Start from 18 curated places around Kenai, AK, then choose the recommendations that fit your guests.
Restaurants & cafés
Addie Camp
Set inside a converted vintage dining rail car on Whistle Hill Loop, Addie Camp runs its own on-site farm to supply the greens, micro greens, and herbs that appear on every plate. The menu leans into New American preparations of local seafood and produce with celiac-friendly and vegan options woven throughout. This is the most sought-after reservation in Soldotna and fills fast throughout summer.
Kenai River Brewing Company
Soldotna's craft brewery on Homestead Lane pours handcrafted ales alongside a full pub menu that goes well beyond standard bar food with generous portions and creative pairings. The Gummi Bear IPA has developed a cult following among regulars and visiting anglers alike. The taproom atmosphere is unpretentious and lively, anchored by a rustic interior that fills up quickly on summer evenings.
Trails & outdoors
Tsalteshi Trails
A community-built multi-use trail network right inside Soldotna with eight interconnected loops totaling over 10 kilometers of singletrack through boreal forest and riparian terrain. In summer the trails open to mountain biking, trail running, and hiking with difficulty options from gentle family walks to technical singletrack. The system is immaculately maintained by a local volunteer association.
Kenai Riverwalk and Waterfront Trail
A paved multi-use path running along the Kenai River and Cook Inlet in the city — connecting downtown Kenai to the river mouth, passing the old town bluff above the Cook Inlet. One of the best places in Alaska to watch the tide roll in over the vast Cook Inlet tidal flats.
Things to do
Soldotna Creek Park & Wednesday Market
The grassy riverfront park at the heart of Soldotna hosts a weekly summer market every Wednesday where food trucks, local vendors, and live music converge from June through August. The Levitt Amp Soldotna Music Series adds free evening concerts on the same night from the park's dedicated outdoor stage. The Kenai River runs directly past the park, making it a reliable spot to watch sockeye and king salmon stacked in the shallows.
Kenai River Guided Fishing
The Kenai River is the most productive sport fishery for wild king, red, and silver salmon in Alaska, and a guided drift or power boat trip gives access to the best holding water from May through October. Multiple licensed guide services operate out of both Kenai and Soldotna, ranging from half-day bank trips to full-day float trips targeting trophy Chinook. The river's glacial-blue color and mountain backdrop make the experience worthwhile even on slower fishing days.
Landmarks & sights
Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church
Alaska's oldest-standing Russian Orthodox church, completed in 1894 and still holding regular services, anchors the Old Town Kenai bluff with sapphire-blue onion domes visible from Cook Inlet. The National Historic Landmark complex includes three original structures and draws several hundred visitors on summer days. This is a working church, not a museum, so the atmosphere carries real weight.
Kenai Bluff & Beluga Whale Lookout
The bluff at the edge of Old Town Kenai drops to Cook Inlet with a panorama of two mountain ranges and four active volcanoes across the water. In late spring and early summer, Cook Inlet beluga whales ride incoming tides into the river mouth directly below and are often visible without binoculars from the overlook. The Meeks Trail from Old Town descends to North Beach for beachcombing along copper-colored bluffs.