Journey to Alaska Episode 9: Exploring the Kenai Penninsula
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 1 ส.ค. 2019
- To avoid the heat and smoke of fires burning throughout Alaska, we drive south to the Kenai Peninsula and have a great time exploring Homer, Seward, Portage, Captain Cook State Preserve, Soldotna, and conclude with the famous tunnel from Portage to Whittier where we catch a ferry to Valdez.
Along the way we watch surfers catching the Turnagain Arm bore tide, hike to glaciers, visit an aquarium, and hunt for agates.
Links to items mentioned in our videos (and my camera gear) can be found on my
Amazon Storefront: www.amazon.com/shop/fromshetome
As a participant in the Amazon Associates Program we earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you, when you shop from this Amazon portal.
Music in this video is from a subscription with Epidemic Sound:
Surf Madness: Elliot Holmes
I Will Always: Million Eyes
Heads Turning: Colors of Illusion
Aim for the Stars: Rand Aldo
Homeward: Trevor Kowalski
For information on surfing the Turnagain Arm Bore Wave go to: TASurf.com
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What a great experience. Thanks for all the time you spend editing, and filming. We're enjoying your adventure!
amazing scenery ! Breath taking memories ! Visiting Alaska is getting a feel and appreciation of what the old frontier settler experienced, and yet this is in modern times. Thank you for sharing !!!
We have remarked on the hardships they experienced many times and how spoiled we are.
All of your videos have been very informative ty for all your hard work
Beautiful video once again! I am amazed how you manage to make these videos while travelling. The music you selected while looking at the beautiful views was very nice. I wish I could be there with you. Thanks again for sharing! Diane xx
Very adventurous trip--so happy to be following along. Thanks for taking the time to put these wonderful videos together.
Beautiful, informative, fun, with a great mix of narration, music and scenery . . . that’s what I think of this video. You are doing some amazing work and I LOVED watching this! I know it can’t be easy and I really appreciate having the chance to join you on your journey! Thank you so much!! Safe travels! ❤️❤️❤️
you all prolly dont care at all but does anyone know a method to get back into an Instagram account..?
I was stupid lost the login password. I would love any tricks you can offer me.
@Jake Jonah instablaster ;)
@Colby Nash I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site on google and Im trying it out atm.
Looks like it's gonna take a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Colby Nash it did the trick and I actually got access to my account again. I'm so happy:D
Thank you so much, you saved my ass !
@Jake Jonah you are welcome :)
Another great informative video! Thanks for sharing, and safe travels
I enjoy your videos very much pretty lady, always interesting and informative. Big thumbs up...
Nice video. Interesting to here about establishing rituals in your Ascent. We likewise have been married 44 years and spent 74 days traveling to Alaska in our Ascent and it works. I really think it made our marriage stronger or maybe just refreshed it. Looking forward to more of your videos!
We feel the same way.
Very enjoyable to watch.Thanks for all the great info and sharing many details about your journeys. Looking forward to more. Take care.
Another wonderful video, thanks for being so kind and for sharing your trip. Safe travels :)
Married for 44 years? I bet you got married at age 1 !!! You both look healthy and young.....grrr, we thank you for taking us along, I can say I traveled to Alaska with From She to Me.
Thanks. In person I look every bit of my 65 years. 😅
Safe travels to you: )
Great video. Thank you for sharing. Safe travels!
Wow! Just beautiful! You’re videos are truly amazing. You both have captured some wonderful footage of Alaska. You two are also the cutest couple! I’m sure your family members are very proud of you both. Thanks for sharing all your knowledge and adventures with us. Please stay safe while enjoying your life adventures.
At least we try not to embarrass our son and grandkids but it’s hard sometimes. 😂
Thank you once again for allowing us to travel to Alaska with you. I’m heading there next week on a cruise with friends. We wanted to do it in our Ascent but a cruise will be better because we;re travelling with 3 other couples. We’ll have to go back with our van another time.
Excellent. You’ll probably take a number of excursions and get a feel for what you can see when you are able to make the journey.
Looks like John's hip is doing good with that little kick at the end. Looks like everything is still going good and you are having fun.Thanks for the Fred Meyer tip as I don't believe it was there 12 years ago and good to be able to drain tanks there.
There are usually a couple of RVs in line but doesn't take long and very convenient.
