Soldotna was established in the late 1940s, as World War II veterans filed for homestead lands along Soldotna Creek. Today this town of 4,000 is the seat of the Kenai Borough government and serves as a busy stopping point for travelers, anglers, and locals.

“Slowdotna” has all the charm of Wasilla, another place disparaged by anyone not living there. Fast food joints, strip malls, fishing supply stores, shopping centers, and a jumble of signs greet your arrival in this sprawling suburban burg with no real downtown—unless you count the big Fred Meyer store. The latter’s parking lot also serves as a de facto free RV campground all summer.

Getting to Soldotna

Air taxis offering charters and flightseeing from the Soldotna Airport include Talon Air Service (907/262-8899, www.talonair.com), Natron Air (907/262-8440 or 877/520-8440, www.natronair.com), and High Adventure Air (907/262-5237, www.highadventureair.com).

Homer Stage Line (907/235-2252, www.homerstageline.com) runs buses from Soldotna to Anchorage, Homer, and Seward. Service is daily to Anchorage, Seward, and Homer in the summer, with fewer runs in winter.