Kenai Peninsula

The Kenai Peninsula is an amalgamation of much of the finer points of Alaskan tourism. Located just to the south of Anchorage, so you can take in the Alaskan equivalent of a big city with all its urban charms, Kenai Alaska is still remote enough that you can travel the accompanying areas along the peninsula without bothering a soul. It has mountain playgrounds full of circuitous trails, lush vegetation, skittish wildlife and colorful wildflowers. It has winding rivers with surprisingly sandy beaches navigating a landscape littered with lakes both large and small. And it has a plethora of both secluded cabins and Kenai River lodging for travelers to stay in, giving you a glistening view of the entire peninsula.

Much like the rest of the Alaskan wilderness, the Kenai Peninsula caters to adventurers and sportsmen. Kenai River fishing is a popular pastime, with salmon and halibut rushing along the many rivers of Kenai Alaska – the Russian River, Kasilof River, Anchor River and, of course, the Kenai River all offer chartered boats for the avid fisherman. Or you can merely step outside your Kenai River lodging and toss your line into the water. Anglers usually flock to the Central Kenai Peninsula area, along the Kenai River, famous for their salmon runs. If you plan to jaunt off into the Pacific, you can take your chances with whale spotting – giant Belugas occasionally break through the ocean’s surface, much to the delight of those on the whale watching tours.

Many visitors explore the area from one of the many campgrounds situated along the peninsula. Spreading over two million acres, the Kenai National Wildlife Reserve is the perfect place for outdoor enthusiasts to set up base. The Kenai Fjords National Park envelopes the Kenai Mountains, a string of glaciers along the southeast of the peninsula that grace the landscape with some of the most scenic spots in all of Alaska.

The west coast of the Kenai Peninsula is carved out by the Cook Inlet, one of the premier places in Alaska for bear viewing, or you can hop across the water to Kodiak Island, where the bears are even more populous. Air taxis are a common form of transportation here, and you can fly out and settle at any number of day camps or wilderness lodges perfect for those who like to mix a little of the familiar trappings of home in with their nature stays. Here you can enjoy meals and the guaranteed warmth of the cabins, even in the most remote mountain lodge.

As you can see, Kenai Alaska has much to offer anyone who truly enjoys nature. Whether it is ambling across the trails in the Wildlife Reserve, searching for bears on the Cook Inlet, or staying in one of the rustic Kenai River lodgings, anyone brave enough to venture south from Anchorage will find a beautiful and serene world at their disposal.