Beautiful: ) the weather in Alaska looks nice compared to Phoenix Arizona today 8/2/19 112 degrees plus humidity I'm ready for Alaska
Very cool the past few weeks here. Not looking forward to the Mojave desert on our way back.
I used to love in Alaska I will always miss it it’s so beautiful!!!!
I ment to say live in Alaska
Great video and very informative. Thanks.
I just got back from a thee week trip to Banff, traveling from the bay area. Inspired by your trip. I used the same route that you used, up through Idaho. Traveling in a 19.5 foot Roadtrek . Had a great trip. Next year Alaska. Thank you for your vids.
Glad you had a great trip.
beautiful video❤❤❤
great video again excited to see the next thanks for the information putting it all down for our trip there next year we just boondocks for the first time and loved it so we are excited to do a trip there take care safe travels
Loving it guys! Hugs!
We found the same experience in Whittier...once and done. You guys found much better weather than we did out on the Kenai Penninsula. But we did stay at Williwaw Campground. Host there gave us 2 salmon filets.
When we made our trip in 1988 (with 3 kids in an Ford Econoline 150!) you were not allowed to drive through the tunnel from Portage to Whittier. The program was to drive your van/car/truck onto the flatbed rail car and ride it to Whittier. You were not allowed to get out of your car. Whittier does not seem to have changed much, from your description. When we took the ferry across Prince William Sound to Valdez (in August), we had pieces of glacial ice banging off of the hull of the ferry all the way!
Wow.would have been amazing to see all that. You would be depressed to see the glacial retreat from 1988. And my hat’s off to you for such a journey with 3 kids. I’m sure it made a lasting impression on them.
What a beautifully fantastic area, i must remember about the Kenai, if i ever get the chance. 😍
Your comments about Whittier made me chuckle! Whittier is an old military base. Did you know the entire town lives in one building? It's a high rise which used to be military barracks. There are even a few small shops that service the "residents." It is truly one of the those uniquely Alaskan places. Kennecott/McCarthy is as well. It is probably my favorite place in Alaska. I'm looking forward to your next post!
Yes, we read about it and wondered why they haven’t torn down the original Soviet style concrete barracks down the road.
@@FromShetoMe My guess is getting the stuff hauled out of there. Trash/landfill cost issues abound up here. Same reason we don't recycle. It costs a ton
Great video. Beautiful scenery, good information and enjoyed your narrative. I am planning a trip up there next sum we but seems crowded. Thanks for sharing.
Oops. Meant to type 'summer', not 'sum we'. Safe travels
Thanks for the many tips exploring the Kenai area in an RV … which we hope to do in 2022.
Try a cheap plastic shower cap over your fire extinguisher when you’re cooking. While I hate to thwart safety devices ours goes off even from steam from our InstantPot!
Great idea!
Thank you. These videos are very informative . I plan on retiring this January and I’m working on a trip to Alaska.
Alaska scenery is spectacular! My family lived in Anchorage in 1962 when I was a kid. My father would hook up the boat on a trailer and we drove to Seward often on the weekends to fish for halibut, cod and coho salmon. It would be an understatement to say that Alaska has changed since then! My wife has never been to Alaska and we hope that we can travel to Anchorage next year to celebrate the 60th year since I lived there. Thanks for your informative video!
You must have vivid memories of the 1964 earthquake. Even though I was only 10, I remember watching the news.
@@FromShetoMe Fortunately we moved from the Turnagain area of Anchorage before the 1964 earthquake. I loved Alaska and was not a happy camper when my dad was transferred to Casper. WY, but the Turnagain area suffered severe damage and I may not be here today if we would have stayed there.
Lots of great info ~ loved the views from a few of those campsites! I have watched other videos of that long tunnel ~ just not so sure I could handle being in there for so long. Yikes! Congrats on 44 years ~ you must have gotten married when you were 10! We too, divide the work in a way that we just sort of figured out ~ works in our trailer as we have been living on a boat for 25+ years.
I hope your boat is moored someplace tropical.
