Oysters, eagles and whales, oh my: the wonders of Kachemak Bay are at your cabin door.

• Author: Ellis-Knapp, Jody
• Position: EXECUTIVE GETAWAY

In Kachemak Bay State Park, near the seaside town of Homer, sits a lodge like a pearl in an oyster. Apt, considering that the Peterson Bay Lodge and Oyster Farm grows some of the highest-quality, world-class oysters around.

Owned by longtime Alaska residents Gary and Debbie Seims, the lodge is a culmination of their journey to develop their remote property as a family getaway. They started working on the property in 1989, eventually realizing that the finished product might make for an excellent vacation destination. Marketing the lodge in 2000, they have enjoyed success as a summer tourist hot spot ever since.

The oyster farm was started by the Seims in 1991. "The oyster farm grew from our love for the sea," says Debbie. "We started it in 1991 after visiting an oyster farm in Washington state on the San Juan Islands. We realized that the nutrient-rich, pristine waters of Peterson Bay were an ideal location for an oyster farm."

RUSTIC COMFORT AND THE GREAT OUTDOORS

The lodge consists of four eco-cabins, built on raised platforms with combined log and canvas construction, providing the opportunity to fully experience nature in a secure and natural setting. The cabins consist of a roomy living area, bedroom and attached screened-in porch with a great view of the bay. The two-room cabin sleeps up to four people, each having one king-size bed and two twins. All cabins boast quality bedding with cozy comforters, good lighting and rustic furniture. A shared cedar bath house with showers offers luxury towels and a relaxing sauna.

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The main lodge is hand-crafted from local spruce trees and sits in a quiet cove overlooking the Peterson Bay, a small bay in Kachemak Bay. The lodge is a common area for all guests and is equipped with a full kitchen, but guests must...