Wildlife Museum and Historic Village: Where original homesteader cabins and artifacts are displayed allowing a glimpse into the early days of Soldotna life. Located on Centennial Drive in Soldotna.
Soldotna Visitor Information Center: Stop in for a cup of coffee, free brochures, maps, information on local communities, and a calendar of upcoming events. View a world class photo display, and take a picture of the world record King Salmon caught right here in our own Kenai River.
National Wildlife Refuge Center: Take a guided or unguided walk along the marked trails to Headquarters Lake. Bring your camera, there is usually some Alaskan wildlife. In the Center, movies play hourly about Alaska and its wildlife.
Kenai River Fish Walk: Located just down the steps from the Soldotna Visitors Center. Drop a line and try your luck, you may catch a fish. Or pack a picnic lunch and eat on the sun deck.
Mountain Views: Take a drive to Bridge Access Road and experience the breathtaking views of Mt. Spurr, Mt. Redoubt, and Mt. Iliamna. On a very clear day, you might even see Mt. Augustine. All of these mountains are active volcanoes.
Soldotna’s City Parks: Visit the local parks along the river and don’t forget to bring your fishing pole so you can experience how nice the fishing boardwalks are. Binoculars are a necessity; bald eagles are always fishing for their dinner.
Soldotna Shopping: Take a walk through Soldotna and visit one of our many local shops for that unique gift item or souvenir. Many of our businesses have fish and wildlife displays, so bring your camera.
Bird Watching: On Bridge Access Road, just about 6 miles west of Soldotna, the Canadian and Snow Geese fly from afar to a very important staging area in their life called the Kenai Flats. These birds and many others use the flats as a feeding area. The Flats provide a home during the summer for a great variety of shore birds. Kenai Flats has an outlook point with a telescope for the curious.
Wildlife Viewing: Stop by the Soldotna Visitor Center and pick up a copy of the Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula Wildlife Viewing Trail Guide book to help you get the most out of your wildlife viewing adventure with its collection of 65 viewing sites.
The First Post Office: Located in downtown Soldotna, it is still standing where it was first homesteaded. The first postmaster, Maxine Lee, was paid a salary of $14 a month. With no electricity, Maxine had to learn to add large amounts of numbers in her head.
Old Town Kenai: Walking Tour Take a walk down memory lane, with this self-guided tour, maps are provided at the Kenai Visitors Center. All you history buffs will love Old Town Kenai.
Russian Orthodox Church: A sight of beauty located in Old Town Kenai. Originally established in 1791, Russian Orthodox services are still held there every week.
Kenai Visitor’s Center: Offering some of the most astounding wildlife displays and a wonderful display of traveling exhibits that change throughout the year. Don’t forget to bring your camera. Alaskan video showings are available.
Captain Cook State Park: Located just a short drive out to the end of Kenai Spur Highway. The park offers 58 campsites, spectacular views of Cook Inlet, surrounding mountains, offshore oil platforms and if the weather permits, a glimpse of Denali. The beach is popular with agate hunters, and Beluga whales are often seen from the shore.
Hiking: There are numerous hiking trails of various difficulties around the Soldotna area. The Soldotna Visitors Center has maps listing them.
Kenai River Caribou Herd: Usually found along Bridge Access Road on the Kenai Flats. Alaska Fish and Game Regulations protect these caribou. Drive carefully along Bridge Access Road and keep an eye out, they tend to blend into the scenery. Bring your camera, you’re sure to get a good photo.
Berry Picking: Marathon Road is just south of Kenai on the Spur Highway and is a great location. There you will find berries galore and maybe even some wildlife. Don’t forget your hat and bucket.
The Bluff: Located at the base of the cliffs in Old Town Kenai, is one of the greatest beaches in Kenai. It boasts one of the fastest tides in the world, soft sand, shells and a wonderful view of the mountain range. So bring the kids, dogs and have a blast. From the top of the Bluff, you can catch a glimpse of the Beluga whales as they feed on fish in the Kenai River. Your best chance of seeing the Belugas is an hour or two before or after high tide. Remember; don’t forget your binoculars.
Wildflowers: The tall purple stalks of wildflowers alongside the road are called Fireweed. They say, that when the Fireweed starts to bloom from the bottom up, it is the start of summer. When it has reached the top of the flower, summer is over. When it has gone to seed they say that we have only 6 weeks until our first snow. The Kenai Peninsula has a wide array of wildflowers growing along the roadside.
Outdoor Photography: Photograph some of our beautiful wildlife and wildflowers. Bald eagles are frequently seen soaring near the bluffs.
Kenai City Gardens and Parks: Perfect for a stroll and relaxing, Leif Hansen Memorial Park is located inside city limits on the Kenai Spur Highway. Cunningham Park, located just off Beaver Loop Road, heading towards Soldotna is excellent for viewing the Kenai River and Beluga Whales.
The Pillars: The newest boat launch on the Kenai River is located off the Kenai Spur Highway between Soldotna and Kenai on Silver Salmon Road. Pillars Boat Launch has a beautiful boardwalk and a viewing area along the Kenai River. Pack a lunch and have a picnic on the shaded sun deck.
Russian River Falls: Hike to Russian River Falls, where you will witness hundreds of airborne salmon powering their way up the falls to their spawning grounds.
Resurrection Trail: Hike to a wonderful waterfall called Juneau Falls. During the hike you may encounter Dall sheep, black or brown bears, countless birds, moose and caribou.
Ninilchik Village: Full of historical buildings from the 1800’s you’ll be able to see the first Russian School House, the Melania Curtis Home, the Ninilchik Village Cache, the Village Store, the Sorensen/Tupper Home, Bud Dietz Home and
Clam Digging: A small town called Clam Gulch is just past Ninilchik on the Sterling Highway. Watch hundreds of locals dig for razor clams at the Clam Gulch State Recreation Area or get a fishing license and join in.