Overlooking Kachemak Bay, Homer is a small city on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula that has been nicknamed the “Halibut Fishing Capital of the World”. Once a campground for the Alutiiq people, it was settled by Europeans in the late 19th century following the discovery of coal in the area. Homer is named after a gold mining prospector, Homer Pennock, who arrived in 1896.
Things to do in Homer
If you’re interested in the cultural heritage of Kachemak Bay, visit the Pratt Museum, which shares stories of the area’s Native Alaskan people. Learn about life for early homesteaders in the 1930s and 1940s, as well as the fishing industry that has flourished in the area. In addition to exhibitions of contemporary art, the museum features a live-feed video of puffins and cormorants on nearby Gull Island.
Be sure to spend an afternoon strolling along Bishop’s Beach, which offers magnificent views across the waters of Kachemak Bay. It’s a popular destination for shell collecting and exploring the tidal pools, which provide a habitat for crustaceans and jellyfish. The two-kilometre-long Beluga Slough Trail connects to a nearby saltmarsh, with interpretive signs and poetry by Wendy Erd dotting the route.
Homer serves as a gateway to Kachemak Bay State Park, which encompasses more than 160,000 hectares of dramatic glaciers and forested mountains. It provides an important habitat for black bears, mountain goats and moose and offers regular sightings of porpoises, otters and whales. In addition to hiking and birdwatching, the park is a spectacular setting for kayaking and fishing.
Getting around Homer
Homer Airport is five minutes’ drive from the city centre and has regular flights to Anchorage. By road, Anchorage is four hours away, with buses connecting the two cities. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting around the area.