There is a place south of Anchorage known as "Alaska's Playground." This is the Kenai Peninsula, one of the most scenic and accessible destinations in Alaska. It's the home of world-class fishing on the Kenai River, of moose in Kenai National Wildlife Preserve, and two of Alaska's best-known glaciers.
The Kenai is reached by way of the Seward Highway, a 127-mile ribbon of asphalt that's the only National Scenic Byway in Alaska. From this highway, the major communities of the Kenai lie within a day's drive of Alaska's largest city.
The main towns of the peninsula include Kenai, Soldotna, Homer, and Seward. Kenai, the peninsula's largest city, was founded in 1791 during the days of Russian rule. Reflections of that time can be seen in its Russian Orthodox Church, which is some 200 years old.
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Soldotna is a picturesque village renowned for its King Salmon fishing along the banks of the Kenai River, generally regarded as Alaska's best sportfishing river. Kenai Kings are among the largest in the state; one set a record, weighing in at 97 pounds, four ounces.
Homer, meanwhile, is well known for deep-sea fishing. In fact, a sign welcoming visitors to town proclaims Homer to be "The Halibut Fishing Capital of the World." It's easy to see why: Just stroll the water-front, and you'll see a flotilla of charter boats for hire.
Besides great fishing, the Kenai Peninsula is home to attractions of great natural beauty. Two of Alaska's famous drive-up glaciers (so called because they are reachable by road) are found along the Seward Highway.
About 50 miles south of Anchorage, at the entrance to the Kenai Peninsula, lies the turnoff for Portage Glacier, where a day boat takes passengers across the lake that faces the glacier. Even more accessible is Exit Glacier, which sits on dry land--travelers can park their car and walk a short distance right up to the face of the icy glacier. This is the only part of Kenai Fjords National Park that's accessible by car.
Just a few miles farther south, on the shores of Resurrection Bay, lies Seward, the gateway to Kenai Fjords. Sightseeing cruises leave from the small-boat harbor on excursions in search of whales, sea lions, and other marine creatures.
Downtown Seward is the epitome of small-town Alaska. Mom-and-pop shops line the streets, and you can buy freshly made popcorn or hand-packed ice cream cones at the local pharmacy (and get your pictures developed in one hour). Art galleries have sprung up in and around downtown, featuring the work of Alaskan artists.
Seward's biggest attraction, the Alaska SeaLife Center, sits at the very end of the Seward Highway. This $56-million facility is the only one of its kind in the Western Hemisphere and one of only two in the world (the other is in Norway).
Inside the SeaLife Center, visitors can touch a starfish, come face to face with a seal, and generally learn about the animals that inhabit Resurrection Bay and Prince William Sound. The facility's three-fold mission focuses on education, research, and rehabilitation. Many of the animals you'll see are being nursed back to health, so that one day they may be returned to the wild.
Contact: Kenai Peninsula Tourism Marketing Council (TravelAmerica Magazine), 14896 Kenai Spur Highway, Suite 106-A, Kenai, AK 99611; (800) 535-3624; www. KenaiPeninsula.org.
by M.T. Schwartzman
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Fishing for Salmon in Alaska
Alaska is home to the biggest sport caught King Salmon ever. Weighing in at 97 lbs. 4 oz., this magnificent specimen taken from the Kenai River is what Alaska salmon fishing dreams are made of. For this reason, anglers from far and wide are lured to Alaska in hopes of bringing home their own fishing legends.
The frigid, crystal clear waters of the Kenai River are home to numerous species of trophy fish including salmon, Rainbow Trout and Char. At the height of a red salmon run, these fish are so bountiful that all one has to do is gaze down into the clear waters to see numerous sport fish making their way through. In fact, the salmon are so plentiful that one of the great Alaska legends says that the salmon runs so thick you can walk across their backs.
With all of this bounty, it is no wonder that Alaska has become the prime destination for anglers, both novice and seasoned. Accommodating the flood of anxious fisherman during the peak Alaska fishing season (peak season runs from June to August), has led to the establishment of fishing lodges and guided fishing tours with the primary goal of giving guests the fishing vacation of their dreams.
Many of these establishments offer lush, wilderness accommodations that are within feet of prime fishing spots. No worry of these spots being crowded though. Situated on private property, many lodges are let out to only one group at a time which means that you and your buddies or family will be the only fishermen for miles around. And many of these prime spots are only accessible by boat or plane. There are no nearby residents and no access roads. Now that is a vacation!
You can fish clear waters loaded with all kinds of salmon including King Salmon (Chinook), Silver Salmon (Coho), Red Salmon (Sockeye), Chum Salmon (Dog) and Pink Salmon (Humpies) to your heart's content. Amazingly, it is estimated that a catch of 10 to 20 salmon per day is not uncommon on some parts of the Kenai River. You'll only be able to keep your limit, of course, but you can catch and release fish till you're too tired to fish. Always check local regulations and make sure you have a fishing license.
Are you going to be visiting Alaska and would like to do a little salmon fishing but do not want to dedicate an entire week to the sport? Maybe a one-day charter complete with a guided tour would be perfect for you. On these tours, experienced and knowledgeable guides direct you to unbelievable fishing spots on the Kenai or one of many other Rivers and creeks in Alaska . Once there, they help you through every step of the way to ensure that your Alaska salmon fishing experience is unforgettable.
Interested? Sure you are. Why not take some time to see what an Alaska salmon fishing vacation could have in store for you. Have fun!
The frigid, crystal clear waters of the Kenai River are home to numerous species of trophy fish including salmon, Rainbow Trout and Char. At the height of a red salmon run, these fish are so bountiful that all one has to do is gaze down into the clear waters to see numerous sport fish making their way through. In fact, the salmon are so plentiful that one of the great Alaska legends says that the salmon runs so thick you can walk across their backs.
With all of this bounty, it is no wonder that Alaska has become the prime destination for anglers, both novice and seasoned. Accommodating the flood of anxious fisherman during the peak Alaska fishing season (peak season runs from June to August), has led to the establishment of fishing lodges and guided fishing tours with the primary goal of giving guests the fishing vacation of their dreams.
Many of these establishments offer lush, wilderness accommodations that are within feet of prime fishing spots. No worry of these spots being crowded though. Situated on private property, many lodges are let out to only one group at a time which means that you and your buddies or family will be the only fishermen for miles around. And many of these prime spots are only accessible by boat or plane. There are no nearby residents and no access roads. Now that is a vacation!
You can fish clear waters loaded with all kinds of salmon including King Salmon (Chinook), Silver Salmon (Coho), Red Salmon (Sockeye), Chum Salmon (Dog) and Pink Salmon (Humpies) to your heart's content. Amazingly, it is estimated that a catch of 10 to 20 salmon per day is not uncommon on some parts of the Kenai River. You'll only be able to keep your limit, of course, but you can catch and release fish till you're too tired to fish. Always check local regulations and make sure you have a fishing license.
Are you going to be visiting Alaska and would like to do a little salmon fishing but do not want to dedicate an entire week to the sport? Maybe a one-day charter complete with a guided tour would be perfect for you. On these tours, experienced and knowledgeable guides direct you to unbelievable fishing spots on the Kenai or one of many other Rivers and creeks in Alaska . Once there, they help you through every step of the way to ensure that your Alaska salmon fishing experience is unforgettable.
Interested? Sure you are. Why not take some time to see what an Alaska salmon fishing vacation could have in store for you. Have fun!
by Jarred Kemp
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