Kenai Peninsula

This Alaska adventure is exceeding our expectations in so many ways. It is clear now why folks keep coming back. My hope is you like pictures…to date the count is 6,150 (not to worry, I did not post all of them). The views here are so spectacular. On the numbers side of the trip (remember I have the MBA mentality) the gallon count for diesel fuel is 775 traveling 8,400 miles in 60 days. We are half way through our planned trip and we are finding time goes way too fast when you are on the road. Everywhere we go we find new adventures. Jan and I find traveling will broaden ones perspective of the world and outlook on life.

Kenai Peninsula Route - A=Anchorage; B=Kenai' C=Homer: D=Seward; A=Anchorage

Kenai Peninsula Route – A=Anchorage; B=Kenai’ C=Homer: D=Seward; A=Anchorage

The next leg of our trip was to the Kenai Peninsula for 19 days where we covered 1,300 miles. We had heard from others who had been here that it was a must do. For the most part the itinerary was open ended. Included is a map of our route starting in Anchorage then Kenai, Homer, Seward and ending up back at Anchorage. The weather was great, with outstanding RV sites settings.

Anchorage Visitor Center - Impressive Display

Anchorage Visitor Center – Impressive Display

Anchorage Botanical Garden - Looks Like a Planting I Would Do!

Anchorage Botanical Garden – Looks Like a Planting I Would Do!

Anchorage Botanical Garden Entrance

Anchorage Botanical Garden Entrance[/caption

[caption id="attachment_359" align="aligncenter" width="1200"]Anchorage - Cook Inlet Anchorage – Cook Inlet

We started and ended in Anchorage which is a great place to restock food and fuel. There is a fun downtown. There are flower displays everywhere. The long summer days support a fast and aggressive growing season. We did a tour of the Alaskan Botanical Gardens which (in my estimation) looks better online than in person. Our RV site here was at the Alyeska Ski Resort 40 miles south. The route back and forth along the Cook Inlet (Turnagain Arm) was spectacular which by the way is home for the Beluga Whales.

We had the good fortune to find great places to stay on the Peninsula.

Kenai RV Park Beach at Low Tide

Kenai RV Park Beach at Low Tide

Kenai River Commercial Fishing Action

Kenai River Commercial Fishing Action

Kenai River Dip Netting - Alaskan Residents Only (Picture taken as season kicked off - First Hour)

Kenai River Dip Netting – Alaskan Residents Only (Picture taken as season kicked off – First Hour)

Kenai First Market - Great Seafood Source!

Kenai First Market – Great Seafood Source!

Kenai RV Park View - MT Redoubt One of Four Sleeping Giants  - Ring of Fire Chain

Kenai RV Park View – MT Redoubt One of Four Sleeping Giants – Ring of Fire Chain

Kenai RV Park - Dark as it Gets In July...

Kenai RV Park – Dark as it Gets In July…

The RV Park in Kenai was on a high bluff overlooking the Cook Inlet, affectionately called Beluga Overlook. There are big tide changes so the walk on the beach was always different. This is a big fishing area for commercial and sports fishing. One night we saw at least 35 commercial fishing boats returning to harbor. Of course I found another great seafood outlet. The last day we were there the Alaskan Resident Dip Netting season began. The picture was taken in the first hour the season opened. By the end of season in three weeks over 30,000 folks descend on the City of Kenai hoping to take home big catches. From our site we could see Mt. Redoubt a volcanic mountain which is part of the Ring of Fire chain which extends from New Zealand to the Aleutian Island in Alaska. As a side note, we are getting accustomed to daylight all the time…

Homer RV Park - Beach at High Tide

Homer RV Park – Beach at High Tide

Homer RV Park - Glacier View out the Back Window!

Homer RV Park – Glacier View out the Back Window!

Homer RV Park - Early Morning Visitor

Homer RV Park – Early Morning Visitor

The City of Homer has several RV parks on the Spit along Kachemak Bay. Long story made short, a Spit is a sand bar created by Glaciers. We found another great park on the beach where we could see a glacier in the distance. There are so many Eagles ever where but we never get tired of trying to capture just one more photo shot.

Seward RV Park View out the Back Window

Seward RV Park View out the Back Window

Seward RV Park Beach - Petrified Stumps

Seward RV Park Beach – Petrified Stumps

Miller's Landing (Seward RV Park) Lots Going on with Kayaks and Fishing

Miller’s Landing (Seward RV Park) Lots Going on with Kayaks and Fishing

In Seward we stayed at a rustic campground about 5 miles out. The setting was Resurrection Bay on a fun beach with mountain and water views. The salt water killed the trees here and the remaining stumps are petrified now by the salt water…great photo opts. Our RV park, Miller’s Landing on Lowell Point, is a great place to rent Kayaks, a fishing boat or to catch a water taxi to your site of choice. All our RV parks worked nicely as a base camp for launching other adventures.

Kenai National Refuge

Kenai National Refuge

Kenai National Refuge Trail - Great Hike Even with the Mosquitoes (I love pictures of Trail Paths)

Kenai National Refuge Trail – Great Hike Even with the Mosquitoes (I love pictures of Trail Paths)

We got to explore the Kenai National Refuge which includes about 25 percent of the peninsula. We did a fun walk with the Mosquitoes.

Anchor Point on Kenai Peninsula  (Another Notch in the Travel Log)

Anchor Point on Kenai Peninsula (Another Notch in the Travel Log)

Another personal record was set for us when we went to Anchor Point the most Westerly Road Point in North America. Ironically, last year at this time we were at Cape Spear in Newfoundland, the most Easterly Point in NA.

