For a real taste of the past, a stay at the Gakona Lodge will transport you to another time. Every building on the sprawling property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and one of them even has a resident ghost. However, that doesn’t mean you’ll be sleeping primitive. The lodge’s log cabins have been recently updated with all the modern conveniences. One of them is ideal for a large family, with three bedrooms and a full kitchen. You can fall asleep to the sound of the Gakona River, which is just steps from your cabin. Other amenities include free Wi-Fi and a TV with DVD player. A free continental breakfast is served each morning in the Carriage House Restaurant, which was built in 1929 as a repair shop and is now a popular place for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The Gakona Lodge is located a few minutes off the Richardson Highway, at the point where the Gakona River joins the larger Copper River. The lodge specializes in arranging guided fishing trips on the nearby rivers, where you’ll experience some of the best salmon fishing in Alaska. They will also set up a deep-sea halibut fishing charter in Valdez, which is about two hours to the south. Everything you might need to enjoy your vacation is at the lodge, including a restaurant, tavern, gift shop and a full-service package shop to prepare your fish for shipment. The town of Glennallen is 20 miles away, where you’ll find several quality restaurants and a grocery store. The visitor’s center for the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is 22 miles away, and is a great place to find out how to enjoy all that the park has to offer. With its comfortable cabins, great food and unique history, the Gakona Lodge is the perfect place to enjoy your family vacation in the Copper River Valley.