The decisions about where to travel in Alaska can be pretty overwhelming to make. Alaska is such a big state, and there are big-name attractions like Denali National Park, Talkeetna, Anchorage, Fairbanks, and cruise ships in southeast Alaska.
Plenty of big operators capture most travelers and pack their guests like sardine cans with blaring speakers, doing canned tours. Millions of visitors come to Alaska every year.
If you’re like me, you’re an independent traveler who likes venturing off the beaten path and finding those unique, one-of-a-kind places.
One of the best small towns in Alaska to find what you are looking for is at the “end of the road,” also known as “where it all begins,”: Homer, Alaska.
Homer has a unique, quirky, laid-back vibe. It hosts one of the most beautiful vistas on Earth. Geographically, Homer has a lot of south-facing hillside real estate and vacation rentals that capture stunning views. As such, it’s also home to many retired and more affluent Alaskans and nonresidents.
It attracts retirees, artists, fishers, adventurers, snowbirds (seasonal residents), and nature lovers.
The Kachemak Bay (KBay) Archipelago and the Homer Spit make Homer stand out from the rest of Alaska. Homer offers spectacular scenery, fantastic vacation rentals, incredible sunrises and sunsets, great food, and claims to be the “Halibut Fishing Capital of the World.”
The winter temperatures are more moderate than most of South Central and interior Alaska.
Homer is about 275 miles (a five-hour drive) south of Anchorage, the central hub for air transportation to Alaska. Anchorage is also at the crossroads for travel from the Pacific Rim and the Far East.
It has excellent connections with many direct flights from regions in the Lower 48 states, including Seattle, Phoenix, LA, Denver, Atlanta, and others.
You can fly or drive to Homer. The road trip can be an adventure in itself, with many attractions like Girdwood, Whittier, a Wildlife Park in Portage, Seward (Kenai Fjords Nat Park), Hope, Cooper Landing, Soldotna, Kenai, Skilak Lake, the Kenai River, and points south.
The drive offers beautiful highway vistas, fresh and saltwater fishing, and places to eat, stay, camp, picnic, and relax along the way.
The legendary Kenai River delivers great Red Salmon and Rainbow fishing (seasonal). But for me, the best feeling is coming over the hill and pulling up to the bluff overlook that offers the stunning vista of Kachemak Bay and Homer. From that vista, the best-kept KBay secret, Seldovia, is in sight and is directly across KBay.
I always stop and scan KBay from that bluff to gauge the seas to prepare to cross KBay on my boat to my idea of paradise: Seldovia.
Related read: The Magic of a Day Cruise at Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska
Provisioning and Outfitting
Soldotna offers up a variety of shopping experiences and is a great place to stock up on fuel, food, and drinks before heading to the more expensive town of Homer.
However, the best value for food and outdoor gear will be Anchorage. Costco is the go-to store for food, but there are many other opportunities to provision and outfit for your trip.
A weatherproof outer shell with insulation layers is the best option, as temps can range from the rainy 50s F to the sunny 80s F in the summer months in south central coastal areas.
Good water-resistant or waterproof footwear is a must.
Your Guide to Homer
A quick stop at the Homer Chamber visitor center (201 Sterling Hwy) is valuable, so that you can get oriented. Rack cards hold every business imaginable, and the volunteers are great at helping you find what you’re interested in.
The next stop should be the Islands and Ocean Center on the main by-pass just past the Homer Chamber Visitor Center.
If visiting the Ocean Center doesn’t whet your appetite, there are land adventures, too. But it’s an ocean town, for sure.
Fishing is one of the most in-demand activities that visitors enjoy, along with bear viewing.
Related read: Soar Over Spectacular Landscapes: Your Guide to Bear Viewing in Alaska
Most bear viewing is done via flights from Homer, to Katami National Park across Cook Inlet with off-runway beach landings, which puts you on the ground, walking with the wild bruins. It’s a life-changing experience to be in close proximity to large bruins that are wild and free.
The bears are tolerant of people, and the guides carry marine flares for protection.
Marine flares are more effective than bear spray. Bears hate them! Bear spray is prohibited on most bush flights, and all airlines, so don’t fly with it or you can get into serious trouble.
Disclose to your bush pilot if you have either bear spray or flares. If bear spray discharges mid-flight, it gets really bad, really fast. Don’t bring either on any commercial flights.
Shorebirds abound on Homer Spit and area beaches, and there’s a shorebird festival in early spring.
