The choices about the place to journey in Alaska may be fairly overwhelming to make. Alaska is such a giant state, and there are big-name sights like Denali National Park, Talkeetna, Anchorage, Fairbanks, and cruise ships in southeast Alaska.
Plenty of huge operators seize most vacationers and pack their visitors like sardine cans with blaring audio system, doing canned excursions. Millions of tourists come to Alaska yearly.
If you’re like me, you’re an impartial traveler who likes venturing off the overwhelmed path and discovering these distinctive, one-of-a-kind locations.
One of the most effective small cities in Alaska to seek out what you might be in search of is on the “end of the road,” also referred to as “where it all begins,”: Homer, Alaska.
Homer has a novel, quirky, laid-back vibe. It hosts one of the stunning vistas on Earth. Geographically, Homer has loads of south-facing hillside actual property and trip leases that seize beautiful views. As such, it’s additionally residence to many retired and extra prosperous Alaskans and nonresidents.
It attracts retirees, artists, fishers, adventurers, snowbirds (seasonal residents), and nature lovers.
The Kachemak Bay (OkayBay) Archipelago and the Homer Spit make Homer stand out from the remainder of Alaska. Homer presents spectacular surroundings, unbelievable trip leases, unbelievable sunrises and sunsets, nice meals, and claims to be the “Halibut Fishing Capital of the World.”
The winter temperatures are extra average than most of South Central and inside Alaska.
Homer is about 275 miles (a five-hour drive) south of Anchorage, the central hub for air transportation to Alaska. Anchorage can be on the crossroads for journey from the Pacific Rim and the Far East.
It has glorious connections with many direct flights from areas within the Lower 48 states, together with Seattle, Phoenix, LA, Denver, Atlanta, and others.
You can fly or drive to Homer. The street journey may be an journey in itself, with many sights like Girdwood, Whittier, a Wildlife Park in Portage, Seward (Kenai Fjords Nat Park), Hope, Cooper Landing, Soldotna, Kenai, Skilak Lake, the Kenai River, and factors south.
The drive presents stunning freeway vistas, contemporary and saltwater fishing, and locations to eat, keep, camp, picnic, and calm down alongside the way in which.
The legendary Kenai River delivers nice Red Salmon and Rainbow fishing (seasonal). But for me, the most effective feeling is coming over the hill and pulling as much as the bluff overlook that provides the beautiful vista of Kachemak Bay and Homer. From that vista, the best-kept OkayBay secret, Seldovia, is in sight and is instantly throughout OkayBay.
I all the time cease and scan OkayBay from that bluff to gauge the seas to arrange to cross OkayBay on my boat to my concept of paradise: Seldovia.
Related learn: The Magic of a Day Cruise at Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska
Provisioning and Outfitting
Soldotna presents up quite a lot of buying experiences and is a superb place to replenish on gasoline, meals, and drinks earlier than heading to the dearer city of Homer.
However, the most effective worth for meals and out of doors gear might be Anchorage. Costco is the go-to retailer for meals, however there are a lot of different alternatives to provision and outfit on your journey.
A weatherproof outer shell with insulation layers is the best choice, as temps can vary from the wet 50s F to the sunny 80s F in the summertime months in south central coastal areas.
Good water resistant or waterproof footwear is a should.
Your Guide to Homer
A fast cease on the Homer Chamber customer middle (201 Sterling Hwy) is effective, in an effort to get oriented. Rack playing cards maintain each enterprise possible, and the volunteers are nice at serving to you discover what you’re thinking about.
The subsequent cease must be the Islands and Ocean Center on the primary by-pass simply previous the Homer Chamber Visitor Center.
If visiting the Ocean Center doesn’t whet your urge for food, there are land adventures, too. But it’s an ocean city, for positive.
Fishing is without doubt one of the most in-demand actions that guests take pleasure in, together with bear viewing.
Related learn: Soar Over Spectacular Landscapes: Your Guide to Bear Viewing in Alaska
Most bear viewing is completed by way of flights from Homer, to Katami National Park throughout Cook Inlet with off-runway seashore landings, which places you on the bottom, strolling with the wild bruins. It’s a life-changing expertise to be in shut proximity to giant bruins which might be wild and free.
The bears are tolerant of individuals, and the guides carry marine flares for cover.
Marine flares are more practical than bear spray. Bears hate them! Bear spray is prohibited on most bush flights, and all airways, so don’t fly with it or you will get into severe bother.
Disclose to your bush pilot in case you have both bear spray or flares. If bear spray discharges mid-flight, it will get actually unhealthy, actually quick. Don’t carry both on any industrial flights.
