The Kenai Peninsula is Alaska's Playground
Scott McMurren -- Jan. 2005
Alaska Travelgram | zoom@gci.net
Looking for a great Alaska vacation? You know-- glaciers, whales, wildlife,
exciting fishing, sightseeing... the works. Well, plan a visit to the Kenai
Peninsula and you'll see all of this. There are beautiful national parks,
stunning harbors, world-class fishing and adventures.
Most folks fly into Anchorage, the state's largest city, to start their Kenai
Peninsula holiday. Others sail into Whittier or Seward, pick up a car and set off
on their independent adventures.
The town of Seward is a "must-see" on any Kenai Peninsula itinerary. Seward
is notable in Alaska history for many reasons. It's the beginning of the Iditarod
Trail to Nome, although the annual race starts each year in Anchorage. Reigning
Iditarod champion Mitch Seavey hails from this harbor town and offers visitors
an up-close look at his prize-winning dogs and kennel. Check the website:
http://www.ididaride.com.
Visitors can go on a real sled-dog ride during their visit!
The Seward Harbor is the primary access point for Kenai Fjords National Park.
This stunning array of glaciers, mountain cliffs and wildlife is a big draw for
visitors. Thousands head off on daily tours by Kenai Fjords Tours. Don't be surprised
if you see more than one kind of whale on your excursion. Watch for exotic Alaskan
birds like puffins, oystercatchers and Bald Eagles. The glaciers are everywhere.
If you've got binoculars, you'll want to bring them on this tour for an up-close
look at the mountains of ice and snow!
Don't leave Seward without visiting the Alaska SeaLife Center. This waterfront
facility offers visitors a chance to see some of Alaska's most exciting marine
mammals and other sea critters. Look for king crab, octopus, harbor seals, sea
lions and much more. There's a big display on salmon migration, plus a hands-on
display on tidal pools for the kids. Sort of an underwater petting zoo!
Fishing enthusiasts can plan a charter fishing trip for salmon or halibut right downtown.
No visit to the Kenai Peninsula is complete without a trip down the Kenai River!
This pristine river starts in Kenai Lake, about 30 miles from Seward. Overlooking the
headwaters is the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, well known for gracious accommodations
and great grub, too! The resort is a collection of little cabins with a big main lodge
for lounging and dining. There are fireplaces in the rooms, as well as private balconies
overlooking the lake. Nice! Another popular feature is the big outdoor hot tub. It's a
perfect way to relax after a day of fishing or exploring.
Whether you want to try your hand at fishing or just want to float the river,
plan on spending a day on the water. The spawning fish draw all sorts of wildlife,
including eagles, bear and moose. Depending on the season, your guide can set you up
for fishing for rainbow trout, king salmon, red salmon or silver salmon.
The lower Kenai River, past Skilak Lake, is better known for lunker King Salmon.
Anglers come from around the world to catch these silver beauties, some of which
top the scales at more than 90 pounds! There are many fishing lodges and day-charters
available in Soldotna and Kenai for visitors. You can learn more about the Kenai
River's unique habitat here:
http://www.kenairiversportfishing.com.
If you ever wonder why people fall in love with Alaska, just drive down the Sterling
Highway from Soldotna to Homer. As you crest the bluff and begin your descent into Homer,
you are faced with a fabulous vista overlooking Kachemak Bay, one of Alaska's most
prolific marine environments.
Glaciers tumble down from icy peaks almost to the water. You can see little specks
on the water, which turn out to be fishing boats on the hunt for salmon and halibut.
There are water taxis taking people to remote communities across the bay. And there's a
"spit" of land which extends about five miles out into the bay. The
Homer Spit features a small boat harbor, some RV parks and lots of options
for travelers who want to see more of the area.
But don't forget to explore the artsy Homer shops! The beautiful setting
inspires many artists who set up shop and offer their wares to visitors!
Don't just stand at the end of the Homer Spit and look out and wonder
"What's on the other side?" That's the mistake I made for
about 24 years. Hop aboard the "Danny J", which sails each
afternoon over to the artist's community of Halibut Cove on the other side
of the bay. Included in your ticket is dinner at "The Saltry",
a waterfront restaurant located on the boardwalk in Halibut Cove.
Run by the Tillion family, the trip offers a unique look at some of Alaska's
off-beat lifestyles. Take a stroll around the boardwalk and some of the
shops before returning to Homer.
Alaska Coastal Marine offers a great wildlife tour across Kachemak Bay to
Seldovia each day. Captain Tim Cashman knows the area well and steers his ship
around Gull Island where you'll see plenty of Alaska birds, including...
you guessed it... seagulls! Your tour includes a stop in Seldovia,
which once was a bustling center for herring processing and other fisheries
before its decline in the 1960s.
Make sure you allow enough time to see the wonders of the Kenai Peninsula
on your trip to Alaska. If not, well, you'll just have to come back again, right? Right!
About Scott McMurren
Scott McMurren lives and works in Anchorage, Alaska, with his wife Christy and their two boys, Drew and David.
Traveling around the big state of Alaska is a passion of Scott's: from Ketchikan to Barrow, from Adak to Nome,
from Cold Bay to Wrangell and lots of places in-between.
Scott produces the Alaska Travelgram Newsletter and alaskatravelgram.com website. He also writes
a weekly travel column for a local newspaper, the Anchorage Daily News. It can be viewed online each Sunday,
in the "Life" section: http://www.adn.com
Or, tune in to KFQD each Saturday morning between 9-10am.
It's 750 on the AM dial in Anchorage.
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