Nestled in the jaw-dropping milieu of the Saddlenotch Mountains and Matanuska Glacier, the 60-acre originally homesteaded land includes a 100-mile lake, core-sampled at 14,500 years old, two minutes from the recently built log cabin quarters; stunning views and thoroughly thought-out amenities define Matanuska Lodge.

Although innkeeper Brenda Goldberg, who operates the property with her business partner Rodney Johnson and one staff member, prefers to avoid the over-used word “eclectic,” but nothing better expresses what she says is “definitely different than your traditional Alaskan lodge.”

Located in south central Sutton, Alaska, on the Glenn Highway, one of America's most scenic byways, there is no “moosing around” when it comes to a more romantic hideaway. Mantanuska’s namesake is a Native American derivative of “safe passage;” a perfect metaphor for the cocoon-like atmosphere that holds nothing less than revisiting appeal.

“I’m looking out the back window now, and I’m surrounded by mountains. You look at the back and you see part of the mountains, you look out at the front of the house, you see the glacier; all the rooms are situated so that everybody has a view,” Brenda describes.

Phenomenal views are an extension of the four unparalleled guestrooms each with private bath and full-modern amenities. For a definitive quixotic setting, Brenda recommends the Matanuska Room or Glacier Room, both with king-sized bed and over-sized Jacuzzi tubs. The rooms also afford a spacious patio area with easy access to the seven-person outdoor hot tub on the deck area (a sauna is planned for 2009). On those nippy Alaskan nights, the fireplace in the Matanuska Room takes the chill away.

Far from a sterile setting, vacationers encounter a eureka sense of comfort. “Since it’s a log home, I’ve been able to weave some very warm colors with special bedding, things that I’ve had made,” Brenda notes.

The innkeepers have personalized the guestrooms, painted in different colors and displaying an interesting collection of art, ranging from local to European. “We press our sheets and we have (individually controlled) heated-mattress pads in the winter for people who want to snuggle in cozy,” she says.

Throw in reading lamps, a deluxe soap and toiletry collection, rocking chairs, wireless Internet, radiant-heated floors, outdoor heaters, soft robes and slippers, up-to-date magazines and “too much to be able to tell,” Brenda sums up.

Her partner micromanaged the construction of the lodge in 2006. Custom built, it boasts a generator and huge boiler, guaranteeing the hot-water supply. Relax in one of the two recliners in the downstairs common area complete with big-screen television, well-stocked bar and fireplace. Spend extra time in the third-level observation area with telescope and two overstuffed chairs. One of the former guests, Brenda explains, “Sat there for two days reading a book, and we carried his lunch up to him.”

The third common area Brenda calls the “man cave.” In a room over the garage, enjoy the pool table, treadmill and television.

Previously a nurse, Brenda had always aspired to an innkeeper’s career. “I love to cook, I love to meet people; this place is so beautiful, I hate to leave, but I have to go because I have another home somewhere else.”

Three home-cooked meals (equivalent to five-star dining) begin with a bountiful breakfast. Lunch ranges from soups to wraps, and “anything that pushes the diners’ buttons,” as Brenda boosts. Evening signals tasty appetizers and delectable dinners featuring meat, chicken, vegetables and fruits. Sans liquor license, the staff invites guests to bring their own alcoholic beverages. Personal preference dictates the meals, like everything else at the lodge.

“We pay a whole lot of attention to little details. It’s because we’re small, we’re able to. We ask beforehand if there is anything special you’d like. We have it available,” Brenda explains.

A four-season Mecca, in the summer, fresh garden flowers enhance the indoors. In the winter, the lake becomes a six- to eight-inch thick cross-country skiing area or snowmobiling arena. Meanwhile, outdoor adventures cover a gamut of activities like rafting, glacier hiking, kayaking, ice climbing, cannoning, paddle boating and ATV adventures. Sheep watching is on the sightseeing list!

Regardless of the season or the itinerary, you simply can’t put a price tag on the peacefulness of Matanuska Lodge. “We had a couple that came up to celebrate their anniversary and they were so pleased to be able to have the private time for themselves,” Brenda recalls.

Off-season travel merits its own serenity. “There’s nothing more beautiful here even when it’s cold, cold. You can just sit in the hot tub and pick out the constellations and, of course, we have the northern lights that will come rippling through in the winter.” Season after season… romance, solitude, respite…too many reasons not to return “home” every year.