Mary Pemberton
Viad is introducing the "Alaska Collection," a group of seven top vacation assets that were refreshed and rebranded after being bought earlier this year from CIRI Alaska Tourism Corp.
The rebranded assets consist of five vacation properties and two tour operators with businesses extending from Denali National Park and Preserve to Kenai Fjords National Park.
"We are excited to introduce the world to the Alaska Collection, with this unification, our experiences in Seward, Talkeetna and Denali, as well as our travel planning services, will be brought together locally and internationally to continue to connect travelers in a meaningful and genuine way to Alaska's people and iconic places," said Thomas McAleer, vice president and general manager of the Alaska Collection.
The long list of refurbishments include a new passenger bus at Kenai Fjords Tours, a refurbished dock at Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge and a remodeled bar at Denali Backcountry Lodge. More improvements are planned for 2017.
The Alaska Collection is:
• Denali Cabins. This property of 46 individual cedar cabins is located eight miles south of the entrance to the Denali National Park and Preserve, and provides a convenient home base for exploring the park and surrounding area. The cabins are heated, have private bathrooms and have access to wireless Internet, hot tubs and telephones.
• Denali Backcountry Adventure. This tour operator offers 13-hour day trips deep into the 6-million-acre Denali National Park. It is the only tour operator in 2017 that will operate through the entire length of the park and bring guests to the historic Kantishna mining district for lunch at a spacious lodge and gold panning in Moose River.
• Denali Backcountry Lodge. This property in the Kantishna mining district of Denali National Park consists of a spacious, two-story lodge and 42 individual cabins. The lodge offers a variety of guided outdoor activities and has naturalists on-hand to help with the best areas for hiking, mountain biking and more. Meals are prepared on-site daily. The lodge also has a spa and wellness center.
• Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge. This handsome Alaska lodge was built in 1999 and is located in the town of Talkeetna a few hours south of Denali National Park. The town is a gathering spot for climbers who come from all over the world to try and summit Denali. Guests entering the 212-room lodge find themselves in the lodge's great room where there is an impressive 46-foot-high river rock fireplace. The lodge's newly-expanded back deck is perhaps the best spot outside the park to view Denali and the Alaska Range. A wide range of activities including jet boat tours and flightseeing excursions can be arranged though the lodge's tour desk.[--image id='1'--• Seward Windsong Lodge. This lodge is eight miles from the entrance to Exit Glacier in Kenai Fjords National Park and has 180 guest rooms and 10 Jacuzzi suites in 15, two-story guest lodge buildings. The lodge also has meeting space to accommodate 80 seated guests. Guided tours can be arranged to nearby activities and attractions including day cruises in Kenai Fjords National Park.
• Kenai Fjords Tours. This tour company offers a variety of wildlife and glacier tours in Resurrection Bay and Kenai Fjords National Park where guests have an opportunity to see wildlife such as whales, sea lions, sea otters, seals, porpoises and bald eagles. The company's cruise fleet includes three, fuel-efficient catamarans designed for a smooth ride.
• Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge. This lodge is located 21 nautical miles from Seward on Fox Island in Resurrection Bay. The new, 3,300-square-foot lodge building is located at the apex of the beach and has two-story windows overlooking the bay. The lodge has eight, waterfront cabins.
For more information on the Alaska Collection, click here.