Travel Small Live Big hello, It sound so strange, married 44 years, we are @55 , but I do most of the house stuff, now, wife uses a cane& a walker away from home, and life goes on , CHEERS FROM NJ 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
How are your various insect repellent methods working? You are posting such inspirational videos! Thanks for your efforts! Love them and am shopping your store ❤️
Thanks. It was a very dry year this year so mosquitoes were probably lighter than usual but everything we brought has worked great. I was skeptical about the thermacell and mosquito sticks but they actually work. And the zapper is too much fun. Almost made me want more to get inside. Taping screens around windows is essential.
This is awesome
look very good again toppie
In college I met a friend's girlfriend at their new apartment. I noticed a cute stuffed bear on a shelf, "Who's this?" "Oh, that's Turnagain," she replied.
"As in 'Turnagain Arm' Alaska???" She said, "Wait, you KNOW it?!!!!" I had just returned from a summer on the Kenai peninsula before meeting her. We were both taken aback, to say the least!
Hi from Oregon/ liked the video 😁
Thanks for your Kenai preview. We are heading there now coming from McCarthy/Kennicott. The road was the bumpiest so far-worse than the Dempster. The bridge crossing is overrated. Do the walking tour of the Mill. It was outstanding. Starting toward the top of the 14-story rickety mill building was quite the experience and overlooking the glacier. Safe travels.
Next video is on our trip there. Really enjoyed it.
I'm really enjoying your videos! You were on the Kenai 2 or 3 weeks before my buddy Jim and I were there last year. The Swan Lake fire had gotten a lot worse by the time we got there, you were very lucky!! Jim and I bought some property together in Kasilof and hope to be building our cabins/homes and retiring there in the next year or two. If you ever come back up that way, give us a shout and stop by!
Thanks. We may go back to Alaska in a few years.
We just returned from Alaska. I see you’re going to McCarthy Road. We took the half day glacier guided tour on the Root glacier. It was one of the highlights of our Alaska trip and we were there for 15 days. We flew into Kendicott and stayed at the lodge. We ate our meals family style and that was terrific. We also had Verizon so we were pleasantly surprised that we had cell service the whole time without buying WiFi.
My next video is on Kennicott/McCarthy. We enjoyed the same tour. Wish we could have stayed longer.
I am looking forward to the next one because it was an extraordinary trip for us too.
Looked like a fun week. I don’t understand why people want to put smoke dectectors on the ceiling because any thing even close to smoke fumes set it off. The right place is about a foot down on the wall and that won’t have it go off all the time but it still will give you enough time incase of a real fire.
You mentioned a free dump and free water at Fred Meyers in Soldotna but Homer has the same thing at the Chevron station.
Sorry you weren't able to get video of Homer with the Sun, it's spectacular.
Thanks for the tip.
Very beautiful
Thanks for vicariously bringing us to Alaska.......10 hours to upload video, is that the norm in lower 48?, or is it much slower up there?
Looking forward to next week!
Alaska and Canada is still largely using DSL lines. In the lower 48 we have cable and fiber so takes 20 minutes.
I live in Alaska, many places have No services. Plan for withdrawal.
Very nice. I really enjoyed alaska when I went with my folks in a motor home for a few weeks. Beautiful country.
Congrats on living a life worth living...
I've never seen anyone else mention Captain Cook SP. I liked that area when we went.
It was a nice park. Great beach rocks but lots of skeeters.
You are inspired us to plan a trip next year, we are wondering where are the posted of Episode 1,2,3 🙂 thank you for all inspiration videos
I didn’t realize I didn’t have a playlist for Alaska so I have just created one. Thanks. th-cam.com/play/PLky6TgiimtQ9ox6sVrxzDFrYPKHlN2-Jw.html
Oh man, you're talking about fuel prices and I am so jealous. It's currently about 30 cents more expensive to get diesel over unleaded, and on the peninsula, it's currently $4.79/gallon for regular, and $5.09 for diesel. Although it's the most expensive I've seen so far up here, Deadhorse is $7+ for diesel!
I also wanted to add that Whitter, You're right. if you're in town, you get signal. I don't know about Verizon, I ditched them as soon as I moved up here to Alaska, but if you are outside of the tunnel, like, on the anchorage side of the tunnel, you will not have signal. Whether you are with ATT, or with GCI, you will not have signal here. You have to go back out towards the Seward highway to get signal. I usually gain at least one bar once I get back across the bridge going back towards the Seward Highway. But you need to expect to have no cell signal once you turn on Portage Rd.
