GIRDWOOD, ALASKA — Alyeska Resort qualifies as a ski destination, although the majority of its guests come during the summer.

The resort sits amid the Chugach Mountains on Alaska's south-central coast, 40 miles south of Anchorage and 90 miles north of Seward via the Seward Highway.

"There are two or three ski resorts, but we're kind of unique as the only year-round, full-service ski resort in a big state," said Jason Lott, director of sales for Alyeska. "Cut Alaska in half, Texas is … the third largest state in the country."

The resort's aerial tramway offers a seven-minute ride that takes guests 2,300 feet above sea level, with panoramic views of Turnagain Arm, the Chugach Mountains, hanging glaciers and the occasional wildlife. Condé Nast Traveler rated the view the best of any ski resort in the United States.

In winter, skiers and snowboarders use the tram. In summer, it ferries hikers and bike riders up the mountain, where they find plenty of trails to get back down.

While ski resorts in the lower 48 are working to build up their summer visitation to match the ski crowds, Alyeska's prime time is the opposite.

"Our visitation is heavier in the summertime — when tourism is a huge entity for Alaska," Lott said. "We get many people who are coming on cruise tours that dock at Whittier or Seward, and we're part of their land package. We look at ourselves as a base camp for a lot of Alaska adventures."

The snow season is from Thanksgiving through May, with ski and snowboard camps offered the first and second week of June. Summer activities include biking, hiking, flight-seeing from a nearby airport and parasailing off the top of the mountain.

"We've got an abundance of trails, including the original Iditirod trail," Lott said. "We've got animal watching at the conservation center 15 miles to the south, and we've got glacier viewing from the top of the mountain."

The basics — The ski resort is 52 years old, but the hotel was built in 1994. The 304 guest rooms have pillow-top mattresses and mountain-top views. The resort has a fitness center and spa with a salt-water pool, whirlpool and sauna. An interior row of shops includes North Face and a gift shop that sells quality Alaskan artwork. A polar bear looks down on the lobby.

The food — The resort has seven restaurants, including the Triple A, Four Diamond Seven Glaciers, which is reached via a complimentary ride on the tram. "The state of Alaska has only three Four-Diamond restaurants, and we have the only one on a mountaintop," Lott said.

The bottom line — Nightly room rates range from $250 to $300 in the summer and $150 to $200 in winter.

More information — 1-800-880-3880 and alyeskaresort.com.