Everyday Alaska

Everyday Life in The Last Frontier

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Where to Eat in Soldotna, Alaska

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Updated February 20, 2023.

Whenever I travel somewhere one of the first things I look for is where to eat. Do I want something fancy or casual, fast or dine-in, burgers or fish? What different options are in the area? Where should I go, what should I get? How much will it cost? Where do all the locals go? Well, luckily for you, I have the answers to all of your question about places to eat in Soldotna, Alaska right here! And if you’re looking to eat in nearby Kenai, check this list out!

Please note that this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Commissions from these qualifying purchases help support Everyday Alaska at no extra cost to you. Please follow the instructions on all of the recommended items. All of the information provided is my personal opinion, unless otherwise cited or noted.

Kaladi Brother’s Coffee

Looking for a cozy spot to sip on some delicious beverages? Check out Kaladis location in Soldotna; with cozy seating, yummy beverages, and friendly service you won’t be disappointed.

What to order: I’m not a coffee drinker but the rest of my family is and they really enjoy Kaladi’s coffee. I love their rasperberry steamer, and my new favorite is a caramel steamer.

A delicious steamer from Kaladis.

Hooked on the Bean

Getting your caffeine on the run? Cruise over to Hooked on the Bean drive thru for a quick fix!

What to order: Grab a delicious Red Bull special for a pick me up or a London Fog on those chillier days.

Hot Dogs a la Carte

Hot Dogs Ala Cart offers a variety of hot dogs to choose from and plenty of contiments to stack on top at their quick-stop food stations.

What to order: A reindeer dog! When in Alaska, right?!

Jersey Subs

Here you’ll find filling subs that you can take with you on the go, dine at the shop, or call in for pick up (which I highly recommend doing during summer since they’re pretty busy, just make sure you call the right one since there’s one in Kenai, too!). You can go from mini to massive, whatever floats your boat! And speaking of boats, if you place an order for pick up they will special wrap it for you so your sandwich doesn’t get soggy if you’re heading out fishing and want to bring sandwiches for lunch!

What to order: Grab a turkey or a giant roast beef sando to go and head out fishing!

Fine Thyme Cafe

Looking to sit a bit and enjoy soup, sandwiches, and a relaxing atmosphere? Check out Fine Thyme Café for a sophisticated lunchtime snack with great service. And while you’re there, check out the shops next door as well!

What to order: Grab a Perky Turkey and a chai! They also have wonderful desserts; my favorite being the Yellow Submarine!

Dessert at Fine Thyme Soldotna, Alaska
The “yellow submarine” at Fine Thyme Soldotna, Alaska.

Odie’s Deli

If you’re looking for some good soup and sandwiches, check out Odie’s Deli. With a pretty chill vibe and good customer service, Odie’s is the place to go for your lunchtime cravings.

What to order: Any of the sandwiches are delicious, as are the daily soups. Make sure you grab a giant cookie as well to top off your tasty meal.

Yo!Tacos

Fresh and tasty, Yo!Tacos serves up some delicious tacos and more at their convenient location in the heart of Soldotna. 

What to order: Carne asada nachos. It’s enough to feed 2+ people! 

An Alaska-sized nacho plate from Yo!Tacos.

The Schnitzel Bomber

Their food is the bomb, pun intended. They have fantastic customer service, consistently delicious food, and a great variety of specials as well. This is a drive thru establishment, and it’s best to check their Facebook for the menu and specials, then call your order in to be picked up. 

What to order: Chicken schnitzel with mashed potatoes and cabbage, or any special with cheese curds in it. I’m not usually a big fan of bread pudding, but theirs is delicious, so add one to your order as well!

Their chicken schnitzle is truly the best!

The Duck Inn

Really, how could you not want to go to a place with a catchy name like that! With a variety of food to satisfy everyone’s taste buds, The Duck Inn is a great one-stop eat for any group. Prices here are about what the average is around town. I’ve had Thanksgiving and Easter meals there, and they can really whip up a feast!

What to order: Give anything a try, there’s plenty to choose from!

Acapulco Mexican Restaurant

Looking for the best Mexican food in town? Check out Acapulco where the chips keep coming and you should order one of everything that has the words “carne asada” in it. Enjoy a fun, colorful, and festive atmosphere while dining on a variety of Mexican dishes and a scenic view.

What to order: They have delicious halibut, carne asada tacos, carne asada  burritos, and a must have chipotle sauce that you can order on the side. You can also order the Monster Burrito if you’re hungry for a ginormous burrito with a it of everything in it!

carne asada tacos at Acapulco in Soldotna, Alaska
The carne asada taco plate at Acapulco.

