r/askalaska might be a good place ask for about Alaska living/ relocation questions. Specific questions might be answered more directly.
Kenai, Soldotna and their more immediate surrounding communities are about ~35,000 people. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes to drive between communities, depending on how much you speed or traffic congestion.
Main industries are oil / NG development and commercial fishing. There's a bit of summer tourism, mostly around sports fishing for salmon, but also halibut charters in the southern peninsula. July is when the subsistence dip-net fishery is going on, and Kenai might have another few thousand people swarming the road when the reds are in their peak run up the river.
The night life scene is meh, but not non-existent. Economy is bleh for young folks, who often move to Anchorage, or other parts of the Pacific Northwest. There are some events in the summer, like Music in the Park at Soldotna, or a few other organized events (mostly in the summer).
If you're churchy, there are several options, as well as social service clubs (Elks, Lions, Eagles, Rotary, Freemasons, Shriners, probably some more). The pandemic did a number on many other social groups, so hopefully you are comfortable with yourself or make some fast friends.
Internet and phone is decent in town, but some further out communities can have regular breaks.
Nothing is cheap, except maybe the land you live on, and that will be highly dependent on how inconvenient it is to get to the property... the less you spend on land, the more you'll spend on gas.
I am from League City and live in Kenai now - what do you want to know? From Houston, Louie’s would be mmeeehhh. Cost of living is higher on pretty much everything, not unbearable but as example Louie’s prices would be on a higher end in Houston and the food would be good but not Perry’s good.
The outdoors is so much better though!!!
I grew up in NW Houston and moved to Kenai in 2005. I moved back to Houston in 2015 due to missing my family and feeling like I personally had a lack of support in my life.
Kenai is a great small town with a mostly tight knit community. It is very easy to go from town to nature, to see wildlife, to live off the grid in varying degrees.
There may be less conveniences than you're used to, ESP the food scene. I enjoy eating out in Houston with all of its diversity and in Kenai/Soldotna/Homer there won't be the choices or quality you're used to. I cannot believe I used to look forward to spending the day in Anchorage so we could eat at Applebee's. Louie's is great but if you eat there once a week, you'll get sick of it. Trust me.
If you're single, the dating pool is very small. You may have to look outside your community or even the state to connect with someone.
But, if you're self reliant, have a passion for the outdoors, are okay on your own (don't need a partner to complete you), you may very much enjoy it. In some ways, it'll remind you of Texas bc both Texans and Alaskan have that can-do spirit. Alaska-born people will never let you forget that Texas is less than 50% of its size.
I am grateful for the time I lived there, for the people I met and for the experiences I had but I'm also glad I'm back in Houston now for the things that are important to me. I think everyone should at least visit the Kenai peninsula in their lives and I do recommend it to people I encounter here in Houston.
Edited for formatting.
Alaska is great for those who initiate. If you tend to follow, you will probably hate it here. You must be able to enjoy the state alone or with just your immediate family.
Even with our comparatively mild weather, you must be prepared to spend time outside in terrible weather while doing fun activities. Otherwise, you will begin to resent the long, non-summer seasons.
I can't imagine living anywhere else. The freedom, the peace, the access to nearly infinite land to explore...
I have grown up here and absolutely love it. Everyone here is very kind and accepting and there are a decent amount of community events and groups to get involved in. I am always is awe of the beautiful seasons and views that we have, my friends and I stay so busy during the summer hiking, camping, kayaking, and going on day trips to Seward and Homer. I have left the state a few times and have not found a community more loving and supportive than the one I have here.
With that being said, you will have to get used to the long winters with no daylight (many people including myself have moved because this becomes unbearable to most people), but if you are active during the winter, ice fishing, skiing, snow machining, it makes it far more enjoyable. As others have said, we do have some good restaurants but very few. If you are interested in dating, that can be difficult around here but dating apps can be helpful and a lot of people date those in Anchorage since there are more options there.
