LAST STOP FOR GAS IS GIRDWWOOD GAS STATION UNTIL COOPER LANDING OVER AN HOUR AWAY. Stop at the Kenai Peninsula sign located after driving around Turnagain Arm before entering the mountains. The sign will be on your right and you can’t miss it. There are plenty of stops along the drive for photos and sightseeing.
Bear Creek Winery for wine tasting and enjoying their garden. Ocean Visitor Center – free to enter and great for kids! Fishing charters out of Homer for halibut, salmon and rock fish. Flight seeing and boat tours out of Homer. Take the water taxi or ferry across Kachemak Bay and stay over night or have a day visit in the quaint towns of Halibut Cove or Seldovia. Rent Kayaks across the bay. Transport is via water taxi and you take the kayaks from a secluded beach. Walk the Homer Spit and check out all the local shops along the beach. Fish the lagoon on the Homer Spit. Great opportunity for kids to fish for salmon. Restaurants: - Fat Olives (pizza/Italian) - Captain Patties (amazing clam chowder and fried halibut) - Two Sisters Bakery - Wild Honey Bistro for crepes and other baked goods - Bagel Shop – incredible bagels and bagel sandwiches. Bagels always sell out before closing time. - The Salty Dawg – famous bar - The Kannery
Located a little over an hour from Homer. You have to drive through from Anchorage to Homer. Salmon fishing on the Kenai and Kasilof River. Bike Rentals at Beemun’s. Tsalteshi trail system has a variety of trails in Soldotna that range from easy to more difficult to make it family friendly. Cooper Landing trails are located 45 minutes to an hour away. Check out the visitor center and walk down to the Kenai River. Kenai Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center. Also has walking trails around the center. Here on a Wednesday? Check out Wednesday in the park located at Soldotna Creek Park. Full of food trucks, vendors, a beer garden and live music. Restaurants: - St. Elias Brewing (pizza and salads) - The Flats - Kenai River Brewing Company (burgers and bar food) - Siam Noodle (Thai) - Burger Bus - Odies (lunch and the best cookies) - Veronica’s (lunch café) - Addie Camp (date night feel and can sit in a train car) - Brew 602 (waffles and coffee in a train car)
One of the best places to camp, hike and bike. Kenai River runs through for sightseeing and fishing. There are so many hiking trails. For an easier well trafficked trail, take the Russian River campground trail which ends at the Russian River water falls and has trails along the Russian River. Bike Cooper Landing offers bike rentals. Raft the Kenai River (offered by multiple businesses) Restaurants: - Cooper Landing Brewery - Two Brother’s (BBQ) - Gwen’s (diner food)
Located only an hour out of the way between Cooper Landing and Anchorage. Fishing charters out of Seward for halibut, salmon and rock fish. Kenai Fjords Tour – boat tour through Resurrection Bay showing off glaciers and all the wildlife. Almost guaranteed to see whales, walrus, sea lions, seals, otters, sea birds and more. Drive up or hike the trail to see Exit Glacier. Alaska Sea Life Center. See all the marine life up close/aquarium. Walk the boat docks to see otters. They are everywhere there! One of the biggest Fourth of July celebrations in the town of Seward. The city closes down the streets in downtown and line them with food trucks and vendor booths. Watch the lumberjack competitions or the famous Mount Marathon Race. Watch the boat parade and end with fireworks at midnight.
Drive north past Palmer to Sutton (about 1 hour from Anchorage) and get a tour of the Matanuska Glacier. They transport you right to the glacier. Wildlife Conservation Center – great option for families and kids to get up close to Alaska animals. Girdwood/Alyeska (30 minutes from Anchorage) offers skiing in the winter and mountain biking or hiking on the trails in the summer. Can take the Gondola up to the top. Alyeska Resort/Spa. Scenic outdoor spa amenities to include hot/cold plunges, saunas, steam rooms and more. Pay to gain all day access or book a spa service with all day access included. Take the Alaska Railroad from the Portage Railroad stop (located next to the wildlife center at the head of Turnagain Arm) to Spencer Glacier Whistle stop and visit the Spencer Glacier. The train will pick you back up in two hours. It’s an easy walk doable for all ages and stroller friendly. They also have rafting tours down spencer river (Not whitewater just leisure and wildlife viewing).
There are so many restaurants, here are some local favorites: - 49th State Brewing - Glacier Brew House - Snow City Café (Breakfast/lunch) - Moose’s Tooth (pizza) - Kami Ramen - Seoul Casa (Korean Mexican Fusion) - Great Harvest Bread Co. (fresh baked bread and sandwiches) - Charlies Bakery and Chinese - Humpy’s - Whisky and Ramen - Tequila 61
Take the Alaska Train anywhere! As long as its between Seward and Fairbanks. Some great options are Anchorage or Seward to Talkeetna. In Talkeetna you will see Mt. Denali, the highest mountain peak in North America. This can also be booked through Alaska Railroad with separate lodging or through Princess Lodge for a train ticket and lodging package. Talkeetna has a lot of things to do from dog sled tours (even in the summer) to fishing, rafting, hiking, flightseeing and sightseeing. If you do any fishing, just fly a fish box back as a piece of luggage. There are plenty of fish processing/freezer locations all throughout Alaska. Feel free to reach out to our friends, Kevin and Becca Grimes for fishing spots in Cooper Landing and Kenai/Soldotna!