Nikiski

This little town 16 miles north of Kenai makes a nice spot for families to stop for a meal, stock up on supplies at M&M Market, and get advice on local fishing hotspots and camping locations.

At Captain Cook State Recreation Area, 13 miles further north, you can get a great camping site—with great views of the Cook Inlet, Mt. Spurr, Mt. Redoubt, & Mt. Iliamna. Off the coast in the Cook Inlet, you’ll also see oil platforms, highlighting the industry that literally and figuratively fuels a lot of life in Alaska. Several oil companies keep offices in this town, too. Other great areas to explore are the Stormy Lake Recreation Area for pike fishing, boating, and swimming, Bishop’s Creek for camping, beachcombing, and fish viewing, and the Swanson River campground for overnighting and catching sockeyes and Dolly Varden.

Families will love the 3,400-acre recreation area 3 miles south of town, which offers great picnicking, hiking, fishing, and a state-of-the-art domed recreation center. There’s a pool, a 136-foot waterslide, a mushroom-style waterfall, and a fitness room with weights, cardio machines, and a climbing wall. If you’re here during early summer, you might catch the town’s Family Fun and Midnight Sun Community event, held on the third Saturday of June.

Highlights of visiting here:

• Camping
• Fishing
• Bear-viewing
• Photo ops from Captain Cook State Recreation Area
• Swimming at Recreation Center