One of the McKinley lodge’s annual traditions is a Christmas in August celebration. The lodge is decorated and guests are treated to Christmas cookies, a live reindeer and an appearance from Santa Claus. The event was inspired by a snowstorm closure of Yellowstone National Park and was adopted by the McKinley lodge about seven years ago. This year’s festivities are Aug. 24 and 25. Read more about them here.

Princess employee Ian Von Feldt is dressed as Santa and Mt. McKinley Hotel Services Manager Rick Peterson is an elf / Photo courtesy Princess Lodges

The McKinley lodge is also welcoming painter Don Kolstad. While Kolstad paints nature scenes in the great room, guests can interact with him and ask him questions. He will be painting from 5-7 p.m. Aug. 25 and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Aug. 26.

Peterson said guests have been enjoying a recent Fireweed Mocha special at the espresso bar. The drink features espresso mixed with chocolate, French vanilla, cherry, cinnamon and milk and is especially popular because the lodge property has several large areas featuring beautiful fireweed plants. Peterson said guests are sometimes surprised to learn that the plant earned its name because it is often the first plant that starts to grow in areas that have experienced forest fires.

Ghost the snowy owl / Photo courtesy Bird Treatment Learning Center

The Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge recently hosted three free presentations about rescued birds by the Bird Treatment and Learning Center. The center brought a bald eagle named Hal who was rescued during the Exxon Valdez oil spill clean up efforts and a peregrine falcon named Maverick. Nearly 500 lodge guests were able to see the birds, take pictures with them and learn about the work that the center does for injured birds.

Staff from the center have plans to return with another round of interactive presentations about Alaska’s birds and a snowy owl named Ghost.

Mt. McKinley Princess Lodge guests have already donated $461 to the Bird Treatment and Learning Center, just from the weekend presentation. Lodge staff hope to continue to help raise funds for the donation-based center.

Photo courtesy State of Alaska Tourism / Frank Flavin

The tallest peak in North America, Mt. McKinley stands a towering 20,320 feet tall. It’s located inside Denali National Park and Preserve, an area of more than 6 million acres – slightly larger than the state of Massachusetts – often ranked as one of Alaska’s top attractions.

It’s more than just McKinley that make the park a special place. It’s home to 37 species of mammals, everything from moose, caribou, wolves and brown bears.

The roads inside the park are closed to most vehicles, but buses still give guests one of the best wildlife viewing experiences in Alaska. Additionally, day hikers can get off the bus anywhere along the Park Road and then just flag down a bus for a ride back to the park’s entrance when they’re done.

Photo courtesy State of Alaska Tourism / Matt Hage

Denali National Park and Preserve might be rugged, but that doesn’t mean visitors have to rough it. There are two Princess wilderness lodges located near the park to help travelers unwind in luxury and comfort after a day of exploring.

Located just one mile from the park’s entrance, the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge has comfortably appointed rooms and an expansive deck with outdoor hot tubs overlooking the park and the Nenana River.

The Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge is located south of the national park on the banks of the Chulitna River. The great room at this lodge features enormous floor-to-ceiling windows that look out on Mt. McKinley and the Alaska Range.

The goal is to have Princess employees volunteering at least once a month on trails projects at Byers Lake.

National Trails Day was launched in 1993 and is celebrated on the first Saturday of June.
As part of an on-going partnership between Princess and Denali State Park, employees at the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge worked on trails near Byers Lake during National Trails Day.

Princess staff Dave Arnott, Amanda Clark and Debbie Thompson admire their trail work at Byers Lake.

It’s easy to take a trip to Talkeetna from Fairbanks or Anchorage (located 115 miles north of Anchorage and 278 miles south of Fairbanks) and easy to explore once you get there, on foot along the dirt streets you’ll share with mountaineers, travelers, locals and more than a few friendly local dogs who roam free in the streets. Travel back in time and have breakfast at the Talkeetna Roadhouse, which was built between 1914 and 1917 to host railroad workers when President Woodrow Wilson authorized Talkeetna as the divisional headquarters for the Seward to Fairbanks government railroad route. Better bring your appetite, because it’ll be hard to choose just one course from the giant cinnamon rolls, colossal sourdough hotcakes, eggs and home fries or homemade rhubarb pie (because who says you can’t have pie for breakfast?).

Today mountaineers from all over the world flock to Talkeetna to climb Mount McKinley or nearby Mount Foraker, the Moose’s Tooth and scores of other challenging peaks, adding an international flavor to the town. You’ll likely encounter climbers (as well as bush pilots and airplane mechanics) lounging around at the new Denali Brewing Company or Mountain High Pizza Pie awaiting flight shuttles up to the glacier base camp. Even better is hopping on one of those planes yourself for a scenic fightseeing tour around Mount McKinley. If you’ve never done it, put it at the top of your list.

To work off the calories from breakfast, bring along cross-country skis or snowshoes and explore the miles of scenic trails in Talkeetna. There are also dog mushing tours as well as snowmobiling (snowmachining)  just a short drive in nearby Trapper Creek. In the evenings, take a walk down the street and watch smoke slowly billow out of the chimneys of log homes, watch the northern lights or just relax by the fire. If you’d prefer a more lively evening, check out the schedule of events at the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar for a play, concert, circus, art show or even a masquerade ball.

