Gray & Co. summer land-based explorations included Sheldon Chalet, perched on a high rock outcropping overlooking Denali National Park’s Ruth Glacier. Denali National Park encompasses 6-million acres and is home to North America’s highest peak, Denali (formerly Mt. McKinley), which soars from sea-level up to 20,310 feet. Glaciers, snowfields and ice caves are right outside the door at Sheldon – the only private concession in the entire park, measuring in at 5-bedrooms and 4.9 acres. Activities on deck included skiing, sledding, saunas, and the ultimate cold plunge into glacial lakes.

The nearby frontier town of Talkeetna is summer basecamp for forest dog sledding with Iditarod-bound mushers – and puppies/future champions of course! Plenty of quirky stores, Talkeetna is also home to Talkeetna Historic Museum, NPS Ranger Station, Sheldon Community Arts Hangar, meeting of the 3 glacial rivers, Mountain High Pizza and fireweed ice cream.

Knik Glacier is another great stop via helicopter. The Glacier is 25 miles long and 5 miles wide, making it one of the biggest in Alaska. Once your skids hit the snow, meet affectionate Iditarod canine athletes, hop on a sled and try your hand at mushing a short circuit with the help of real life mushers with stories of their 1,000-mile-long races.

Further south, Stillpoint Lodge, across the channel from Homer, features iceberg kayaking, grizzly encounters in the Katmai National Park and “get your limit” halibut fishing. The lodge offers one of a kind cottages, all unique with their own character and names. Halibut cove is complete with a café, one of the country’s last floating Post Offices, and colourful residential homes. Enjoy local, fresh and seasonal cuisine for dinner complemented by wines from the cellar, local brew and craft cocktail like Rhubard Margaritas before retiring to the hot tub and sauna in the Presidential Suite. Spend your days viewing wildlife and exploring the surrounding trails and waterways.

Insider tip – Alaska’s best lodges, helicopters, floatplanes and yachts book up early. Make sure to plan at least a year in advance for your stake at the ultimate Alaskan Safari!

Sunset at 11pm from Hermitage cabin, Kenai Peninsula