Surf on the beach of Kenai on the Kenai Peninsula.

© imageBROKER.com/Shutterstock


Down below the bluffs is an oddity in Alaska: a sweeping, sandy beach, ideal for picnicking, Frisbee-chucking and other waterfront fun. There are stellar views of the volcanoes across the inlet, and from July 10 to 31 you can watch hundreds of frantic fishers dip-net for sockeye salmon at the mouth of the Kenai River.

Sadly, unless you’ve lived in Alaska for the past year, you can’t participate.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Kenai Visitors & Cultural Center

0.43 MILES

This excellent visitors center is among Kenai’s main attractions. The museum features historical exhibits on the city’s Russian heritage, offshore…

2. Soldotna Historical Society Museum

7.98 MILES

This museum includes a wonderful collection of homesteaders’ cabins spread through six wooded acres in Centennial Park. Ask for a free guided tour to…

4. Captain Cook State Recreation Area

19.62 MILES

By following the Kenai Spur Hwy north for 36 miles, you’ll first pass the trailer parks and chemical plants of the North Kenai industrial district before…