A STAY TO REMEMBER Lighthouses have long inspired fascination, but getting to sleep in one is a special treat. Staying in this one in Southeast Alaska ups the ante by also offering a wonderfully unique way to see wildlife and explore a tranquil island, a five-minute water taxi ride from Sitka. A Labor of Love, and a 24-7 Beacon The lighthouse was first built in 1983—a labor of love by Burgess Bauder, a local veterinarian with incredible talent for building and design, who spent 18 months hulling the wood and constructing the lighthouse by himself, on the high point of a one-acre private island. With its red light on top, the lighthouse was registered with the Coast Guard and still acts as a navigational beacon. The lighthouse has also functioned as a vacation rental since its inception, and was recently bought by new owners Teal and Mike ‚who have known Bauder for years. They have given it a fresh update—debuting for the 2018 summer season—and continue offering it for vacation rent