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Homer
Location: Southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula
at the end of the Sterling Highway 1; 220
miles southwest of Anchorage. Population:
5000. Visitor Information: Homer Chamber of
Commerce and Visitor Information Center, PO
Box 541, 201 Sterling Highway. Homer, AK
99603; Phone: (907) 235-7740.

Homer is nestled in the spruce at the literal end of
the road, where majestic mountains meet the sea. The
view is stupendous and takes your breath away. You
can fly in, a short 45-minute flight from Anchorage Homer Boat Harbor
or drive in over Baycrest Hill, breaking through photo by:
the clouds to view the city below. Homer is truly a VC TRAVEL GUIDE
picture perfect setting that must be experienced.
Located on Kachemak Bay (the largest coastal
park in the United States), Homer is a rugged mixture can choose from a variety of things to do or see: for every person, so there are plenty of options. The
of mountains, fjords, glaciers, beaches, and forests. clamming, fishing, beachcombing, tide pooling, Visitor Information Center can offer information about
Often called the “land’s end,” Homer presides over a watching commercial fishing boats, sight-seeing, a variety of fun and safe bear viewing opportunities.
marine environment that draws visitors from around ferry boat rides and Bay tours, kayaking, hiking, From Homer, you can fly by air to Kachemak Bay
the world. The hub of most tourist activity is the and berry picking to name a few. Other attractions and the communities of Seldovia, Port Graham and
Homer “Spit,” a narrow strip of beach jutting five are the Kenai Mountains, Kachemak Bay State Park, Nanwalek with multiple daily flights, offers glacier
miles out into the Bay. glaciers, volcanoes, viewing brown bear and a host of and volcano tours, statewide charters, fly-in fishing
Fresh halibut, king salmon, shrimp, tanner, and other wildlife, first class museums, art galleries, and trips, and in conjunction with Homer Air, great
dungeness crab abound as do clams, cockles, and live theater. bear viewing experiences. Bears guaranteed or your
mussels. Trophy fish are the quest for many summer Homer is known as the gateway to Katmai and money back!
visitors while others enjoy the scenery and wildlife Lake Clark National Park and Preserves, both of Visitors will definitely want to experience
that include sea lions, whales, porpoises, sea otters, which have dense populations of brown bears. There Homer’s major sightseeing destination, the Alaska’s
and many species of birdlife. Gull Island, a ten- are several Homer-based companies that provide Islands and Ocean Visitors Center. Virtually visit the
minute boat ride off the tip of the Spit, is the third quality, guided bear viewing experiences. Access to remote Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge,
largest and the most accessible seabird rookery in bear viewing areas from Homer can be provided by the world’s largest seabird refuge, through exhibits
Cook Inlet. Eight species regularly nest on the island; plane, float plane or boat. You can make a day trip or such as the Seabird Experience Theater, the Refuge
tufted and horned puffins, common murres, black- stay over night in a land-based camp. Photography, through Time, and an award-winning film voyage to
legged kittiwakes, pigeon guillemots, glaucous- natural history and flight-seeing trips are also the islands of the refuge, Journey of the M/V Tiglax.
winged gulls, and pelagic and red-faced cormorants. available. Bear viewing is an appropriate activity Let the exhibits transport you into the offshore world
Homer is bustling with activity and visitors for just about anyone, but not every trip is a good fit of seabirds, other marine animals and their island

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