It’s not too late to vote Talkeetna number one so be sure and cast your vote online here.

If you visit Talkeetna in the summer, stay with us at Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, or swing into Talkeenta for the day on your way up to Fairbanks Princess Hotel.

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Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge

Be sure and pack:

• Fishing gear – if you plan on fishing with a guide, they will supply the gear but if you already know the ropes, don’t forget to pack your pole, tackle, waders, fishing license and of course a big ice chest. Red and king salmon are running right now in the Russian and Kenai rivers and when fall hits, get ready to fish for some silver salmon.
• Rain gear – the weather on the Kenai Peninsula can be a little rainy from time to time so if you pack raingear, it’s guaranteed not to rain (or so the saying goes).

Plan ahead for:

• Traffic – it’s no secret that the area near Cooper Landing has some of the best fishing around so if you’re driving on a weekend, be prepared to share the road with fellow travelers. Luckily, Cooper Landing is just a short two-hour drive from Anchorage and has plenty of pull-offs to stop and enjoy the scenery.
• Reservations – if you’re going to book a fishing charter or rafting trip at the tour desk at this time of year, plan ahead to be sure you get a reservation during peak times.

Mount McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge

Be sure and pack:

• Binoculars – whether you take a flightseeing trip, go on a hike, experience a jet boat ride or take off on an ATV adventure, the views are astounding.
• Your appetite – if you come to Talkeetna, the list of must-try eateries is long. Between the restaurants at the Princess Lodge, the bake shops, pizza joints and a brewery in town, it’s a good thing there are opportunities to walk it off.

Plan ahead for:

• Weather – if you plan on going flightseeing, give yourself an extra day in case weather prevents the trip. Trust me, you won’t want to miss it.
• Time to relax – with the Great One right outside the windows, take a seat once in awhile and just relax. Schedule some time to sit in the Great Room, featuring cozy sitting areas, tables and enormous floor-to-ceiling windows.

Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge

Be sure and pack:

• Camera – it sound obvious, but when a brown bear or bull moose crosses your path, you don’t want to be kicking yourself for forgetting the camera at home.
• Good walking/hiking shoes – I’m not suggesting you climb Mount McKinley, but when you’re staying at a location just one mile from the entrance to Denali National Park and Preserve, your feet will want to explore the grounds (or shop along the promenade).

Plan ahead for:

• Taking the train – we Alaskans are reliant upon our cars (they didn’t invent auto-start for nothing!), but once in awhile, it’s nice to sit back and enjoy the ride. Princess Rail Tours combine the thrill of traveling the Alaska Railroad with one or more nights at either the Denali or Mt. McKinley Princess lodges.
• A trip into the park – at the tour desk, ask about the Tundra Wilderness Tour or Natural History Tour to travel into the park for opportunities to spot wildlife. A long bus trip may sound daunting, but well worth the journey.

Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge

Be sure and pack:

• Sunglasses – with upwards of 20 hours of daylight in the summer, Fairbanks makes you want to stay up and play long into the nighttime hours. The Midnight Sun Dinner and Float trip combines dinner with a late-night float trip down the Chena River.
• Gold mining spirit – with a rich mining history, Fairbanks is packed with opportunities to roll up the sleeves and explore. From the El Dorado Gold Mine Tour to a visit to the Museum of the North, it’s easy to embrace yourself in all that glitters.

Plan ahead for:

• Special events – there is no shortage of things to do and see in Fairbanks, and many weekends are packed with special events like the Tanana Valley State Fair (Aug 6-14).
• A return trip this winter – the only one of Princess’ lodges open all year round, the Fairbanks Princess is available to serve your lodging needs whether you’re coming to enjoy the midnight sun or the northern lights.

Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge

Be sure and pack:

• An extra large cooler – located at the confluence of the Copper and Klutina rivers, this area is prime for some of the best fishing in the state, only not as many people know about it so there will be plenty of elbow room.
• Road map – if you haven’t been to this area of the state before, there is more to do and see then you might think. Take advantage of the close proximity to Valdez, the Mat-Su Valley and Copper Center regions.

Plan ahead for:

• A trip to McCarthy and Kennicott – one of the most treasured adventures in Alaska, this trip will reveal a location that sprang from the wilderness to support the nearby copper and gold mines. You can book a day trip by air or combine a fly/drive adventure from the Tour Desk.
• Driving time – depending on where you’re coming from, this lodge is a true wilderness escape. It’s located at milepost 102 of the Richardson Highway, approximately two hours north of Valdez and five hours east of Anchorage.

My favorite Alaska meals always begin with a starter of salmon cakes; pan-seared and served with a citrus mustard sauce.  Follow this with a lighter course, like the grilled Caesar salad or the seafood salad blended with crab and shrimp. If you’re a glutton for seafood, the Wild Alaskan Salmon Chowder is a house favorite with chunks of salmon smoked over hardwood in traditional Northwest style. For the main course, the reindeer lasagna is a salivating twist on the traditional dish, packed with Alaska reindeer sausage, ricotta and mozzarella cheese. For the perfect endnote to a melody of wild seafood and fresh game, try the berry desserts such as locally made blueberry ice cream or the wild berry pie in a flaky crust. While the name and décor put you in the mindset of summiting Alaska’s Great One, after a meal of this caliber you’ll be glad you’re only steps away from your bed.