St. Elias Brewing

One of my favorite places to dine is St. Elias. With a little something for everyone, and at a reasonable price, St. Elias is a great for anything from a casual pizza night to a birthday celebration. They have indoor and outdoor dining, but being a local hot spot they can still get pretty busy and have a wait, but it is more than worth it!

What to order:  The Popeye for an appetizer, Chicken on the Ranch pizza for dinner, and rootbeer to drink! Don’t forget the Mt. Redoubt dessert.

St. Elias Brewing in Soldotna, Alaska
A fun booth view at St. Elias Brewing in Soldotna, Alaska.

Mykel’s Restaurant

If you’re looking for a fine dining experience, Mykel’s is your ticket. With a variety of delicious dishes, Mykel’s is the place to go if your’re looking for a classy night on the town. They primarily serve steaks and a variety seafood dishes. Be prepared to pay more for the expreicne, but the price is well worth it.

What to order: Crab dip fondue (I don’t even like crab, but I love their crab dip! It may be off the menu now, but I’ll keep you posted!), prime bites, and a double fudge brownie!

The prime bite appetizer at Mykels.

Bluebird Café

A short drive from downtown Soldotna into the community of Sterling is the Bluebird Café. Charming, immaculately clean, and staffed with wonderful and friendly people, it’s a must-stop.

What to order: I love their stuffed French toast, but if your not feeling breakfast give the blue cheese burger a try.

Stuffed French toast for me, and a bacon jam/blue cheese burger for my husband. Yummy!

I hope this list helps you find all of the go to places to eat in Soldotna, Alaska! Now that you have a list of all the local hot spots it’s time to head out and chow down. Check out the links for addresses, menus, pricing, and more. Enjoy!

Have you tried any of the places on this list? Do you know of any I missed here? Comment with your review, and let me know what you think some of the best places to eat in Soldotna, Alaska are!

The Best (and Easiest!) Salmon Dip Recipe

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Easy salmon dip recipe Alaska
The final product.

If you love salmon as much as I do, you want to find as many recipes and ways to have it as you can. It’s healthy and delicious, so really what more could you ask for in a food? One of my favorite ways to have salmon is in salmon dip. You only need three ingredients and a mixer (or a little elbow grease!). So without delaying you any more, here is the best (and easiest!) salmon dip recipe ever!

Easy salmon dip recipe Alaska

The Best (and Easiest!) Salmon Dip Recipe

With three simple ingredients you can make the best salmon dip!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 8 Oz Cream Cheese You can use a block of cream cheese and leave it out to soften before whipping, or buy prewhipped cream cheese.
  • 4 Oz Canned Salmon
  • 1 Tbsp Garlic Pepper

Method
 

  1. Gather all of your ingredients and begin by putting your cream cheese in your Kitchen Aid and whip until smooth. 
  2. Drain your can of salmon and add it to the whipped cream cheese. Stir in the salmon until it is evenly mixed with the cream cheese. 
  3. Once the cream cheese and salmon are mixed together, add the garlic pepper, tasting the mixture as you add the garlic pepper till it suites your taste. 
  4. After all ingredients are throughly mixed together, grab some Ritz, scoop up some salmon dip, and enjoy!

Our Trip on the Alaska Marine Highway System

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Valdez Alaska Ferry on the Alaska Marine Highway
Heading out of Valdez on the Ferry

If you are thinking about using the Alaska Marine Highway System (aka the ferry) to travel around Alaska and would like a little more information about what the experience is like, you’ve come to the right place! After being on a few ferry rides myself, I feel like I can give a little insight to what your trip may be like, what is available on the ferry, and what you can expect on your ferry adventure.

[Read more…] about Our Trip on the Alaska Marine Highway System

6 Ways to Save Money on Your Alaskan Vacation

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Homer Alaska fishing mountains town road trip
A pit stop on the outskirts of Homer, Alaska.

Updated March 6, 2023.

For many people, visiting Alaska is a once in a lifetime experience. It takes time to save up and plan for such a big trip, but there are things can help you save money on your Alaskan adventure. The list below will help you get the most out of your vacation, while helping you stay within your travel budget.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Commissions from these qualifying purchases help support Everyday Alaska at no extra cost to you. Please follow the instructions on all of the recommended items. All of the information provided is my personal opinion, unless otherwise cited or noted.

