Michael H.
I will do my best to do this place justice with words however I was mostly speechless the entire time I was there. I was deeply at peace during my stay, and it was very healing to connect so vastly with nature. The Kachemak Bay Wilderness Lodge (KBWL) was the ideal blend of remote and luxury. Never before have I been as submerged in the wilderness and been as comfortable as I was there.||Between the guided hikes to novel & pristine locations and hiking around the KBWL trails, I hiked over 25 miles, paddled another 6 miles or so with guides and my whole family (all in the same comically large canoe), caught all the nearby bays and coves by motor boat, some in my family chartered a float plane tour while I stayed back and got the best massage of my life.||The Lodge common spaces and surrounding cabins were charming and delightful. Comfy beds, rustic living spaces, endless amenities, including an impressive fire circle on a pier, hot tub, and large sauna.||The food was unparalleled. We had every kind of breakfast we could want every morning, overstuffed packed lunches for daily activities, and a 4-course gourmet dinner including hors d'oeuvres & dessert. I am a picky eater and usually skeptical of seafood but I ate everything that was served with zero hesitation. It was all so delicious and very nourishing. The chefs were friendly and generous about talking about their recipes and process. All the ingredients were sourced locally, and the chefs & staff accommodated the food allergies and diets of all the guests. Masterful work.||All of the staff were incredible. They really delivered in all facets. They guided our activities, accommodated our wishes & needs, were very informative & highly skilled, personable & welcoming, they even protected us from bears 🙂 They took us to see a glacier, a high summit with 360 views, dozens of otters, seals, and bald eagles. We saw several puffins, black bear, and mountain goats. I also saw a heron, a grouse, and a porcupine. At one point, my father asked one of the guides if we could see any whales. The next day, the guide took us on a 20-min boat ride to a nearby bay, we waited for all but 5 mins and had an incredibly magical and close-up humpback whale sighting. It was unbelievable and breath-taking. It was like peak-Lebron-James of wilderness guiding - so impressive. ||And it was like this on EVERY activity with every staff member. The staff know when and which guests they needed to assist, and which guests they could let have more autonomy with their experiences. Another staff assisted an older guest with limited mobility up a very impressive trail so they could share a once-in-a- lifetime experience with their group. Another team of staff organized cold beers on the boat trip back for a group of hikers after a difficult hike. I was given a map (and orientation) of the trails around the Lodge and bear spray (with a tutorial) and was free to explore on my own. They were great at evaluating our needs and providing the exact support so we could tailor the trip to our abilities and desires. In the evenings, the staff seemed to disappear, which allowed the guests to bond even more with the beautifully exquisite and unique resort facility. They were so friendly, insightful, and told great stories. Once they discovered all the guests liked dogs, the staff brought their dogs to the Lodge to run around. They were very friendly, playful, and protective. I took a walk in the back trails one evening and two of them escorted me and ran bear defense. Very loyal and cute. The staff were awesome. I hope we didn't wear them out - haha.||Additionally, they have all kinds of wilderness gear to outfit you with. Wading boots, hiking poles, life jackets, binoculars, bear spray, bug spray, and sunscreen. If you want to fish, they will give you a rod and take you fishing. They have kayaks, although, I didn't have enough time to use them as my trip was action-packed with so much already. ||In a fairly short amount of time, the Lodge and the staff give you the complete Alaska experience. You see the sights, eat extremely well, sleep hard. Your anxiety melts away immediately and you become ever-present. I left exhausted - the good kind. And while I was there, I could tell that this was the kind of vacation that stays with you long after it's over. Such a gift.||If any staff read this review, thank you so much. I hope I didn't leave anything out because you sure didn't!!||If you can go to this place and bring your loved ones - you should (and take me with you!)
