Alyeska Resort, Alaska’s premier ski resort has many impressive titles.
Alyeska Resort is the only ski resort in North America to feature mountain, glacier, and ocean views. Upon the spring equinox, Alyeska receives more sunlight per day than any other ski resort in North America. The Resort is also home to the North Face – North America’s longest continuous double black diamond run. It’s one of the most unique ski resorts in the country.
The property is easy to spot while driving the scenic Seward Highway. There’s ocean on one side and the ski mountain on the other side. I’ve visited Alyeska Resort many times but never actually stayed long enough to enjoy the amenities. I’ve been working at my home office for about a year and thought I could use some change of scenery. So we went down to Alyeska Resort for a short ‘work-cation’.
As a non-downhill skier, Alyeska Resort hasn’t been on the top of my list to visit, especially in winter. As we discussed earlier, the resort is known for its one-of-a-kind ski runs. But I wanted to highlight non-ski-related activities at the property, because there are many, including my temporary office for one. So here are the activities for my work-cation at Alyeska Resort.
Cross-Country Ski
Although I don’t ski downhill, I enjoy cross-country skiing very much. There are several miles of trails right near the property. In fact, you can find Moose Meadow Ski Loop just steps away from the parking lot. The trails are well-groomed and used frequently. It was a sunny, warm, and perfect blue sky winter Alaska day when I was there. It was a perfect way to break up my workday.
These trails are also excellent for fat biking. You can rent a fat bike at the resort.
Tram up to the top of the mountain
Alyeska Aerial Tram is always fun. I’ve been on the tram many times but it never gets old. I took a break from my work and went up the mountain a couple of times. There’s also the Bore Tide Deli where you can have lunch while enjoying the beautiful mountain view. Of course, most people have skis or snowboards on the tram, but a few of us are just coming up here for the view.
When you’re up on the mountain, don’t forget to check out the Roundhouse Museum. It’s Alaska’s only mountaintop museum and interpretive center. You can learn about the history of Girdwood and how citizens collected enough money to buy the land for the original ski hill. It’s quite extraordinary. There’s also a nice little gift shop.
Dining
Food is one of the many reasons why I love traveling. When I first relocated to Anchorage I asked around where I could find the best Japanese food. Many locals told me “Sakura” at Alyeska Resort. For the past three years I haven’t had a chance but finally, this was my night.
If you’re a Japanese food connoisseur, I recommend the Combo Boat. It was not only the most visually satisfying dish but also a great selection of different tastes they offer.
Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, we had to sit in the ballroom instead of the actual restaurant. We didn’t get the quaint Japanese restaurant atmosphere but hopefully next time we’ll get to have the full Sakura experience!
There are several other noteworthy dining options in Alyeska Resort. For fine dining, take the tram and go up to the Seven Glacier Restaurant, recipient of the prestigious AAA Four Diamond Award (currently closed and scheduled to reopen in summer 2021). Aurora Bar & Grill has good food and a fun atmosphere, and the Bore Tide Deli is an excellent choice for a combination of lunch with a view. Don’t forget to visit the slope-side Sitzmark for good food, live music (when there’s no pandemic), and a wide selection of drinks! Look up at the ceiling when you’re there. A famous local artist Dawn Gerety painted a ceiling mural and it’s quite mesmerizing.
Spa
A true work-cation is incomplete without a proper spa experience. After a day of hard work and outdoor activities, a relaxation massage was the perfect way to end the day. Alyeska Resort is in the process of building the Nordic Spa, which is scheduled to open in summer 2021. That’ll be an excuse to come down here for another work-cation!
Fun little things
Grab a cup of coffee and breakfast burrito before heading out in the morning. You can also ice skate on the frozen Pond. It may be small but still romantic and fun. Relax by the fireplace in the lobby or drink a beer by the fire pit right outside the back door. Even on cloudy days, you can still find aurora from the third floor of Alyeska Resort (inside). Look up!
Working remotely
Alyeska Resort was my office for these two days. After working from home for nearly a year, it was a nice change of scenery. And of course, these mountain views never get boring! There were pretty strong Wi-Fi connections throughout the property, which gave me good opportunities to change my office from time to time. I even went up to the top of the mountain to work on my social media campaign!
#This post was made in partnership with Alyeska Resort but as always, all content and opinions are my own.