Alaska.com: Alaska's Travel Website

Just a couple hours of south of Anchorage lies a twisty stretch of road that passes though Cooper Landing, a town with about 350 full-time residents that becomes a vibrant summertime hub. Surrounded by the Kenai Mountains and the turquoise waters of the Kenai River, the stop is a must for those visiting the Kenai Peninsula. The small town was named for Joseph Cooper, who struck gold in Cooper Creek in 1894. The town is home to many lodges, summer cabins, charter services and abundant wildlife.

The Cooper Landing Historical Society Museum at Mile 48.7 Sterling Highway is open May 15 through Sept. 15 Wednesdays through Mondays. The town's history is displayed in two historic buildings: the schoolhouse, built in 1955, and Jack Lean's cabin, built in the late 1920s and used today as the town's post office.

The museum is filled with old newspapers, videotapes of early town residents and an articulated skeleton of a 20-year-old brown bear killed on the Sterling Highway near Soldotna. It also has medical instruments used by area doctors Joseph H. Romig and Howard G. Romig from 1896 to 1980 and a slab of Sitka spruce that is said to be about 600 years old.

For those wanting to see the natural beauty of Cooper Landing, historian Monda Painter recommends visitors drive to Cooper Lake on Snug Harbor Road. On the way to the lake, she said, look to the left to view a breathtaking waterfall.

"It is beautiful," she said. "It doesn't even have a name."

Those visiting the first week in June can watch Kenai River guides race during the annual Kenai River Drift Boat Regatta. The race is a kickoff to area fishing and a busy time in Cooper Landing.

For those ready to hike and see more, locals rave about the U.S. Forest Service trails that cover 157 miles and are maintained and kept clear for hikers.

All visitors should remember that the Kenai Peninsula is home to both brown and black bears. It is estimated that there may be 3,000 black bears and almost 300 brown bears on the Peninsula. Keeping bears away from human food is the best way to prevent contact with them.

Another way to get out and learn about Alaska is at the K'Beq Archeological Site at Mile 52.6 Sterling Highway. Dena'ina Athabascans share their culture and traditions with visitors through interpretive walks and a viewing area. Visitors can view artifacts more than 500 years old and discover how the Dena'ina respected the plants and animals of the land.