1. Northern Lights Coupon Book

The Northen Lights Coupon Book can save you a ton of food, activities, and lodging. There are hundreds of coupons that you can use in places all over the state, and they are organized so you can find them by place and category. You can find coupons for dining, camper parks, museums and more in this money saving book.

2. Peninsula Coupon Club

If you plan on visiting Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula, be sure to download the Peninsula Coupon Club app. It offers discounts at a variety of places, including some of the best places to eat in Soldotna.

3. Discounts

Whether you are booking a fishing trip, tour, or planning to use the train or ferry to see all there is of Alaska, be sure to always ask if there is a military, senior, Good Sam, or AAA discount. Even if you don’t see any discounts advertised, it pays to ask since the majority of places offer one of the above discounts. This can really add up to some substantial savings.

Fishing on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula is one of the many things you may get discounts on.

4. Sharing is Saving

Since everything is bigger in Alaska (we are the largest state after all 🙂 ), you can expect that our meals are large, too. At many restaurants, the portions for entrees are large enough that you can share them between two adults, have an appetizer beforehand, and be full until your next meal. Sharing an entree can really cut down your food budget and leave more money for you to go on a tour, or buy some great souvenirs.

5. The “Off” Season

Summertime in Alaska is busy! The weather is nice, there’s tons to see, and visitors from all over the world flock to our beautiful state. But, have you ever thought about visiting during the “off” season? There’s so much to do in Alaska year round that there really is no “off” season in my opinion, so if you come during fall or winter, you’ll still see many beautiful sights, participate in unique activities (check out my Winter Bucket List here), and maybe even see the Northern Lights! Plus, you’ll be saving money on lodging, flights, and more by traveling during this time.

6. Flights

Using Alaska Airlines miles for your flight to the 49th State is a great way to save money. My husband and I both have the Alaska Airlines credit card, so we received bonus miles for signing up, earn miles for purchases, and each get a discounted companion ticket annually. There is a yearly fee for this card, and you should only use this tip to save money on your Alaskan vacation if you can pay your card off before you get charged interest!

Hopefully these tips help you save money, enjoy your vacation to the fullest, and help you leave some extra cash in your travel budget! Have questions about traveling to Alaska? Leave them in the comments below and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible!

8 Great Gift Ideas for the Outdoorswoman in your Life

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Girl walking across log bridge
Just taking a stroll across the log bridge.

With Mother’s Day fast approaching I thought it only seemed appropriate to make a list of unique and useful gifts for the outdoorswoman in your life. It can sometimes be difficult to find a gift for such a special person in your life, but checking out the list below will help you pick something she will surely enjoy.

This gift list is not exclusive to Mother’s Day, or even ladies for that matter, though. Any guy or gal who enjoys the great outdoors would benefit from any (or all if they really hit the jackpot!) of these items for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and more!

Please note that this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Commissions from these qualifying purchases help support Everyday Alaska at no extra cost to you. Please follow the instructions on all of the recommended items. All of the information provided is my personal opinion, unless otherwise cited or noted.

1. If you’re looking for a great gift for an outdoorsy gal under $25, check out this post here. With ideas ranging from LifeStraws to first aid kits, and the perfect camping pillow to dry bags, you’re sure to find a fantastic gift.

2. If she’s outdoorsey she might like cooking outdoors as well. What better thing to do some outdoor cooking in than some American made Lodge Cast Iron! You can get them in a variety of sizes and shapes, and they’re very affordable. Plus, many of them have neat patterns on the bottom. You can check out Everyday Alaska’s list of reasons to start using cast iron here!

3. If your outdoorsy momma enjoys hunting, she’ll need some good optics. For a gift she’ll have for a lifetime (literally, check out their warranty!), shop Vortex Optics. Everything they make is top notch and will make a huge difference in the field.

Using Vortex binoculars
Using my Vortex binoculars and HotHands while looking for sheep.

4. Anyone who loves the outdoors needs a good knife to bring along on their adventures. The knives from Outdoor Edge are awesome. They are incredibly durable, sharp, and have easily replaceable blades to help save you time and money.

5. Jetboil. If they don’t have one, they need one. This is great for hunting, camping, fishing, hiking, or any activity where you may want to stop and have some coffee or make a delicious Peak Refuel meal.

Eating Peak Refuel at the cabin.
Refueling with Peak at the cabin.

6. Need a great snack for hiking? Dehydrated fruit is great to take along while exploring, and it’s also fun to make! I got a dehydrator as a gift and have had a blast using it and eating some delicious dehydrated apples, berries, and even jerky as a result.

Moose jerky on the dehydrator in Soldotna, Alaska.
Moose jerky on the dehydrator.

