A Peek Inside Anchorage's Newest Nordic Spa at The Alaska Club (Eastside Location)

Recently, The Alaska Club in Anchorage opened up their brand new Nordic Spa at their East Anchorage Location. My husband and I were invited to come check it out during a media night they hosted, and wanted to share our honest thoughts so you can decide if it's worth a visit. With multiple hot and cold pools, a sauna and steam room, and even a quiet relaxation area - it has pretty much everything you'd want and expect from a Nordic Spa.

My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies out there, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip to Alaska. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars!

I always use Expedia's to compare the best rates & stays in the state.
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If you're traveling internationally, I use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required).

For fun things to do, I recommend Viator or Get Your Guide to find the best tours in the area.

Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance.

Lastly, my packing list for your travels to the great state of Alaska.

Planning Your Visit to the Nordic Spa (What to Know + What to Bring)​

How to Visit the Nordic Spa

There's two options you have if you're wanting to visit The Alaska Club's Nordic Spa. The first is by becoming a member, and the second is by visiting as a guest. Either way, you'll want to call ahead to reserve your time since the number of guests is limited to avoid overcrowding, and it's worth noting that each visit is limited to 90 minutes. They do allow walk-ins, but you could be turned away if it's full. Right now they're limiting visits to once a week, however that could change depending on how busy they are. Each option comes with a different price tag, and I've listed them below :

• As a Member - included for Gold & Platinum Members that are 21 years and older
• As a Guest Accompanying a Member - if you visit as a guest alongside a Member, access costs $65
• As a Guest - if you aren't able to find a member to visit with, a guest pass to the Nordic Spa will cost you $95

What to Bring with You

If you plan to visit, there's a few things I recommend bringing with you : 

• Flip Flops - sandals will work too, but you'll want something to wear in the showers when you rinse off before heading into the Nordic Spa (and they'll be nice to have once you're outside transferring between different pools as well)
• A Towel - if you plan to enjoy the pools first and then enjoy the Relaxation Lounge or sit by the Fire Pit, you'll want a towel or robe to use so you aren't dripping everywhere (for the media event they provided us with robes, but I don't think this is the case for regular visitors)
• Change of Clothes - the one thing I forgot to bring with me was a change of clothes, so I left looking like a wet mess - if you want to avoid my same mistake you'll want to bring a set of clothes to change into after your Nordic Spa visit
• Water Bottle - because you'll be repeating a hot & cold cycle while you visit the Nordic Spa, it's important to stay hydrated, so I recommend bringing a refillable plastic or metal water bottle with you to use during your visit
• A ​Lock - The Alaska Club has lockers for guests to use, but unless you bring your own lock they stay open for everyone to go inside, and they aren't held responsible if anything is stolen. Which is why I recommend bringing a lock just in case. They also have phone lockers available for Nordic Spa guests in the Relaxation Lounge.

My Favorite Tours Near Anchorage :
- Matanuska Glacier Tour
- Alaska Railroad Roundtrip to Seward

Nordic Spa Amenities + My Honest Review​

Nordic Spa Amenities

The Spa Layout includes multiple amenities, with different rooms to enjoy and different hot and cold pools to slip into. Because there's so many, I've listed each one below with my thoughts and quick review on each area, that way you can know exactly what to expect :

• Lobby - After changing and rinsing off in the locker rooms, you'll need to go through the indoor pool area and follow the signs to the Nordic Spa, which will lead you to the lobby. After checking in with staff, you can choose to either head to the Relaxation Lounge or to the outdoor space with the hot and cold pools. When I visited, they had 3 staff members here welcoming guests and checking us in. If you still have your phone with you, you'll need to check it into the lockers before heading into other areas of the Nordic Spa.
• Relaxation Lounge (Restore) - The only way to enter this room is through the lobby, and you'll find the cell phone lockers here near the door. There's a fireplace and multiple lounge chairs and sofas. It's a great, quiet space to relax your mind, although to be honest I felt bad visiting after the pools and getting some of their chairs wet.
• Salt Stone Sauna (Hot) - I have to be honest, this is one of the hottest saunas I've ever been in. Within just a few minutes, I was dripping with sweat, even though I was on the lower level. There's a little room inside where you can hang your robe or towel, and then you can head on in. They even have a bucket here with water that you can self pour onto the hot rocks.
• Steam Room (Hot) - The steam room is just that, steamy. Similar to the sauna there's a little room before the actual steam room where you can hang your robes and leave your shoes or water bottles, and there's two levels for guests to sit on.
• Relaxation Pool (Restore) - Located in the center of the hot and cold pools, this Relaxation Pool is the closest thing to a lukewarm or room temperature pool that you could get. Personally, it wasn't my favorite because I felt like I was walking around a kiddie pool - but a few people stayed in there forever. If you're needing an amenity for the "Restore" step, I would recommend the Relaxation Lounge or Fire Pit instead.
• Hot Tubs (Hot) - There are three hot tubs in the Nordic Spa's outdoor space, one with a small waterfall, all with a sitting bench on the perimeter. Each hot tub's temperature varies a bit, but personally, I couldn't really tell much of a difference - and overall loved the temperature and didn't think they were too hot. They did tend to be some of the busiest spots in the Nordic Spa, so I would enjoy for a while if you get a nice spot! There's also areas to hang your towels and robes near the various pools outside.
• Cold Plunges (Cold) - Similar to the Hot Tubs, there's two Cold Plunges onsite, and one of them has a waterfall as well. They also vary a little in temperature, so I recommend trying them both out to see which is better for you.
• Fire Pit (Restore) - The one area I didn't really take advantage of during my visit was the Fire Pit. Located in the center of the outdoor area, there's a few chairs placed around the fire pit area, and you can lounge here as part of your "Restore" step.

My Honest Review

To be honest with you, I genuinely loved my visit to the Nordic Spa. The only other Nordic Spa I'm aware of is in Girdwood, and this was much closer and easier to visit. It was pretty busy during the media night, but since they limit the number of guests allowed in, I imagine it'd be a truly relaxing and serene experience - especially since no phones or cameras are allowed inside. The hot tubs were hot, the sauna was extremely hot, and the cold plunges were cold - exactly how my husband and I like it. If you like Nordic Spas, then I personally think this is a great way to get the experience without having to drive too far!

Watch My Anchorage Adventures Here!

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Other Anchorage Blog Posts : 
-> 24 Hours Anchorage Guide
-> Anchorage Trolley Tour
-> E-Biking the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail

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