I used to drive this entire route almost every day in a semi truck.
Moose Pass has the seaplane pilot training school...Alaska Float Ratings. That's where I want to go.
This woman rocks my world, you rock! The video rocks, your destination rocks, the info rocks....thx so much! Planning this journey with my gf for next years Late Jul to mid August. Would you say its a nice time for a lot of hiking , van camping, kayaking , etc? We coming all the way from Costa Rica!
Thank you! Yes it is a great time although can be wetter or on the flip side, smokey from fires. But you’ll enjoy no matter the conditions.
@@FromShetoMe Damnnn im finding it quite difficult to hit that Alaskan sweet spot...I def dont want to encounter any snow on any trail and of course aiming for those blue clear skies...if u had to choose 20 days of the year what would they be?
I would aim for the period around the summer solstice. I’ve been told that June is dryer than August.
Another great video! I’m guessing you have a MacBook Pro...The vehicle battery should only be powering the vehicle. There should be a second battery (or 2) that only powers the RV part of your rig. Be safe
Had to get a new 15” because all the editing was taxing my 13”. The Lithium batteries charge all our devices when we aren’t driving.
Truly enjoyed watching your videos. Hubby and I will be traveling there this spring for our 35th anniversary and will be renting an RV. Can you tell me the name of the campground you stayed at in Homer? Thanks again for the video!
Ocean Shores RV Park. I hope the border is open for your trip.
Whittier has some great gifts. You used to have to take the train there and not be able to drive, so it's easier to reach now.
If you can fit your vehicle thru the last man dug tunnel...which you can..single line traffic only. Its exhilirating!
New subscriber & I’ve really been enjoying your channel. You have great tips & hacks. You’re like the Martha Stewart of van life. You remind me of her. You both are very informative & have soothing voices 😊 What time period were you in Alaska? Maybe I need to keep watching to find out. Are you familiar with the channel, Mortons On The Move? The have a stunning Alaska series!
Thanks and welcome. Yes, we follow them and actually met them at Nomadfest 2 years ago. We were in Alaska in 2019.
@@FromShetoMe Awesome! Thank you 😊👍🏽
My daughter and granddaughter live in soldotna. Fire was really bad and it was hot
I simply cannot read "Soldotna" without saying "Soldotna-ya" under my breath. A weird van guy gave me and my friend a ride down the Kenai Highway and was turning off to "Soldotna-ya" (as he said it), whereas we were heading to Homer.
Can you tell me where this great spot to camp in Homer was? Your videos are very informative!
It was called Ocean Shores Resort. The best sites have no services and overlook the beach.
Oh my gosh first of all, I want to say, as a Canadian, I love viewing your videos and following your adventures! The scenery you captured in this video is absolutely stunning! Secondly I want to share with you that my hubby and I have been married 45 years this year! Trials and tribulations aside, we've ridden through it all and come through things pretty good I would say! LOL! And I want to say that I envy your travels in a class B in a great way -I only wish we could do the things you do in such a wonder coach as you have. With that said, I have the wanderlust to travel similar to what you do - hubby: not so much. How can I convince him? I don't want to tent camp, yet, I yearn to travel - hike, enjoy our Canadian country - as our daughter will be moving to BC soon - and I'd rather travel by road than by plane to visit. Any suggestions? Carry on with your great travels, you two! Wonderful videos! Thank you so much!
I say go without him. I’ve made lots of trips on my own. He just might change his mind. Any van can be fitted for basic needs or if you can afford to rent a van maybe try that. But don’t delay living your life. Good luck.
Debbie and John, thanks for posting this video, there are many helpful travel tips!
However after watching this video a question came to mind about the various campgrounds you stayed at on the Kenai Penninsula.
I was wondering with all of these wonderful shoreline campgrounds, once you find a camping spot and park your van, are you allowed to take the van out for the day and make day trips (say to get supplies in town, or to visit local scenery like Exit Glacier, etc.), then return back to your camping spot for the night?
I ask this question because during the summer when camping vacancies are rare to find, I'd imagine if one used the van for the day, and left your spot open, someone else would take it, right?
(Or is it like California state campgrounds, once you have your reservations for a period of time, its yours whether you are present in the camping spot, or out driving around?)
Thanks for any info/clarification you can provide on this!
