Alaska
Hotels
What to See & Do
Lying beside a long sand spit at the end of Kenai
Peninsula, Homer boasts a mild climate and gorgeous
scenery, with the dramatic Kenai Mountains across
beautiful Kachemak Bay.
Huge halibut regularly run to over 200 pounds. Homer
is home to many artists and craftspeople, and the town
features several small galleries and craft shops.
A small gold rush at nearby Sunrise and Hope brought
settlers to the area in the 1890s. One of the most
colorful of the prospectors, Homer Pennock, gave his name
to the town. Gold ran out quickly but fishermen and
homesteaders settled the area during the 1920s,
encouraged partly by the rich veins of exposed coal, some
of it lying right on the beach. The highway connected
Homer with the rest of Alaska in the early 1950s. Some
4,000 people live here, engaged in fish processing,
transportation, and tourism. The 4-mile spit has a small
boat harbor, boardwalks, restaurants, a motel at the end
of the spit, and the unique ambiance of the Salty Dawg
Saloon in a former lighthouse, which looks like it's
going to fall down at any time. The structure is sturdy,
however, and even the loud bands that play here in the
evening can't shake the boards loose.
What to See &
Do
The Chamber of Commerce provides information in
its office on Pioneer Avenue, (907) 235-7740. Pick up the
walking tour brochure and the visitors guide. Brochures
on hotels, fishing charters, and tours are also available
here. The Pratt Museum, 3779 Bartlett Street,
(907) 235-8635, also offers information as well as an
outstanding collection of Alaskan plant specimens. The
Marine Gallery features a whale skeleton and displays of
fish, shellfish, shorebirds, otters, and Native history
dioramas.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Alaska Maritime National
Wildlife Refuge has an office and visitor information
center in Homer. The center is open daily during the
summer and on weekdays during winter months. There are
displays, video presentations, and a shop that sells
books and pamphlets on refuge wildlife.
Skyline Drive offers a drive along the top of
the bluffs that rise over Homer. East Hill Road and West
Hill Road lead to this area. You'll see masses of
fireweed and other wild flowers, including lupines,
roses, paintbrush, and wild geraniums.
Homer is one of the best fishing centers in the state,
with huge halibut caught regularly, as well as salmon.
The annual halibut derby is held from May 1 through Labor
Day. More than $35,000 in cash prizes are awarded each
year for the biggest fish and tagged halibut. Catches are
often over 200 pounds. Derby tickets can be obtained at
the little information kiosk and charter fishing offices
on the Homer Spit. Many charter boats are available for
fishing cruises. To obtain advance information on these
charters, write to the Homer Charter Association, P.O.
Box 148, Homer, AK 99603.
A "must" side-trip is a short boat cruise to
Halibut Cove, a picturesque village of 50 people.
This is a beautiful spot, with boardwalks, art galleries,
and dining on a ship, the "Saltry." For a fishing-boat
cruise (day cruise or evening dinner cruise), call
Halibut Cove Experiences at (907) 235-8110.
Camping
Homer Spit Campground
P.O. Box 1196, Homer AK 99603, (907) 235-8206
This private campground is located at the end of the
Homer Spit, close to restaurants, the Salty Dawg, Land's
End Resort, and the boardwalk shops. The operation has
hot showers, restrooms, electrical hookups, and dump
station. Halibut charters are available. The campground
operates a 60-foot boat called the MV Endeavor, which
takes visitors out on puffin-viewing tours.
Where to Stay
