Adventure Spa (907.789.3772; www.pearsonspond.com) is an intimate choice for meetings and retreats, offering indoor and outdoor space for up to 40 people, hot tubs, massage therapy, yoga, boating, kayaking, fishing, wildlife viewing, hiking, and biking.
For thrill seekers, Chugach Adventure Guides (907.783.4354; www.chugachadventureguides.com) is known for creating dramatic, personalized itineraries for exploring the Alaska that many people never see, with a range of offerings including heli-skiing and multisport wilderness excursions, as well as trips to remote lodges.
Adventurers are also well served by the Idatarod Trail Sled Dog Race (907.376.5155; www.iditarod.com), with auction-style bidding on exclusive rides in the basket of a sled for the first 11 miles of this epic annual race.
