End-of-the Road Resort Features Fabulous Getaway.

• Author: KANE, ROGER
• Position: Review

If the chill of winter has you down, if you need some time away from the daily grind, or if you are just looking for a little rest and relaxation, you are in luck.

For those independent travelers interested in a leisurely drive south of Anchorage, the Kenai Peninsula offers spectacular views of some of the Chugach Mountain Range's impressive peaks and a unique choice of end-of-the-road destinations: Kachemak Bay or Resurrection Bay.

A four-hour drive from Anchorage, at the tip of the Homer Spit, lies Land's End Resort. The hotel is a Homer landmark and offers guests unsurpassed scenic beauty, marine wildlife viewing and a glimpse of history.

"It's so difficult for me to describe this place because it's part of me. There's so much of my blood, sweat and tears in this place, that I can't describe it dispassionately," says Jon Faulkner, the hotel's general manager. "Usually when I describe Land's End, I say I didn't create it. It's out that window."

Faulkner's creativity is, however, evidenced throughout the hotel. While the destination resort is hustling with activity during the summer months, peace and quiet accompany the winter guest, making it the perfect place to wind down at the week's end.

Among the pleasant distractions are Mississippi riverboat steering wheels and a painstakingly assembled, and meticulously reproduced, collection of photographs, newspaper clippings and maps. The images and documents lining the hallways are a new addition to the hotel. They are of archival quality and chronicle Homer's formative years and some of its more famous residents. The second floor of the Starboard Wing of the hotel is dedicated to photos of the damage in Homer caused by the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake.

The museum within the hotel is the brainchild of Faulkner, who has a degree in American history from Harvard University and is passionate about showcasing the history and spirit of Homer at Land's End.

Other improvements include oak-trimmed windows throughout and a beachfront spa. The spa is equipped with a cedar-lined sauna; a four-person, outdoor hot tub; an exercise pool; a stationary bicycle and a treadmill.

"There isn't one square inch of this place that isn't brand new. Right down to the bare studs," Faulkner said

Also new are the hotel restaurant's movable glass-paned walls.

Dinner at Land's End is served in the hotel's Chart Room restaurant, which offers a selection of entrees that rivals most fine-dining establishments. House...