Shorebirds abound on Homer Spit and space seashores, and there’s a shorebird competition in early spring.
Most Kachemak Bay excursions absorb Gull Island, a fowl rookery that hosts a number of species of nesting seabirds, together with the long-lasting puffins, with their distinctive orange beaks. Eagles are in every single place, too.
Homer has a number of distinct areas. The most blatant and the attraction that will get essentially the most guests is the Homer Spit. It’s a 5-mile slim strip of gravel that goes midway throughout OkayBay and has the boat harbor on the finish.
There are many companies on the spit and vacationers wander between gelato outlets, trinket shops, an superior taco stand, gourmand pizza locations, and burger joints. Plus the standard sundry of constitution and tour operators.
It’s a busy industrial fishing port with bigger fishing boats prepping for salmon season early within the spring, and Cook Inlet catchers and processors, together with the well-known “Time Bandit” from the “Deadliest Catch.” Otto Kilcher, of “Alaska: The Last Frontier” actuality present, runs his huge touchdown craft out of the harbor.
Check out Homer’s “Old Town” space, the common-or-garden beginnings of the village. Turn proper on Main Street coming into city from the North. There are a number of inns, a few good eating places, and a hippie bakery.
Also, Pratt Museum above Pioneer Avenue is a superb discover.
Address: 3779 Bartlett St
Pioneer Avenue is the primary enterprise loop. It sports activities many artwork galleries, and a tent and tarp store referred to as Nomar, with distinctive, made-in-house, all-weather clothes and helpful issues like duffel baggage, gun circumstances, and different custom-made clothing store gadgets.
I prefer to Christmas store there for my Alaskan out of doors household.
There are espresso outlets, three Thai eating places, a cooking retailer, and quite a few artwork outlets, in addition to different eateries scattered throughout city. My favourite is River Cafe (361 Sterling Hwy). Great breakfast and sandwiches, and the espresso and tea are free.
The epic Land’s End Hotel holds the crown because the quintessential Homer resort and sleep institution. It’s present process a significant improve/rebuild of its foyer and restaurant.
I do know among the native artists and craftsmen engaged on it, and it must be spectacular. It’s situated on the very finish of the long-lasting “spit,” with views and a nonstop parade of boats coming into and exiting the harbor that may pacify essentially the most salty amongst us.
Sunrises and sunsets are equally beautiful at Lands End Resort.
Across The Bay, “Where It All Begins”
However, the true gems of Homer are discovered on the South Shore of OkayBay, at particular oceanfront locations that the South Shore is known for.
The South Shore of OkayBay is residence to quite a few world-class fishing lodges, and lots of Alaskans have summer time cabins nestled alongside the shorelines and quite a few coves throughout the bay.
Halibut Cove is the trendier, dearer space, however Seldovia, a small fishing village and retirement group is changing into the go-to place for fishing and tourism. This is as a result of it’s an hour nearer to the nice fishing grounds than Homer.
It’s an accessible, stunning city nonetheless “undiscovered” by the large cruise ships. So, she retains a lot of her small-town really feel and appeal, and guests usually discover it extra inexpensive than Halibut Cove and factors east.
You can simply 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 looking within the Kachemak Bay Archipelago! Use this journey to reconnect with your loved ones or associates, and the good outdoor.
At Treehouse Cove, you may unwind in a pleasant timber body cabin proper on the seashore in Seldovia Bay, or you may keep in an opulent treehouse tucked subsequent to a waterfall, full with spectacular views of the water and mountains. Seriously, waking as much as that surroundings is one thing you’ll wish to expertise each single day!
Your keep comes with a bunch of enjoyable excursions! From bay excursions and kayaking to mountaineering, wildlife recognizing, and UTV adventures, there’s no scarcity of pleasure. Plus, all of your meals are lined, so you may simply give attention to making reminiscences collectively.
If you’re after one thing additional particular, try our premium packages, which embody offshore halibut fishing, whale watching, and even distant kayaking. It’s an unforgettable approach to soak within the beautiful great thing about Alaska.
Relax Your Way
When you e book a premium reservation for a gaggle of 4 or extra, we’ll create a non-public, all-inclusive lodge expertise only for you.
Picture this: your entire lodge and treehouse all to yourselves, surrounded by your favourite individuals. It’s the last word approach to unwind, calm down, and create cherished reminiscences in a comfortable setting.
Your Adventure Awaits
Each day you may select from quite a lot of excursions on this untouched Alaskan paradise. Whether you’re itching for the fun of offshore fishing, desperate to go whale watching, or excited to kayak by dazzling waters, the selection is all yours.
So, pack your baggage and kit up for an journey that’s all about you and your family members. Trust me, you gained’t remorse it!