Soldotna, Alaska: Alaskan Carousel Carvings

A wood-carved carousel is surrounded by a woodcarving workshop, a woodworking gallery, and an ice cream shop. The best woodworking that I have ever seen. We were able to see the woodcarvers working and talk to them and ask all sorts of questions. Very pleasant and kind people. The property was fun to walk around, finding all of the different pieces that had been created and hidden/displayed. All of the wood is handcrafted by the woodcarvers there, everything from the welcome sign to the life-size bear with a (wooden) human foot in its mouth! The carousel was not functioning, as they were updating and repainting it.

Everything was completely free unless you wanted to buy a piece, which we did.

A neat place to visit. The carvings and paintings are awesome and the kids loved the carousel! The owner was so nice and even let the kids change seats a few times. There are a few other cool attractions for photo fun.

Great place to stop and take pictures if you're going through Soldotna. The business sells Alaskan carvings inside their shop, but outside they have much more fun.

There is a giant salmon and a giant chair visitors are welcome to climb up and sit on for pictures. Also available for photo ops are trophy-sized halibut and salmon hanging on their own fish racks to fool your friends back home. Many other great carvings will wow you, including benches, statues, and a life-sized bear in his den. There are a lot of carvers here in Alaska, but this is the place to beat them all.

They also have a carousel -- the only attraction that comes with a fee. The kids can ride a moose, a bear, a salmon, a caribou, a walrus or a mountain goat. The ride is definitely worth the $1 fee for the kids.

There is a jewelry store and an ice cream cone-shaped coffee shop that shares the same parking lot.