Homer, Alaska
As you near the end of Alaska Highway 1 and roll over the bluff, you
get your first panorama view Kachemak Bay and Homer, Alaska. The scenery will take your breath away. The
area has an abundance of outdoor recreation, plus great
restaurants, fishing, art galleries, and accommodations
ranging from deluxe to remote cabin rentals. This seaside
town is accessible by road, just 225 highway miles south
of Anchorage, and a 35 -minute flight.
Homer boasts of great hiking on the Homer side of Kachemak Bay, but truly awesome hiking across the bay in the
Kenai Mountains. Local water taxis specialize in trans-
38 Summer 2015 Adventure Outdoors
porting outdoor lovers to the trailheads and campgrounds
from the Homer Spit (“spit” is a geological landform) for day
hikes or overnight camping.
In addition to hiking, you can go enjoy kayaking and bear
viewing, but what the area is best known for is its world-class
fishing. Homer is truly the “Halibut Fishing Capital of the
World”, as it has more halibut cross its docks from commercial fishermen that anywhere else in the world. Homer has a
summer sport fishing fleet of about thirty-five charter operations from the smallest “six-pac” boats, to larger boats that
can take 30 anglers at a time. You can take a half-day, full day
or overnight trips and fish for halibut, salmon or a combo.
You can also reach the vast roadless areas by small planes to
inland streams and lakes for trout and other species.