High-ed hotels: Alaska style: from Bush Alaska to the state's largest city, there are plenty of top-notch hotels and lodges to select from.

• Author: Pardes, Joan

For those of us who call Alaska home, we know that just like Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz," we're not in Kansas anymore. Sure, Alaska's major cities may-at first glance-be indecipherable from other small cities or large towns in the Lower 48, but under closer examination, Alaska is truly like no other place in the world.

It's true that life in 21st century Alaska has the infrastructure, just like our southern neighbors, to support global and regional businesses as well as all the creature comforts associated with modern American life-yet life in the Last Frontier is still an experience onto itself. Case in point, while every major city has its traffic jams, very few-except in Alaska-occur because of a moose crossing a four-lane highway. Nor do many buildings located in other parts of the world have to close due to a moose in the atrium, a bear (or two) in the parking lot, or a low-flying eagle that inadvertently wipes out a power grid for a few hours.

While living in one of the last truly wild places on the planet presents its own challenges, as well as rewards (i.e. frequent northern lights viewing, and some of the best skiing, fishing, kayaking, hunting, climbing-you fill in the blank-activities in the world), Alaskans are not known to do without. We're known for our ingenuity, adaptability, individuality and playing outside the box, along with kicking back and relaxing after a hard day of work (or play)-and sometimes in the lap of luxury. So don't jump to the conclusion that all the high-end hotels and lodges that appear throughout the state are just for the tourists who flock to Alaska in the summer and increasingly in the winter months, as well.

There are plenty of Alaskans who patron the Last Frontier's wide array of upscale accommodations. And while some of Alaska's hotels and lodges may sport the names of worldwide chains, the luxury accommodations of the Last Frontier are just like the state where they operate-unique. And that can run the gamut from rustic chic to urban splendor. The following is just a partial list of some of the best accommodations the state has to offer.

ALASKA'S PANHANDLE

From the bottom of Alaska's famed Inside Passage to the top, Southeast Alaska has numerous properties that cater to the upscale angler and/or wilderness enthusiast. Starting at the bottom of the state, the Waterfall Resort, located on Prince of Wales Island, has all the trappings of a five-star hotel despite its remote setting. Originally a cannery in the early 1900s, the current resort was built in the 1980s and has been consistently improved upon for...