7. Along with snacks, having a water bottle along on any outdoor excursion is a must. Check out Liberty Bottleworks to see their awesome collection of American-made water bottles. They have every design imaginable and you can even have them customize one! Talk about a unique gift!

8. Don’t judge me too harshly, but I believe Crocs are a must have. They are comfortable, lightweight, and a nice break for your feet after camping, hiking, or hunting. They make a great gift that will be used over and over again.

Bonus idea! If she’s not using them already, grab your gal some HotHands! They are an outdoor game changer since they keep your hands, feet, and body toasty warm!

Any of these gifts are sure to be a winner for any outdoor lover in your life. Whether it’s for Mother’s Day or just a gift to show your appreciation for someone, this list will help you pick a gift that will surely bring a smile to their face and be useful for any of their outdoor adventures.

Looking for gifts for the guys, too? Be sure to check out this post!

 

Lifesaving Winter Vehicle Essentials

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Getting stuck in a blizzard or having your car break down in below-freezing temps is never fun, and its even worse when you’re not prepared for it. You’re cold, hungry, worried, tired, and nothing you have with you can solve any of those problems. All it takes, though, is a little preparation and this list of winter essentials to help you along.

A beautiful and chilly day for a drive.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links which I may earn commission from. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Commissions from these qualifying purchases help support Everyday Alaska at no extra cost to you. Please follow the instructions on all of the recommended items. All of the information provided is my personal opinion, unless otherwise cited or noted.

What You’ll Need

Shelter

You already have that since you’re in a vehicle, so no need to worry there!

Warmth

Clothing

You need to be warm and stay warm, which is a little hard when its freezing out, but much easier if you have the right clothes. Luckily, I’ve made a comprehensive list of the best winter gear and how to layer for winter, plus a list of my five favorite winter boots. These two lists will help you determine what you need to pack in your emergency bag, such as hats, warm socks, base layers, gloves, mittens, snow pants, and more.

Snowy road in Alaska with our winter vehicle essentials
A slightly snowy road trip through Alaska.

Now, I’m not saying you need to be wearing all of this while you’re on the road, but just use common sense (you’re smart people, so I really don’t need to worry about this), and don’t wear shorty shorts and heels out when its snowing. Also, make sure these items are easily accessible for if and when you need them.

Blankets

This wool blanket is easy to pack and keep in your vehicle. It’s great to have the wool to keep you warm and dry, and an added bonus is that it’s made in America! If a wool blanket isn’t what you want to go with, you can always keep emergency blankets with you on the road.

Hand Warmers

If you get cold and just can’t warm up, or if you just need to be a little warmer, HotHands are a lifesaver! It’s great to keep some of these in your vehicle, and even use them when camping or doing other outdoor activities.

Hunger and Thirst

There’s a good chance if your vehicle breaks down or if you’re stuck in a snow storm it might be awhile before you’re able to get some food. It’s good to have some protein bars or other filling snacks in your vehicle to keep your energy up and your hunger down. As for thirst, it’s important to have some water bottles with you whenever you travel. If you leave them in there all the time, they’ll be frozen when you need them, so it good to bring some fresh water with you in bottles like this when you leave for your trip.

Turnigan Pass Alaska early winter drive with our winter vehicle essentials
A beautiful day for an early winter drive.

Safety

Communication

Even if you don’t have service all the time where you’re driving, it’s important to keep your phone charged incase of an emergency. So, make sure you always have a car charger with you incase you are in an area where you can call for help. Check out the Garmin inReach, too, if you want a communication device that will work wherever you take it. I have a complete review of the inReach here.

Visability

It’s always good to keep a flashlight with you for an emergency, and this one is the best one to get. It’s rechargeable and the battery is very long lasting. Flares are good to have with as well for safety and visibility.

Ice scraping Alaska
Scraping the frost off.

First Aid

Whether it’s winter, summer, or anywhere in between, it’s essential to have a first aid kit with you. You can help yourself and others in an emergency with just a few supplies included in this kit.

Where do I keep all of this?!

For all of the winter gear that you won’t be wearing on your trip, I suggest packing them in these bags. They’ll condense all of your gear, and are a great space-saver, especially if you have a smaller vehicle.

For all your other items, and to store the bags in, totes work great. Make sure these are in a secure, easily accessible place. These items may move around in an accident, so be sure they are well placed so they don’t move much and you are able to reach them without getting out of the vehicle.

I hope this helps you be more prepared for your winter trips. For addition information and lists, check out Alaska.org. Safe travels, friends!

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