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Birch Grove Sanctuary Studio In Central Mat. Valley, On Peaceful Garden Lot
| Sleeps | 2 |
| Bedrooms | 1 |
| Bathrooms | 1 |
| Space | 300 sq. ft. |
| Property type | studio |
Overview
1 King size or 2 twin beds, 1 Bathroom, Sleeps 2
Enjoy the peace of the outdoors – listen to the birds and relish the tangible quiet of Alaska at its best. Sit around the fire ring and watch the local eagles soar into Alaska’s midnight sun evenings!
Our sanctuary studio has a lower level private entrance, full kitchen, full bathroom, and a King sized bed, or two twins depending on your needs.
If you are needing more space, we have a bed and breakfast that sleeps four additional people in two rooms. We have a queen in one room and a twin and fold down bed in the other room.
Our house is located near the end of a drive where it is peaceful and quiet. Our beautiful lot is surrounded by birch and spruce trees, sprinkled with vibrant flowers. We have a gorgeous, panoramic view of the Chugach and Talkeetna mountains. Occasionally we have moose wander into our yard.
Only one hour away from Anchorage Ted Stevens International Airport, you can rent a vehicle and easily find our quiet sanctuary. Free parking on site.
SUMMER ACTIVITIES:
Hike the Butte – 30 minute drive - Relatively short hike to view the Knik Glacier and Mat Valley
Hike Lazy Mountain – 20 minute drive - 3,000 ft climb for a panoramic view of the Matanuska Valley. The only thing "lazy" about the mountain is it's name.
Hike and explore the Hatcher Pass area – About 25 minute drive - endless hiking and adventure above tree line. Explore the old Independence Mine…
Reindeer Farm – 30 minute drive
Fishing: We can help you find great fishing guides. Salmon are caught in several local rivers or you can drive the Parks Highway to Homer or Seward and book a ocean sea guide to catch salmon or halibut. If you want to eat your fresh-caught fish, we have a barbecue available!
Musk Ox Farm – 10 minute drive - Take time to see the local Musk Ox herd. What a unique, archaic and beautiful animal! Babies are born the beginning of May, so you can watch the family interaction.
Golf: Four golf courses in the area.
White Water Rafting within an hours drive
Glaciers: You can drive one hour up the Glenn Highway which is truly one of the most spectacular drives in the world and see the Matanuska Glacier. You can actually walk on the glacier.
Arrange flying tours to see Knik Glacier.
Denali National Park - Less than 5 hour drive
Seward - 3.5 hour drive, Resurrection bay and ocean tours offering spectacular scenery, marine wildlife, and glaciers
WINTER:
We are 15 minutes from excellent cross-country skiing at Government Peak Ski Area and 25 minutes away from several ski trails in Hatcher Pass.
About Sondra Markwardt
We are long time Alaskans. Philip worked with the Forest Service for many years and later became a pastor. He is an avid hiker, a back-packing enthusiast, an experienced cross-country skier and loves white-water kayaking.
Sondra’s family came to Alaska before it was a state of the U.S. She considers it a privilege to have grown up in the old, “real” Alaska in a small bush town on the Yukon River. She values the Alaskan native culture and feels that her growing up years, which included a family dog team, were very enriching.
Both of us have traveled the world extensively and value other cultures. We love meeting new people, and welcome others to the peace of our home. Our golden retriever dog is part of the enthusiastic welcome you will receive here.
We both love the untamed beauty of Alaska and the God who created it. Because of Philip’s experience in the grand Matanuska Valley area and beyond, he will be able to direct you to fabulous outdoor experiences and possibly join you as time allows.
Sondra Markwardt purchased this studio in 2003
Why Sondra Markwardt chose Alaska
Thirteen years ago, when we were looking for a lot to build our house, we kept coming back to this one because of its peaceful setting and the mountain views in several directions. Because of its proximity to the mountains as well as to the stores in the valley and the closeness to an international airport, we feel it is an ideal location.
What makes this studio unique
Our two and a half acre lot includes a 1/4 acre of lawn, a rock garden, and lots of flowers, surrounded by spruce and birch trees. We are close to lots of recreation including sightseeing, fishing, hiking, and cross-county skiing.
