Bear Lake Lodgings B&B

Take a hike from out the back door, or borrow a kayak to paddle up close to the resident salmon. At this lakeside B&B outside Seward, you get a quiet corner of wilderness for soaking up nature, just a few minutes from the bustling town.

Pristine Lake

Bear Lake is a freshwater, alpine lake outside Seward, and it only has a few houses on one end of it; the rest of the shoreline is owned by the Borough and Forest Service, and is guaranteed to stay undeveloped. Since a fish weir is on the river that leads into the lake, you have a prime view of the fish. During summer evenings, you can sometimes even watch the grizzlies go fishing.

Views, Comforts and Ice Cream Bars

The year-round, four-room inn helps you make the most of the setting. The B&B is run by a couple, Pat and Dennis: Dennis is a bush pilot and psychologist, and Pat is also the creator of Original Gourmet Ice Cream Bars, which are sold at Alaska fairs and festivals (and, no surprise, are served nightly at the B&B). When the two met, Dennis had been converting his house here into a B&B; since Pat had been in the B&B business already, they had instant chemistry—and made it a family business after they got married. They kick off the day for guests with a hearty breakfast featuring an entrée—like Maple Pecan waffles—as well as fruit bowls and additional breakfast goodies. And, you’ll get to sample the Original Gourmet Ice Cream Bars, as they’re served to guests each night!

As a reflection on their hard work over the years, each of the B&B's four rooms has its own theme:

Lakeside Suite: With its Alaskan country décor, cottonwood furnishings and views of the lake and mountains, this suite has a king plus two twin beds and a large private bath, as well as a refrigerator. It’s family-friendly, too, for children of all ages.

The Bear Lake Deck Suite: This apartment-style vacation rental suite is two stories, with a fully stocked kitchenette & dining area, a separate bedroom, a sitting area and 2 private baths. Plus a full and a twin pull-out bed in the sitting areas, room for up to 4 guests, along with down comforters and luxury linens for your comfort on cold Alaskan nights. The suite features a bathroom with shower downstairs and a half-bath upstairs.

Resurrection Peak Room: The 3rd floor room, with oak and wrought-Iron furnishings, has a queen bed, a private bath, and views of both Resurrection Peak and Bear Lake. There’s also room for a child, ages 7 and up.

Mt. Tiehacker Room: With views of Mt. Tiehacker and other mountains—along with antique oak furnishings—this 3rd floor room has one queen and an en-suite bath. Room for 2 guests.

High-Tech and Low-Tech Delights

All of the four rooms also come with fluffy bath robes, free wifi, cable TV (in the suites), and flat-screens for DVD use in your room. The common area features a big-screen TV, a DVD library and a book exchange. In the living room you can also check out binders with menus from local restaurants, or a big notebook with information on the best hiking trails in the area.

The Sights of Seward, or Hanging with the Loons

If you want an adventure for the day, you’re just about five miles from Seward, and have easy access to attractions such as Kenai Fjords day cruises, fishing charters, The Sea Life center, train station and a wide range of shops and restaurants.

But it’s also tempting to stay put and make the most of the free use of kayaks and canoes to paddle around. You can watch float planes take off and land from the lake, or just look and listen for loons or eagles—all part of the pristine majesty that guests love about this little lake.