Alaska hotspots for travelers: destinations and opportunities.

• Author: Anderson, Tasha
• Position: VISITORS INDUSTRY

To travelers from Outside, Alaska might be seen as one giant unique travel experience--and it is. But what's amazing about travel in Alaska is that it's not all the same unique experience; it's a collection of varied unique experiences which results in a lifetime's worth of travel opportunities. Even people who have lived here their entire lives have a list of hotspots for travel--the ferries they haven't taken, the cities they haven't seen, the roads they haven't traveled, and the places they'd like to go. "I try to knock off something on my bucket list every summer, and I've lived here since 1970, but there's still so much more to experience," says Dee Buchanon, Director of Marketing for CIRI Alaska Tourism Corporation. For those who like to travel in comfort, here are a few destinations both Alaskan and Outside travelers will want to take advantage of.

Stillpoint Lodge

Stillpoint Lodge is located in Halibut Cove, which is surrounded by Kachemak State park, directly across Kachemak Bay from Homer. Stillpoint operates primarily as a spiritual and artistic retreat. Beka Thoning, who manages the Lodge with her husband Lucas, says "The original intent [of owners Jan and Jim Thurston] was to create a space where creativity and nature and spirituality could all comingle."

The lodge itself also immerses guests in the surrounding environment. "It was built with an intention to be integrated with nature as much as possible. A lot of the materials that the lodge is made out of are either recycled or rescued materials... The main activity floor, where we do the art classes and our yoga classes, is actually rescued off an old barge," Thoning says.

Guests stay in cabins that accommodate two, meaning at full capacity Still-point can sleep up to twenty-two guests, retaining a sense of remoteness even when the entire Lodge is rented out for a retreat. "Because it is such a nice, small, intimate space, you really get that sense of cohesiveness of the group, and team building is effortless," Thoning says.

As an aid to meditation and reflection, Stillpoint has built a traditional labyrinth. "That's a walking meditation space. Some of our retreat leaders choose to use that intentionally during a retreat, but our guests also just choose to do that on their own." Additionally, Stillpoint has created places to connect with the outdoors throughout the property. "We do have a couple of spots as well where people can just sit and be quiet or have a nice, intimate...