Homer Alaska

It’s no surprise that the Kachemak Bay Wilderness Lodge has won more awards than any other in Alaska: they've perfected the quintessential Alaska experience. Immersion in beautiful wilderness, exploration and adventure, gourmet food, and rustic elegance all come together at this famous lodge that provides 10 staff for only 12 guests.

Feast on salmon that you caught, or gather mussels and berries to accompany dinner. Go bird watching with a naturalist or learn about the link between sea otters and Alaska's history—it's all right outside your front door where the tide rises and falls as much as 25 vertical feet every six hours. Owners Michael and Diane McBride have created a lodge where you'll live in and learn about the rich ecosystems and natural wonders of Alaska.

Kachemak Bay Wilderness Lodge is located on the shores of the China Poot Bay estuary, a short boat ride from Homer. Remote, pristine, and stunningly beautiful, the bay looks over a private cove and offers access to endless trails, beaches, and coves. And the surrounding area is dotted with bird rookeries, glaciers, mountains, forests, marine mammal habitats, and rich tidal flats. It's this diversity and natural health that enticed Michael and Diane to build the lodge more than 40 years ago.

Michael, a committed conservationist and the first Alaskan to serve on the National Board of the Smithsonian, first saw the area while flying over Kachemak Bay during his time in the Air Force. Shortly after that, he bought a cabin here and slowly added more cabins and buildings. Today you'll find five unique cabins, all with intricate woodwork and unique touches, like stained glass or sweeping roof beams. Each building features spectacular views and original Alaskan art. All the cabins and buildings are filled with books about Alaska's oceans, marine mammals, birds, anthropology, and more.

The schedule is flexible, so you can follow your interests and your moods. Your days can be quite relaxing or action-packed with guided adventures, which are included in your stay. The staff members can help you explore China Poot Bay through sea kayaking, hiking, sport fishing, tidepooling, and bird watching. The lodge also has motorboats for accessing other terrain and waters—from sea bird rookeries to sea otter colonies and seal haul-outs. All the excursions are fully guided, and you'll learn about everything from glacial succession to tidepool invertebrates.

The education component is part of Michael and Diane's love for the land and their dedication to environmental health and preservation. But it's not all about adventure and learning here—the lodge also features fantastic cuisine prepared by Four Seasons-trained Chef Todd Dibkey, who has studied in Florence, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Thailand. In his sixth year at the lodge, he creates masterful dishes with ingredients from the ocean and the lodge's garden and greenhouse. Enjoy salad greens or steamed chard picked on the property—perfect sides for local mussels or fresh-caught China Poot Bay silver salmon grilled over an alder fire.

If you've picked berries or other wild edibles on the day's excursion, Todd will happily work them into the menu. If you choose, you can also spend the day with him, working the smoke house or learning about Alaska cooking.

The personal service begins even before you book your stay. The staff will help align your visit with a week best suited for your interest, whether it means catching silver salmon or the lowest tides of the year. If you want to come at the same time as other families—or if you want a quiet, adults-only trip—they'll find a week that suits your preference. Or let them know if you have a particular interest in, say, archeology or whales; they can arrange for a speaker to come speak in the evening.

So come visit the Kachemak Bay Wilderness Lodge to relax, explore, and play among the natural wonders of this famed Bay.