But another, and perhaps equally sought attraction, is wildlife viewing - the anticipation of seeing big bears, moose, caribou, sheep, muskox and other impressive creatures of the great land. You will have opportunities for exciting wildlife viewing adventures and activities on the Kenai Peninsula by just driving around on the road system or by taking exciting tours. You can also relax at your private, fully equipped cabin on Bear Paw Adventure's 14-acre homestead property and watch for moose, eagles and other wildlife among the spruce trees, alders and wildflowers.

When we think of Alaska, we think of bears. Both black and brown bears are found on the Kenai Peninsula.

An inexpensive way to see bears, as well as other Alaskan wildlife, is to visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, located at Mile Post 79 on the Seward Highway. You can stop there on your drive from Anchorage.

At the center, you will see bears and other wildlife in a nearly wild environment. Admission is $18 for adults, $16.00 for military and seniors, $14 for children (5 to 17),  children 4 and under are free.

A popular bear viewing adventure is a float plane trip across Cook Inlet for up-close viewing of the big coastal brown bears. These trips depart from nearby Homer or Soldotna and include a great sight-seeing flight, with good views of the volcanoes on the west side of the Inlet. Katmai National Park and Lake Clark National Park are popular destinations for these exciting trips. Priced at $1,100 each, these adventures will be the high point of your Alaska visit.

For amateur or professional ornithologists, what could be better than time in Alaska to observe and study birds while enjoying all the wonders of the "The Last Frontier."

Areas around Kachemak Bay are used by hundreds of thousands of shorebirds, (more than 25 species) as feeding grounds during spring migration.

Historic Anchor Point, and nearby Homer, located on the picturesque shores of Cook Inlet and Kachemak Bay, offer many interesting sites for viewing shorebirds. This part of the Alaska Kenai Peninsula is easily accessed by a 4-hour scenic drive from Anchorage and offers views of Alaskan wildlife and scenery including four active volcanoes, glaciers, spruce forests, muskeg, snow-capped mountains and shoreline.

Guided birding adventures can be experienced on the Kenai Peninsula, and there are many places and events you can investigate on your own. Bird images in the slideshow above were provided by Jim Stevenson, taken on one of his June expeditions on the Alaska Kenai Peninsula. You can contact Jim at galornsoc@earthlink.net or visit galvestonbirders.org/join-the-society.

Alaska has about 44,000 miles of coastlines and some of the most interesting and scenic coastal areas are located on the Kenai Peninsula. Tours are available that will get you up close to glaciers, whales, dolphins, sea otters, seals, sea lions, puffins, oyster catchers and many more species, while all the time you are enjoying fantastic scenery.

Excellent marine tours can be experienced on Kachemak Bay, the Kenai Fjords and Prince William Sound. Guests staying with Bear Paw Adventure will receive free assistance in selecting the marine tours that best meet their interests.

Kachemak Bay Tours

A range of tours of Kachemak Bay are available during the summer months. These can include a cruise of the Bay, stop at Gull Island and visits to the communities of Halibut Cove and Seldovia. The seven-hour tour, including a 3-hr stop into Seldovia costs $69 for adults, $59 for seniors, and $49 for children, plus taxes and fees.

Kenai Fjords National Park Tours

Popular narrated National Park Tours are available that provide in-depth experiences of the Kenai Fjords National Park’s abundant wildlife, alpine and tidewater glaciers. The tours depart daily in the peak summer season at 8:00 and 11:30 AM and are available May to September. The 6-hour trip costs $179 for adults and $89.50 for children, plus taxes and fees.

While bears, birds and marine tours are among Alaska’s top wildlife viewing attractions, many other creatures roam the great land – not to mention the mighty Yukon Moose – largest of the moose species. Alaska’s wildlife include:

• large animals such as moose, bears, mountain goat, sheep, wolves and caribou
• smaller critters including coyotes, beaver, fox, river otters, martin, mink, squirrels, wolverines, lynx, rabbits, porcupine, muskrat and voles
• birds including eagles, ravens, swans, grouse, owls, ptarmigan, ducks, geese, puffin, gulls, warblers and thrushes, chickadees, and sand hill cranes and a variety of sea and shore birds
• marine mammals including sea otters, seals, sea lions, whales, dolphins, and porpoise

Here is a fun suggestion for your trip to Alaska – Get a checklist of Alaska’s wildlife from Bear Paw Adventure and then see how many of these animals you can spot during your visit. You can add to the fun by trying to get a photograph of each.

A great spot for wildlife viewing on the Kenai Peninsula is Bear Paw Adventure’s 14-acre property. You will also see wildlife as you drive the road system in the area including the Sterling Highway, North Fork Road and the Old Sterling Highway. Watch for moose in the road as these long-legged creatures sometimes dart out onto the road right in front of oncoming traffic.