Homer, Alaska

Bald Eagle in Homer

About 225 (driving) miles south of Anchorage., Homer is the port of call for the Alaska Marine Highway for travelers heading out to Kodiak and Dutch Harbor. Also, during the summertime, a boat will travel 400 miles along the Alaska Peninsula to the Aleutian Islands, stopping in six different villages: Chignik, Sand Point, King Cove, Cold Bay, False Pass, and Akutan.

Fishing fans will know Homer as the Halibut Fishing Capital of the World. Homer also hosts an annual Winter King Salmon Tournament in March; the event had to be pushed back to almost early April in 2007 due to an unusually cold winter.

Clamming is another popular activity on Homer. The best place to find really big examples of razor clams is on Ninilchik Beach.

The rules are strict, however – you may not toss back anything you pick up, so choose carefully!

For those wanting a relaxing way to view Homer, consider taking a bike ride. There are a number of good routes in the city, one of which is the Skyline Drive Loop, which provides outstanding viewing points for the glaciers and mountains which sit just across the Bay.

Finally, there are an endless amount of hiking tours on Homer which allow up close views of local flora and fauna. The Pratt Museum Botanical Garden has a number of walking tours at the facility, and during the summer, there are guided tours of the Calvin and Coyle Nature Trail. It’s important to follow all the rules and signs while on these tours so as not to disrupt any of the precious wildlife and animals and their habitats.

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