Things to Do in Homer, Alaska
Homer, Alaska is the End of the Road, where ocean, beach, mountain, glacier, wildlife, art, culture, gourmet food and community mix and mingle to form what the locals refer to as The Cosmic Hamlet by the Sea. Click here for current vacation rental property listings in Homer. It’s impossible to see it all in one vacation or even in one lifetime, but if you aim to try, we at The Arrival Co. Property Management in Homer, Alaska suggest you start here:
Nature, Scenery & Wildlife:
Whether you’re enjoying your morning coffee from your Homer AK vacation rental, or out on a whale-watching tour on the Seabird or fishing with North Country Charters on Kachemak Bay, keep your camera handy. Beauty is around every bend and moose usually are too.
With some of the largest tidal fluctuations in the world, the beaches of Homer are different every hour of every day. The ocean swells, surges and lays down to a glassy reflection of the mountains and the glaciers across the bay, which are illuminated from different angles, depending on the sun and season. Stroll one of Homer’s beaches (Bishop’s, Mariner Park, Land’s End) and in addition to the beautiful scenery, you might spot bald eagles, sandhill cranes, migratory shorebirds, friendly otters or playful seals.
You can also take in the world-renowned view from one of Homer’s many hiking trails. Diamond Creek, Roger’s Loop, Eveline Trail and Calvin & Coyle trails are all easily accessible from Homer. The Homer Spit Trail is paved and wheelchair accessible.
To get further into the wilderness beyond Homer and face-to-face with glacier ice, take a 30-minute water taxi with ColdWater AK to Glacier Spit and hike to Grewingk Glacier Lake (4 miles, round trip). Or take the ferry to Seldovia. Don’t forget your bear spray and be sure to follow Leave No Trace guidelines while recreating in Alaska’s wilderness.
Would you rather go with an experienced guide? The Homer Spit is bustling with outfitters who will take you fishing, kayaking, hiking, SUPing or bear-viewing. True North Kayak Adventures will take you paddling, HoWL will teach your teenager to be a wilderness leader and Sasquatch Alaska Adventures will fly you to Katmai National Park across Cook Inlet to see grizzly bears up close. The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies offers daily hiking tours on the trails behind Homer and across the bay as well as low tide and dock tours to learn about Kachemak Bay’s vibrant marine ecosystem.
But Homer is not just a wilderness paradise. It is also full of eclectic locals, world-class cuisine and incredible art.
Art, Food & Culture
Some would say it’s the inspiration of the jaw-dropping view from any parcel of Homer Alaska real estate, some might say it’s the long dark winters of rest, others would attribute it to a community spirit of collaboration. Whatever the reason, Homer is a mecca for artists. Every month, beginning with a first Friday opening, artists showcase their work at the local art galleries. While in Homer, be sure to peruse the Pratt Museum, Homer Council on the Arts, Bunnell Street Arts Center, Art Shop Gallery, Ptarmigan Arts, Fireweed Gallery, Paul Dungan Pottery, the Norman Lowell Gallery, and all the shops and pottery studios on the Homer Spit. Can’t get enough of Homer’s art scene? Then book a ticket on the Danny J and head over to Halibut Cove for the afternoon to tour more art galleries and dine at the Saltry Restaurant.
If all that art-walking made you hungry, then you are in luck. For breakfast, try out the Wild Honey Bistro or Two Sisters Bakery. For lunch, you can’t go wrong with a wood-fired slice from Finn’s Pizza on the Spit, or a sandwich from the Bagel Shop in Kachemak City. Homer’s restaurants often change with the seasons, but Fat Olives, located downtown, has served dinners to locals and tourists for over 20 years.
But what about the nightlife?
If you want to rub shoulders with the saltiest of Alaska’s fishermen, then head to the Salty Dawg on the Homer Spit. Put a dollar on the wall for good luck on the water. Would you rather tear up the dance floor with the locals? Alice’s Champagne Palace, the Down East Saloon and Kharacters usually have live music on the weekends and Homer folk love to dance.
Whatever your dreams of Alaska may be, Homer’s got it. Just don’t forget your rain jacket, your mud boots and your camera and you’re sure to have a memorable time at the End of the Road. Contact the Arrival Co. to book a property or to learn more.