This Epic Outdoor Wonderland In Alaska Will Take Your Summer To A Whole New Level
By Courtney|Published June 08, 2016
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Courtney
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Living and loving life in Alaska, Courtney enjoys living a happy life based on simple principles; work hard, be kind, stay humble. She is an avid dog lover with hobbies that include running, fly fishing, hiking & snowboarding.
An outdoor wonderland in Alaska is a place that offers an unlimited amount of activities for all shapes, sizes, ages and adventure levels, from the young audacious type who enjoys thrill-seeking excursions, to the seasoned crowd who enjoys beautiful scenery among a comfortable and relaxing environment. Hiking, sightseeing, day cruises, wildlife viewing, camping, fishing, kayaking and stand up paddleboarding – there is something for everyone in the absolutely breathtaking Kenai Fjords National Park.
These 669,984 acres located near the town of Seward on The Kenai are truly a national treasure. This United States National Park was established in 1980 by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act and let me tell you, Alaska hasn’t been the same since. Year after year, visitors from all around the world come to the mighty last frontier and embark on a day cruise or an all day hike deep into the park. And you know what? They instantly fall head over heels in love with Alaska. They describe the experience as epic, awe-inspiring and utterly life-changing. Once you step foot into the park, you will have a hard time going to sleep at night without dreaming about Alaska in all its glory.
Oh, Alaska! You beautiful, spectacular beast. You are huge and mighty. You spoil us with massive mountains, gorgeous glaciers, unlimited outdoor activities and more wildlife than we ever really even knew existed outside of the movies we watch. This outdoor wonderland known as Kenai Fjords National Park is truly what the definition of "Alaska's Playground" is all about.
Hiking on the Harding Ice Field is a fantastic way to spend a nice summer day. Work up a sweat by spending the day completing this approximately 8.2-mile round trip hike. Your eyes will be blown away by the stunning mountain and glacier views that you will experience along the way. This area is bear country though, so always be prepared just in case you encounter one.
For those just wanting to view the glacier from the town of Seward, you will be happy to learn that it is very easily accessible. About a 10 - 15 minute drive followed by a relatively short hike will bring you up to the most awe-inspiring viewing area. Stare at the massive glacier and let your ears tune into all the crackling and popping from the frozen wonder.
Whatever you do, don't forget to bring a camera! The photo opportunities are truly once-in-a-lifetime and you will probably be pinching yourself to see if it's actually all real. It's really THAT amazing.
Resident, transient and offshore orcas (killer whales) can be found in the waters surrounding the Kenai Fjords National Park. These spectacular creatures are even more beautiful in person. Many who embark on a day cruise into the park have spotted orcas and find themselves instantly feeling a deep connection with Alaska.
Seeing humpback whales breaching is not an uncommon sight in the slightest in Kenai Fjords National Park. Epic and utterly life changing? YES. Uncommon? Nope!
Steller sea lions can often times be found gathered in groups throughout the park. It appears as though they are all sun bathing and basking underneath the warm Alaska sun. You can hear them barking in the distance which is quite funny. They are known to feed on pollock, mackerel, herring, capelin, cod, and salmon.
We can almost guarantee you that if you see one of these adorable sea otters (or a pair of them holding hands) in the park, you will instantly fall in love. They are also very accustomed to boats, so viewing opportunities are pretty great in the park (and even on the docks).
Harbor seals are known for not making much movement other than to forage or breed, so it is quite common in the park to see these beautiful creatures just laying on a chunk of ice and enjoying the sights. Although the young seals do move around quite a bit, so your chances to spot them are a bit more difficult. But when you do, they sure are adorable!
These playful swimmers are known for showing off their super fast speed alongside boats cruising around in the park. They love to play in the waves and truly give onlookers the show of their lives. They are fascinating to watch in their natural relaxed element.
Those cute little guys that look a little like penguins, those are horned puffins. Around mid-May these guys as well as tufted puffins head back to the Kenai Fjords National Park area and can be found all around. During their breeding season you can find them gathered in large groups on top of the water. Did you know that they mate for life? Pretty spectacular!
Aialik Glacier located in Aialik Bay is known for having highly active calving activity during the months of May and June. This is especially cool because the loud booming sounds and "snap, crackle, pop" noises that you can hear are absolutely spectacular.
It not uncommon to see black bears roaming throughout the park either. They are even cooler to watch from a boat because they don't spook easily and are relatively calm in their natural environment. This particular guy was spotted close to Aialik Glacier on a day cruise into the park.
This shot of Bear Glacier from above really puts into perspective how big some of these stunning land masses are. This particular tidewater glacier is a very popular place to view marine wildlife and to embark on a variety of outdoor recreational activities.
And on the topic of recreational activities, could you even imagine stand-up paddleboarding around a massive glacier with beaming blue glacial chunks surrounding you? Talk about an 'Only in Alaska' moment!
And if anything is going to make you feel like a tiny little speck on earth, it will be the feeling you get when you paddle your kayak up close & personal next to a massive glacier. The feeling this experience will give you is 100% indescribable. It is EVERYTHING that dreams are made of.
Pedersen Glacier is an outlet glacier of the Harding Icefield in the park. The 1,700-acre sanctuary by the glacier is known for offering incredible bird and wildlife viewing opportunities. Getting here is just about 20 miles from shore when you hop on a day cruise or fishing boat.
Have you ever experienced Kenai Fjords National Park in person? We’d absolutely love to hear about your experiences! Please share in the comments on our Facebook page!
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