When we are staying at an official campground, we leave a few items like tablecloth. Some people have a sign they use to show the site is occupied. Cones are also used. Most sites have a post where your reservation is clipped. Not had a problem so far.
Go to Ionia!
a lot of fires
Yes, it was like so cal last summer.
HOw do you find the boondocking sites? We are leaving in a few days to go to Alaska. Also, do you recommend going to Whittier if you aren’t going to take the ferry to Valdez? We don’t want to miss driving that section between Anchorage and Glenallen (we’re doing a loop up through Denali/Fairbanks down to Valdez back to Anchorage.
Whittier is perhaps the ugliest town we visited in Alaska as it is an old military base. But we did enjoy the hike that is near the campground just on the other side of the tunnel.
In Alaska, you can pretty much camp anywhere you want. In the lower 48 states, you can use Campendium or AllStays or iOverlander. And then I use an app called "Public Lands" to verify that we are indeed camping on public land. However, you cannot boondock in a National Park and for National Forests you would need to check the rules for each forest. BLM land is the best option for dispersed camping spots. You can use the Satellite view on Google Maps to help you search for locations where others are parking their equipment.
Just yesterday, CBS Sunday morning had a feature on Whittier. You can find it on TH-cam.
@@FromShetoMe Great. Thank you! Did you find that boondocking was pretty easy and you didn't need to make reservations in general?
@@FromShetoMe Sorry, I just now saw there was more to this message than I saw yesterday. Sorry about that, you already answered my boondocking question. Thanks for your help!
@@annpackard9587 The only reservations we made were for Denali. If you want to stay on the Spit in Homer then you should probably make reservations, but we didn't have issues any place else. However, I spoke to an Alaskan not long ago and he said that things were really busy up there last summer with all the locals camping. I don't know what this summer will bring but I wouldn't sweat it. Just go with the flow. Enjoy the adventure.
Hello your trip looks amazing ! I have a quick question. We are on the first leg of our trip and my left ankle is a little puffy my husband is on bloodthinners .. Do you both wear compression stockings? Or just stop every 3 hours . I think we did a 4 hour leg and that's where we made a mistake ..
John no longer takes blood thinners but when he did he wore compression socks and they helped. On this trip we stopped often to take a short hike or read interpretive signs.
From what location did you view/video the Bore Tide?
Between 32 and 37 miles south of Anchorage on the Seward Highway.
Thats on hwy 1 leaving anchorage. Just past beluga point, looks like(unsure)
In fact, so hot this year...we had a bikini boar ride surfer....#awesome
@@FromShetoMe thats hwy 1, Seward hwy starts at the junction.
How is the long daylight affecting your sleep?
Our black out curtains worked great for blocking the light. John wore his mask for about 5 days. Now that we are 5 weeks past the solstice and traveling south I am missing the forever daylight.
From She to Me , so JOHN has sleep apnea ? I am so bad, 83 times per hour , but recently am using a strange u shape thing I PUT ON MY SEPTUM, WITH 2. MAGNETS, SO MY WIFE SAIS I DO NOT SNORE WITH IT. , COULD NEVER USE ANY MASKS , HAD THE NASAL. PILLOW , for the years . Now this magnetic thing. Stay well & safe, CHEERS FROM NJ🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
What an unusual title for your blog????? I think I’d change the name.
If you care to, you can read about its derivation on my home page.
Lost me at “penninsula”
Sorry, Your first facts are wrong, turnagain arm has the second highest tide range in the world, up to 37 ft, not 10. Just saying! You want “real Alaska “? Get off our few roads. By the way, been up here 39 years.😉
Thanks. Need to come back and do more exploring. Our favorite side trip was the road to Kennecott.
@@FromShetoMe , You have to go to Kodiak island! Different world, even for Alaska standards! The ferry boat leaves daily from Homer in the summer, and they have a vehicle deck. Check out the inside passage also by ferry boat or floatplane. The small fishing towns are not linked by road.😉👍
@@troyottosen8722 For sure. When we return, Kodiak Island will be on our list. Thanks.
Great video!! I run Gwin's Lodge, pre-starehood Roadhouse Restaurant in Cooper Landing Alaska on the Kenai Peninsula. Mile 52 Sterling Hwy. We have rental cabins availability is online GwinsLodge ... My Denali view home is also available in Trapper Creek.