Alaska: Glaciers, mountains and wildlife compete for your attention on the Kenai Peninsula

Dramatic landscapes are surpassed only by the sightings of wildlife on this trip through Alaska’s playground. Bring your camera and binoculars for some spectacular sightseeing.

Drive 312 miles, 6 hours, 27 minutes

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1. Anchorage

Starting Point

This hip metropolitan area is home to a bustling art scene. The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts houses three complexes for award-winning musicals, theater and cultural venues. Take a flightseeing tour by helicopter for a bird’s-eye view of Anchorage’s wild backyard. If terra firma is more your thing, amble along scenic trails for spectacular views of Denali National Park to the north, Prince William Sound and Kenai Fjords National Park to the south, and Chugach State Park right in Anchorage. Take an afternoon trip on one of the bike paths in the park, or pack a picnic basket and set out on one of its many hiking trails.

RECOMMENDED STOPOVERS 

Eagle’s Rest RV Park & Cabins
Valdez, AK
(800) 553-7275

Stan Stephens Glacier & Wildlife Cruises
Valdez, AK
(907) 835-4731

2. Portage

55.8 miles, 1 hour, 5 minutes

This Alaskan town was destroyed in the 1964 Good Friday earthquake; what remains today are ruins from several buildings and a “ghost forest” of trees killed by the salt water that flooded the land on that fateful day. The Portage Glacier may be receding, but blue icebergs can still be seen up close on the Portage Glacier Cruise. This is one of Alaska’s most visited attractions, and more than 100 feet of the icebergs extend down into the lake with spectacular hanging glaciers visible on the mountainside.

3. Seward

83.5 miles, 1 hour, 36 minutes

As one of Alaska’s oldest communities, this seaside village is treated to views of the towering Kenai Mountains filling the skyline and the dramatic Kenai Fjords luring boating enthusiasts. Immerse yourself in salmon fishing, sailing, hiking and kayaking on Resurrection Bay, with its secluded coves and tidewater caves. Grab your camera and explore Kenai Fjords National Park, which provides the best wildlife views in the state. Lace up your hiking boots and follow a 5-mile coastal trail in Caines Head State Recreation Area, then reach out and touch an iceberg at Exit Glacier.

4. Soldotna

94.3 miles, 1 hour, 59 minutes

The party never ends near the Kenai River, with the Frozen River Fest kicking off in the winter and the Kenai River Festival highlighting the summer. Outdoor activities include fishing for rainbow trout and all five varieties of Pacific salmon (some weighing in at 85 pounds), guided canoeing, rafting and float trips, along with hiking, birding, hunting and camping. The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge consists of almost 2 million rugged acres of ice fields, glaciers, boreal forests, alpine areas, mountain tundra, wetlands, lakes and rivers inhabited by wildlife.

5. Ninilchik

41 miles, 56 minutes

Originally settled by Russian immigrants, Ninilchik retains much of its Old World charm, with the local Russian Orthodox Church perched grandly atop a bluff overlooking Cook Inlet and what remains of the original settlement. Traces of this community still exist, including fir log cabins and the area’s first Russian schoolhouse. Clamming is a family event, and razor clams are the prize. Take your time when you savor these golden-brown treasures, which boast oval shells that range from 3 to 10 inches long.

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6. Homer

37.4 miles, 51 minutes

Known as the Halibut Fishing Capital of the World, Homer is also called “the End of the Road” because it’s surrounded by rugged wilderness on three sides and the Pacific Ocean on the other. Despite its apparent remoteness, this is one of the most vibrant artist communities in Alaska; more than 35 established artists, along with numerous galleries and world-class artistic events, can be found in nearby Halibut Cove, which is tucked away in Kachemak Bay State Park. Whether a novice fisherman or a seasoned angler, casting a rod from Homer Spit is a thrill. Hop a chartered fishing boat for the chance to reel an infamous white halibut.