How to explore the breathtaking fjords of Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula

The Alaska Railroad connects Anchorage to the port town of Seward on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula. The GoldStar service includes glass-domed ceilings and an outdoor, upper-level viewing platform to take in the incredible views.

The first destination is the Seward Windsong Lodge a few miles from Seward. The lodge is located in the Chugach National Forest, a temperate rainforest covering over 10,000 square miles. Kylie and her group take a short hike through the forest.

The hike leads to Exit Glacier, a massive wall of centuries-old ice working its way down the mountainside towards the Resurrection River. They marvel at the shimmering blue ice as a naturalist tells us about the area’s topography and the natural habitat.

Early morning at the lodge starts with fresh air and hot coffee out on the deck. It’s the perfect start to a busy day of exploring.

The group departs Seward Windsong Lodge in the morning and takes the Kenai Fjords Tour boat south down the fjord towards Fox Island. There, they stay at the Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge.

Kylie and her fellow kayakers suit up in protective gear, receive an extensive safety briefing, and head out. Kayaking is one way to explore the remote islands of the Kenai Fjords National Park. It’s plenty cold out - so, in addition to multiple warm layers and waterproof waders, they wear wetsuit gloves while paddling.

The entire kayaking excursion lasts six hours. The surroundings include tiny round islands dotted with trees, bald eagles circling overhead, and puffins everywhere you look. One of the destinations is a beautiful waterfall.

The dining room in the lodge looks out onto the deck and across the water to the mountain peaks of the Kenai Peninsula. After a full day of kayaking, dinner is a welcome time to relax.

The Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge is known for its incredible food. Chef Landon Schoenefeld prepares an incredible meal of freshly caught fish and local greens.

The next day the group heads out again on two-hour boat tour with Kenai Fjords Tours. Jagged, rocky islets and forested islands dot the sea. Behind them are forested hills and, deeper in the background, glacier-covered peaks.

The boat sails towards the Aialik Glacier, the largest one in Aialik Bay. At least 38 glaciers are located in Kenai Fjords National Park.

The Kenai Fjords park was established in 1980 partly to protect the area’s extensive marine life there, including seals and sea lions. From the boat, Kylie spots the tail of a humpback whale.

On the last evening on Fox Island, Kylie walks out onto the pebble strewn beach. A golden light illuminates the stunning scenery in this pristine corner of the world.