Russian Church - Community of Nikolaevsk

Russian Church – Community of Nikolaevsk

Russian Church - Community of Ninilchik

Russian Church – Community of Ninilchik

There is a strong Russian influence on Kenai. Checked out two noted Russian Churches in Nikolaevsk and Ninilchik…lots of character!

Ring of Fire - Sleeping Giant Three - Mt Iliamna - Kenai Peninsula

Ring of Fire – Sleeping Giant Three – Mt Iliamna – Kenai Peninsula

Great view of Mt. Iliamna another Ring of Fire Volcano which is One of “The Four Sleeping Giants” along the coast of Alaska.

Fun Shot Along the Bike Trail - Homer

Fun Shot Along the Bike Trail – Homer

Lots of nice bike trails in all the communities. Here is a picture I took along the trail of a boat graveyard near Homer.

Seward - Salt Dawg Saloon - Afternoon Stop Over!

Seward – Salt Dawg Saloon – Afternoon Stop Over!

Salty Dawg Tradition...leave your note with a one dollar bill...

Salty Dawg Tradition…leave your note with a one dollar bill…

Anyone who comes to Homer has to go to the Salty Dawg Tavern.

Skyline Drive Overlook - Homer

Skyline Drive Overlook – Homer

If you are ever in Homer check out the Skyline Drive, a drive where it is hard to keep your eyes on the road.

Alaskan SeaLife Center - Seward

Alaskan SeaLife Center – Seward

Highly recommend anyone who comes to Seward to check out the Alaskan Sealife Center. This is an easy way to spend half a day.

Exit Glacier Trail to Harding Ice Field the Beginning

Exit Glacier Trail to Harding Ice Field the Beginning

Exit Glacier Trail...River Crossing

Exit Glacier Trail…River Crossing

Moving Up the Exit Glacier Trail

Moving Up the Exit Glacier Trail

Exit Trail Flowers

Exit Trail Flowers

Exit Glacier Trail Flower...Pleasant Views!

Exit Glacier Trail Flower…Pleasant Views!

Exit Glacier - Along the Trail

Exit Glacier – Along the Trail

Exit Glacier Trail Above the Tree Line

Exit Glacier Trail Above the Tree Line

Exit Glacier Trail - Near the Top - Emergency Shelter

Exit Glacier Trail – Near the Top – Emergency Shelter

Exit Glacier Trail Hikers - Glad They are Near the Top

Exit Glacier Trail Hikers – Glad They are Near the Top

Exit Glacier

Exit Glacier

Exit Glacier

Exit Glacier

Exit Glacier Moraine View...Awesome

Exit Glacier Moraine View…Awesome

Exit Glacier Near the Top

Exit Glacier Near the Top

Exit Glacier Half Way Up the Trail

Exit Glacier Half Way Up the Trail

Harding Ice Field Feeding Many Glaciers

Harding Ice Field Feeding Many Glaciers

Harding Ice Field

Harding Ice Field

The hike to the Harding Ice Field along the Exit Glacier is a top ten pick for us. However we did find the 9 mile hike challenging as we made our way to the top, a 3,000 foot climb. Rather than go into too much detail here will let the pictures tell the story.

Kenai Fjords Tours - Quality Experience

Kenai Fjords Tours – Quality Experience

Seward Harbor

Seward Harbor

Bear Glacier Just Beyond Resurrection Bay

Bear Glacier Just Beyond Resurrection Bay

Tour Photo Shot...

Tour Photo Shot…

Tour Shot...Wish You Were Here to See it in Person!

Tour Shot…Wish You Were Here to See it in Person!

...More Glaciers

…More Glaciers

Tour Entertainment

Tour Entertainment

Wildlife Found Along the Tour - Stellar Sea Lions

Wildlife Found Along the Tour – Stellar Sea Lions

Sea Gulls Feeding on a Fish Ball

Sea Gulls Feeding on a Fish Ball

Hump Back Whale Up Close and Personal

Hump Back Whale Up Close and Personal

The Tail Flip...Kodak Moment

The Tail Flip…Kodak Moment

Junior's Tail Flip...He Entertained Us a Long Time!

Junior’s Tail Flip…He Entertained Us a Long Time!

The Northwestern Glacier

The Northwestern Glacier

Northwestern Glacier

Northwestern Glacier

Northwestern Glacier - Left Side

Northwestern Glacier – Left Side

Northwestern Glacier - Right Side

Northwestern Glacier – Right Side

Heading Back to Seward

Heading Back to Seward

Photo Shot on the Way Back to Seward

Photo Shot on the Way Back to Seward

Some Photo Shot You Just Have to Take!  More Glaciers...

Some Photo Shot You Just Have to Take! More Glaciers…

Inlet Near Seward

Inlet Near Seward

Back to Bear Glacier

Back to Bear Glacier

For our top ten events rating, the Kenai Fjord Tour may end up being number one. The tour is a nine hour journey to the Northwestern Glacier. We left Seward through Resurrection Bay traveling 100 miles to the glacier. The glacier was impressive but so was the wildlife. We got to see Hump Back Whales up close and personal. The experience included Porpoises, Stellar Sea lions, Orca Whales, Sea Otters and lots of birds. Again I think the pictures will give you a snap shot of the experience.

Looking back we did a lot in those 19 days on Kenai. There is way too much to post in one blog. Not knowing what to expect, I think we did it about right. There is always more thing to do and see if you have the time. This part of Alaska is very different from the interior. Personally Jan and I just enjoy being along the water.

We now move on to Valdez for four days. Heard great things about the area and looking for to another Alaskan experience.

More to come…

God Bless,

Larry and Jan

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