Homer

Homer, Alaska sits at the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula, where the Sterling Highway meets Kachemak Bay. The 4.5-mile Homer Spit, a gravel bar extending into the bay, serves as the town’s center for fishing and coastal exploration. Drop a line to catch halibut, observe brown bears in Katmai National Park, or hike trails near glaciers in Kachemak Bay State Park. Visit the Pratt Museum to see Alutiiq artifacts and a live eagle nest camera, or walk along Beluga Slough in May to spot sandpipers and plovers. The town’s history reflects its roots in commercial fishing and early 20th-century homesteading.

The Homer Spit

This narrow gravel bar stretches 4.5 miles into Kachemak Bay, forming a natural harbor where most of the town’s activities happen. Charter boats line the docks, ready for halibut fishing trips, and seafood spots like Boardwalk Fish & Chips serve cod caught that morning. At the Nick Dudiak Fishing Lagoon, anglers stand shoulder-to-shoulder during salmon runs, and waterfront campsites at Heritage RV Park face snow-capped peaks across the bay. Bald eagles perch on dock pilings, and harbor seals often pop their heads above water near the breakwater. Shops along the boardwalk sell smoked salmon jerky, driftwood carvings, and ceramics made by local artists.

Saltwater Fishing

Homer lands more halibut annually than any other port worldwide. Charter companies such as Bob’s Trophy Charters take groups 10–20 miles offshore in sturdy boats, where anglers regularly reel in halibut weighing over 75 pounds. King salmon crowd rivers near the Spit in June and July, followed by silver salmon in August and September. For remote fishing, book a trip with Destination Alaska Fish and Fly; their floatplanes access rivers where bears outnumber people. Guides supply rods, bait, and licenses, and most filet your catch for free.

Kachemak Bay State Park

A 20-minute water taxi ride from the Spit brings you to this 400,000-acre park with glaciers, dense Sitka spruce forests, and trails for all skill levels. Paddle kayaks past cliffs dotted with tufted puffin colonies, or hike the 3.5-mile trail to Grewingk Glacier Lake to see icebergs calve into turquoise water. Guided tours often stop at Gull Island, part of the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, where 10,000 seabirds nest each summer. The Saddle Trail climbs 1,200 feet in 2.5 miles, rewarding hikers with views of Kachemak Bay and the Harding Icefield.

Bear Viewing & Wildlife

From May to September, planes depart Homer Airport for day trips to Katmai and Lake Clark National Parks. Land on beaches where brown bears hunt clams at low tide or wade into Brooks River to snatch leaping salmon. In Kachemak Bay, humpback whales breach near the Spit in July, and orcas sometimes chase seals past the harbor entrance. The Alaska Islands and Ocean Visitor Center has telescopes for watching seabirds and displays explaining how tides shape marine life. Boat tours with naturalists teach visitors how to identify anemones and crabs in tide pools.

Arts & Culture

Galleries on Pioneer Avenue and the Spit highlight Homer’s artists. The Pratt Museum exhibits a 1910 fishing dory, traditional Alutiiq kayaks, and rotating displays of modern Alaskan art. At Bunnell Street Arts Center, take a weekend workshop to create raku pottery or attend a poetry reading. Jewelry makers at Fireweed Gallery craft rings from fossilized mammoth ivory and gold nuggets. From June to September, the farmers market fills the fairgrounds with stalls selling rhubarb jam, sourdough bread, and birch syrup.

Seasonal Events

The Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival in May includes guided walks to spot bar-tailed godwits and photography classes teaching how to capture birds in flight. During July’s Homer Jackpot Halibut Derby, anglers compete for $10,000 prizes by catching tagged fish. The February Winter Carnival draws locals with ice bowling on Beluga Lake and a costume parade down Main Street. Local theaters stage plays about Alaska’s history from October to April. The Homer Brewing Company hosts bluegrass bands every Friday night.

Practical Information

Drive 225 miles south from Anchorage on the Seward and Sterling Highways to reach Homer, or fly directly to the town’s airport. Ferries connect Homer to Kodiak Island three times weekly from May to September. Many shops and tour companies close from October to April, but winter visitors enjoy quiet trails and clear skies for viewing the aurora. Stop by the Homer Chamber of Commerce for free tide tables and hiking maps. Water taxis like Mako’s provide drop-offs at Kachemak Bay trailheads, and Homer Air arranges flights to backcountry lakes.