Amenities
Palmer Studio Accommodation and Amenities
- studio
- floor 1
- house
- Guests provide their own meals
- 300 sq. ft.
- Max. occupancy: 2
- not suitable for children ...
- pets not allowed
- non smoking only
- Mountain View ...
- Clothes Dryer
- Hair Dryer
- Heating
- Internet
- Iron & Board
- Linens Provided
- Parking ...
- Towels Provided
- Washing Machine ...
- Coffee Maker
- Dishes & Utensils
- Kitchen ...
- Microwave
- Oven
- Refrigerator
- Stove
- Toaster
- Dining Area
- seating for 4 people
- 1 Bathroom
-
Bathroom 1 -
toilet
,
shower
- Bathroom has a full tub/shower, sink, and wardrobe. Shampoo, hairdryer available.
- 1 Bedroom, Sleeps 2
- The studio apartment includes a king sized bed that can be made into two twins, depending on need. There are a couple of comfortable chairs, a small dining table, a TV, and a full kitchen with all dishes you will need.
- Books
- Television
- Lawn / Garden
- Outdoor Grill ...
- wheelchair inaccessible
- restaurants
- photography
- scenic drives
- shopping
- sight seeing
- walking
- wildlife viewing
- ATM/bank
- fitness center
- groceries
- hospital
- laundromat
- massage therapist
- medical services
- cross country skiing
- fishing
- golf
- hiking
- hunting
- kayaking
- mountain biking
- mountain climbing
- rafting
- snowboarding
- snowmobiling
- whitewater rafting
Reviews
Wonderful!
4.9/5 -
(18 traveler reviews)
Very comfortable and relaxing.
Beautiful setting in a quiet residential area. Comfortable accommodations for two. We came to Palmer from the Kenai to organize a wedding reception for 160 friends and family of the bride. This studio was convenient to town and wonderful to relax in once the job was done.
Truly a life-changer
Rightly named - a place of peace and refreshing! The Lord used this place to bring amazing connection and joy. The family is the greatest and the accommodations are clean, comfortable and inviting. A must for your Alaska trip!
Very Cozy and Clean
We really enjoyed our stay at the Birch Grove Studio. Very pleasant decor with birch tree theme. Comfortable bedding. And even though this room originally did not come with a TV, we were pleasantly surprised upon our arrival to find that a television had been provided.
Thank you, Sondra.
Quality quiet time
It is a convenient location and close to areas of interest for us as well as grocery stores and "regular" stores, places to eat. We had little interaction with the hosts other than Woodruff - whom we loved. It was sweet to see his beautiful face in the mornings and as we were leaving for our day. Sondra was pleasant and gracious on our couple of interactions and we were aware she was there and available if we needed anything. I would suggest the possibility of a radio in the room as it was REALLY quiet sometimes. We did have a great time making our own meals and enjoying some quality time together without the interruptions of normal daily life.
Thank you for a lovely place to stay while visiting the magnificent state of Alaska!
Wonderful rental
We rented this studio for two weeks. It had everything we needed for our stay. It was very cute and clean. Woodruff was such a friendly dog and greeted us everyday. We were also able to use their washer and dryer during our extended stay which was great. The grounds are beautful and Sondra and Phil were very helpful with anything we needed. You can hear people walking around above you but it wasn't bad. It was actually a very peaceful and quiet studio. We would definately stay there again!
Beautiful, tranquil, safe
Beautiful property and suite. Very relaxing atmosphere.
Woodruff was a welcome greeter whether we were leaving for or arriving from our adventures.
Phil and Sondra made themselves available when we had inquiries.
Map
Photos
Rates & Availability
Palmer Studio Rental Rates
- Rental Basis:
- per property
- Owner accepts payment in:
- USD
| Rate Period | Nightly | Weekend Night | Weekly | Monthly * | Event | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
My Standard Rate
1 night minimum stay
|
$109
|
$649
|
|
|
|||||
Additional information about rental rates
| Refundable damage deposit | $100 |
| Tax Rate | 5.0% |
* Approximate monthly rate. Actual rate will depend on the days of the month you stay.
Owner's Cancellation Policy
- 50% refund if canceled at least 7 days before arrival date.
- 100% refund if canceled at least 14 days before arrival date.
- Available
- Unavailable
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