Seven Day Kenai Peninsula Winter Adventure

Touring Southcentral Alaska during the winter has never been easier. In this fun seven-day driving itinerary, outdoor adventure meets wildlife viewing, winter fishing, and maybe even a few glimpses of the northern lights on Alaska’s famed Kenai Peninsula.

Day 1: Anchorage

Arrive in Anchorage and pick up a rental car. If you enjoy cross country skiing you’ll love Anchorage, which features hundreds of miles of groomed trails, some of which also link into the backcountry ski terrain of 450,000-acre Chugach State Park. Believe it or not, Anchorage is also one of the best places in Alaska for viewing moose; the snow drives them closer to town, where both eating and walking are easier. So, keep an eye out as you enjoy the winter tour of your choice. If skiing isn’t your speed, try guided snowshoeing, snowmobiling (or as we call it in Alaska, "snowmachining"), or even renting a specialized fat-tire bike to ride local trails. Spend the night in Anchorage.

Day 2: Girdwood

Make the 40-mile drive south to Girdwood, which sports the world-class Alyeska ski resort. But that’s just the start of the winter fun you can enjoy here: other options include Sno-Cat skiing, heli-skiing, ice climbing, cross country skiing, snowmobile adventures, and snowshoeing. After a day of winter fun, get some R&R at the Alyeska Nordic Spa, an indoor/outdoor hydrotherapy spa experience nestled in the forest at the base of Mt. Alyeska. Or, take the enclosed tram to the top of Mt. Alyeska for dinner and an unbeatable, sweeping view of the surrounding mountains, hanging glaciers, and the ocean far below. 

Girdwood is home to several excellent restaurants, so enjoy a relaxed evening dining and sampling local beers before you turn in for the night. If you're staying at Alyeska Resort, be sure to ask for the Aurora Wakeup Call so you can get notified if the northern lights are out.

Day 3: Girdwood to Seward

Today is dedicated to wildlife. On your 90-mile drive south from Girdwood to Seward, be sure to stop at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Here you’ll see wild animals like musk oxen, moose, coyotes, wood bison, eagles, wolves, and maybe the resident brown bears and black bears (if they’re not fast asleep for the winter). You’ll also drive through Turnagain Pass, one of Southcentral’s most popular sites for backcountry skiing and snowmobiling.

When you arrive in Seward, head to the Alaska SeaLife Center for close encounters with seabirds, sea otters, harbor seals, a giant octopus, and touch tanks with starfish and other sealife. Overnight at one of the many hotels, cabins, and b&b accommodations in Seward for the next two nights.

Day 4: Seward

Today is dedicated to winter adventures in Seward. This scenic coastal town is bustling in summer as a popular cruise ship port of call and the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park, and winter visitors will enjoy less crowds, cozy cafes, and loads of unique winter adventures. Winter day cruises and kayaking trips take you out on the water to see the snow-covered mountains of Resurrection Bay and resident marine wildlife. Or, you can join guided winter tours like snowmachining, snowshoeing, ice climbing, and backcountry skiing, or rent cross country skis from the local Nordic Ski Club to enjoy a network of groomed trails. When you're ready to get cozy, head to a coffee shop or browse the shops for local artwork. Enjoy dinner at one of the many great local restaurants. Note that some restaurants close for some months in the winter, so check their websites for seasonal closures. Enjoy another night in Seward.

Day 5: Seward to Homer

From Seward, it’s a scenic, 170-mile drive west and south to the arts-oriented community of Homer. Spend the afternoon sipping tea and munching cookies in one of several excellent local bakeries, then visiting the locally owned art galleries and gift shops that line the 4.5-mile Homer Spit, a slender finger of land that stretches into Kachemak Bay. Overnight for the next two nights in Homer.

Day 6: Homer

Join a fishing charter and head out on the water to cast for Kachemak Bay’s famous “winter kings,” the king salmon that swim in the cold ocean waters before returning to local streams to spawn in summer months. Have your catch flash-frozen and shipped home to feed to your jealous friends. If you'd rather stay on land, you can rent cross country skis and tour the local trails that are groomed by the local Nordic Ski Club. Enjoy dinner at one of Homer's many excellent restaurants. 

Day 7: Homer to Anchorage

Today you'll make the four to five hour drive from Homer to Anchorage. Once you return to Anchorage, make a visit to the Anchorage Museum and the Alaska Native Heritage Center to learn about Alaska history, art, and Indigenous cultures. 

Optional Two-Day Add-On

From Anchorage, make the 115-mile drive north to the sleepy little town of Talkeetna to spend a quiet couple of days watching for the northern lights, skiing on frozen lakes, and cozying up by the fire at one of several rustic lodges. Talkeetna also offers winter flightseeing tours of Denali, a one-of-a-kind way of experiencing North America’s tallest peak.