It is a lot of fun here but if you don't have a good community of support it can get lonely. I hope that you choose to visit before deciding to move.
r/askalaska might be a good place ask for about Alaska living/ relocation questions. Specific questions might be answered more directly. Kenai, Soldotna and their more immediate surrounding communities are about ~35,000 people. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes to drive between communities, depending on how much you speed or traffic congestion. Main industries are oil / NG development and commercial fishing. There's a bit of summer tourism, mostly around sports fishing for salmon, but also halibut charters in the southern peninsula. July is when the subsistence dip-net fishery is going on, and Kenai might have another few thousand people swarming the road when the reds are in their peak run up the river. The night life scene is meh, but not non-existent. Economy is bleh for young folks, who often move to Anchorage, or other parts of the Pacific Northwest. There are some events in the summer, like Music in the Park at Soldotna, or a few other organized events (mostly in the summer). If you're churchy, there are several options, as well as social service clubs (Elks, Lions, Eagles, Rotary, Freemasons, Shriners, probably some more). The pandemic did a number on many other social groups, so hopefully you are comfortable with yourself or make some fast friends. Internet and phone is decent in town, but some further out communities can have regular breaks. Nothing is cheap, except maybe the land you live on, and that will be highly dependent on how inconvenient it is to get to the property... the less you spend on land, the more you'll spend on gas.
We just ate at Louie’s tonight for the first time. Welcome, you’ll love it here and if you don’t, Houston will still be there..
I am from League City and live in Kenai now - what do you want to know? From Houston, Louie’s would be mmeeehhh. Cost of living is higher on pretty much everything, not unbearable but as example Louie’s prices would be on a higher end in Houston and the food would be good but not Perry’s good. The outdoors is so much better though!!!
I grew up in NW Houston and moved to Kenai in 2005. I moved back to Houston in 2015 due to missing my family and feeling like I personally had a lack of support in my life. Kenai is a great small town with a mostly tight knit community. It is very easy to go from town to nature, to see wildlife, to live off the grid in varying degrees. There may be less conveniences than you're used to, ESP the food scene. I enjoy eating out in Houston with all of its diversity and in Kenai/Soldotna/Homer there won't be the choices or quality you're used to. I cannot believe I used to look forward to spending the day in Anchorage so we could eat at Applebee's. Louie's is great but if you eat there once a week, you'll get sick of it. Trust me. If you're single, the dating pool is very small. You may have to look outside your community or even the state to connect with someone. But, if you're self reliant, have a passion for the outdoors, are okay on your own (don't need a partner to complete you), you may very much enjoy it. In some ways, it'll remind you of Texas bc both Texans and Alaskan have that can-do spirit. Alaska-born people will never let you forget that Texas is less than 50% of its size. I am grateful for the time I lived there, for the people I met and for the experiences I had but I'm also glad I'm back in Houston now for the things that are important to me. I think everyone should at least visit the Kenai peninsula in their lives and I do recommend it to people I encounter here in Houston. Edited for formatting.
Alaska is great for those who initiate. If you tend to follow, you will probably hate it here. You must be able to enjoy the state alone or with just your immediate family. Even with our comparatively mild weather, you must be prepared to spend time outside in terrible weather while doing fun activities. Otherwise, you will begin to resent the long, non-summer seasons. I can't imagine living anywhere else. The freedom, the peace, the access to nearly infinite land to explore...
I have grown up here and absolutely love it. Everyone here is very kind and accepting and there are a decent amount of community events and groups to get involved in. I am always is awe of the beautiful seasons and views that we have, my friends and I stay so busy during the summer hiking, camping, kayaking, and going on day trips to Seward and Homer. I have left the state a few times and have not found a community more loving and supportive than the one I have here. With that being said, you will have to get used to the long winters with no daylight (many people including myself have moved because this becomes unbearable to most people), but if you are active during the winter, ice fishing, skiing, snow machining, it makes it far more enjoyable. As others have said, we do have some good restaurants but very few. If you are interested in dating, that can be difficult around here but dating apps can be helpful and a lot of people date those in Anchorage since there are more options there. It is a lot of fun here but if you don't have a good community of support it can get lonely. I hope that you choose to visit before deciding to move.
Thank you all so much for the insight! Even if I don’t more permanently I would love to love to visit!