Posted by Colin Smith on March 28, 2010 at 7:38 PM
In September I am going on a Joesph Van Os tour to Denali National Park. I am flying in to Anchorage three days before the tour begins, renting a car and heading south to Homer and the Kenai Pennisula. I am bringing my Canon 500 F4 IS L, 100-400L and the rest of my lenses and a 50D and a 7D body. If anyone has visitied this area in September and can give me some advice on maximizing my time for wildlife I would sure appreciate it. Thanks.
You might get better responses by posting this in the Alaska regional forum.
I'd recommend going to Seward instead of Homer, especially since you only have 3 days. The eastern half of the Kenai Peninsula is far more scenic than the western half, and you can easily fill 3 days worth of stuff. Chugach State Park, Girdwood, Portage Lake/Glacier, Exit Glacier, and everywhere between offer plenty of photo ops. To go all the way to Homer you're just adding in a few hours of driving through relatively dull and flat beetle-infested forests.
Posted by Jim DeWitt on March 28, 2010 at 10:30 PM
Kenn is right on both counts. Post this message over in the Alaska Regional Forum to get responses from more Alaskans. He's also right about going to Seward, not Homer. Take one of the full-day cruises out of Seward (they usually close down by mid-September, so timing may be an issue). Do check out the upper Kenai River when you get to Tern Lake.
Posted by Ron Niebrugge on March 29, 2010 at 1:23 AM
I'm biased as I live in Seward, but I agree with what others have said - I also think the Eastern side of the Peninsula is far more scenic. You have the mountains, glaciers and whale viewing - and you don't have the beetle killed trees that have taken over the western side of the Kenai Peninsula. That said, Homer is a very popular visitor destination, and if you like gift shops, you probably won't be disappointed.
Posted by Colin Smith on March 29, 2010 at 9:29 PM
Thanks for the advice folks. I changed my reservation to Seward (The Saltwater Inn) and booked a photo small group boat tour of Fiords Natl Park. Now I just have to get through the summer.
Discussion
4 repliesColin
I'd recommend going to Seward instead of Homer, especially since you only have 3 days. The eastern half of the Kenai Peninsula is far more scenic than the western half, and you can easily fill 3 days worth of stuff. Chugach State Park, Girdwood, Portage Lake/Glacier, Exit Glacier, and everywhere between offer plenty of photo ops. To go all the way to Homer you're just adding in a few hours of driving through relatively dull and flat beetle-infested forests.