ALASKA'S BEAR COAST

Land's End Resort enjoys a choice location on the beach at the very tip of the famous Homer Spit, the western terminus of the U.S. highway system known locally as "The End of the Road." It's the only hotel on the spit, and it's within walking distance of the lively small boat harbor where fishermen are constantly unloading the day's catch. Rooms feature views of Kachemak Bay with one king-size or two double beds, a full bath, desk with chair, satellite TV, free Wi-Fi, coffee maker and private deck. Specializing in freshly caught local seafood, the casual Chart Room restaurant enjoys one of the finest locations for dining in Alaska, surveying the broad expanse of Kachemak Bay with marine life often in view outside the picture windows or from the large outdoor deck. Wheel House Espresso offers coffee pick-me-ups, and a gift shop is also on site. If time permits, take a sauna, swim in the heated pool, or soak in the outdoor hot tub in view of the Kenai Mountains.

Nat Hab's private Alaska Bear Camp on Cook Inlet is a sustainable base for exploring Alaska's most pristine brown bear habitat, providing wilderness accommodations that are low on impact yet high on comfort. Built on a historic homestead on the ancestral land of the Dena'ina people, the remote parcel on roadless land was grandfathered in to remain private when Lake Clark National Park was established in 1980. It's the only such property within the park with this exclusive status. Surrounded entirely by the park today, Bear Camp offers a premier location for immersive encounters with brown bears—the world's largest "coastal grizzlies"—exclusively for Nat Hab guests.

Our deluxe backcountry camp is designed for an unobtrusive presence among the bears, with tent cabins erected on a raised deck in front of the forest, facing the Chinitna Bay shoreline. These custom heavy-duty WeatherPort tents offer sturdy protection against the elements. Each has a solid door and hard floor and is warmed with a propane space heater and illuminated with battery-powered lights. Solar energy provides a portion of the camp's electricity needs, including the electrified fence that surrounds the camp for protection against bears and other wildlife. Each tent cabin is furnished with two twin beds. Charging stations for cameras and phones are available in the dining tent. The bathhouse has hot showers and state-of-the-art composting toilets, and each tent also has a nighttime porta-potty for essential needs. Biodegradable toiletries in refillable bottles are provided. Meals are served in the communal dining tent, which also serves as a space for socializing, guide presentations and topping up your camera batteries. A small library is available in the shared tent, featuring bear-centric titles. Food is a highlight at Bear Camp (and not just for the bears!), with our resident chef creating impressive dishes that draw extensively on fresh, locally sourced ingredients, including fish and seafood straight out of regional waters.