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The Yurt Locker

Paddling with the Salmon in Alaska

None 4 Photos Orca Island Cabins
Lately, you've been thinking about getting into the private island game.

Somewhere remote. Somewhere in America. Well, barely…

Welcome to Orca Island Cabins, a private island retreat nestled into a cove near the Gulf of Alaska, taking reservations now.

In short, it's a cross between a Jacques Cousteau movie, A River Runs Through It and a Sarah Palin campaign ad (the good parts). And now's the time to go—the weather's as warm as it gets up there, and this is prime salmon-ing season. The hard part: getting to Seward, Alaska. The easy part: boarding a water taxi, cruising a few miles to your island and conquering it with your team of explorers.

You'll have your pick of three yurts—basically, upscale circular cabins with tent-style roofs, the likes of which have been used in Central Asia for centuries—where you'll be free to enjoy all the clothing-optional time your soul desires. (To be clear, your soul desires two to five hours daily.)

On one side, you'll be surrounded by the woods. On the other, the open sea, which you can take in from your front porch. It hangs directly over the water—you'll be nestled in something called Humpy Cove —and you can feel free to drop your fishing pole right into the water.

And since there's more to declaring victory over nature than sitting, fishing and grilling, you should spend some time exploring nearby Resurrection Bay—sea lion- or whale-spotting on a Resurrection Bay cruise, glacier-hunting at Kenai Fjords National Park or, if you make it up soon, kayaking with the salmon.

You always like to swim with your dinner.

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