Most Kachemak Bay tours take in Gull Island, a bird rookery that hosts several species of nesting seabirds, including the iconic puffins, with their distinctive orange beaks. Eagles are everywhere, too.
Homer has several distinct areas. The most obvious and the attraction that gets the most visitors is the Homer Spit. It’s a 5-mile narrow strip of gravel that goes halfway across KBay and has the boat harbor at the end.
There are many businesses on the spit and tourists wander between gelato shops, trinket stores, an awesome taco stand, gourmet pizza places, and burger joints. Plus the usual sundry of charter and tour operators.
It’s a busy commercial fishing port with larger fishing boats prepping for salmon season early in the spring, and Cook Inlet catchers and processors, including the famous “Time Bandit” from the “Deadliest Catch.” Otto Kilcher, of “Alaska: The Last Frontier” reality show, runs his big landing craft out of the harbor.
Check out Homer’s “Old Town” area, the humble beginnings of the village. Turn right on Main Street coming into town from the North. There are several inns, a couple of good restaurants, and a hippie bakery.
Also, Pratt Museum above Pioneer Avenue is a great find.
Address: 3779 Bartlett St
Pioneer Avenue is the main business loop. It sports many art galleries, and a tent and tarp shop called Nomar, with distinctive, made-in-house, all-weather clothing and useful things like duffel bags, gun cases, and other custom-made outfitter items.
I like to Christmas shop there for my Alaskan outdoor family.
There are coffee shops, three Thai restaurants, a cooking store, and numerous art shops, as well as other eateries scattered across town. My favorite is River Cafe (361 Sterling Hwy). Great breakfast and sandwiches, and the coffee and tea are free.
The epic Land’s End Hotel holds the crown as the quintessential Homer resort and sleep establishment. It’s undergoing a major upgrade/rebuild of its lobby and restaurant.
I know some of the local artists and craftsmen working on it, and it should be spectacular. It’s located at the very end of the iconic “spit,” with views and a nonstop parade of boats entering and exiting the harbor that will pacify the most salty among us.
Sunrises and sunsets are equally stunning at Lands End Resort.
Across The Bay, “Where It All Begins”
However, the true gems of Homer are found on the South Shore of KBay, at special oceanfront places that the South Shore is famous for.
The South Shore of KBay is home to numerous world-class fishing lodges, and many Alaskans have summer cabins nestled along the shorelines and numerous coves across the bay.
Halibut Cove is the trendier, more expensive area, but Seldovia, a small fishing village and retirement community is becoming the go-to place for fishing and tourism. This is because it’s an hour closer to the good fishing grounds than Homer.
It’s an accessible, beautiful town still “undiscovered” by the big cruise ships. So, she retains much of her small-town feel and charm, and visitors generally find it more affordable than Halibut Cove and points east.
You can easily get there by day ferry, Seldova Bay Ferry, or tour boat with Central Charters, or by small airplane, with Smokey Bay Air.
Kick Back in a Cozy Oceanfront Treehouse Lodge
Adventure is calling in the Kachemak Bay Archipelago! Use this trip to reconnect with your family or friends, and the great outdoors.
At Treehouse Cove, you can unwind in a delightful timber frame cabin right on the beach in Seldovia Bay, or you can stay in a luxurious treehouse tucked next to a waterfall, complete with spectacular views of the water and mountains. Seriously, waking up to that scenery is something you’ll want to experience every single day!
Your stay comes with a bunch of fun excursions! From bay tours and kayaking to hiking, wildlife spotting, and UTV adventures, there’s no shortage of excitement. Plus, all your meals are covered, so you can just focus on making memories together.
If you’re after something extra special, check out our premium packages, which include offshore halibut fishing, whale watching, and even remote kayaking. It’s an unforgettable way to soak in the stunning beauty of Alaska.
Relax Your Way
When you book a premium reservation for a group of four or more, we’ll create a private, all-inclusive lodge experience just for you.
Picture this: the entire lodge and treehouse all to yourselves, surrounded by your favorite people. It’s the ultimate way to unwind, relax, and create cherished memories in a cozy setting.
Your Adventure Awaits
Each day you can choose from a variety of excursions in this untouched Alaskan paradise. Whether you’re itching for the thrill of offshore fishing, eager to go whale watching, or excited to kayak through dazzling waters, the choice is all yours.
So, pack your bags and gear up for an adventure that’s all about you and your loved ones. Trust me, you won’t regret it!
