If you’ve ever traveled with me, you’ll know I’m all about cheap hotels. Anything to save a buck that I can better spend on food or adventure. The way I see it, a hotel is a place to sleep after a day of exploration, and unless I’m planning to spend all my time inside (which I never do) I don’t want to spend much more than $70 a night.
I actually want a camper van to eliminate hotels entirely for more local trips.
The deal with this cruise however, was that I didn’t have a say in where we went after the sea portion of the trip was complete (we were on the cruise ship for seven days, and on land the remaining four. 11 days total for this Alaskan trip.)
This was the first time I was glad I did not choose the place we stayed upon arrival in Denali, because hot damn the Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge rocked my socks. 
But how did we get there? We departed our cruise ship before the sun rose and drove 8 hours from Seward to Denali, where we would spend the next two days of our trip. Our vacation package included the Denali land tour, where we were able to spend a full day driving through Denali National Park.
More on that later.
Last night on the ship.
This lodge/hotel/cabin/place I slept and ate and enjoyed a musical made me feel like I was 12 again going to camp. The lodges were scattered at the foot hills of GORGEOUS mountains, and felt like a mini college campus. There were lodges for sleep, lodges for eating, lodges for entertainment, and lodges for shopping.
My favorite part were the giant trees that enclosed each area, tall enough to make following the path almost like a maze.
If that wasn’t enough, there were plenty of options to go for long walks and soak in the fall colors. Did I mention September was the best time to visit and see these colors? My dad and I were able to spend one morning walking around town and submerging ourselves into the woods.
The walk to the trail area did not disappoint, the views were once again unreal.
Our first night staying in the lodge we walked down the road to an area that had a dinner show. The show was informational, sharing the story of the first men to summit Mt. Denali (previously known as Mt. Mckinley.) The show was cute, and the area surrounding the theater was cozy.
Mt. Denali is the highest mountain peak in North America, with a summit elevation of 20,310′. Woof.
Dining/entertainment area.
This lodge would be the perfect location to relax and unwind. Plenty of areas to walk and explore, and tranquil enough to spend your time on site. This is the type of location I would spend more than $70 for. It was included in our trip, but if it weren’t I’d gladly shell out the pennies to stay.
I continued to be amazed by how well planned this trip was. All the connections between land and sea were effortless for us. Literally brain off.
The lodge is connected to Princess Cruise ships, which are connected to Holland America, but you don’t have to take a cruise to stay here. They also own nearby railroad systems, but again you don’t have to take a cruise to ride them.
What a business these cruise companies have created, all owned by Carnival.
I would love to come back here one summer and spend a season working. One thing that resonated most with me about Alaska, and a lot of the people I met, is that many people arrive for a few months out of the year to work the summer season.
This speaks to my nomadic soul so, so loudly.
I’d happily slang some coffee as a barista in the dining lodge with these views. I can still see the yellow trees. Sometimes I get caught up in the societal schema that dictates what the meaning of success is. I quit my corporate job because I wanted more flexibility to travel, and my idea of success is the experiences I have under my belt – not the size of my paycheck.
This means I’d be happy to work a seasonal job fit for someone ten years my junior, because the experiences it would provide outweigh the professional world I left. The only schema we should fall prey to are the ones we set for ourselves. I’ll be back here someday, hopefully sooner rather than later.
Q: Would you rather come in the summer and have sunshine and blue skies, or in the fall with overcast and fall colors? Fall for me, no competition.
Blissfulbritt 
35 thoughts on “Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge”
danaelizabethx
such an epic trip – the VIEWS! THE FLOWERS! THAT SUNSET! 🙂 Plus awesome memories with your dad!
Brittany
I’d change nothing!
rootchopper
My friend Rachel (she of the frozen fingers) spent a summer in Haines on an internship for grad school. Loved it.
Brittany
Yaaasss!! What a blast.
Angie
Fall for me too!
Brittany
Good choice!
pausesandclicks
Again, happy to be experiencing your trip to Alaska with you. And I agree, I’d much rather be there in the fall with all the color. With perhaps a night snow thrown in? That would be perfect!
Brittany
Ohh a night snow, that would have made it so magical. And I don’t even usually enjoy snow!
Amy
Oh my gosh, I can TOTALLY see you working here for a summer or two!! Your idea of being a barista in the lodge is so perfect — I hope you’re able to make that happen! ♡
Brittany
I hope do too, working on it! 😉
Jessica @ Fit Talker
You should totally do it!
I was in Alaska in July and it was wonderful, but those fall colors look amazing! Such great photos!
Sadly I didn’t go to Denali and that is one of my biggest regrets because I was this.close and now i am so far.
Brittany
You’ll just have to visit again so that you can see Denali, AND see the fall colors. Win, win! 🙂
kathy @ more coffee, less talky
WOW!! this is amazing! i really want to do an alaskan cruise as well.
Brittany
You totallllyyy should.
Sheema @ Outdoor Karma
Alaksa is my dream! I am day dreaming about backpacking through there in Summer.
Brittany
Ohhh what a great day dream!
Megan and Lillian
OK YOU LOOK LIKE YOUR FATHER! AND I LOOK LIKE MY PIRATE FATHER, SO I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE TO LOOK SLIGHTLY LIKE A MAN. But you are much prettier. Anyways, these pics…. and this lodge…. I’m thinking I PROBABLY should have had my wedding here. Sheesh. Those cruise ships know how to get us… I am adding this trip to my bucket list. I love fall, I’m with you on thatxoxo -pb addict lily
Brittany
Ahhhahahaha did you just call me a man? My short hair doesn’t help. Bahaha. You MUST do this cruise. Must.
Ellie
You are my soul mate ❤ I think a camper van is a great choice for you 🙂
Brittany
I’ll live vicariously through you until then!
kalkal55
Love your pics! Stunning!
Brittany
Thank you!
GiGi Eats Celebrities
SUMMERRRR! As you know, I am already shaking in my booties over here in LA about it being cold in Denver, so yeah, Alaska in the summer for me please. However, if I tried to climb Denali, yeah, it gets frigid AF prettyyyyy quickly! Count me out on that one. I will stay right by that fire at the Princess Wilderness Lodge. ONEEE DAY WE WILL TRAVEL TOGETHER – ONEEEE DAY!
Brittany
THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN STAT!
P
That lodge looks so cozy…and the views!! If that’s what it looks like in Fall, I don’t mind bracing the cold for it!!
Brittany
Agreed!! The views made the chilly air worth it.
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
Sometimes, like in this instance, it’s worth splurging a little on the hotel. I love the picture of you and your father and I hope you two were able to really bond on this trip.
Best decision ever…leaving corporate America, for the both of us.
Brittany
So much truth in that last statement.
Heart2HomeCreations
Wow! This looks amazing! So pretty! Great pictures! I would love to see the foliage the fall brings!
Please check out my blog at http://www.heart2homecreations.net
I would love to hear from you!
Happy Holidays!
Ashley
Brittany
Such a beautiful season.
stateeats
Gosh this looks so great. I am bookmarking bec. Alaska is one of the few states I haven’t yet visited and this lodge looks like it is THE BOMB! -Kat
Brittany
It is amazing!!! So much beauty.
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Allie Zottola
I can totally see you working at Denali Princess one summer! I feel like you’d just rock it and really enjoy it. I like your definition of success. You go girl 🙂
Brittany
Yaasss. This summer will be a fun one indeed. 😉